Best Internet Providers in Rhode Island

What is the best internet provider in Rhode Island?

Verizon Fios is our pick for best internet service provider in Rhode Island, with its 100% fiber-optic internet reaching 80% of the state, near-Gigabit upload and download speeds, competitive pricing and customer-friendly service terms. J.D. Power has also ranked Verizon Fios first in customer satisfaction in the East region for over a decade.

Cox is another solid choice for home internet in Rhode Island and is available just about everywhere in the state (except Block Island and Prudence Island, where only satellite internet is available). Availability is Cox's biggest advantage over Verizon Fios, but it also boasts the highest internet speeds in the state at 2,000Mbps, though the symmetrical upload speeds of 2 Gigabit fiber are quite rare to find for non-business customers.

Both providers have a starting price of approximately $50 per month, but you'll get a slightly faster connection with Verizon Fios. Local provider i3 Broadband has a lower starting price of $40 per month, but it's only available to about 5% of state addresses .

Aside from Verizon Fios, Cox and possibly i3 Broadband, wireless internet from Verizon 5G Home Internet and T-Mobile Home Internet are the only other practical internet options in Rhode Island. If you can qualify for the mobile bundle discount with either, it would be the best source of cheap internet in the state.

Our methodology

CNET considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service in Rhode Island 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 provider 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 particular 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 Rhode Island. 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 providers in Rhode Island

Source: CNET analysis of provider data

What other internet options are there in Rhode Island?

Verizon (Fios and 5G Home Internet), Cox and T-Mobile Home Internet are the main broadband options available in Rhode Island. Local provider i3 Broadband offers cable internet service to Warren, Bristol and the surrounding areas, but total coverage only reaches around 5% of Rhode Island households, per the FCC.

Satellite internet from Hughesnet , Viasat and possibly Starlink is available throughout the state, but with cable, fiber and fixed wireless connections covering all Rhode Island addresses except Prudence Island and Block Island, there's no need to resort to the slow speeds and limited data that come with satellite internet.

Internet breakdown by city in Rhode Island

It's hard to cover the broadband options of an entire state and give individual cities the attention they deserve. That's why we also compile lists of the best internet providers in cities across the US, including those in Rhode Island. We check internet connection types, max speeds and cheapest providers. Check back later if you don't find the city you're looking for below. We're working on adding more locations every week.

• Best internet providers in Warwick

• Best internet providers in Providence

Cheap internet options in Rhode Island

Unless you qualify for a mobile bundle discount with Verizon or T-Mobile, i3 Broadband has the cheapest internet plan in Rhode Island, starting at $40 per month for speeds up to 250Mbps. Service from Verizon Fios and Cox starts as low as $35 but will eventually rise to $50 per month.

What's the cheapest internet plan in Rhode Island?

Source: CNET analysis of provider data

How to find internet deals and promotions in Rhode Island

The best internet deals and top promotions in Rhode Island depend on what discounts are available during a given period. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.

Rhode Island internet providers, such as Cox, may offer lower introductory pricing or special for a limited time. Many, including Verizon Fios and i3 Broadband, run the same standard pricing year-round.

For a more extensive list of promotions, check out our guide on the best internet deals .

How fast is Rhode Island broadband?

Recent Ookla speed test data shows that median download speeds in the state are faster than any other in the nation at 257Mbps. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) That's much higher than the national average of 213Mbps among all US states and Washington, DC and faster than Florida (240Mbps).

Verizon Fios, Cox and i3 Broadband offer gigabit service in Rhode Island with speeds up to 940Mbps or higher, which, when combined, cover a third of the state. Download speeds up to 1,000Mbps may also be available from Verizon 5G Home Internet in a small portion of the state, with upload speeds topping out at 75Mbps.

Fastest internet plans in Rhode Island

Source: CNET analysis of provider data

What's 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 accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you'll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here's an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC . Note that these are only guidelines; internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.

For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need .

• 0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics: browsing the internet, sending and receiving email and streaming low-quality video.

• 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and video conferencing.

• 40 to 100Mbps should give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.

• 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming.

• 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.

How CNET chose the best internet providers in Rhode Island

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. Our approach is to 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 .

In addition, we review the FCC's website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP's service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes. All information provided is accurate as of publication.

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

1. Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?

2. Do customers get decent value for what they're paying?

3. 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. When 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 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.

What is the final word on internet providers in Rhode Island?

Your internet options in Rhode Island will likely come down to Verizon Fios or Cox, although a small portion of the state may also choose cable internet from i3 Broadband.

Verizon Fios is easier to recommend thanks to the 100% fiber connection, faster upload speeds and better perks, including free equipment rental, unlimited data, no contract requirements and signup bonus offers. Not all Rhode Island residents are serviceable for Verizon Fios, however. Cox has the availability advantage, extending coverage to nearly every address in the state.

Those looking for an alternative to Verizon Fios or Cox may want to consider fixed wireless internet from Verizon 5G Home Internet or T-Mobile Home Internet. Verizon has potentially faster speeds, up to 1,000Mbps, available in select areas, but T-Mobile has better coverage in Rhode Island.

Internet providers in Rhode Island FAQs

What is the best internet service provider in Rhode Island?

Verizon Fios presents the best overall value of any internet provider in Rhode Island. As the largest fiber internet provider in the state, Verizon Fios offers significantly faster upload speeds and better reliability than cable internet service from Cox or i3 Broadband. Verizon Fios also offers free equipment rental, unlimited data and no contract requirements — perks that are not fully available from Cox or i3 Broadband.

Is fiber internet available in Rhode Island?

More than 75% of Rhode Island households are serviceable for fiber-optic internet, according to the most recent FCC data. While Verizon Fios is by far the largest fiber ISP in the state, Cox also has a small and growing fiber presence in Rhode Island.

What is the cheapest internet provider in Rhode Island?

Local cable provider i3 Broadband has the cheapest internet in Rhode Island with service starting at $40 per month for speeds up to 250Mbps. T-Mobile Home Internet and Verizon 5G Home Internet are potentially cheaper options, with service available for $40 and $35 per month, respectively, but only when bundled with a qualifying mobile service. Otherwise, both providers start at $50 monthly, the same as Verizon Fios and Cox.

Which internet provider in Rhode Island offers the fastest plan?

i3 Broadband offers max download speeds of up to 1,000Mbps in Rhode Island. Verizon 5G Home Internet also advertises maximum speeds of up to 1,000Mbps, although actual speeds will vary. Gigabit service from Verizon Fios goes all the way to 2,000Mbps, and maximum upload speeds are much higher than Cox or i3 Broadband, up to a symmetric 2,000Mbps.