Best Internet Providers in Syracuse, New York

What is the best internet provider in Syracuse?

Looking for the best internet provider in Syracuse, New York? Your search for internet options in Syracuse should start with one simple question: Can you get Verizon Fios at your address? If you can, your search is over — CNET’s pick for the best internet provider overall is Verizon Fios. If you can’t get it, there are several other solid options (albeit with some drawbacks). Spectrum offers fast and reliable internet, but prices increase significantly after a year. T-Mobile locks in its price for as long as you keep service, but its wireless connection is more vulnerable to network congestion than Spectrum or Verizon.

Best internet in Syracuse, New York

If Verizon Fios is available, there’s a good chance it will be our top pick for internet in that city, and Syracuse is no different. Even if you can’t get Verizon at your address, you’ll likely have at least one good option. According to Federal Communications Commission data, 100% of households in the city have access to download speeds of 100 megabits per second and 10Mbps upload.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data

Other available internet providers in Syracuse

Many cities have a few local internet providers to consider in addition to the nationwide ISPs. Unfortunately, there aren’t many other options available in Syracuse. Here is everything else you can get in the city:

• Satellite internet: We typically only recommend satellite internet when you can’t get anything else, and this rule holds true for Syracuse. HughesNet and Viasat both offer service to 100% of the city, but like all satellite providers, they come with high prices, low data caps and slow speeds. Starlink is a faster satellite option, but equipment costs $599 upfront and plans start at $120 a month.
• Verizon 5G Home Internet: Like T-Mobile Home Internet, Verizon uses its 5G network for home internet in Syracuse. You can get speeds of 300/10Mbps for $50 per month or 1,000/50 for $70 in some areas. There are no equipment fees or data caps on either plan. 

Cheap internet options in Syracuse

Starting prices for internet in Syracuse average $45 per month, which is slightly higher than nearby Albany ($43). Low-income households in Syracuse also have the option of using Spectrum’s Internet Assist plan, which gets you 50Mbps for $25 a month.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data

How to find internet deals and promotions in Syracuse

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

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

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

How fast is Syracuse broadband?

There are three internet plans offering gig speeds in Syracuse — right around average for a city of its size. There aren’t any ultra-fast plans above 1,000Mbps, most households will be fine with the speeds available. Verizon Fios is the only provider that offers symmetrical speeds in Syracuse.

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 engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming simultaneously. 
• 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming simultaneously.

How CNET chose the best internet providers in Syracuse

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 the time 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 it comes to 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 also take into account real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.

What’s the final word on internet providers in Syracuse?

There’s a clear winner when it comes to internet in Syracuse. Verizon Fios offers the fastest speeds, the best value and it has the happiest customers. No matter where you live in the country, if Verizon Fios is available, it’s almost always the best choice. If you can’t get Fios, Spectrum and T-Mobile are both worthy backup options, but they each come with noteworthy drawbacks — hefty price increases for Spectrum and lower speeds for T-Mobile. 

Internet providers in Syracuse FAQs