> At a Glance
> – Verizon Fios wins best overall provider in New York City
> – 63% of Americans overpay for unreliable service
> – Astound offers cheapest plan: $30 for 300Mbps
> Why it matters: Fiber beats cable on speed and reliability, but availability varies by borough
New Yorkers have dozens of internet options, yet only a handful deliver the speed, price and reliability most households need. After mapping availability and pricing across the five boroughs, one fiber provider pulls ahead.
Best Overall: Verizon Fios
CNET’s latest analysis crowns Verizon Fios the city’s top pick. Its 100% fiber network posts symmetrical speeds up to 2Gbps and scores 7.6 out of 10 in the outlet’s review system.
Plans start at $50 for 300Mbps and climb to $110 for the full 2Gbps tier. Autopay and wireless bundles drop those prices to $35 and $95, respectively.
Cheapest Reliable Option
Budget shoppers should eye Astound Broadband. The cable company sells a 300Mbps plan for $30 with no contract or data cap. Equipment is included, keeping the true monthly cost at that promo rate.
Other low-cost tiers:
- Spectrum Internet Advantage: $30 for 100Mbps
- Optimum 300: $40 for 300Mbps
- Astound 1Gig: $50 for 1,000Mbps
Speed Kings
Need maximum bandwidth? Optimum advertises 8Gbps down and up in parts of Brooklyn and the Bronx for $140. Verizon Fios caps out at 2.3Gbps, still plenty for multi-user 8K streaming and cloud backups.
Fastest widely available plans:
| Provider | Price | Max Down | Max Up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Optimum 8 Gig | $140 | 8,000Mbps | 8,000Mbps |
| Verizon Fios 2 Gig | $110 | 2,300Mbps | 2,000Mbps |
| Astound 1500 | $70 | 1,500Mbps | 1,000Mbps |
Key Takeaways
- Fiber beats cable on upload speeds-important for video calls and cloud storage
- Prices rise after 12 months with most cable promos; Verizon Fios rates stay flat
- Check your address on each provider’s site-block-level availability changes quickly
Fiber remains the gold standard, but solid cable alternatives exist if Verizon Fios hasn’t reached your building yet.
