Posted: 2024-12-11 15:00:00

What is the best internet provider in Stamford?

Optimum is the best internet service provider for most households in Stamford, Connecticut, thanks to its wide coverage, reasonable introductory pricing and fast speeds. Optimum is the largest provider in Stamford, covering over 89% of addresses, according to data from the Federal Communications Commission. Other ISPs, such as Frontier Fiber and T-Mobile Home Internet, also serve select homes in the city, but it'll come down to what's available at your location.

If you're hunting for Stamford's fastest or cheapest providers, we've also found those options to make your broadband shopping easier. Xfinity Connect is the most affordable service in this Connecticut city, offering 150 megabits per second for $25 a month with unlimited data included.

For those with a need for speed, Optimum will also be your best bet. Optimum offers several multi-gigabit plans in Stamford: 2,000Mbps for $120, 5,000Mbps for $180 or 8,000Mbps for $280 monthly. Frontier Fiber and Xfinity also offer multi-gigabit speeds, but serviceability is more limited.

Best internet in Stamford, Connecticut, in 2024

Stamford internet providers compared

ProviderInternet technologyMonthly price rangeSpeed rangeMonthly equipment costsData capContractCNET review score
Frontier Communications
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DSL/fiber$45-$155500-5,000MbpsNoneNoneNone6.3
Optimum
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Cable/fiber$40-$280300-8,000MbpsNoneNoneNone6.2
Spectrum
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Cable$50-$70500-1,000MbpsFree modem; $10 router (optional)NoneNone7.2
T-Mobile Home Internet
Read full review
Fixed wireless$50-$70 ($40 for eligible Go5G Plus and Magenta Max mobile customers)72-245MbpsNoneNoneNone7.4
Verizon Fios
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Fiber$50-$90300-940MbpsNoneNoneNone7.6
Verizon 5G Home Internet
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Fixed wireless$50-$70 ($35-$45 with qualifying Verizon 5G mobile plans)50-1,000MbpsNoneNoneNone7.2
Xfinity
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Cable/fiber$25-$100150-2,000Mbps$15-$25 (optional)None1 year on some plans7

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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

What’s the cheapest internet plan in Stamford?

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How to find internet deals and promotions in Stamford

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

Stamford internet providers, such as Optimum, Spectrum and Xfinity, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, however, such as Frontier and Verizon, run the same standard pricing year-round. 

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

Waterfront boardwalk in Stamford, Connecticut, at sunset.

DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images

Fastest internet plans in Stamford

ProviderStarting priceMax download speedMax upload speedData capConnection type
Optimum 8 Gig Fiber
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$280 8,000Mbps8,000MbpsNoneFiber
Frontier Fiber 5 Gig
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$155 5,000Mbps5,000MbpsNoneFiber
Optimum 5 Gig Fiber
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$180 5,000Mbps5,000MbpsNoneFiber
Frontier Fiber 2 Gig
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$100 2,000Mbps2,000MbpsNoneFiber
Xfinity Gigabit X2
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$100 2,000Mbps200MbpsNoneCable
Optimum 2 Gig Fiber
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$120 2,000Mbps2,000MbpsNoneFiber
Xfinity Gigabit Extra
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$80 1,200Mbps35MbpsNoneCable
Frontier Fiber 1 Gig
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$60 1,000Mbps1,000MbpsNoneFiber
Spectrum Internet Gig
Read full review
$70 1,000Mbps35MbpsNoneCable
Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet
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$70 ($45 with eligible mobile plan)1,000Mbps75MbpsNoneFixed wireless
Xfinity Gigabit
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$60 1,000Mbps20MbpsNoneCable
Fios 1 Gig $90 940Mbps880MbpsNoneFiber
Optimum 1 Gig Fiber
Read full review
$80 940Mbps940MbpsNoneFiber

Show more (8 items)

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 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 Stamford

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 FCC.gov.

But it doesn’t end there. We use 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 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 also consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports (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 Stamford FAQs

What is the best internet service provider in Stamford?

Optimum is the best internet provider in Stamford, primarily due to its wide availability. T-Mobile is the second largest ISP within city limits, but it serves less than 66% of residents. Optimum also offers simple service details, including no data caps, contracts or monthly equipment fees.

Is fiber internet available in Stamford?

The FCC reports that fiber connectivity is available to over 60% of Stamford households. Frontier Fiber and Optimum are the main fiber providers in the area.

What is the cheapest internet provider in Stamford?

Xfinity is Stamford's cheapest internet provider, offering a $25 connection for speeds up to 150Mbps.

Which internet provider in Stamford offers the fastest plan?

Optimum 8 Gig Fiber offers the fastest service in Stamford: 8 gigabits -- or 8,000Mbps -- for $280 per month.

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