Best Internet Providers in Staten Island, New York

What is the best internet provider in Staten Island?

Staten Island has relatively few choices to consider when it comes to internet providers, but unlike most cities, you're not at the mercy of the coverage map. Spectrum and Verizon Fios cover over 95% of Richmond County, and while both are reliable ISPs with robust speeds and extensive customer support systems, Verizon Fios is the best internet provider in Staten Island overallfor a variety of reasons. The 100% fiber provider is known for its fast download and upload speeds -- up to 2,300 megabits per second, the fastest in Staten Island -- competitive pricing, simple service terms and high customer satisfaction .

Spectrum is arguably the better option for cheap internet , at least for the first 12 months, with service starting at $40 monthly for download speeds up to 500Mbps, with a $30 per month 100Mbps plan also available at some addresses. Verizon Fios plans come with free equipment rental, longer price guarantees and potential signup bonuses such as free streaming services, gift cards or electronic devices.

Verizon's 5G home internet service isn't half bad, either, offering speeds ranging from 50 to 85 megabits per second or 85 to 250Mbps, starting at $50 and $70 per month, respectively. Like Verizon Fios, Verizon 5G Home Internet includes free equipment rental, unlimited data and no contract requirements . T-Mobile Home Internet is also available in Staten Island and comes with similar service terms, but maximum speeds are a bit faster at 87 to 318Mbps or 133 to 415Mbps, and it only covers about half the city.

Our methodology

CNET considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service in Staten 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 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 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, while the text is specific to what's available in Staten 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. Other discounts and promotions might also be available for things like signing a term contract or bundling with multiple services. 

To learn more about how we review internet providers, visit our full methodology page .

Best internet providers in Staten Island, New York

Verizon Fios

Fast speeds, straightforward pricing and unique promotional offers for new customers -- there's a lot to like about Verizon Fios. Customer satisfaction numbers further boost Verizon's reputation, as J.D. Power named Verizon Fios the top provider in the East region in 2023, scoring 760 out of 1,000. Spectrum came in at 686, well below Verizon Fios and the region average.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Staten Island

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

Staten Island internet providers, such as T-Mobile Home Internet and Verizon Fios, may offer signup bonuses such as streaming service subscriptions or gift cards. Others, including Spectrum, run the same standard promotions year-round. 

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

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 Federal Communications Commission . Note that these are only guidelines and that 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 videoconferencing.

• 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 Staten 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. 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 .

It doesn't end there: We go to 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, although 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 . (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)

To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.

Internet providers in Staten Island FAQs

What is the best internet service provider in Staten Island?

Verizon Fios is the best internet service provider in Staten Island. In addition to fast upload and download speeds, Verizon Fios stands out for its competitive rates with lengthy price guarantees of two to four years and customer-friendly service terms like free equipment and unlimited data. The provider also frequently runs promotional offers for new customers, which may include free gift cards, streaming services and more.

Is fiber internet available in Staten Island?

Fiber internet is available to more than 93% of Staten Island households, according to the most recent FCC data . Verizon Fios is the largest fiber-optic internet provider in Staten Island and is responsible for much, if not all, of the fiber internet availability in the area.

Who is the cheapest internet provider in Staten Island?

Spectrum is the cheapest internet provider in Staten Island. The 500Mbps plan is available starting at the monthly rate of $40, a good $35 cheaper than 500Mbps from Verizon Fios. Gig service is also cheaper, starting at $70 per month compared to $90 with Verizon Fios.

Which internet provider in Staten Island offers the fastest plan?

Verizon Fios offers the fastest internet plan in Staten Island, advertising maximum speeds up to 2,300Mbps, or 2.3 gigabits per second, starting at $110 monthly. As a fiber internet provider, Verizon Fios has the advantage of symmetrical (or close) speeds, so the plan comes with download and upload speeds up to 2.3Gbps.