Best Internet Providers in Virginia
What is the best internet provider in Virginia?
CNET recommends Verizon Fios as the best internet provider in Virginia. It is the state's top internet service provider (ISP), delivering incredible speeds across different areas, with the median speed being 235Mbps. In Virginia Beach and Chesapeake we spotted speeds up to 940Mbps. If you're after brilliant fiber service, look no further but at Verizon.
However, if you're outside of the Verizon Fios service area, don't worry. There are plenty of other alternatives such as Cox , which also delivers decent speeds, T-Mobile , Xfinity as well as smaller ISPs and satellite internet providers.
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
Source: CNET analysis of provider data
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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 214Mbps, according to Ookla , placing it in a respectable 18th place among the 50 states and neighboring Washington, DC , regarding internet speeds. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
One of its cities fared even better on Ookla's rankings, with Chesapeake ranking 2nd among the 100 most populous US cities with median download speeds of about 285Mbps. Virginia Beach was in the top half at 31st with median speeds of approximately 246Mbps. Norfolk can be found further down in the rankings in 72nd place, with median download speeds of about 222Mbps.
According to the Federal Communication Commission , every Virginian has access to internet speeds of at least 25Mbps, but that's likely due to pricier options from satellite internet providers Hughesnet and Viasat. The state's speed is solid overall, with median download speeds of about 214Mbps. 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 11% 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.
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.
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:
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Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
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Do customers get decent value for what they're paying?
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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 it comes to 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 also take into account 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 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 Fios and (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 .
