What is the best internet provider in Frederick?
Xfinity is CNET’s top pick of the best internet service provider for most households in Frederick, Maryland. Xfinity takes our top spot because of its broad availability and high-speed plans that come with reasonable pricing. Its cheapest plan is the Xfinity Connect More, which starts at $40 per month for speeds up to 400Mbps with unlimited data and no contract.
If you need the best speeds, Glo Fiber has the fastest plans in Frederick, with symmetrical speeds between 600 and 5,000Mbps, all via a 100% fiber connection. Verizon Fios is another option that is available in select neighborhoods. However, most residents are more likely to qualify for Verizon 5G Home Internet, which is an excellent option thanks to its fair pricing, straightforward terms and bundle discounts — especially on the city’s west side. Ookla’s latest data says that the city has a median download speed of 353Mbps, which means fast internet should be easy to get for most residents. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
T-Mobile Home Internet is another wireless option, though its slower speeds make it a better fit for suburban and rural areas.
Frederick, Maryland, internet providers compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glo Fiber | Fiber | $70-$290 | 600-5,000Mbps | $10 (optional) | None | None | N/A |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$55 with eligible mobile plans) | 87-415Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$55 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers) | 50-1,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
| Verizon Fios Read full review |
Fiber | $50-$110 | 300-2,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.6 |
| Xfinity Read full review |
Cable | $40-$100 | 400-1,300Mbps | $15 (optional) | 1.2TB or unlimited | 1 year (optional) | 7 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Frederick?
| Plan | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xfinity Connect More Read full review |
$40 | 500Mbps | $15 (optional) |
| Verizon Fios 300 Read full review |
$50 | 300Mbps | None |
| T-Mobile Rely Home Internet Read full review |
$50 ($35 for eligible customers) | 318Mbps | None |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 300Mbps | None |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Frederick
Frederick’s best internet deals and top promotions depend on what discounts are available during that time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Frederick internet providers, such as Xfinity and T-Mobile Home Internet, may offer lower introductory pricing or other incentives for a limited time. Others, however, including Glo Fiber and Verizon 5G 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.
Fastest internet plans in Frederick
| Plan | Starting price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glo Fiber 5Gbps | $290 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Verizon Fios 2 Gig Read full review |
$110 | 2,300Mbps | 1,500Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Glo Fiber | $85 | 1,200Mbps | 1,200Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Xfinity Gigabit Extra Read full review |
$100 | 1,300Mbps | 41Mbps | Unlimited data included | Cable |
| Xfinity Gigabit Read full review |
$70 | 1,100Mbps | 41Mbps | Unlimited data included | Cable |
| Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read full review |
$70 ($55 with eligible mobile plans) | 1,000Mbps | 75Mbps | None | Fixed wireless |
| Verizon Fios 1 Gig Read full review |
$90 | 940Mbps | 880Mbps | None | Fiber |
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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, 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 Frederick
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. So 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.
But 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:
- Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
- Are customers happy with their service?
While the answers to those questions are often layered and complex, 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, though 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.
Internet providers in Frederick, Maryland, FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Frederick?
Xfinity is the best internet service provider in Frederick due in part to its wide availability and low introductory pricing on speeds ranging from 400 to 1,300Mbps. Select plans may include unlimited data, and you can choose between a price guarantee of one or five years, plus there may be other incentives for new customers.
Is fiber internet available in Frederick?
According to the FCC, fiber internet is available to around 29% of Frederick households, or approximately 10,200 residences. Serviceability is greatest around the Linden Hills, Villa Estates and Warfield communities, though fiber service can be found in random neighborhoods throughout Frederick. Glo Fiber is Frederick’s largest fiber internet provider, while Verizon Fios has a small fiber presence in the area, too.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Frederick?
Xfinity has the cheapest internet plans in Frederick. The Connect and Connect More plans start at $40 per month for download speeds up to 400Mbps, respectively. A one-year contract may be required to qualify for the lowest pricing on select Xfinity plans, and all plans may come with a $15 router rental fee (after the first year) for those who choose to rent their equipment.
Which internet provider in Frederick offers the fastest plan?
Glo Fiber offers the fastest internet plan in Frederick, with speeds up to 5,000Mbps starting at $290 per month. The plan comes with symmetrical upload and download speeds, as do other Glo Fiber speed tiers, which include speeds up to 600 and 1,200Mbps. Xfinity offers download speeds up to 1,300Mbps in Frederick, but accompanying upload speeds are significantly slower at 41Mbps.
