Best Internet Providers in Charles Town, West Virginia
Charles Town, West Virginia, is just a 64-mile drive west of Washington, DC. While it may not enjoy the same fast lifestyle as the nation's capital, it has some fast internet. Fiber, even. If you live in the eastern corner of West Virginia, you can choose between multiple internet providers that make streaming and gaming easy.
According to the latest Ookla data, West Virginia ranks 42nd in the nation regarding internet speeds. As a state, its median download speed is just over 149 megabits per second. That being said, Charles Town is above average. Multiple plans promise at least 1 gigabit per second download speed.
Internet options in Charles Town range from satellite to fiber. The most recent Federal Communications Commission data from 2021 put Comcast's Xfinity internet service at the head of the leaderboard when it comes to the fastest download speeds. However, you'll also find good speed from Shentel and Frontier. Today, Frontier's fiber plan is the fastest. The best internet plan for you will depend on your budget and how you use the internet.
Best internet providers in Charles Town
For a small town, Charles Town delivers impressive high-speed internet and many plans. The best provider for our money is Xfinity, which promises fast speeds without an astronomical price.
Note: The prices, speeds and features detailed in the article text may differ from those listed in the product detail cards, which represent providers’ national offerings. Your particular internet service options -- including prices and speeds -- depend on your address and may differ from those detailed here.
Xfinity
Best internet provider in Charles Town, WV
Our take - Xfinity covers about 97% of Charles Town, which makes it nearly ubiquitous here. It offers several plans that can accommodate most budgets. It also has some of the faster download speeds in Charles Town. You can get internet with up to 1.2Gbps download speeds and unlimited data for just $80 monthly.
Frontier
Best high-speed internet in Charles Town, WV
Our take - Frontier is the best plan for people who need superfast speeds and don't mind paying for it. If you watch a lot of videos or are a gamer, this is probably the best option.
T-Mobile Home Internet
Best internet bundle plan in Charles Town, WV
Our take - T-Mobile Home Internet might be the best plan for people who already use T-Mobile for cell service and want to streamline their subscriptions. The company offers a decent coverage area, too.
Internet providers in Charles Town overview
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Points Broadband | Fixed wireless | $89-$299 | 4-25Mbps | One-time purchase between $99-$199 | None | None | N/A |
|
Frontier Read full review | DSL/fiber | $50-$155 | 500-5,000Mbps | None | None | None | 6.3 |
|
HughesNet Read full review | Satellite | $50-$150 | 25Mbps | $15 | None | 24 months | 5.7 |
| Shentel | Cable | $65-$200 | 50Mbps-1,000Mbps | None | None | None | N/A |
|
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | Fixed wireless | $50 | 33-182Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Viasat | Satellite | $70-$300 | 12-150Mbps | $15 | None | 24 months | 6.1 |
|
Xfinity Read full review | Cable | $25-$80 | 200Mbps-1,200Mbps | $15 (skippable) | None | None | 7 |
All available Charles Town residential internet providers
Other internet service providers in Charles Town exist besides Xfinity, Frontier and T-Mobile. Depending on your budget or speed requirements, you may also want to consider one of the following companies.
- All Points Broadband: This company specializes in underserved markets, so it may be a viable option if you're on the outskirts of town. It's pricey, with plans starting at $89 per month for just 4Mbps.
- HughesNet: HughesNet is another satellite internet provider in Charles Town. Plans start at $65 per month for 25Mbps speed. More expensive plans don't offer faster download speeds but do offer more data usage before you slow down.
- Shentel: This company has speeds up to 1Gbps at $200 per month, but you can also get 50Mbps speeds for $65 per month if Shentel is available at your address. The company only covers about 15% of Charles Town as of early 2023.
- Viasat: Viasat offers satellite internet, which may be right for rural customers who are not within range of other providers. Plans start at $70 per month.
Pricing info on Charles Town home internet service
You can expect to pay at least $50 per month for internet in Charles Town, though the fastest plans go for well over $100 monthly. A more expensive plan is often worth it if you have multiple users or want to play video games.
Cheap internet options in the Charles Town metro area
With Xfinity offering a plan at just $25 per month, you can get quality service at a low price in Charles Town. T-Mobile and HughesNet also come in at under $60 per month, but T-Mobile requires no contract and has no additional equipment fee. If you want to save even more, see if the Affordable Connectivity Program will help lower your monthly internet expenses.
What's the cheapest internet plan in Charles Town?
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Xfinity Connect More Read full review | $25 | 200Mbps | None ($15 after 24 months) | None |
|
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | $50 | 182Mbps | None | None |
| HughesNet | $50 | 25Mbps | $15 | None |
|
Frontier Fiber 500 Read full review | $60 | 500Mbps | None | None |
| Shentel | $65 | 50Mbps | $8 | None |
Fastest internet providers in Charles Town
Charles Town has surprisingly fast speeds for West Virginia, where the median download speed for the state is approximately 149Mbps. Fiber options in this part of the state are the best way to guarantee that you'll enjoy fast downloads and uninterrupted streaming.
Frontier and Xfinity have the fastest plans in Charles Town. Frontier has two multigig internet plans, and the provider also throws in a free router.
What are the fastest internet plans in Charles Town?
| Provider | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Starting price | Data cap | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Frontier Fiber 5 Gig Read full review | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | $155 | None | None |
|
Frontier Fiber 2 Gig Read full review | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | $100 | None | None |
|
Frontier Fiber 1 Gig Read full review | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | $70 | None | None |
|
Xfinity Gigabit Extra Read full review | 1,200Mbps | 35Mbps | $80 | None | None |
| Shentel | 1,000Mbps | 10Mbps | $200 | 3.25TB | None |
What's the final word on internet providers in Charles Town?
If you need fast internet in Charles Town, look no further than Frontier plans. If price is top of mind, the cheapest Xfinity plan will leave a budget for streaming platforms. It's worth noting that while 5Gbps plans are impressive, most casual internet users won't require that type of speed to be satisfied with their service.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Charles Town
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
But it doesn’t end there. We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we’re considering every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. To evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP's service, we look at sources including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of the time of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Do customers get decent value for what they're paying?
- Are customers happy with their service?
While the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend.
To explore our process in more depth, visit our How We Test ISPs page.
Internet providers in Charles Town FAQs
Is fiber internet available in Charles Town?
Yes. Internet provider Frontier offers fiber internet in Charles Town.
Who is the cheapest internet provider in Charles Town?
Xfinity offers the cheapest plan in Charles Town, with a $25 monthly price tag for 200Mpbs speed. This plan is recommended for use in households that only need support for about five devices at once, depending on your activity.
Which internet provider in Charles Town offers the fastest plan?
Frontier has the fastest internet plans in Charles Town. Its top tier features 5Gbps speed, ample for use with many devices simultaneously.
Home Internet Guides
- Sometimes a provider is available in your Zip code, but not at your exact address
- See what exact plans are available at your home
