What is the best internet provider in Cheektowaga?
Verizon Fios has scored well in CNET’s highest review rankings with our top internet providers reviewed so when it’s available throughout much of an area, it’s likely to be the pick for best local internet service provider overall. The service scored (7.6/10) of the 40-plus other carriers. When compared to the rest in Cheektowaga, it was the best. Verizon Fios is indeed CNET's pick for the best internet provider for customers in Cheektowaga, New York.
In addition to having the best fiber internet coverage in Cheektowaga, Verizon Fios stands out for its competitive pricing, lengthy price guarantees and high customer satisfaction. Free equipment and unlimited data sweeten the deal, but Verizon Fios is also known to throw in extra signup bonuses for new customers.
If Verizon Fios isn’t available at your address, fiber internet from GoNetspeed (formerly Otelco) may be available. Speeds and pricing are similar to Verizon Fios, but GoNetspeed offers slightly faster maximum speeds, up to 1,000 megabits per second, the fastest available in Cheektowaga.
Cable ISP Spectrum also offers download speeds up to 1,000Mbps, but maximum upload speeds are significantly slower at 41Mbps. The provider does have the cheapest internet in Cheektowaga starting at $30 per month for download speeds up to 1068Mbps.
Those who have T-Mobile or Verizon for their mobile service may want to see if home internet is available from their mobile carrier. Both T-Mobile Home Internet and Verizon 5G Home Internet offer a mobile bundle discount. Verizon 5G Home Internet has a faster speed potential, but T-Mobile Home Internet is much more widely available in Cheektowaga.
CNET considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service in Cheektowaga across several categories. Our evaluation includes referencing a proprietary database built over years of reviewing internet services. We validate that against provider information by spot-checking local addresses for service availability. We also do a close read of providers' terms and conditions and, when needed, will call ISPs to verify the details.
Despite our efforts to find the most recent and accurate information, our process has some limitations you should know about. Pricing and speed data are variable: Certain addresses may qualify for different service tiers, and monthly costs may vary, even within a city. The best way to identify your particular options is to plug your address into a provider's website.
Also, the prices, speed and other information listed above and in the provider cards below may differ from what we found in our research. The cards display the full range of a provider's pricing and speed across the US, according to our database of plan information provided directly by ISPs, while the text is specific to what's available in Cheektowaga. The prices referenced within this article's text come from our research and include applicable discounts for setting up automatic payments each month -- a standard industry offering. Other discounts and promotions might also be available for things like signing a term contract or bundling with multiple services.
To learn more about how we review internet providers, visit our full methodology page.
Best internet in Cheektowaga, New York
300 - 2,000 Mbps
$50 - $120 per month
Our take - Prices may start a bit higher for comparable speeds, but after the first year -- when many ISPs (Spectrum and GoNetspeed included) raise their prices -- your Verizon Fios rate stays the same. Plans currently have a five-year price guarantee and no set price increase after that. Free equipment and unlimited data add to the provider’s overall value.
300 - 2,000 Mbps
$50 - $120 per month
300 - 1,000 Mbps
$50 - $80 per month
Our take - Fiber internet isn’t available everywhere in Cheektowaga, nor is fixed wireless service. Spectrum, on the other hand, is available throughout the area. Along with high availability, Spectrum offers unlimited data and free modem rental, although renting a router will add $7 to your monthly bill.
300 - 1,000 Mbps
$50 - $80 per month
Fixed wireless
72 - 245 Mbps
$60 per month
Our take - With a speed range of 72 to 245Mbps, T-Mobile Home Internet is slower than other Cheektowaga ISPs (Verizon Fios, GoNetspeed and Spectrum start at 300Mbps). If you can get by on the speeds, simple setup and customer-friendly service terms, plus the potential bundle discount, make T-Mobile Home Internet an option worth considering.
Fixed wireless
72 - 245 Mbps
$60 per month
Cheektowaga, New York, internet providers compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GoNetspeed | Fiber | $55-$70 | 500-1,000Mbps | $10 (optional) | None | None | N/A |
|
Spectrum Read full review | Cable | $40-$60 | 300-1,000Mbps | $7 (optional) | None | None | 7.2 |
|
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | Fixed wireless | $60 ($40-$50 with eligible mobile plans) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
|
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 with eligible mobile plans) | 50-1,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
|
Verizon Fios Read full review | Fiber | $50-$90 | 300-940Mbps | None | None | None | 7.6 |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Cheektowaga?
| Plan | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Spectrum Internet 300 Read full review | $40 | 300Mbps | $7 (optional) |
|
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | $50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 300Mbps | None |
|
Verizon Fios 300 Read full review | $50 | 300Mbps | None |
| GoNetspeed 300 | $55 | 300Mbps | $10 (optional) |
|
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | $60 ($40-$50 with eligible mobile plans) | 245Mbps | None |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Cheektowaga
The best internet deals and the top promotions in Cheektowaga depend on what discounts are available during that time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Cheektowaga internet providers, such as Spectrum or T-Mobile Home Internet, may offer lower introductory pricing or other incentives for a limited time. Many, including Verizon Fios and GoNetspeed, 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 Cheektowaga
| Plan | Starting price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GoNetspeed 1000Mbps | $70 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
Spectrum Internet Gig Read full review | $90 | 1,000Mbps | 35Mbps | None | Cable |
|
Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read full review | $70 ($45 with eligible mobile plans) | 1,000Mbps | 75Mbps | None | Fixed wireless |
|
Verizon Fios 1 Gig Read full review | $90 | 940Mbps | 880Mbps | None | Fiber |
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 Cheektowaga, New York
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:
- 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 that 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.
Internet providers in Cheektowaga, New York, FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Cheektowaga?
Verizon Fios is the best internet service provider in Cheektowaga. The area’s largest fiber provider offers fast, symmetrical speeds, a lengthy price guarantee, free equipment rental and unlimited data. Some of those attributes may be available from competing ISPs in Cheektowaga, but not all.
Is fiber internet available in Cheektowaga?
Fiber internet is available to approximately four in 10 Cheektowaga homes, according to the most recent FCC data. Serviceability is highest to the north, around the Buffalo-Niagara International Airport, although GoNetspeed has decent availability in the heart of the city along Walden Avenue. Verizon Fios is the largest fiber-optic internet provider in Cheektowaga.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Cheektowaga?
Spectrum has the lowest standard introductory rate for internet in Cheektowaga at $30 per month for download speeds up to 114Mbps.
Which internet provider in Cheektowaga offers the fastest plan?
Spectrum and GoNetspeed offer the fastest internet speeds in Cheektowaga at 1,068Mbps. Spectrum has a lower starting price ($60 compared with $70 at GoNetspeed), but GoNetspeed has the advantage of symmetrical upload and download speeds. Spectrum upload speeds max out at around 41Mbps.