What are the best internet providers in Arlington?
Top providers selected by CNET For most families in Arlington, it’s Xfinity. In addition to serving most addresses in the city, this service also offers the fastest plans in Arlington. For $120 a month, Xfinity customers can reach download speeds of up to 2 gigabits per second with no data caps or monthly equipment fees. Depending on availability, providers like Verizon Fios and T-Mobile are also good options for home internet.
Xfinity also offers one of the cheapest plans in Arlington in partnership with Astound Broadband. Astound offers faster speeds on its basic plan, but availability is much more sparse. Xfinity Connect costs $25 per month for speeds up to 150 megabits per second.
Best Internet in Arlington, Virginia
Arlington Internet Provider Comparison
| provider | internet technology | Monthly price range | speed range | Monthly equipment costs | data limit | contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| amazing broadband Read the full review |
cable | $20-$55 | 300～1,500Mbps | none | none | none | 7 |
| cox communications Read the full review |
cable | $50-$120 | 100～2,000Mbps | none | 1.25TB on some plans | none | 6.2 |
| starry internet Read the full review |
fixed wireless | $30-$75 | 200-1,000Mbps | none | none | none | 7 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
fixed wireless | $50 to $70 ($35 to $55 for eligible mobile customers) | 87-415Mbps | none | none | none | 7.4 |
| verizon fios Read the full review |
fiber | $50-$90 | 300-940Mbps | none | none | none | 7.6 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
fixed wireless | $50 to $70 ($35 to $45 on eligible mobile plans) | 50～1,000Mbps | none | none | none | 7.2 |
| Xfinity Read the full review |
cable/fiber | $25-$120 | 75-2,000Mbps | $15 (optional) | none | 1 year for some plans | 7 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What are the cheapest internet plans in Arlington?
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to Find Internet Sales and Promotions in Arlington
The best internet deals and top promotions in Arlington depend on the discounts available during the period. Most sales have a short shelf life, but we check frequently for the latest offers.
Arlington internet providers such as Xfinity, Cox, and Astound Broadband may offer lower introductory prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time. However, many companies, including Verizon and T-Mobile, have the same standard rate throughout the year.
For a more extensive list of promotions, check out our guide to the best internet deals.
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Fastest internet plans in Arlington
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is a good internet speed?
Most internet connectivity plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for an internet plan that supports video conferencing, streaming video, and gaming, you’ll enjoy a better experience with a more robust connection. Here is an overview of recommended minimum download speeds for various applications. According to the FCC. Please note that these are just guidelines and internet speed, service and performance will vary depending on connection type, provider and address.
For more information, see our guide to the internet speed you actually need.
- At 0-5Mbps, you can tackle basic tasks like browsing the Internet, sending and receiving emails, and streaming low-quality videos.
- 5-40Mbps allows for higher quality video streaming and video conferencing.
- 40-100Mbps provides a single user with enough bandwidth to meet the demands of modern work-from-home, video streaming, and online gaming.
- 100-500Mbps allows one or two users to simultaneously participate in high-bandwidth activities such as video conferencing, streaming, and gaming.
- 500-1,000Mbps allows three or more users to participate in high-bandwidth activities simultaneously.
How CNET chooses the best internet providers in Arlington
There are many Internet service providers and they vary by region. Unlike the latest smartphones, laptops, routers, and kitchen tools, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a particular city. So what is our approach? We start by researching pricing, availability, and speed information using our own historical ISP data, provider sites, and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission. FCC.gov.
But that’s not the end. We go to the FCC’s website and review the data to ensure we consider all ISPs that serve the area. Also, enter your local address on the provider’s website to find specific options for residents. Look at sources like the U.S. Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power to gauge how satisfied your customers are with your ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices may change frequently. All information provided is accurate at the time of publication.
Once you have this localized information, ask three main questions:
- Does your provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Are customers getting value for their money?
- Are your customers satisfied with your service?
The answers to these questions are often layered and complex, but the provider that comes closest to a “yes” to all three is recommended. When choosing the cheapest internet service, look for the plan with the lowest monthly fee, although you also consider factors such as price increases, equipment fees, and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively easy. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and also consider actual speed data from sources such as: Okura and FCC report. (Ookla is owned by Ziff Davis, the same parent company as CNET.)
To find out more about our process, please visit our How We Test ISPs page.
Arlington Internet Provider Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the best internet service provider in Arlington?
Xfinity is the best internet provider in Arlington due to its wide coverage map, variety of plans, and lightning-fast speeds.
Is fiber internet available in Arlington?
yes. Verizon Fios is Arlington’s largest fiber optic provider, but some homes may also have access to fiber optic connections from Xfinity, Astound, or Cox.
Where is the cheapest internet provider in Arlington?
Xfinity and Astound Broadband are tied for the cheapest services in Arlington, offering basic plans for $25 per month. However, Xfinity’s coverage is much broader than Astound’s, so it all depends on what’s available at your address.
Which internet provider offers the fastest plans in Arlington?
Xfinity offers the fastest plans in Arlington, 2 gigabit or 2,000Mbps for $115 or $120 per month.
