What is the best internet provider in Queens?
Queens residents have several options when it comes to internet. If you’re looking for the right internet provider and plan for you, CNET’s broadband experts have done the research for you. Verizon Fios is the best internet service provider in Queens, offering the fastest plans in the borough at reasonable prices. You can get even better prices if you bundle it with an eligible Verizon cellphone plan. Fiber internet is considered the gold standard for internet connections, and Verizon is the only fiber internet provider widely available in Queens.
If you can’t get Verizon Fios at your address, don’t worry, because there are many backup options available. Astound Broadband offers the cheapest internet in Queens, with plans starting at just $20 per month while Spectrum is more expensive at $50 monthly. T-Mobile Home Internet is a wireless provider worth considering, with decent prices and some of the highest customer satisfaction scores in the city.
If you’re looking for speedy internet, we’ve got you covered. Verizon Fios offers the fastest internet, a 2-gigabit plan for $110 a month. Eligible mobile customers can bundle their internet plan, dropping that price to $85 a month. That’s not cheap, but Verizon’s 2-gigabit plan costs a cheap 5 cents per Mbps. Astound Broadband has the best deal in the city, with a 1.5-gigabit plan for $55 per month.
Best internet in Queens, New York
Queens internet providers compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astound Broadband Read full review |
Cable | $20-$55 | 300-1,500Mbps | Free modem; $5 for Whole-home Wi-Fi (optional) | None | None | 7 |
| Spectrum Read full review |
Cable | $50-$70 | 500-1,000Mbps | Free modem; $10 router (optional) | None | None | 7.2 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$55 with eligible mobile plans) | 87-415Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers) | 50-300Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
| Verizon Fios Read full review |
Fiber | $50-$110 ($35-$85 with select 5G mobile plans) | 300-2,300Mbps | None | None | None | 7.6 |
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Astound 300Mbps Read full review |
$20 | 300Mbps | Free modem; $5 for Whole-home Wi-Fi (optional) |
| Astound 600Mbps Read full review |
$35 | 600Mbps | Free modem; $5 for Whole-home Wi-Fi (optional) |
| Astound Gig Read full review |
$45 | 1,000Mbps | Free modem; $5 for Whole-home Wi-Fi (optional) |
| Spectrum Internet Premier Read full review |
$50 | 500Mbps | Free modem; $10 router (optional) |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 300Mbps | None |
| Verizon Fios 300Mbps Read full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 300Mbps | None |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 318Mbps | None |
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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 videoconferencing, 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 FCC. 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 videoconferencing.
- 40 to 100Mbps should give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
- 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming.
- 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Queens
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 answer to those questions is often layered and complex, but the providers who 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 consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
What’s the final word on internet providers in Queens?
If you reside in Queens, you’ll likely have access to cable internet and fixed wireless connections from Astound Broadband and Starry. As we always say here at CNET, a fiber connection offers speeds and reliability you can’t find with other connection types. So if Verizon Fios is available at your location, place it at the top of your list.
Internet providers in Queens FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Queens?
What is the cheapest internet provider in Queens?
Verizon Fios offers the fastest plan in Queens, with upload and download speeds up to 2,000Mbps for $110 monthly. Astound Broadband comes in second, featuring a 1,500Mbps plan for $55 per month. Unlike fiber, a cable connection won’t feature symmetrical speeds, so Astound’s top-end plan falls short in that aspect, coming in with upload speeds of 50Mbps.
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