What is the best internet provider in Wilkes-Barre?

High availability, fast speeds and low introductory pricing make Xfinity the best internet service provider in Wilkes-Barre. Download speeds range from 300 megabits per second to 2,000Mbps, the fastest available in Wilkes-Barre, and with service starting at $30 per month, Xfinity is a top choice for cheap internet in the area. 

Xfinity is the nation’s largest cable internet provider, but local cable ISP, Service Electric Cable Television, boasts better coverage in Wilkes-Barre. Pricing is higher for the speeds you get, so Xfinity will be the better value in areas where both providers are available. 

Select areas may also be serviceable for Astound’s cable internet. With a starting monthly rate of $20 for speeds up to 300Mbps, Astound offers the cheapest internet in Wilkes-Barre, but availability is highly limited.

Aside from the multiple cable internet options, Wilkes-Barre residents can rely on 5G home internet from Verizon 5G Home Internet or T-Mobile Home Internet for broadband service. T-Mobile voice customers may want to opt for T-Mobile Home Internet for the potential bundle discount, but Verizon 5G Home Internet is otherwise the better choice for availability, speed and overall value in Wilkes-Barre.

Best internet in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Wilkes-Barre

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

Wilkes-Barre internet providers, such as Xfinity, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, including Service Electric Cable Television 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.

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 Wilkes-Barre, 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 answer to those questions is 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, 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. (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 Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, FAQs