7 Best Business Internet Service Providers

The fastest man is Usain Bolt. The fastest mammal is the Cheetah. The fastest business internet service provider is . .well, that’s what we set out to uncover. Speed is a top concern for businesses that need to download files, run sales software, or stream video.

But you may be considering more factors—like price or reliability guarantees—to help you choose a business internet service provider. We decided to dive in and break down all these factors and countdown the 7 Best Business Internet Service Providers!

The best business internet offers reliable connectivity, excellent customer service, and the right bandwidth for your work volume. Provider availability and plans will vary depending on your location, but if you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the options, we’re here to make things clearer. We researched the top providers of high-speed business internet services to find out how they compare. From maximum download speeds to costs and more, find out which internet service provider can carry your business the furthest.

Criteria for Selection

Availability: We focused our search on the business internet providers with the widest nationwide coverage.

Bandwidth: Business internet plans aren’t one-size-fits-all, the main priority of a business ISP is that there is enough bandwidth to handle all onsite employees.

Customer Service:  Companies can lose potential revenue during internet outages, which makes prompt and helpful customer service all the more important.

Pricing: The cost of the internet service for your business can have a very meaningful impact on any business’ bottom line.

7. Windstream

In terms of availability, Windstream is close to perfect: coverage can be found in every state except Alaska, more than any other big-name ISP we examined. Windstream boasts an expected uptime of 99.995%, which means its service, though somewhat vague in terms of specific offerings, should nevertheless be reliable. Windstream only offers DSL and cable options, which may be sufficient for some customers but won’t provide the faster speeds of copper or fiber internet that many businesses depend on.

6. Frontier

Frontier does a great job providing helpful and clear information for potential customers. They provide side-by-side comparison of different plan offerings, projected price levels for bundled packages, and specific recommendations based on the size and online work volume of your business. Frontier’s plans require a minimum one-year agreement, shorter than those offered by AT&T and Comcast. Combined with lower overall speeds, Frontier is best-suited for small businesses with lower service requirements who may anticipate the volume of their work increasing after one year. For DSL service, Frontier’s maximum download speed ranges from 7-20 Mbps, while the fiber internet option provides faster speeds of 50 to 500 Mbps.

5.  Spectrum

Charter Spectrum has some of the most flexible contract policies we saw. With its month-to-month plans and no cancellation fees, it is an attractive option for smaller or growing businesses that aren’t quite ready to commit to a multi-year contract. Charter Spectrum’s fiber-optic speeds go all the way up to 940 Mbps, an impressive number. And unlike some internet providers, the company actually under promises: The FCC reported that in 2016, Spectrum’s actual speeds were 109.1% of advertised. Of all the major business internet providers, only Comcast had a better record. Spectrum’s customer service scores eked out slightly above average, at 3.75/5 for JD Power and 65/100 for the ACSI. That’s not exceptionally impressive, but in an industry that struggles so much with customer service, we like anything that’s above average.

4. Xfinity

Comcast Business has some of the fastest advertised speeds that we saw, ranging from 25 to 1,000 Mbps on its fiber network. And the FCC reported Comcast’s actual speeds average 110.23% of its advertised speeds, so if you’re looking for speedy internet, this is one of the best bets out there. All of Comcast Business’s plans come with the option to add a phone line. You can even sync it up with your personal phone, so when someone calls your cell, it automatically rings your office phone. And no matter how many people are using this feature, it’ll only cost an extra $15 per month. Comcast Business is available across 39 states, making it one of the most widespread business internet providers in the country.

3. Century Link

Century Link strives for an ambitious uptime between 99.95% and 100%. If your service happens to fail Centurylink does offer a uniquely generous compensation. For every 30 minutes of downtime, you’ll be credited for 1 day. With options for Fiber or DSL business internet, CenturyLink caters to businesses of any size. DSL speeds range from 3 Mbps to 100 Mbps, while Fiber caters to companies that need speeds reaching 1,000 Mbps. Either of these services can be bundled with TV and phone services for consolidated billing, too. If your business reaches several thousand employees, the options expand more generously: You can then bundle cloud storage and network security, making CenturyLink the provider that hosts the most bundling options for big businesses. CenturyLink offers some of the most flexible contract options on the market: You can choose between a 2-year contract or month-to-month plan. Keep in mind that the month-to-month plan will be more expensive, and that the two-year plan offers discounted monthly prices.

2. Verizon

With Fios, Business, and High Speed Internet, Verizon offers a trifecta of impressively inclusive services. Unless your business is in the Northeast, you’ll likely be limited to copper. Copper internet installation may take longer and be more expensive than other types of internet, though it’s a more widely available way to get fiber-level speeds. Verizon’s advertised speeds range from 1 to 940 Mbps overall.  Along with Comcast and Spectrum, Verizon is one of the internet providers that’s most likely to maintain the fastest speeds for your business. Verizon tops the industry with its customer service ratings: It received the highest scores among all the biggest providers, with 5/5 from JD Power and 71/100 from the ACSI — Verizon Fios, in particular, stole the show with solid 5s across the board. With Verizon, you can choose between a two-year contract or a month-to-month plan. The month-to-month plan is more expensive, but if you cancel your two-year plan early, you’ll need to pay up to 35% of your remaining balance.

1. AT&T

AT&T came in right behind Verizon for highest customer satisfaction ratings. While the seven providers altogether averaged 3.2/5 with JD Power and 62.4/100 with the ACSI, AT&T was comfortably above average with both. AT&T outshines its competition when it comes to price and plan transparency. The company clearly lays out its fees for equipment, installation, and service, which is rare in an industry known for hedgey language and hidden fees. AT&T offers business internet plans with DSL, Fiber, and IPBB (which is basically higher-speed DSL and Ethernet grouped together under one name). The number of plans and speeds available to you will vary based on location, but the download speeds for business plans range from 6 Mbps (DSL) to 1,000 Mbps (fiber) — so whether it’s just you and a few other workers sending emails or 100 employees video conferencing daily, AT&T has a range of speeds that will likely fit your business’s needs.