Best Internet Providers in Syracuse, New York

What is the best internet provider in Syracuse?

CNET recommends Verizon Fios as the premier Internet service provider option in Syracuse. If Verizon Fios isn’t available at your address, Spectrum is another solid option. Spectrum offers fast and reliable internet, but comes with a noticeable price increase after the first year. Plans start at $40 per month and go up to $70 for the gig plan.

T-Mobile is an additional option, with a price lock for as long as you stay subscribed, though its wireless connection can be more susceptible to network congestion compared to Spectrum or Verizon. You can also get a good discount when you bundle it with a mobile plan.

The best internet in Syracuse, New York

If Verizon Fios is available in a city, chances are it’s our top pick for internet there, and Syracuse is no different. Even if you can’t get Verizon at your address, you likely have at least one good option. According to Federal Communications Commission data, 100% of households in Syracuse have access to download speeds of 100 megabits per second and 10 Mbps upload.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data

Other available Internet providers in Syracuse

Many cities have several local Internet providers to consider in addition to nationwide ISPs. Unfortunately, there aren’t many other options available in Syracuse. Here’s everything else you can get in town:

• Satellite Internet: We usually recommend satellite internet only when you can’t get anything else, and that rule applies to Syracuse. HughesNet and Viasat provide service to 100% of the city, but like all satellite providers, they come with high prices, low data caps and slow speeds. Starlink is a faster satellite option, but equipment costs $349 upfront and plans start at $120 per month.
• Verizon 5G Home Internet: Like T-Mobile Home Internet, Verizon uses its 5G network for home Internet in Syracuse. You can get speeds of 300/10 Mbps for $50 a month or 1000/50 for $70 in some areas. There are no device charges or data limits on either plan.

Cheap internet options in Syracuse

Starting Internet prices in Syracuse average $45 a month, which is slightly higher than nearby Albany ($43). Low-income families in Syracuse also have the option of using Spectrum’s Internet Assist plan, which gets you 50 Mbps for $25 a month.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data

How to find deals and promotions online in Syracuse

The best internet deals and top promotions in Syracuse depend on what discounts are available at that time. Most deals are short-lived, but we often look for the latest deals.

Syracuse Internet providers like Spectrum may offer lower introductory prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, including Verizon Fios and T-Mobile, have the same standard prices year-round.

For a more extensive list of deals, check out our guide to the best internet deals.

How Fast Is Syracuse Broadband?

There are three Internet plans that offer gig speeds in Syracuse — about average for a city of its size. There are no ultrafast plans above 1000Mbps, most households will be fine with the speeds available. Verizon Fios is the only provider that offers symmetrical speeds in Syracuse.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data

What is a good internet speed?

Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for an Internet plan that can accommodate video conferencing, video streaming, or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a stronger connection. Here is a summary of the minimum recommended download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are guidelines only and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.

For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need

• 0 to 5 Mbps lets you handle the basics: web browsing, sending and receiving email, and streaming low-quality video.
• 5 to 40 Mbps gives you the highest quality video streaming and video conferencing.
• 40 to 100 Mbps should give a user enough bandwidth to meet the demands of modern telecommunications, video streaming and online gaming.
• 100 to 500 Mbps allows one to two users to engage in high-bandwidth activities such as video conferencing, streaming, and online gaming simultaneously.
• 500 to 1000 Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities such as video conferencing, streaming, and online gaming simultaneously.

How CNET picked the best Internet providers in Syracuse

Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router, or kitchen appliance, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What is our approach? We start by researching price, availability, and speed information based on our historical ISP data, provider sites, and map information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.

It doesn’t stop there: We go to the FCC website to check our records and make sure we account for every ISP that provides service in an area. We also enter local addresses into provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look to sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power, to gauge how satisfied customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent change; all information provided is correct at the time of publication.

Once we have this localized information, we ask three key questions:

1. Does the provider provide access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
2. Are customers getting good value for what they are paying?
3. Are customers satisfied with their service?

The answer to these questions is often layered and complex, but the providers that come closest to saying “yes” to all three are the ones we recommend. When it comes to choosing the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also consider things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively simple. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and also consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)

What’s the final word on Internet providers in Syracuse?

There is a clear winner when it comes to Internet in Syracuse. Verizon Fios offers the fastest speeds, the best value, and has the happiest customers. No matter where you live in the country, if Verizon Fios is available, it’s almost always the best choice. If you can’t get Fios, Spectrum and T-Mobile are both decent backup options, but each comes with obvious drawbacks — big price hikes for Spectrum and slower speeds for T-Mobile.

Syracuse Internet Provider FAQs