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What is the best internet provider in Watertown?
Watertown isn’t the most well-equipped city when it comes to internet options, but you can still access solid speeds at reasonable prices. CNET’s top pick for the best internet provider in Watertown is Spectrumwith two plans with unlimited data, no contracts and wide availability. Actually, according to the latest Federal Communications Commission data, Spectrum offers the widest coverage, reaching 94% of households.
For those looking to save, Spectrum’s newly added $30 per month plan offers 100Mbps download speeds, though prices typically increase after two years. To avoid price gouging, Verizon and T-Mobile there are plans between $50 and $60 per month, with lower rates for qualified mobile customers. Find alternatives for fast internet in Watertown can be tricky because Spectrum is the only provider in the area that offers single gig speeds.
Watertown internet providers compared
| giver | internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | The monthly cost of equipment | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hughesnet Read the full review |
SATELLITE | $50-$95 ($75-$120 after 12 months) | 50-100Mbps | $15-$20 or $300-$450 one-time fee | 100-200GB | 2 years | 6 |
| Spectrum Read the full review |
Cable | $50-$70 | 100-1,000Mbps | The modem is free; $10 router rental (optional) | nothing | nothing | 7.2 |
| Starlink Read the full review |
SATELLITE | $120 | 25-220Mbps | $499 one time purchase | There is no limit | nothing | 6.5 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$55 for eligible Go5G Plus and Magenta Max mobile customers) | 87-415Mbps | nothing | nothing | nothing | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 with eligible Verizon 5G mobile plans) | 50-300Mbps | nothing | nothing | nothing | 7.2 |
| Viasat Read the full review |
SATELLITE | $100 | 25-150Mbps | $15 or $250 one-time fee | 850GB | nothing | 6.1 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Watertown?
| giver | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum Internet Advantage Read the full review |
$30 | 100Mbps | The modem is free; $10 router rental (optional) |
| Spectrum Internet Premier Read the full review |
$50 | 500Mbps | The modem is free; $10 router rental (optional) |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible Verizon 5G mobile plans) | 300Mbps | nothing |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 415Mbps | nothing |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Downtown Watertown is located in Jefferson County and New York state.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Watertown
The best internet deals and top promotions in Watertown depend on which discounts are available at a given time. Most deals don’t last, but we’re always on the lookout for the latest offers.
Watertown internet providers, such as Spectrum and Verizon, may offer lower introductory prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, like T-Mobile, however, run the same base price year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, see our guide to best deals on the internet.
Fastest internet plans in Watertown
| giver | Starting price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum Internet Gig Read the full review |
$70 | 1,000Mbps | 35Mbps | nothing | Cable |
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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 accommodates video conferencing, streaming video or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a stronger connection. Here is an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for different applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines — and internet speed, service and performance will vary by connection type, provider and address.
For more information, see our guide to how much internet speed do you need?.
- 0 to 5Mbps lets you tackle the basics — browsing the internet, sending and receiving email, streaming low-quality video.
- 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher quality video streaming and video conferencing.
- 40 to 100Mbps should provide a user with enough bandwidth to satisfy the needs of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
- 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities such as video conferencing, streaming and online gaming.
- 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to participate in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET picked the best internet providers in Watertown
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphones, laptop, router or kitchen utensilsit is not practical to personally test every ISP in a city. So what is our approach? We started by researching price, availability and speed information, drawing on our own historical ISP data, provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission in FCC.gov.
But it doesn’t end there. We go to the FCC website to check our data and make sure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses into provider websites to find specific options for residents. We looked at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power, to assess how happy customers are with ISP service. ISP plans and prices are subject to constant change; All information provided is accurate in the publication.
Once we have this local information, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Are customers getting decent value for what they paid for?
- Are customers happy with their service?
While the answer to these questions is often layered and complex, providers who are close to “yes” to all three are the ones we recommend. When choosing the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fees, 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. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
Internet providers in Watertown FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Watertown?
Spectrum has the widest cable coverage of any internet provider in the area. According to the latest data from the FCCmore than 94% of households have access to Spectrum services. Customers can choose between two speed tiers, either the 500Mbps plan or the top-end 1,000Mbps plan.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Watertown?
Spectrum features the cheapest plan in the area with a $30-a-month plan for download speeds of 100Mbps. However, this price will jump after the promo period. If you plan to rent equipment, that’s an additional $10 per month. Another option is that qualified mobile customers can get discounts on Verizon and T-Mobile home internet services.
Which internet provider in Watertown offers the fastest plan?
Spectrum is the only provider in the area with download speeds of 1,000Mbps. Fixed wireless providers like Verizon and T-Mobile can’t match gigabit speeds, but they can be a decent alternative to inconsistent speeds from satellite connections.
