Why does President Joe Biden spend so much time working from his home state of Delaware? Perhaps it’s because the internet speeds are much faster than in Washington, DC.
Delaware boasts one of the fastest median download speeds in the country, at nearly 227 megabits per second, according to Ookla’s ranking for internet speeds by region. Conversely, DC ranks 32nd out of 51, with median download speeds of about 173Mbps. As Biden might say, “C’mon, man!”
It’s not all bad news for residents of our nation’s capital, as they have access to three major internet service providers — Astound, Xfinity and Verizon Fios — along with T-Mobile’s 5G offering, regional providers Starry Internet and DC Access and satellite internet providers Viasat and HughesNet. Although the larger ISPs are available in much of the city, run your address by each company to ensure they service your home.
Best internet providers in the Federal City
With many options on the east side of the Potomac River, let’s compare DC’s internet service providers in terms of pricing, speeds, connection types and service terms.
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.
300 – 2,000 Mbps
$50 – $120 per month
Our take – Verizon Fios often tops customer satisfaction studies for its symmetrical download and upload speeds and reliability. What sets it apart from the other major ISPs in DC is its clear pricing, which should remain the same even after its competitors raise your monthly rate significantly.
300 – 2,000 Mbps
$50 – $120 per month
100 – 1,500 Mbps
$20 – $80 per month
Our take – Astound, a brand name for the merging of five regional internet providers, looks fantastic upon initial glance. DC residents can access a 1,200Mbps plan for only $60 per month for the first two years of service. After that, however, prices could go up by more than three times.
100 – 1,500 Mbps
$20 – $80 per month
75 – 2,000 Mbps
$20 – $120 per month
Our take – If you don’t have access to either Verizon or Astound’s internet offerings, there’s a good chance you can get your internet through Xfinity.
75 – 2,000 Mbps
$20 – $120 per month
Fixed wireless
50 – 1,000 Mbps
$30 – $80 per month
Our take – Starry, available only in buildings in certain DC neighborhoods, offers high-speed, low-latency internet connectivity using millimeter-wave bands capable of sending large amounts of data over short distances. Its plans are fairly affordable compared to others in DC, and Starry has no promotional pricing, so what you pay initially is what you’ll pay later.
Fixed wireless
50 – 1,000 Mbps
$30 – $80 per month
Internet providers in Washington, DC overview
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astound Broadband | Cable | $20-$60 | 300-1,200Mbps | Free modem; $5 for Whole-home Wi-Fi (optional) | None | None | 7 |
| DC Access | Fixed wireless | $40-$100 | 10-75Mbps | $99 installation fee | None | None | N/A |
| HughesNet | Satellite | $65-$175 | 25Mbps | $15 a month or $450 one-time purchase | 15-200GB | Two years | 5.7 |
| Starry Internet | Fixed wireless | $30-$80 | 100-1000Mbps | None | None | None | 7 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet | Fixed wireless | $50 ($30 for eligible mobile customers) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Verizon Fios | Fiber | $50-$90 | 300-940Mbps | None | None | None | 7.6 |
| Viasat | Satellite | $70-$300 | 25-100Mbps | $13 a month or $299 one-time purchase | 40-300GB | Two years | 6.1 |
| Xfinity | Cable | $25-$120 | 200-2,000Mbps | $15 gateway rental (optional) | None | None | 7 |
Show more (3 items)
All available Washington, DC, residential internet providers
Many DC residents will choose between Verizon Fios, Xfinity and Astound, while some building dwellers can also subscribe to Starry Internet. But there are also smaller internet players in the city, including a more than 20-year-old local provider, satellite internet companies and T-Mobile’s 5G service.
- DC Access: This local internet provider, founded in 1999, serves the Capitol Hill and Adams Morgan neighborhoods. Its plans are pricier and slower than its larger competitors and have a $99 installation fee, but they don’t require a contract.
- HughesNet: DC residents have access to this satellite internet service, which is only available at speeds of 25Mbps at a fairly high price, with the cheapest option available for $65 with a two-year contract and equipment fees.
- T-Mobile Home Internet: Some DC residents may have access to T-Mobile’s home broadband option. There’s only one plan, and it’s available for $50 (with autopay) and offers speeds from 72 to 245Mbps.
- Viasat: Another satellite internet company, Viasat’s monthly prices start at $70 and go up to $300, with speeds ranging from 25 to 100Mbps based on the plan.
Pricing for Washington, DC, home internet service
On average, DC residents can expect to pay around $35 for basic internet plans in the city (with promotional pricing). This beats out Brooklyn ($36 per month) and Los Angeles ($38 monthly) for the lowest average starting price of any major markets CNET has covered to date.
Cheap internet options in the Washington, DC, metro area
Look no further than Astound’s 300Mbps plan for $20 monthly for the most affordable internet service in the nation’s capital. This promotional price will last 24 months, but it offers incredible savings. Astound also provides the best value overall with its $60, 1,200Mbps plan, but the same caveats apply. If you’re eligible for the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program, you’ll have access to Starry Internet’s 100Mbps Starry Select for $30 per month.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Washington, DC?
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astound Broadband | $20 | 300Mbps | Free modem; $5 for Whole-home Wi-Fi (optional) | None |
| Xfinity | $25 | 200Mbps | $15 gateway rental (optional) | None |
| Starry Internet | $30 (Affordable Connectivity Program) | 100Mbps | None | None |
| DC Access | $40 | 10Mbps | $99 installation fee | None |
| Verizon Fios | $50 | 300Mbps | None | None |
| T-Mobile Home Internet | $50 ($30 for eligible mobile customers) | 72-245Mbps | None | None |
| HughesNet | $65 | 25Mbps | $15 a month or $450 one-time purchase | Two years |
| Viasat | $70 | 25Mbps | $15 a month or $300 one-time purchase | Two years |
Show more (4 items)
How fast is Washington, DC, broadband?
Federal City sits in the middle of the pack compared to the rest of the country regarding download speeds, with a median of about 173Mbps. However, a few higher-speed plans are available for under $100 with promotional pricing.
Fastest internet providers in the Washington, DC, area
The fastest download speeds you’ll find in the capital are through Xfinity, which offers a 2,000Mbps plan for $120 per month. For high speeds at a lower price, both Astound and Xfinity offer plans with 1,200Mbps download speeds at $60 and $80 for the first 24 months, respectively. Curious about what superfast plans are available in other areas of the country? Check out CNET’s best multi-gigabit plans page.
What are the fastest internet plans in Washington, DC?
Show more (2 items)
What’s the final word on internet providers in Washington, DC?
The District of Columbia offers a handful of options for choosing your internet provider, including many with fairly affordable pricing. For most city residents, the choice will come down to Verizon Fios, Astound or Xfinity, which are all competitive in price and speed.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Washington, DC
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 Washington, DC, FAQs
Which is the best internet service provider in Washington, DC?
Verizon Fios is our choice for the best internet service provider in Washington, DC. It’s available in most of the city and offers three service tiers at $50, $70 and $90 monthly. Best of all, there’s no price trickery here: These rates will be what you pay over the long term.
Is fiber internet available in Washington, DC?
Fiber internet is available in the nation’s capital. It’s provided by Verizon Fios, which happens to be our pick for the best ISP in the city. Rates start at $50 and go up to $90.
Who is the cheapest internet provider in Washington, DC?
The cheapest internet in the District of Columbia can be had at a mere $20 per month for Astound’s 300Mbps plan. The caveat with this plan is that the low price will only last for your first 24 months, with the rate possibly going up by three to five times after. Fortunately, you can cancel the service before the jump or try to negotiate with the company for a better price.
Is Verizon Fios or Xfinity better?
According to CNET’s article comparing both services, “Xfinity has a slight advantage over Verizon Fios regarding promotional pricing and gigabit download speeds, but Verizon Fios can be the better long-term internet deal. Stable pricing, not to mention the speed and reliability of a 100% fiber connection, have helped Verizon Fios land the top spot for customer satisfaction in recent years.”
