In the process of looking for a new Internet service provider, but not sure what the differences are between them all? Here are some things to consider as you narrow down your selection.

Coax vs. Fiber

If you have multiple ISPs in your area, find out if they use fiber or coaxial cable to get the Internet service to your home. You'll discover that coaxial cable Internet is often limited in download and upload speeds since it requires bonding multiple channels together for high-speed service. More channels are typically bonded for download speeds, with fewer allocated to upload speeds.

With fiber Internet, it is common for download speeds to be equal to upload speeds. This means that by paying more money for faster speeds you get those crucial upload speeds that you won't have with other Internet providers. 

Data Caps

Are you the type of person that uses a lot of data each month? If so, you may be running up against your ISP's data cap. This means that you could end up paying unnecessary overages for data usage, which can add up month after month. However, if you use very little data this may not even be an issue at all. Consider selecting an ISP based on their data cap rules if you think it will be a problem, or just want to have less stress about how much data others are using in your home. 

Download Speeds

Every ISP is going to have various data packages that dictate how fast your speeds are. You do not always need the fastest speeds, so it is worth looking at the price of the speed package that meets your needs. A good tip is to look at how much data usage your family will use at any given time. For example, if you are streaming 4K video that takes up 25 Mbps, and there are multiple people in the home doing so at the same time, you'll need at least 25 Mbps of bandwidth for each person that is streaming video.

Equipment Costs

An ongoing cost of using any ISP is going to be equipment rental costs. Look at how much it costs to rent the modem and factor this into your monthly costs if you need to do so. Some ISPs require the use of their own modem if you have 1 Gbps speeds or voice service, so buying your own modem may not be an option. 

For more insight, contact local internet access providers. 

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