What is the best internet provider in Allentown?

With exceptional fiber-optic coverage, fast speeds, favorable service terms and a lengthy price guarantee, Verizon Fios is the best internet service provider in Allentown. The 100% fiber provider offers symmetrical (or close) upload and download speeds ranging from 300 to 2,300 megabits per second, the fastest internet speed available in Allentown. Service currently includes free equipment rental, unlimited data and a five-year price guarantee.

Verizon Fios isn’t the cheapest ISP in Allentown. Cable internet provider Astound offers the cheapest plan in Allentown, with service starting at just $20 monthly for speeds up to 300Mbps. The provider’s low pricing is tempting, but it’s good for only two years, after which the monthly rate may increase by $100 or more.

Fellow cable provider Service Electric Cable Television features more stable, yet slightly more expensive, pricing with plans ranging from 100 to 1,000Mbps, starting at $48 to $147 per month. While SECTV has you paying more from the start, there are no steep, scheduled price increases, so it may be a better deal down the road. 

If you appreciate no surprises on your bill, T-Mobile Home Internet is another ISP worth considering in Allentown. Maximum speeds aren’t as fast as other popular broadband options in the area, but the contract-free internet service comes with free equipment rental, unlimited data, a unique price guarantee and a discount for qualifying T-Mobile voice customers.

Best internet in Allentown, Pennsylvania

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Allentown

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

Allentown internet providers, such as Astound and T-Mobile Home Internet, may offer lower introductory pricing or other incentives for a limited time. Many, including Verizon Fios and Service Electric, run the same standard pricing year-round. 

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

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 Federal Communications Commission. 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 Allentown, Pennsylvania

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?

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 Allentown, Pennsylvania, FAQs