Best Internet Providers in Virginia

The best internet options in Virginia

Source: CNET analysis of provider data

Virginia broadband at a glance

Virginia is for those who love fast internet speed. The Southern Province used to have the distinction of having fastest internet speed in the countryan impressive average of 13.7 megabits per second. That was in 2014 and the state has come a long way since then. Old Dominion now sees an average download speed of about 214 Mbps Ooklaplacing it a respectable 18th among the 50 states and neighbors Washington, DCregarding internet speed. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)

One of its cities fared even better in the Ookla rankings, Chesapeake, ranked No. 2 among the 100 most populous cities in the US, with a median download speed of about 285 Mbps. Virginia Beach was 31st with a median speed of about 246 Mbps. Norfolk can be found further down the rankings at 72nd place, with an average download speed of around 209 Mbps.

According to the Federal Communications Commission, every Virginian has access to internet speeds of at least 25 Mbps, but that’s likely due to more expensive options from satellite internet providers Hughesnet and Viasat. Speeds in the state are generally solid, with an average download speed of around 203 Mbps. Virginia is likely to see an increase of about 45% of households with access to fiber internet at speeds of 250 Mbps (especially in cities like Chesapeake and Virginia Beach) and a smaller 10% with access to 1000 Mbps.

Internet distribution by city in Virginia

It’s difficult to cover the broadband options of an entire state and give individual areas the attention they deserve. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the best internet providers in the US, including cities in Virginia. We tackle details like internet connection types, maximum speeds and cheapest providers. If you don’t find the city you’re looking for below, check again later. We are working to add more places every week.

Internet prices in Virginia

The starting price of internet service in Virginia will vary depending on where you live, with people in rural areas being forced to pay a premium for slower speeds. Expect to pay about $50 a month to get online for a ballpark figure, but cheaper plans are available from Xfinity. Existing customers of certain T-Mobile or Verizon plans may receive discounted rates 5G home internet suggestions.

The future of broadband in Virginia

According to WDBJ, a $1.4 billion investment from the federal government’s Broadband Capital, Access and Deployment program. The Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration estimates that 364,156 homes and small businesses in Virginia lack access to high-speed Internet, but is that number true? FCC wants input from Virginians Virginia Mercury. Separately, Verizon announced it will install more than 120 miles of fiber-optic cables in Caroline County and Greensville County, expanding access to 3,000 homes and businesses. This was reported by WRIC.

How CNET picked the best ISPs in Virginia

Internet providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen toolit is impossible to personally test every ISP in a given city. What is our approach? We start by researching pricing, availability, and speed data based on our own historical ISP data, provider sites, and mapping data. FCC.gov.

It doesn’t stop there: We visit the FCC’s website to verify our information and make sure we’ve reviewed every ISP serving the area. We also include local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. To gauge how satisfied customers are with ISP service, we look to sources including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power. ISP plans and prices are subject to change frequently; All information provided is accurate at the time of publication.

Once we have this localized information, we ask three key questions:

• Does the provider offer access to fast enough internet speeds?
• Are customers getting decent value for what they are paying for?
• Are customers satisfied with their service?

While the answer to these questions is often layered and complex, the providers that come closest to saying yes to all three are the ones we recommend.

Visit our page to explore our process in more depth How we test ISPs.

Virginia Internet FAQs