Who is our top ranked provider in Providence RI? [Updated]

Best Providence Internet Service Providers

There are a total of 4 companies providing internet service to a significant portion of Providence, Rhode Island and meet the minimum accepted broadband definition of 25 Mbps download speed. Our proprietary ranking calculation takes into account different aspects of useable download speed, upload speed and coverage area. For example, an increase of 100 Mbps download speed from 200 Mbps to 300 Mbps is much more significant for users than an increase from 1000 Mbps to 1100Mpbs. Also, for nearly all users download speed is much more important than upload speed. Our ranked ordering of internet service providers in Providence:

Rank	Provider	Tech	Max Download Speed	Max Upload Speed	Availability
1	Cox	Cable, Fiber	1000 Mbps	1000 Mbps	98.7%
2	Verizon	Fiber	940 Mbps	880 Mbps	98.0%
3	ViaSat	Satellite	100 Mbps	3 Mbps	100%
4	HughesNet	Satellite	25 Mbps	3 Mbps	100%

Providence RI Internet Access Options

When it comes to high speed internet availability, download speeds and overall customer satisfaction, cities with more than a single provider more often than not lead in all of these categories.
Does Providence have more than a single option at 25 Mbps, 100 Mbps, 250 Mbps and 1000 Mbps? The diagram below shows a summary:

Broadband Internet Speeds

Curious how fast the average internet speeds in Providence are compared to Providence County? Also, curious how the speeds compare to Rhode Island overall?
Average download speeds in Providence of 43.58 Mbps are faster than the Providence County average download speeds and faster than the statewide average for Rhode Island.

Providence Internet Access Facts

The average upload speed in Providence is 11 Mbps. This is 9.2% faster than the Providence County average and 5.2% slower than the national average of 11.56 Mbps
Cable internet is available to 98.1% of Providence County residents
Fiber optic internet is available to 97.3% of Providence County residents
The average internet download speed in Providence County is 33.11 Mbps based upon 1774776 samples taken in the past year
The average download speed in Providence is 18.4% faster than the average in Rhode Island and 34.5% faster than the national average of 32.4 Mbps
The average internet download speed in Providence is 43.58 Mbps based upon 832728 measurements taken in the last 12 months

Internet Access Technologies

DSL, Cable, Fiber and Fixed Wireless are four common types of technology used to provide internet access. The following chart shows the percentage of Providence residents who have access to each of these technology types.

Internet Service FAQs

Who has the best internet service near me?

Our proprietary algorithm that takes into consideration download speed, upload speed, availability and overall value ranks Cox as the top provider for Providence, Rhode Island.

How do the internet speeds in Providence compare to other cities in Rhode Island?

Click through to see how the Providence broadband speeds compare to these other cities throughout the state: Central Falls, East Providence, Narragansett Pier, Newport East, Valley Falls, Warwick, Westerly

What download speed do I need to stream movies?

For HD movies and shows Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+ and Hulu all recommend a minimum of 5 Mbps. Streaming 4K/UHD content requires a minimum of 25 Mbps for Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+ and Hulu.

What locations were used in calculating broadband internet coverage for Providence, Rhode Island?

The following zip codes were used: 02901, 02902, 02903, 02904, 02905, 02906, 02907, 02908, 02909, 02910, 02911, 02912, 02918, 02919 and 02940

Who has the fastest internet service in Providence?

Cox with a download speed of 1000 Mbps provides the fastest internet service in Providence.

Is there DSL internet service near me?

Unlikely. Our records indicate there are no DSL providers that offer coverage to more than 15% of residents in Providence, Rhode Island.

What is an internet data cap?

Some internet providers on their lowest end plans limit the amount of data that can be downloaded in a month. Like cellular phone plans, when that usage limit is hit, an additional charge is added to the customer's bill. Data caps are typically 1TB or more. In a month you could send 40,000 emails, streaming music 24 hours a data, surf the web 24 hours a day plus stream HD video 12 hours a day and still not hit a 1TB limit. Fewer than 10% of customers hit their data caps in a month.

What is fixed wireless internet service?

Fixed wireless internet is typical used in rural areas where there are no buried telephone or cable lines. An antenna is attached to the home or business which transmits and receives data from access point towers. Download speeds are typically much better than with satellite.

Providence Cable TV, Satellite TV and Streaming Services

Our ranking of internet service plans can make choosing a new provider fairly easy. Selecting a TV provider is more difficult as additional variables are involved. If you are a heavy TV viewer and/or watch in multiple rooms at the same time, a traditional cable TV package or satellite TV provider may be the best option for you. However, if you live in a rental property or a heavily wooded area, satellite TV may not be a viable option. Streaming TV packages can be a good option for many, especially if your internet plan does not have a data limit. Read through the pros and cons of the various TV packages available to you and chose the best match to your viewing needs.