Best Internet Providers in Reading, Pennsylvania
Our Experts
What is the best internet provider in Reading?
Xfinity is the best internet service provider in Reading, Pennsylvania, largely because it is the only practical wired internet option in the area. As the area's main broadband source, Xfinity offers the cheapest internet in Reading ($25 a month for speeds up to 150 megabits per second) and the fastest speeds, up to 2,000Mbps.
If you’re looking for alternatives to Xfinity in Reading, unfortunately, there’s not much to be had. Frontier offers DSL internet in parts of Reading, but speeds are likely below what qualifies as broadband, and at $65 per month, pricing is higher than what you’d pay for up to 800Mbps from Xfinity.
Wireless internet, from Verizon 5G Home Internet and T-Mobile Home Internet, is the only reasonable broadband choice aside from Xfinity in Reading. Verizon 5G Home Internet has better pricing and speed potential, while T-Mobile Home Internet boasts better coverage. Both providers offer a discount for bundling with mobile service.
Our methodology
CNET considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service in Reading across several categories. Our evaluation includes referencing a proprietary database built over years of reviewing internet services. We validate that against provider information by spot-checking local addresses for service availability. We also do a close read of providers' terms and conditions and, when needed, will call ISPs to verify the details.
Despite our efforts to find the most recent and accurate information, our process has some limitations you should know about. Pricing and speed data are variable: certain addresses may qualify for different service tiers, and monthly costs may vary, even within a city. The best way to identify your particular options is to plug your address into a provider's website.
Also, the prices, speed and other information listed above and in the provider cards below may differ from what we found in our research. The cards display the full range of a provider's pricing and speed across the US, according to our database of plan information provided directly by ISPs, while the text is specific to what's available in Reading. The prices referenced within this article's text come from our research and include applicable discounts for setting up automatic payments each month -- a standard industry offering. Other discounts and promotions might also be available for things like signing a term contract or bundling with multiple services.
To learn more about how we review internet providers, visit our full methodology page.
Best internet in Reading, Pennsylvania
Xfinity
Best internet provider in Reading, PA
Our take - Lack of local competition leaves Xfinity as the best internet provider in Reading, but even if there were other ISPs available, Xfinity would likely still stand out as a top option. Xfinity has low introductory pricing and fast speeds, especially for a cable internet provider. A $15 equipment rental fee may apply, and a one-year contract may be required for the lowest price.
Verizon 5G Home Internet
Best fixed wireless internet in Reading, PA
Our take - If you’re looking for an alternative to Xfinity, see if your address is eligible for Verizon 5G Home Internet. At 50 to 300Mbps or 85 to 1,000Mbps, depending on the plan you choose, the speed potential is higher than T-Mobile Home Internet, while the starting price is $10 lower.
T-Mobile Home Internet
Best fixed wireless coverage in Reading, PA
Our take - While Verizon 5G Home Internet is the better value on fixed wireless internet in Reading, more local households will be serviceable for T-Mobile Home Internet. Speeds are slower at 72 to 245Mbps, and pricing can be higher than Verizon at $60 monthly. Still, the service is worth checking out if you’re seeking alternatives to Xfinity.
Reading, Pennsylvania, internet providers compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Frontier Read full review | DSL | $65 | Varies | None | None | None | 6.3 |
|
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | Fixed wireless | $60 ($40 with eligible mobile plans) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
|
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 with eligible mobile plans) | 50-1,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
|
Xfinity Read full review | Cable | $25-$100 | 150-2,000Mbps | $15 (optional) | None | 1 year (optional) | 7 |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Reading?
| Plan | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Xfinity Connect Read full review | $25 | 150Mbps | $15 (optional) |
|
Xfinity Connect More Read full review | $35 | 300Mbps | $15 (optional) |
|
Xfinity Fast Read full review | $45 | 500Mbps | $15 (optional) |
|
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | $50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 300Mbps | None |
|
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | $60 ($40 with eligible mobile plans) | 245Mbps | None |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Reading
The best internet deals and top promotions in Reading depend on what discounts are available during that time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Reading internet providers, such as T-Mobile Home Internet and Xfinity, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, including Verizon 5G Home Internet and Frontier, run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
Fastest internet plans in Reading
| Plan | Starting price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Xfinity Gigabit x2 Read full review | $100 | 2,000Mbps | 200Mbps | None | Cable |
|
Xfinity Gigabit Extra Read full review | $80 | 1,200Mbps | 35Mbps | None | Cable |
|
Xfinity Gigabit Read full review | $60 | 1,000Mbps | 20Mbps | 1.2TB | Cable |
|
Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read full review | $70 ($45 with eligible mobile plans) | 1,000Mbps | 75Mbps | None | Fixed wireless |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s 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 videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you'll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here's an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines -- 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 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics -- browsing the internet, sending and receiving email, streaming low-quality video.
- 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
- 40 to 100Mbps should give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
- 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming.
- 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Reading, Pennsylvania
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 consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as 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 answers to those questions are often layered and complex, the providers that come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, though we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
Internet providers in Reading, Pennsylvania, FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Reading?
As the only wired broadband provider available in the area, Xfinity is the best internet provider in Reading, Pennsylvania. Xfinity has the best availability and plan variety in Reading, including the area's cheapest and fastest internet plans.
Is fiber internet available in Reading?
According to the most recent FCC data, fiber internet is unavailable in Reading, Pennsylvania. Frontier and Verizon, two of the nation’s largest fiber internet providers, are available in Reading, but neither offer fiber service in the area. Xfinity also offers fiber internet in select areas, though Reading isn't one of them.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Reading?
Xfinity has the cheapest internet plan in Reading, with service starting at $25 monthly for download speeds up to 150Mbps. Xfinity offers two additional plans with starting prices lower than standard pricing from Verizon 5G Home Internet or T-Mobile Home Internet. Xfinity Connect More and Xfinity Fast start at $35 and $45 monthly for speeds up to 300 and 500Mbps, respectively.
Which internet provider in Reading offers the fastest plan?
Xfinity is the only provider to offer speeds higher than 1Gbps in Reading. Xfinity Gibabit Extra has max download speeds of 1,200Mbps, while the Gigabit x2 plan offers up to 2,000Mbps. Verizon 5G Home Internet presents max speeds of up to 1,000Mbps, but actual speeds are likely slower as the plan advertises a range of 85 to 1,000Mbps.
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
