Best Internet Providers in Queens, New York

What is the best internet provider in Queens?

Queens residents have several solid options for internet service. If you're trying to figure out which provider and plan best fits your needs, our CNET broadband experts have already done the research for you. Verizon Fios is CNET's top pick of the best internet service providers in Queens. It offers the borough's fastest connections at reasonable prices. You can knock those prices down even further by bundling with an eligible Verizon cellphone plan. Fiber internet is widely considered the gold standard for reliable connections, so Verizon's position as the only widely available fiber provider in Queens gives it an edge.

Don't worry if Verizon Fios isn't available at your address -- you've got plenty of solid alternatives. Astound Broadband offers the cheapest internet in Queens, with plans starting at just $20 monthly, while Spectrum comes in higher at $50 per month. T-Mobile Home Internet deserves consideration, too -- it's a wireless option offering competitive pricing and some of the highest customer satisfaction scores in the city.

Looking for speedy internet? We've got you covered. Verizon Fios tops the charts with its 2-gigabit plan for $110 monthly. If you're already a qualifying Verizon mobile customer, bundling can reduce that to $85 per month. While not exactly cheap, Verizon's 2-gig plan provides excellent value at just 5 cents per Mbps. Astound Broadband has the best deal in the city, with a 1.5-gigabit plan for $55 per month.

Best internet in Queens, New York

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Other available internet providers in Queens

• Optimum: This ISP offers cable and fiber connections in Queens, but coverage is limited. According to the latest data from the FCC, areas like Broadway Junction and Cypress Hills, which is the border between Brooklyn and Queens, can find the highest availability. If Optimum is available at your address, standard service starts at $40 monthly for download speeds of 300Mbps. Speeds will vary depending on what's available at your address, but some households may have access to the fiber offerings, which feature symmetrical speeds of up to 8 gigabits for $280 monthly. Optimum has a two-year price lock on all plans, so your monthly bill can rack up pretty fast by the third year. On the bright side, Optimum doesn't tie you to a contract or impose data restrictions. 
• Satellite internet: We'll often tell you to avoid this internet connection, as it offers slower speeds and steep monthly prices. However, it does offer wider availability than any other internet connection type. Satellite connections from Hughesnet, Viasat and Starlink offer coverage almost everywhere. Starlink is the fastest of the three, reaching download speeds of up to 220Mbps. Hughesnet is the most affordable option, with standard service priced at $50 monthly versus Starlink at $120. Additionally, leasing equipment with Starlink will cost you $349 upfront. A two-year contract will tie down Hughesnet customers, but if you want to avoid this, Viasat offers a singular plan that features no-term agreements and speeds of up to 150Mbps.

Cheap internet options in Queens

The average starting monthly price in Queens is $44, but a few ISPs in the area offer internet cheaper than that. The cheapest internet belongs to Astound Broadband's 300Mbps plan for $20 per month. If you're looking for more speed, Astound also offers a 600Mbps plan for just $15 more. Spectrum offers a $50-per-month plan for 500Mbps, but renting a router will add $10 to your monthly bill.

What's the cheapest internet plan in Queens?

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Queens

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

Queens internet providers, such as Spectrum, Astound and Verizon Fios, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, including T-Mobile Home Internet, run the same standard pricing year-round. 

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

How fast is Queens broadband?

The latest Ookla speed test data didn't break down the speeds for different boroughs, New York City placed 56th among the top 100 major cities in the US (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.). It came in with a median download speed of 228Mbps, which is just a hair better than how New York State did overall, at 226Mbps. Nearby Jersey City came on top with a robust speed of 251Mbps.

Fastest internet plans in Queens

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 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 Queens

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?

The answer to those questions is often layered and complex, but 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.

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

What's the final word on internet providers in Queens?

If you reside in Queens, you'll likely have access to cable internet and fixed wireless connections from Astound Broadband and Starry. As we always say here at CNET, a fiber connection offers speeds and reliability you can't find with other connection types. So if Verizon Fios is available at your location, place it at the top of your list.

Internet providers in Queens FAQs