What is the best internet provider in Maryland?
Looking for high speed internet in Maryland? You’re in luck. Maryland has some of the fastest internet speeds of any state, and most residents have access to at least one fiber provider. CNET recommends Verizon Fios as the best internet service provider in Maryland for most households. It offers symmetrical upload and download speeds, plus unlimited data and affordable pricing. Verizon Fios covers most of Maryland’s main metro areas. Just keep in mind that it isn’t available everywhere in Maryland, so Xfinity or T-Mobile Home Internet are also solid picks, depending on what’s available in your area.
If you’re seeking the lowest prices or fastest speeds, we’ve also found several options. The cheapest internet in Maryland is tied between Astound Broadband and Breezeline, offering $20 service for speeds up to 300 megabits per second and 100 megabits per second, respectively. Shentel’s Glo Fiber offers a 5,000Mbps plan, which ranks among the fastest in Maryland, although it’s only available in the Frederick area. Xfinity’s 2,000Mbps and 1,200Mbps plans have broader availability throughout the state. While this guide doesn’t encompass all ISPs in Maryland, it includes a variety of both large and small providers, as well as those with extensive statewide coverage.
Best internet in Maryland in 2025
Maryland internet providers compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antietam Broadband | Cable/Fiber | $60-$90 | 250-1,300Mbps | Varies | None | None | N/A |
| Astound Broadband Read full review |
Cable | $20 | 300-1,200Mbps | None | None | None | 7 |
| Breezeline | Cable | $20-$40 | 100-250Mbps | $15 (optional) | None | None | N/A |
| Choptank Fiber | Fiber | $85-$279 | 100-2,500Mbps | None | None | 2 years | N/A |
| Point Broadband | Fiber | $39-$59 | 300-1,000Mbps | None | None | None | N/A |
| Shentel Glo Fiber | Fiber | $70-$140 | 600-2,400Mbps | $10 (optional) | None | None | N/A |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($40-$50 with eligible mobile plans) | 87-415Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Verizon Fios Read full review |
Fiber | $50-$110 | 300-2,300Mbps | None | None | None | 7.6 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers) | 100-300Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
| Xfinity Read full review |
Cable | $20-$120 | 150-2,000Mbps | Varies | None | None | 7 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Maryland
The best internet deals and top promotions in Maryland depend on the discounts available during that period. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Maryland internet providers, such as Xfinity, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, including Verizon Fios and Point Broadband, tend to run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
How fast is Maryland internet?
Maryland does pretty well when it comes to broadband speeds. A recent Ookla ranking put Maryland in 11th place for fastest median download speeds among the states at 226Mbps. Washington, D.C. The Old Line State logged a median download speed of 227Mbps. That general peppiness of home internet speed is thanks in part to Verizon Fios and Xfinity’s wide coverage across the state. Both offer plans in the gig range, making fast internet available to most households.
The speeds you get at home will depend on many factors, including which ISPs are available and the internet technology you choose. Fiber has the advantage of fast uploads, which makes a difference if you move large files around. Maryland’s cable providers offer plans at the gig level or above, making them solid options for fast downloads.
Fastest internet plans in Maryland
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s a good internet speed?
Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for an internet plan that can accommodate video conferencing, streaming video or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here’s an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the Federal Communications Commission. Note that these are only guidelines and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.
For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.
- 0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics: browsing the internet, sending and receiving email and streaming low-quality video.
- 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and video conferencing.
- 40 to 100Mbps should give one person sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
- 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two people to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like video conferencing, streaming and online gaming.
- 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more people to engage in high-bandwidth activities all at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Maryland
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information, drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
It doesn’t end there: We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
- Are customers happy with their service?
The answers to those questions are often layered and complex, the providers that come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and also consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
What’s the final word on internet providers in Maryland?
Verizon Fios and Xfinity are the home internet heavyweights in Maryland. Thanks to reliability and fast upload speeds, fiber is nice if you can get it. That’s why we picked Fios as the top ISP in the state. With cable providers like Xfinity, you can typically get great introductory rates and access to gig speeds or above, but you’ll find yourself wrestling with a price hike down the line. Be sure to check which other ISPs are available at your address. For example, you might want to explore 5G home internet service as an affordable alternative. You may also find service from a local or regional ISP or another cable provider that works well for your speed needs or pocketbook.
Internet providers in Maryland FAQs
What is the cheapest internet provider in Maryland?
Of the widely available providers in Maryland, Xfinity and Verizon Fios have the fastest plans. Verizon’s top-end Fios plan comes with 2,300Mbps download speeds and 1,500Mbps upload speeds. Xfinity offers downloads with a top speed of 2,000Mbps in some areas but uploads max out at 200Mbps. There are faster plans to be found in some pockets of the state. Glo Fiber, for example, is available in areas of Frederick County and goes up to 2,400Mbps. Choptank Fiber delivers 2,500Mbps service to parts of the Eastern Shore.
Is fiber internet available in Maryland?
The most recent FCC National Broadband Map data crowns Xfinity as the widest-reaching wired ISP in Maryland. It’s accessible to nearly 87% of homes in the state.
