What is the best internet provider in Reading?
Xfinity is the best internet service provider in Reading, PA, largely because it’s the only practical wired internet option in the area. As the area’s primary broadband source, Xfinity offers Redding’s cheapest internet ($25 per month, speeds up to 150 megabits per second) and fastest speeds, up to 2,000Mbps.
If you’re looking for an Xfinity alternative in Redding, unfortunately, there aren’t many options. Frontier offers DSL internet in parts of Redding, but speeds may be slower than broadband, and at $65 a month, it’s more expensive than Xfinity’s price of up to 800Mbps.
Verizon 5G Home Internet and T-Mobile Home Internet’s wireless networks are the only reasonable broadband options in Redding besides Xfinity. Verizon 5G Home Internet has better pricing and speed potential, while T-Mobile Home Internet has better coverage. Both providers offer discounts bundled with mobile services.
CNET considers speed, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend Redding’s best internet services in multiple categories. Our assessment includes reference to a proprietary database built over years of reviewing Internet services. We verify this against provider information by spot-checking service availability at local addresses. We also read the provider’s terms and conditions carefully and call the ISP to verify details if needed.
While we strive to find the most up-to-date, accurate information, there are some limitations to our process that you should be aware of. Pricing and speed figures are variable: Some addresses may qualify for different service levels, and monthly costs may vary even within the same city. The best way to determine your specific options is to plug your address into the provider’s website.
Additionally, the prices, speeds, and other information listed above and in the provider cards below may differ from what we found in our research. Based on our database of plan information provided directly by ISPs, these cards show all pricing and speeds from providers across the United States, while the text is specific to what’s available in Reading. The prices quoted in this article are from our research and include applicable discounts for setting up automatic payments each month – which is standard industry offering. Other discounts and promotions may also apply, such as signing a fixed-term contract or bundling multiple services.
To learn more about how we review internet providers, visit our full methodology page.
Best Internet in Reading, PA
150-6,000 Mbps
$20-$300 per month
What we think – A lack of local competition makes Xfinity the best internet provider in Reading, but even with other ISPs available, Xfinity may still stand out as the top choice. Xfinity has a lower entry price and faster speeds, especially for a cable internet provider. A $15 equipment rental fee may apply, and a one-year contract may be required at the lowest price.
150-6,000 Mbps
$20-$300 per month
fixed wireless
85-1,000 Mbps
$50-$70 per month
What we think – If you’re looking for an Xfinity alternative, see if your address qualifies for Verizon 5G Home Internet. With speeds ranging from 50 to 300 Mbps or 85 to 1,000 Mbps depending on which plan you choose, the speed potential is higher than T-Mobile Home Internet, while the starting price is $10 less.
fixed wireless
85-1,000 Mbps
$50-$70 per month
fixed wireless
72-245 Mbps
$60 per month
What we think – While Verizon 5G Home Internet is a better value over fixed wireless Internet in Redding, more local households will have access to T-Mobile Home Internet. Speeds are slower, 72 to 245 Mbps, and prices may be higher than Verizon’s, at $60 per month. Still, if you’re looking for an alternative to Xfinity, the service is worth a try.
fixed wireless
72-245 Mbps
$60 per month
Reading, PA Internet Providers Comparison
| provider | Internet technology | monthly price range | speed range | Monthly equipment cost | data cap | contract | CNET Review Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
border |
DSL | $65 | different | not any | not any | not any | 6.3 |
|
T-Mobile Home Internet |
fixed wireless | $60 ($40 with eligible mobile plans) | 72-245Mbps | not any | not any | not any | 7.4 |
|
Verizon 5G Home Internet |
fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 with eligible mobile plans) | 50-1,000Mbps | not any | not any | not any | 7.2 |
|
unlimited |
cable | $25-$100 | 150-2,000Mbps | $15 (optional) | not any | 1 year (optional) | 7 |
Buy suppliers at my address
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What are the cheapest internet plans in Reading?
| plan | starting price | Maximum download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Xfinity connection |
$25 | 150Mbps | $15 (optional) |
|
Xfinity connects more |
$35 | 300Mbps | $15 (optional) |
|
Xfinity fast |
$45 | 500Mbps | $15 (optional) |
|
Verizon 5G Home Internet |
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 300Mbps | not any |
|
T-Mobile Home Internet |
$60 ($40 with eligible mobile plans) | 245Mbps | not any |
Show more(1 item)
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Reading
Reading’s best internet deals and top promotions depend on what discounts are available during that time period. Most offers are short-lived, but we’re often on the lookout for the latest deals.
Reading internet providers like T-Mobile Home Internet and Xfinity may offer lower introductory prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Other services, including Verizon 5G Home Internet and Frontier, have the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of deals, check out our guide to the best internet deals.
Reading’s fastest internet plans
| plan | starting price | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | data cap | Connection Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Xfinity Gigabit x2 |
100 dollars | 2,000Mbps | 200Mbps | not any | cable |
|
Xfinity Gigabit Extra |
$80 | 1,200Mbps | 35Mbps | not any | cable |
|
Xfinity Gigabit |
$60 | 1,000Mbps | 20Mbps | 1.2TB | cable |
|
Verizon 5G Home + Internet |
$70 ($45 with eligible mobile plans) | 1,000Mbps | 75Mbps | not any | fixed wireless |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is 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 video conferencing, streaming video, or gaming, you’ll get a better experience with a stronger connection. Below is an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications according to FCC regulations. Please note that these are guidelines only – Internet speeds, service and performance vary based on connection type, provider and address.
For more information, see our guide on the internet speed you really need.
- 0 to 5Mbps allows you to handle the basics—browse the Internet, send and receive email, stream low-quality video.
- 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher quality video streaming and video conferencing.
- 40 to 100Mbps should provide one user with enough bandwidth to meet the needs of modern remote working, video streaming, and online gaming.
- 100 to 500Mbps allows one or two users to participate in high-bandwidth activities such as video conferencing, streaming and online gaming simultaneously.
- 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities simultaneously.
CNET How to Choose the Best Internet Provider in Reading, PA
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 specific city. So what is our approach? We first looked at pricing, availability, and speed information, using our own historical ISP data, provider sites, and map information from the Federal Communications Commission’s FCC.gov.
But it didn’t end there. We went to the FCC’s website to check our data and make sure we accounted for every ISP offering service in a certain area. We also enter local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We evaluate customer satisfaction with ISP services by looking at sources such as the US Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power. ISP plans and prices may change frequently; all information provided is accurate as of publication time.
Once we have localized information, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider offer reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Are customers getting value for money?
- Are customers satisfied with their service?
While the answers to these questions are often layered and complex, we recommend the provider that comes closest to a “yes” on these three questions. When choosing the cheapest internet service, we look for plans with the lowest monthly fees, although we also consider factors like price increases, equipment fees, and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively simple. 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.
FAQs for Internet Providers in Reading, PA
What is the best internet service provider in Reading?
As the area’s only wired broadband provider, Xfinity is the best internet provider in Reading, PA. Xfinity has the best availability and plan variety in the Redding area, including the cheapest and fastest internet plans in the area.
Is there fiber optic internet in Reading?
Reading, Pennsylvania, doesn’t have access to fiber optic internet, according to the latest data from the FCC. Frontier and Verizon, two of the nation’s largest fiber internet providers, are available in Redding, but neither offers fiber service in the area. Xfinity also offers fiber optic internet in select areas, but Redding is not one of them.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Reading?
Xfinity has the cheapest internet plans in Redding, with service starting at $25 per month and download speeds up to 150Mbps. Xfinity offers two additional plans starting at lower prices than the standard prices of Verizon 5G Home Internet or T-Mobile Home Internet. Xfinity Connect More and Xfinity Fast start at $35 and $45 per month, respectively, with speeds up to 300 and 500Mbps respectively.
Which internet provider in Reading offers the fastest plans?
Xfinity is the only provider offering speeds above 1Gbps for reading. Xfinity Gibabit Extra has a maximum download speed of 1,200Mbps, while the Gigabit x2 plan offers download speeds of up to 2,000Mbps. Verizon 5G home internet has top speeds of up to 1,000Mbps, but actual speeds may be slower as the plan advertises a range of 85 to 1,000Mbps.