Select four types of broadband connections, then click done.
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The best internet connection for you depends primarily on where you live and what download and upload speeds you need: Show
When it comes to our internet service, we're all looking for the same thing: a fast, reliable connection that isn't going the break the bank. Luckily for us, there are multiple options from which to choose, including cable, fiber, DSL, and satellite internet. But which of these internet connection types gives you the most bang for your buck? In this guide, we'll go through each type of internet connection and help you decide which one is best for your location, budget, and online habits. Types of Broadband Internet ConnectionsThere are four main types of high-speed internet services: fiber, cable, DSL, and satellite. Fiber InternetFiber internet is unique in that it uses fiber-optic cables containing glass or plastic filaments. Instead of using electricity to send data, these delicate fibers use light pulses to transmit information—literally delivering your internet connection at the speed of light. This ultra-fast broadband internet offers yet another advantage—symmetrical download and upload speeds. Typically, upload speeds are significantly slower, as most people use more bandwidth to download information to their devices. But with fiber internet, upload speeds are nearly always equal, making it an excellent choice for activities drawing heavily from your device, such as video conferencing or live gaming. The biggest downside: Fiber internet is not yet widely available, due to the costly nature of building the infrastructure from scratch. Still, the technology is steadily making its way through the U.S., led by the likes of Google Fiber, Verizon Fios, and AT&T. If you're lucky enough to have it in your area, it's highly worth consideration, especially since plan prices have been steadily dropping as more ISPs build out their fiber networks. See how two of these ISPs stack up against each other in our comparison of AT&T and Google Fiber. Pros:
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Popular Fiber Internet PlansFilters #1 Verizon Fios Verizon Fios Internet 300/300 Mbps
$39.99/mo Go $39.99/mo Go #2 Frontier Frontier Fiber 500
$49.99/mo Go $49.99/mo Go #3 CenturyLink CenturyLink Internet Only 200Mbps
$30/mo Go $30/mo Go #4 AT&T AT&T Internet 1000
$90/mo Go $90/mo (plan + modem) Go #5 EarthLink EarthLink HyperLink 5Gbps
$189.95/mo Go $189.95/mo Go Sorted by popularity, based on user clicks from last 7 days View Full Results ~ Last Updated 12/17/2022Powered By  How WhistleOut Works Cable InternetCable is one of the most common types of internet. It uses the same coaxial cables as—you guessed it—a cable TV connection, sending information through the copper wires via electricity. That means buildings routed for cable television already have the infrastructure for internet access. It's also quite fast, with many cable internet providers offering speeds ranging from 25-400Mbps, and sometimes up to 1Gbps. And because cable networks are already built out, unlike emerging fiber networks, cable internet prices tend to be wide-ranging to meet a variety of budgets. Keep in mind, though, that your cable internet bandwidth is shared among other network users in your area. When you get home from work and finally start streaming your favorite shows, all of your neighbors are likely doing the same thing. If they have cable internet too, you could experience network congestion, leading to deprioritization and slower speeds. Rural customers may find cable internet hard to come by altogether, because of the difficulty connecting miles of cables to reach remote areas and/or laying underground wires in rugged terrain. Pros:
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Popular Cable Internet PlansFilters #1 WOW! WOW! Internet 100Mbps
$9.99/mo Go $9.99/mo Go#2 Cox Cox Internet Essential 100Mbps
$49.99/mo Go $49.99/mo Go #3 Astound Broadband Powered by Grande Communications Astound Broadband Powered by Grande Communications Power 300
$25.99/mo Go $25.99/mo Go #4 Xfinity Xfinity Performance Plus 60
$49.99/mo Go $49.99/mo Go #5 Optimum Optimum Optimum 1 Gig
$85/mo Go $85/mo Go Sorted by popularity, based on user clicks from last 7 days View Full Results ~ Last Updated 12/17/2022Powered By How WhistleOut Works DSL InternetDSL stands for "digital subscriber line." Like cable internet, it utilizes the copper wires inside cables to transmit data via electricity. But unlike cable, it does this through your landline phone network, rather than your television network. How is DSL different from dial-up internet? Instead of using the same frequencies as voice calls (and interrupting your phone service in the process), DSL signals travel through dedicated unused frequencies in the phone wires that bypass your voice connection completely. Because telephone networks are quite robust, DSL is the most widely available and reliable type of internet connection in the world, making it an excellent choice for rural customers without access to cable or fiber. It also offers decent speeds for most basic internet uses, like browsing and light streaming. That said, download speeds top out around 100Mbps, so if you're a multi-device, data-heavy household, you might find DSL a little slower than you need. DSL internet speed is also affected by how far away you are from your internet service provider—the farther away, the more delay (the rhyme makes it easy to remember). And the aerial nature of your phone network leaves your internet connection open to weather-related interruptions. One major plus for DSL: It is unaffected by network congestion. So even in times of peak usage, you can count on getting the same speed you would otherwise. Some popular DSL internet providers are AT&T, Windstream, CenturyLink, and EarthLink. Pros:
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Popular DSL Internet PlansFilters #1 AT&T AT&T Internet 18
$55/mo Go $55/mo (plan + modem) Go #2 EarthLink EarthLink HyperLink 300Mbps
$69.95/mo Go $69.95/mo Go #3 CenturyLink CenturyLink Internet 40Mbps
$50/mo Go $50/mo Go #4 Windstream Windstream Premium Plus Kinetic Internet 50-100Mbps
$29.99/mo Go $29.99/mo Go #5 Ziply Ziply DSL 3M
$35/mo Go $35/mo Go Sorted by popularity, based on user clicks from last 7 days View Full Results ~ Last Updated 12/17/2022Powered By How WhistleOut Works Satellite InternetSatellite internet sends and receives signals via a dish installed at your home, pinging satellites that orbit with the Earth's rotation. The main advantage of satellite internet is its versatility. Since it doesn’t require cables or wires to work, satellite internet can be accessed by customers living in rural areas where the infrastructure for cable, DSL, or fiber connectivity is absent. That said, satellite offers the slowest speeds, especially its latency—the delay between when your signal pings the satellite and then receives a response. This makes sense, as you're sending data all the way to space and back, but it's definitely a roadblock to many activities that need quicker speeds for optimal performance, although Starlink and Project Kuiper are poised to improve download speeds and latency in the near future. It's also incredibly sensitive to weather, solar flares, and other natural phenomena; even a rogue tree branch can impede your signal. Satellite internet is also pretty pricey, considering the better service you'd get with cable or DSL plans for the same plan prices. Pros:
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Popular Satellite Internet PlansFilters #1 HughesNet HughesNet 15GB
$44.99/mo Go $44.99/mo Go #2 Viasat Exede Viasat Exede Unlimited Silver 25
$69.99/mo Go $69.99/mo Go Sorted by popularity, based on user clicks from last 7 days View Full Results ~ Last Updated 12/17/2022Powered By How WhistleOut Works Other Internet Connection TypesMobile InternetMobile broadband denotes a wireless internet connection via the same connectivity and coverage of cell phone carriers like Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, Cricket, and AT&T. It is typically connected via portable modem or hotspot, which is different than the fixed line modem that is connected via cable or telephone line. Many people prefer this type of connection for low data, on-the-go usage—the speeds are typically excellent, making it a great form of portable internet service. Pros:
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Popular Mobile Internet PlansFilters #1 Verizon Verizon 5G Home (Existing Verizon Customers)
$25/mo Go $25/mo Go #2 T-Mobile T-Mobile 4G Home Internet
$50/mo Go $50/mo Go#3 AT&T AT&T 50GB Wireless Internet
$60/mo Call for More 855-720-0636 $60/mo Call for More 855-720-0636 #4 Rise Broadband Rise Broadband 25 Mbps Internet
$49.95/mo Go $49.95/mo GoSorted by popularity, based on user clicks from last 7 days View Full Results ~ Last Updated 12/17/2022Powered By How WhistleOut Works 5G Home Internet5G home internet is similar to a mobile hotspot, but it's a little different because it's mobile broadband that has specifically been created for homes. To create the connection, mobile companies install small cell towers at or near a wired fiber source and then those towers deliver data to your 5G home router and WiFi modem—which delivers data to your devices. The latest WiFi 6 devices can significantly improve your home internet connection, especially if you have lots of users connecting to the same Wi-Fi signal. Even though it's not widely available yet, all four of the top mobile companies: AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile have begun installing small cell towers throughout cities to deliver the service into homes. Pros:
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We're Sorry This product is no longer available View All Plans From Verizon Choosing the Right Internet ConnectionConsider Your LocationYour location is the number one factor in narrowing down the right kind of internet for you. Some internet types may not even be options for you because of where you live. For example, fiber internet is not yet available nationwide as the infrastructure continues to grow. Rural and other remote locations typically have limited access to cable internet, too. You can find out what internet plans are available in your area by using WhistleOut's internet search tool. Type in your address to see only the internet options accessible at your home. Evaluate Your Speed RequirementsYour online experience is directly affected by how fast your internet connection is. Basic web browsing and email doesn't require a super speedy connection for a smooth experience, but activities like live TV streaming, gaming, and video calling require a much faster connection to prevent lags—especially if you have multiple users and connected devices in your household. Here are a few common activities and their recommended speeds. Please note that connection types have max speeds:
Internet Speed RecommendationsActivity 1 UserUp to 4 UsersBasic Web Use 1Mbps4MbpsStreaming Music.5Mbps2MbpsStreaming Standard Video4Mbps16MbpsStreaming HD Video8Mbps32MbpsStreaming 4K Video25Mbps100MbpsStandard Video Call1Mbps4MbpsOnline Gaming4Mbps All of these types of internet connections offer different maximum speeds, and it's important to note that your average daily speed may not meet this threshold. So, for example, if you have four or five power-users in your home, you'll need a connection that offers a higher maximum speed like cable or fiber (if it's available in your area). Satellite provides the slowest speeds and least reliable connection, so if you're in a rural area, consider DSL first before opting for a satellite plan. Internet Speed TestIs your internet fast enough? Test internet speeds at your location with a single click. Start Speed TestYour last speed test was Mbps on . Powered by M-Lab 0 Mbps Powered by M-Lab Your Internet Speed Is0 Mbps Start a New Test Show More InfoLatencyms Upload Speed0 Mbps Server: Powered by M-Lab We're Sorry An error occurred and we can't perform the speed test. Start a New Test Set Your BudgetOnce you've evaluated what kind of internet is available in your area, and you've figured out the best range of speeds to fit your daily habits, the last factor to consider is cost. Fiber is the newest, fastest, and often most expensive type of internet service, but plan prices are quickly falling to costs on par with similar cable plans. AT&T's fiber-connected GigaPower Internet plan, for example, is very close in price to many cable-connected plans offering slower download speeds, making it an especially good value. We're Sorry This product is no longer available View All Plans From AT&T DSL internet plan prices are also typically on par with cable internet prices—but you also get faster speeds with most cable plans, so take that into consideration for determining what you're getting for your dollar. Satellite tends to be the most expensive of the bunch, since your speeds are significantly slower and reliability much lower for the price you pay. Find the Best Internet PlanNow that you know the different types of internet services available to you, you can compare plans and providers in your area. Type your address into our state-of-the-art search engine so you can get the results you're looking for right away. Remember, as the broadband infrastructure grows in your area, more options will become available. If you were hoping to get fiber or 5G internet, but it's not available to you right now, keep checking back—new plans are being introduced every day! Which of the following is true about broadband connections?Which of the following is true about broadband connections? Broadband connections are "always-on" with devices connected to them.
Which of the following are types of home Internet service?DSL, cable internet, fiber-optic, satellite and fixed wireless internet are some of the most popular kinds.
What is a high speed Internet connection that is always connected and has a bandwidth greater than 2 Mbps?Broadband is the transmission of high-quality data of wide bandwidth. In its simplest form, it is a high-speed Internet connection that is always on. Broadband connections include Wi-Fi, DSLs, fiber, and satellites.
Is a type of always on broadband Internet service that transmits data over standard telephone lines but does not tie up your phone line?ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) is a technology that facilitates fast data transmission at a high bandwidth on existing copper wire telephone lines to homes and businesses. Unlike regular dial-up copper telephone line service, ADSL provides continuously available, always-on broadband connections.
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