Best Internet Providers in Virginia
Our Experts
- 2013 Media Award Winner Issued by Press Club Long Island
What is the best internet provider in Virginia?
Virginia can thank its small selection of large internet service providers for high median speeds. The one ISP that rises above the rest in the state is Verizon, whose Fios boasts high median speeds of about 235Mbps and even faster in Chesapeake and Virginia Beach. It’s partly why CNET selects Verizon Fios as the best internet provider in Virginia. It should be an easy choice if you can access its excellent fiber offering (mostly available in Virginia’s cities and the Washington, DC, area). If Verizon Fios is unavailable in your area, fret not. Virginians can also get online through T-Mobile, Xfinity, Cox, satellite internet providers and smaller ISPs.
Our methodology
CNET considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service in Virginia 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 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. At the same time, the text is specific to what's available in Virginia. 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. Discounts and promotions might also be available for signing a term contract or bundling multiple services.
To learn more about how we review internet providers, visit our full methodology page.
Best internet options in Virginia
Verizon Fios
Best internet provider in Virginia
Our take - While Verizon offers three ways to connect online in Virginia -- DSL, 5G and fiber -- it’s Verizon Fios, the company’s 100% fiber internet service, that gets our top recommendation for internet access in the state. It’s no wonder. Not only is Fios fast, but it’s also loved by customers, as shown by a recent survey.
Xfinity
Best cable internet provider in Virginia
Our take - For those who don't have access to Verizon Fios, connecting through Xfinity is the next sure bet, as it offers a range of plans at great introductory prices.
T-Mobile Home Internet
Broadest 5G coverage in Virginia
Our take - Virginians have access to 5G home internet from both Verizon and T-Mobile. Still, given the limited availability of the former (mostly in the DC area, Richmond and along the eastern coast), we're giving the nod to T-Mobile, whose 5G internet is available to about 70% of Virginia households.
Ting Internet
Best fiber in Alexandria and Charlottesville
Our take - Ting, a growing fiber internet provider that services only select towns in six states, offers its gigabit plan in Alexandria and Charlottesville.
Verizon 5G Home Internet
Best rural internet alternative in Virginia
Our take - Rather than trying a rural or satellite internet provider, we found this piece of advice from a Reddit page on internet connectivity in rural Virginia: "Try T-Mobile Home Internet or Verizon 5G Home Internet. T-Mobile Home Internet … worked okay for a bit, but I later tried Verizon's 5G Home Internet, and it was better," wrote user goldmund22.
Rural internet options in Virginia
| Provider | Connection type | Price range | Speed range | Data cap | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brightspeed | DSL | $50 | Up to 40Mbps | Unlimited | Charlottesville area and along southern border |
|
Hughesnet Read full review | Satellite | $50-$90 | 15-100Mbps | 100-200GB | Entire state |
|
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | Fixed wireless | $60 ($40 with eligible phone plans) | 72-245Mbps | None | Entire state |
|
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 with eligible phone plans) | 50-1,000Mbps | None | Entire state |
|
Viasat Read full review | Satellite | $50-$300 | 25-100Mbps | 40-300GB | Entire state |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data
Virginia broadband at a glance
Virginia is for lovers of fast internet speeds. The southern state formerly held the distinction of having the fastest internet speeds in the country, at an impressive average of 13.7 megabits per second. That was in 2014, and the state has come a long way since then. Old Dominion now sees median download speeds of about 203Mbps, according to Ookla, placing it in a respectable 20th place among the 50 states and neighboring Washington, DC, regarding internet speeds.
One of its cities fared even better on Ookla’s rankings, with Chesapeake ranking 15th among the 100 most populous US cities with median download speeds of about 253Mbps. Virginia Beach was in the top half at 42nd with median speeds of approximately 233Mbps. Norfolk can be found further down in the rankings in 72nd place, with median download speeds of about 209Mbps.
Every Virginian has access to internet speeds of at least 25Mbps, according to the Federal Communication Commission, but that’s likely due to pricier options from satellite internet providers Hughesnet and Viasat. Speeds in the state are solid overall, with median download speeds of about 203Mbps. Virginia likely gets a boost from about 45% of its households having access to fiber internet with speeds of 250Mbps (particularly in cities such as Chesapeake and Virginia Beach) and a much smaller portion of 10% who can access speeds of 1,000Mbps.
Internet breakdown by city in Virginia
It’s hard to cover the broadband options of an entire state and give individual areas the attention they deserve. That’s why we also compile lists of the best internet providers in cities across the US, including those in Virginia. We tackle details such as internet connection types, maximum speeds and cheapest providers. Check back later if you don’t find the city you’re looking for below. We’re working to add more locations every week.
- Best internet providers in Alexandria
- Best internet providers in Arlington
- Best internet providers in Charlottesville
- Best internet providers in Chesapeake
- Best internet providers in Lynchburg
- Best internet providers in Norfolk
- Best internet providers in Richmond
- Best internet providers in Roanoke
- Best internet providers in Virginia Beach
Internet pricing in Virginia
The starting price for internet service in Virginia will vary based on where you live, with people in rural areas forced to pay a premium for slower speeds. For a ballpark figure, expect to pay around $50 per month to get online, but cheaper plans are available from Xfinity. Existing customers of certain T-Mobile or Verizon plans can get discounted rates on their 5G home internet offerings. Low-income households qualifying for the Federal Communication Commission’s Affordable Connectivity Program could get $30 knocked off their monthly bills.
Future of broadband in Virginia
More Virginians will have access to high-speed internet shortly, WDBJ reports, thanks to a $1.4 billion investment from the federal government’s Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program. The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration estimates 364,156 Virginia homes and small businesses lack access to high-speed internet, but is this number accurate? The FCC wants input from Virginians, according to Virginia Mercury. Separately, Verizon announced it would install more than 120 miles of fiber-optic cables in Caroline County and Greensville County, expanding access to 3,000 households and businesses, WRIC reports.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Virginia
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. 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 FCC.gov.
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 page on how we test ISPs.
Internet in Virginia FAQs
Does Virginia have good internet?
It depends on where you live, but many Virginians can access good internet. Median download speeds are around 203Mbps, according to Ookla, placing Virginia in a respectable 20th place among the 50 states and neighboring District of Columbia in terms of internet speeds. You can access high-speed fiber internet if you live in a city, especially Chesapeake, Richmond and Virginia Beach.
Is there fiber internet in Virginia?
Yes. About 45% of Virginians have access to fiber internet, thanks to Verizon Fiosand (less so) Ting, the latter of which is available only in Alexandria and Charlottesville. Fios is more widely available, but only in the eastern part of the state.
Is Verizon or Xfinity better for internet in Virginia?
If you have access to Verizon Fios, the choice should be clear. If fiber isn't an option, more factors are in play. To help you decide, check out CNET’s guide to comparing the internet options from Xfinity and Verizon.
Home Internet Guides
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