In this tech-savvy world, a reliable Internet is essential for everything: from keeping you connected to your family to helping you conduct business online and even order food in the middle of the night. New Jersey residents are no strangers to this reality, but with so many available internet options claiming to be the best, choosing the right option can be overwhelming.
Having lived in New Jersey for several years, I have been through hell and back trying to find a decent internet. Despite being disappointed with my previous ISP, I attempted to switch providers only to find myself locked into a 2-year contract.
So, before you make the same mistake as me and sign up for an ISP that fails to meet your expectations, here is a quick guide to help you navigate through countless ISP options in New Jersey.
Best Internet Providers in New Jersey at a Glance
Check out the best ISP for your needs in New Jersey, comparing providers based on speed, pricing, data caps, and additional features:
ISP | Recommended for
| Data cap | Contract | Starting Price | Download Speed
|
Optimum | Asymmetrical speeds | No Data Caps | No Contracts | $40/mo | Up to 8000 Mbps |
Xfinity | Wide range of bundles | 1.2 TB internet data per month | No contract options available | $25/mo | Up to 1200 Mbps |
Verizon Fios | Best fiber internet | No data cap | No Contracts | $34.99/mo | Up to 2 Gig |
Hughesnet | Extensive availability | Unlimited data | 2-year contract | $49.99/mo | up to 100 Mbps |
Viasat | High-speed rural internet | Unlimited data | No contracts | $64.99 /mo | up to 150 Mbps |
Disclaimer: Prices, speeds and packages availability may vary from area to area
The above-mentioned table offers a quick overview of the best ISPs. However, the table only offers a side-by-side comparison of price, download speed, and some other important features. To make the decision process easy for you, let us look at some details from the users’ point of view.
Deep Dive into the World of Best Internet Service Providers in New Jersey
Optimum
Availability and Coverage: 21 States
Connection Type: Cable and Fiber
Offered Services: Internet, TV, Phone
What Makes It Users Favorite?
- Free WiFi Extender: Optimum offers free WiFi extender for users to eliminate any possibility of a weak signal zone
- 60-Day Money-back Guarantee: Optimum offers two months for the customer to decide if they want to stick around.
- Wide range of packages: From 300 Mbps to 8 Gig, Optimum offers the widest range of internet packages for customers.
- No data cap: Enjoy unlimited internet at all times without ever thinking of running out of data.
What Makes It A Difficult Choice?
- Limited availability: Currently, Optimum is only available in 21 states, so you need to check the availability in your area
- Rental fee for equipment: Some optimum equipment is subject to rental fees.
- Limited fiber plans: Although Optimum offers fiber plans, however, these plans are very limited
Availability and Coverage: 35 states
Connection Type: Hybrid Fiber-Coax
Offered Services: Internet, Phone, Home Security, TV
What Makes It Users Favorite?
- Affordability factor: Xfinity is so far one of the most affordable internet companies in the market.
- Bundling options: Xfinity Internet offers customized bundles for its users, so each customer can enjoy a personalized experience.
- Add-on option: Xfinity offers users an opportunity to bundle up all services, i.e. internet, TV, phone, and home security service into a single bill
- Fast download speed: The brand also offers a fast download speed of up to 1.2 Gig
- Free calls: with Xfinity Voice, customers can enjoy unlimited calls within the US and to nearly half of the world
What Makes It A Difficult Choice?
- Limited upload speed: While the download speed is an exception, it is difficult to say the same about the upload speed
- Data cap: Users who want unlimited data might not find Xfinity a good choice for them as it has a cap at 1.2 TB/month (in select areas).
- Pay extra for unlimited: For lifting the data cap and enjoying unlimited data, the user can choose to pay a little extra.
- Annual price revision: Although the signup price is very low, after the promotional period, the customer can expect a price revision
Verizon Fios
Availability and Coverage: 8 states and Washington, D.C.
Connection Type: Fiber
Offered Services: Internet, Phone, TV
What Makes It Users Favorite?
- Asymmetrical speed: Verizon Fios offers fast upload as well as download speeds for the user.
- Unlimited Internet: with Verizon Fios, users can expect to enjoy unlimited internet without any monthly or annual data cap.
- Discounted pricing on bundles of internet, streaming services, and cell phone service.
What Makes It A Difficult Choice?
- Expensive: users who are on a budget or have affordability as their top priority might not like Verizon Fios.
- Higher speed requirement: customers who want a better download speed or at least more than one gigabit per second might not like Verizon Fios.
Hughesnet
Availability and Coverage: All 50 states
Connection Type: Satellite, Wireless
Offered Services: Internet and voice over Internet protocol (VoIP)
What Makes It Users Favorite?
- Available everywhere: Hughesnet offers its services that other providers fail to reach.
- Family users: Hughesnet offers simultaneous connection for 5 devices, so it is perfect for families.
What Makes It A Difficult Choice?
- Advanced online activities: Hughesnet is not a good choice for online gamers or streamers
- Affordability: considering the speed and price, Hughesnet doesn’t offer good enough value, however, it is the easiest option because of availability.
- Business user: Hughesnet is not recommended for businesses because of its high latency so, it is not ideal for video conferencing.
Viasat
Availability and Coverage: All 50 states
Connection Type: Satellite internet
Offered Services: Internet and voice over Internet protocols (VOIP)
What Makes It Users Favorite?
- Country-wide availability: In rural areas, suburbs, or even in remote places, you can expect Viasat to be your connectivity partner
- No data caps: Unlike other satellite internet that lock their customers in data caps, Viasat offers unlimited data
- No dead signal zone: Viasat offers state-of-the-art Wi-Fi so users can enjoy seamless connectivity without weak or dead signal zones.
- What Makes It A Difficult Choice?
- Less speed: Although Viasat offers good enough speeds as satellite internet, it is still slower than Fiber, Cable, and DSL internet.
- Network congestion: As a Satellite internet, you can expect slow internet due to network congestion.
Key Takeaways:
As a new resident in NJ, here are a few key factors that can help you in your decision:
Availability: Before deciding, verify the ISP's availability in your area, as coverage can vary.
Have a backup: If you live in the suburbs, always keep a satellite internet as your backup.
Terms and Conditions: make sure to go through terms and conditions before signing up with any ISP.
