Nearly 30% of businesses say they need faster internet. 1 With download speeds of up to 1,000Mbps, these are your best business internet providers.
Best overall Fios by Verizon
Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
* 1-yr. price guarantee Fios 100 Mbps w/2-yr agmt., 2-yr. price guarantee Fios 300 Mbps, 3-yr. price guarantee Fios 940/880 Mbps
**With Auto Pay or $5/mo. fee applies. One-time charges apply. Max speeds are wired. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary.
† w/ 2 year agmt.
‡ Maximum speeds as fast as 100 Mbps download/upload per month for 12 months with minimum one-year agreement. Installation, Business High-Speed Internet Fee ($5.99/mo.), taxes and other fees apply. Subject to availability.
§ On the Business Unlimited 35, 60, and 100 service plans, after 75, 150, or 200 GB of data usage, respectively, Viasat may prioritize your data behind other customers only during network congestion. Video streaming quality on the Business Unlimited 35 and 60 plans is typically at 480p, the Business Unlimited 100 plan is typically at 720p.
For metered service plans, extra charges apply for data used in excess of the monthly data allotment. Minimum 24-month service term. One-time standard installation fee is $300.00. Priority connection means your data receives preference on Viasat's network. All fees are subject to taxes. Speeds and streaming video qualities are “up to,” will vary and are not guaranteed. Service is not available in all areas. All offers may be changed or withdrawn at any time. Viasat and the Viasat logo are trademarks of Viasat, Inc.
We are committed to sharing unbiased reviews. Some of the links on our site are from our partners who compensate us. Read our editorial guidelines and advertising disclosure .
The bottom line: The best high-speed internet provider for small businesses is Verizon. Verizon does a great job ensuring affordable prices, fast speeds, and customer service. Verizon customer service outranks all other competitors.
Every business is different, though, and there are excellent brands other than Verizon that also might meet your more specific needs or concerns. We recommend Frontier for best budget, AT&T for speed, and Comcast for tech support. Of course, your business is outside of the city and in more of a rural area, we recommend Viasat.
Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*w/ 1yr. price guarantee Fios 100 Mbps, 2yr. price guarantee Fios 300 Mbps, 3 yr. price guarantee Fios 940/880 Mbps
** 12-mo.agmt for Internet req'd. Early term fee may apply
†With Auto Pay or $5/mo. fee applies. Multi-Device Security Pro included at $4.99/mo. One-time charges apply. Max speeds are wired. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary.
§ On the Business Unlimited 35, 60, and 100 service plans, after 75, 150, or 200 GB of data usage, respectively, Viasat may prioritize your data behind other customers only during network congestion. Video streaming quality on the Business Unlimited 35 and 60 plans is typically at 480p, the Business Unlimited 100 plan is typically at 720p.
For metered service plans, extra charges apply for data used in excess of the monthly data allotment. Minimum 24-month service term. One-time standard installation fee is $300.00. Priority connection means your data receives preference on Viasat's network. All fees are subject to taxes. Speeds and streaming video qualities are “up to,” will vary and are not guaranteed. Service is not available in all areas. All offers may be changed or withdrawn at any time. Viasat and the Viasat logo are trademarks of Viasat, Inc.
Here's how we arrived at the list above. We included only plans with download speeds of 25 Mbps or more to match FCC guidelines for broadband internet. We also left out any plans that were extraordinarily expensive for the download speeds they provide—they're just not worth the money.
In the end, our list of best broadband service providers includes several major companies with cable, digital subscriber line (DSL), and fiber-optic plans.
Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
**w/ 1yr. price guarantee Fios 200 Mbps, 2yr. price guarantee Fios 500 Mbps, 3 yr. price guarantee Fios 940/880 Mbps
Verizon serves up the best combination of business internet speeds, reliability, and support.
Although Verizon sells a few business DSL plans, none have speeds at 25Mbps or more. For truly fast speeds, fiber is hard to beat. Verizon's fiber plans, branded Fios, offer you a chance at near-gigabit connections.
What do we mean by “near gigabit”? Verizon’s fastest plan—Fios Gigabit Connection—gives you maximum download speeds of 940Mbps with upload speeds up to 880Mbps. That’s lightning fast by today’s standards, but it doesn’t quite reach 1,000Mbps, the true definition of gigabit speed. Yet with fiber plans that consistently meet the speeds Verizon advertises, and then some, we’ll let that bit of fudging slide.
Another feather in Verizon’s cap is its customer service. We understand that most internet providers have poor reputations. But the fact that industry-rating juggernaut J.D. Power gave Verizon second place for customer satisfaction among small to medium-sized businesses should give you warmer feelings.
Reliable near-gigabit fiber connection Excellent customer service for business customers Weaknesses No true 1,000 Mbps plan Long 12-month contractsFios Gig Connection
Fios 500M
Fios 200M
Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*w/ 1yr. price guarantee Fios 200 Mbps, 2yr. price guarantee Fios 500 Mbps, 3 yr. price guarantee Fios 940/880 Mbps
Verizon’s fastest plan is priced at about $249 per month. That may be a bit expensive for some very small businesses, but it’s far better than the nearly $500 that Comcast charges for gigabit speeds.
Many Verizon plans offer symmetric speeds, which means you get the same speed for downloads and uploads. Fast upload speeds can significantly improve activities that require sending data from your device, including videoconferencing in real time and uploading large files to cloud storage.
One gripe: contracts. While some ISPs—like Spectrum and AT&T—offer contract-free plans, Verizon uses a 12-month agreement that renews automatically. It’s not the worst thing in the world, but it’s something you should know in advance.
The bottom line: Verizon Fios offers an impressive array of high-speed internet plans to fit businesses of just about any size.
Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
If you saw the plan prices for our picks above, you may be worried that an affordable high-speed internet connection is beyond reach. With plans priced at the hundreds of dollars per month, budget-conscious businesses need an alternative.
Plus, each plan comes with free access to Frontier Business Suite. This is regularly an $800/year plan that includes SmartVoice line and Wi-fi enabled phone, access and backup of 200GB of data in the cloud anywhere you are, a multi-device security pro and, finally, an optimized Wi-Fi router.
You can also add Frontier Internet Backup to your high-speed plan for an additional fee. Using a cellular modem, Frontier Internet Backup keeps your business—and all of your devices—online when internet outages occur for seamless operations and uninterrupted productivity.
Affordable high-speed plans Fiber plans with symmetric speeds Weaknesses Poor customer service reputation Limited access to fiber plansData as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*With Auto Pay or $5/mo. fee applies. Multi-Device Security Pro included at $4.99/mo. One-time charges apply. Max speeds are wired. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary.
All of Frontier’s high-speed internet plans come in under or just above $150 per month.
Now for Frontier’s major shortcomings. Frontier’s customers lodge a lot of complaints against the internet service provider. One common grievance is high latency. Latency, which refers to data transfer delay time, can cause serious headaches for businesses that require fast and reliable connections. Activities like video streaming are at risk of disruption from high latency.
Despite customer service and reliability concerns, you should consider Frontier if getting a low price for high-speed plans is your No. 1 priority.
Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
12-mo.agmt for Internet req'd. Early term fee may apply
If you’re focused on finding the fastest business internet plans possible, we recommend AT&T. Business plans from AT&T soar all the way up to 1,000Mbps download and upload speeds, offering you true gigabit connection potential.
Several of AT&T's fiber plans give you the option of symmetric speeds—but at a lofty price. If your business is a frequent user of upload-heavy applications and real-time communication software, you should consider one of these plans with symmetric speeds.
Symmetric-speed gigabit connection Ultra-fast fiber plans Weaknesses Too pricey for some businesses Limited availabilityData as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
12-mo.agmt for Internet req'd. Early term fee may apply
AT&T partially makes up for its high pricing in great customer service rankings. AT&T is currently our top pick for great internet service, and J.D. Power agrees: In 2021, AT&T ranked first for customer satisfaction in the small to medium-sized business category—though only third for very small businesses. 3
Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*with 2-year agreement
There’s a lot to like about Comcast, including fiber plans with symmetric speeds up to 1Gbps. And its pricing, while not the cheapest, is competitively matched against other providers like Verizon and AT&T.
Plus, Comcast plans come with zero-cost installation, a 30-day trial period, and access to tons of extra apps, software, and tools for Wi-Fi, security, and more. We especially like that Comcast offers free 24/7 tech support. Some providers charge extra for top-notch customer care, but Comcast, as far as we can tell, offers solid help any hour of the day or night.
Symmetric fiber speeds Competitive business plan pricing Weaknesses Limited fiber plan access Mixed customer reviewsData as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*with 2-year agreement
**For 12 months with 2-year agreement
†with 2-year agreement
We couldn’t talk about Comcast without mentioning its dreadful reputation with residential customers. However, Comcast business customers don’t rate their ISP nearly as harshly as their home-based counterparts.
We breathed a bit easier when we realized that Comcast truly does offer a solid internet option that’s super reliable and super fast.
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Data as of 6/7/23. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
On the Business Unlimited 35, 60, and 100 service plans, after 75, 150, or 200 GB of data usage, respectively, Viasat may prioritize your data behind other customers only during network congestion. Video streaming quality on the Business Unlimited 35 and 60 plans is typically at 480p, the Business Unlimited 100 plan is typically at 720p.
For metered service plans, extra charges apply for data used in excess of the monthly data allotment. Minimum 24-month service term. One-time standard installation fee is $300.00. Priority connection means your data receives preference on Viasat's network. All fees are subject to taxes. Speeds and streaming video qualities are “up to,” will vary and are not guaranteed. Service is not available in all areas. All offers may be changed or withdrawn at any time. Viasat and the Viasat logo are trademarks of Viasat, Inc.
As the only satellite internet provider on this list, Viasat’s widespread availability makes it the best for rural businesses. Even if you operate out of locations that other ISPs don’t touch, you can almost certainly get Viasat’s satellite internet service.
Unlike the satellite internet providers of the past, Viasat offers both availability and speed. Its business internet plans, with download speeds ranging from 35Mbps to 100Mbps, can compete with most other broadband providers.
Plus, Viasat’s state-of-the-art satellite technology minimizes other rural internet issues, such as latency, so you can keep your business up and running—no matter where you operate.
High satellite speeds No hard caps on data usage Weaknesses Low upload speeds typical of satellite Speed throttling once allotted data reachedUnlimited Platinum 100
Unlimited Gold 50
Unlimited Silver 25
Unlimited Bronze 12
Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*On these plans, Viasat may prioritize your data behind other customers only during network congestion.
For metered service plans, extra charges apply for data used in excess of the monthly data allotment. Minimum 24-month service term. One-time standard installation fee is $300.00. Priority connection means your data receives preference on Viasat's network. All fees are subject to taxes. Speeds and streaming video qualities are “up to,” will vary and are not guaranteed. Service is not available in all areas. All offers may be changed or withdrawn at any time. Viasat and the Viasat logo are trademarks of Viasat, Inc.
Even with its improved technology, Viasat does still have data limits. It doesn’t use hard data caps—that is, Viasat won’t simply switch off your internet after you use all your data—but it will throttle (slow) your internet if you use more than your allotted daily data. If this poses a problem, you can always upgrade to a plan with more data.
Now, we still don’t recommend satellite internet for everyone. If you have other ISPs in your area, you can probably get the same speeds for a lower cost from a different provider. But if you’ve got a business high in the mountains or out on the plains, then Viasat provides a solid option (even if it’s the only one).
Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*for 12 mos.
Want high-speed internet for your office but feel squeamish about signing a long-term contract? Spectrum will connect you to cable internet speeds up to 1000Mbps (wireless speeds may vary) totally contract-free.
Spectrum, a Charter Communications brand, provides cable internet to U.S. businesses. The upside to cable internet is that you access it through the same cable modems used to deliver cable TV, which makes this internet widely available. Spectrum provides fiber connections in some areas, but the service is so limited that we haven’t included the plans here.
Spectrum offers three high-speed cable options to business customers: 100, 300/400, and 1000. Each plan denotes the download speed you can expect from your connection in megabits per second.
No monthly contracts Low-priced high-speed plans Weaknesses Sluggish uploads Low business customer satisfactionSpectrum Internet® Gig
Spectrum Internet® Ultra
Spectrum Internet®
Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*for 12 mos.
**for 24 mos. when bundled with Phone or TV
† for 12 mos. when bundled with Phone or TV
Where Spectrum falters is its upload speeds. Cable technology limits how much upstream heft you can get, and Spectrum’s plans can get you up to only 20Mbps upstream.
Another trouble spot is customer service. Spectrum has been embroiled in legal troubles for the last few years, especially in the state of New York, where it failed to follow through on service promises made with its acquisition of Time Warner Cable. We’re keeping an eye on the situation—poor customer satisfaction could knock Spectrum down in our books.
But if you’re outside of New York or less bothered by poor customer service ratings, Spectrum cable Internet appears as a rosy alternative to expensive DSL and fiber providers that lock you into lengthy contracts.
The right combination of fast internet, reliable connections, and solid customer support makes Verizon Fios a worthy choice for nearly any small business.
Verizon is our pick for the best overall high-speed business internet provider. But just because the ISP is our number one choice doesn’t mean it’s the right one for your business. Consider the factors important to you—cost, contracts, customer service—and then choose the one that best fits your business’s demands.
Make sure you can get the ISP you want—find business internet providers near you.
Speed and bandwidth are another two more ambiguously used terms in internet parlance. But we can define them a bit clearer than broadband internet and high-speed internet.
Now back to the question: How much speed or bandwidth do you actually need? The answer depends on the type and frequency of internet activity your business engages in on a day-to-day basis.
While guidelines on speed use vary, here’s our recommendation for the speed you’ll need to run your business smoothly.
Large-file downloading, basic Wi-Fi, business communication
Video streaming, frequent file sharing, numerous POS transactions
Frequent cloud computing, videoconferencing, and online backups
Server hosting, seamless streaming and conferencing
Multiple-server hosting, constant cloud-based computing, heavy online backups
1Gbps (1,000 Mbps)
Extreme-speed operating for enterprise-ready offices with near-zero interruptions
Price and speed. That’s what matters when it comes to choosing a business internet provider, right?
Well, not entirely. The truth is that unless you have an unlimited budget (who does?) or run a supremely data-heavy business (not likely), you’ll have other factors to consider. Here are the ones we focus on.
But others, like satellite internet, may require hefty hardware—and hefty costs too.
"Broadband" and "high-speed internet" are somewhat murky terms that not everyone defines equally. But here's what we use: in 2015, the FCC defined broadband service as any connection that provides customers with download speeds of at least 25Mbps.
What is high-speed internet?There’s no indisputable definition of high-speed internet. In fact, internet service providers attach the term to just about any plan, regardless of speed.
What’s more, the terms broadband internet and high-speed internet are often used interchangeably, further confusing things.
But why the confusion? Well, consider how the technology has evolved. Even the slowest plans featured in this article would have been considered blazingly fast in 2008—and much more so in 1998. So even if everyone did sit down and agree to a singular definition of high-speed internet, that definition would have to change every few years.
With that in mind, look for internet that’s fast enough for your needs rather than just high-speed internet. We’ll look at speeds in-depth in a minute.
High-speed internet vs. broadband internet: How do they differ?Broadband more appropriately refers to any internet type that isn’t a dial-up connection. Essentially, broadband’s debut marks the age at which most of us moved on from the days of modems that tied up our phone lines to dial into internet provider companies like AOL. And what an age that was (we still hear the screeching modem sounds in our dreams).
Today, broadband internet generally includes any “always on” cable, DSL, fiber-optic, and even high-speed satellite internet connection. But not every plan operates at truly high speeds. So to compare internet providers, we decided to use the FCC’s 2015 guidelines on broadband internet speeds, which set the minimum at a 25Mbps downstream.
Most small to midsize businesses can operate well at 25Mbps or more. Of course, as speeds get faster, even this current definition will start to seem slow. And the FCC may change its mind on minimum broadband standards. We’ll update you as necessary.
What types of high-speed internet are available?High-speed broadband internet connections encompass plans from a variety of service providers and connection types. Depending on your area, you may have access to several of these or just one.
Learn more about the difference between internet types with our detailed comparison.
We analyzed each business internet service provider's affordability, overall value, suitability for growing businesses, ease-of-use, and customer service, among other factors.
Disclaimer
At Business.org, our research is meant to offer general product and service recommendations. We don't guarantee that our suggestions will work best for each individual or business, so consider your unique needs when choosing products and services.
Geographic and service restrictions apply to AT&T services. Call to see if you qualify. Fiber optics may apply to all or part of the network, depending on your location.
© 2020 AT&T Intellectual Property. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other AT&T marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All rights reserved. Subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. provide products and services under the AT&T brand.
Available in select areas only, additional monthly fee applies. Frontier’s Gig Service is available in all Frontier fiber markets, but may not be available to every location depending on local network capacity or other technical details. While Frontier’s Gig Service is delivered on our 100% fiber-to-the-location network, actual speeds may vary due to limitations in the customer’s network at their location, devices in use, and/or Frontier’s network traffic conditions. Actual speeds will range up to 940 Mbps (download) and 880 Mbps (upload) and may vary depending on usage of the network and multiple other factors.
FiOS 100 Mbps offer: Must subscribe to new FiOS Internet for Business with minimum one-year agreement. Internet will be provisioned with maximum speeds as fast as 100 Mbps download/100 Mbps upload based on line requirements. Business High-Speed Internet Fee ($5.99/mo.) applies.
FiOS 500 Mbps offer: Must subscribe to new FiOS Internet for Business with minimum one-year agreement. Internet will be provisioned with maximum speeds as fast as 500 Mbps download/500 Mbps upload based on line requirements. Business High-Speed Internet Fee ($5.99/mo.) applies.
FiOS Gig Service offer: Must subscribe to new FiOS Internet for Business with minimum one-year agreement. Internet will be provisioned with maximum speeds as fast as 940 Mbps download/880 Mbps upload based on line requirements.
All FiOS Internet for Business offers: For new business customers in select Frontier FiOS areas. Maximum service speed is not available to all locations and the maximum speed for service at your location may be lower than the maximum speed in this range. Service speed is not guaranteed and will depend on many factors. Service and promotion subject to availability. Internet installation ($20), taxes, governmental surcharges, fees and other applicable charges extra, and subject to change during and after the promotional period. A $9.99 broadband processing fee upon disconnection of service applies. Early termination fee of $33.33 per month, times the remaining number of months in the term agreement, will apply. Other restrictions may apply. Frontier reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time. The FiOS marks are owned by Verizon Trademark Services LLC and used under license.
˚Speed based on wired connection. Available Internet speeds may vary by address. Gig capable modem required for Gig speed. For a list of Gig capable modems, visit Spectrum.net/modem.
