Best ISPs in Utica, NY

What is the best ISP in Utica?

Utica doesn’t have many options when it comes to home broadband, and you’ll likely only have access to satellite, fixed wireless and cable internet connections. Spectrum is CNET’s top pick for the best Internet in Utica. It’s our top pick because it offers an easy range of plans and broad coverage available to over 94% of households, according to the latest data from the Federal Communications Commission. In addition to being widely available in the area, Spectrum is also among cheapest internet providers in the city — at least in the first year.

Spectrum has a $50 per month plan for download speeds of 500 megabits per second. Although it’s a bit more expensive than the cheapest plans in most cities, it offers good value for the price. Fixed Wireless Internet Providers Verizon and T-Mobile also start at the same price but offer much lower top speeds.

If you are looking for fast internet in Utica you don’t have many options. Spectrum is the only provider in the area offering download speeds of up to one gig. According to the latest Ookla speed test dataUtica has a fixed average download speed of 295Mbps, on par with New York State average. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)

Source: CNET analysis of vendor data.

What is the cheapest internet plan in Utica?

Source: CNET analysis of vendor data.

How to Find Internet Deals and Promotions in Utica

The best internet deals and top promotions in Utica depend on what discounts are available during a given time period. Most deals are short-lived, but we’re often on the lookout for the latest deals.

Utica ISPs like Spectrum and Verizon may offer lower introductory rates or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, including T-Mobile, maintain the same standard rates throughout the year.

For a more extensive list of promotions, see our guide to the best internet deals.

The fastest internet plans in Utica

Source: CNET analysis of vendor 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 include video conferencing, streaming video, or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a more stable connection. Here’s an overview of recommended minimum download speeds for different apps, according to the FCC. Note that these are guidelines only and that internet speed, service and performance will vary by connection type, provider and address.

For more information, see our guide to how much internet speed do you really need?.

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

How CNET chose the best ISPs in Utica

Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest ones smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen toolit is not practical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What is our approach? We start by researching pricing, availability, and speed information, drawing on our own historical ISP data, provider sites, and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission on FCC.gov.

It doesn’t stop there: We go to the FCC website to check our data and make sure we account for every ISP that provides service in an area. We also enter local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at 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 accurate at the time of publication.

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

1. Does the provider offer relatively fast internet access?
2. Are customers getting decent value for what they pay?
3. Are customers satisfied with their service?

The answer to these questions is often layered and complex, the vendors that come closest to saying yes to all three are the ones we recommend. When choosing the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also take into account things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively easy. 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.

Frequently Asked Questions about ISPs in Utica