Best Internet Provider in Wilkes-Barre, PA

What is the best internet provider in Wilkes-Barre?
High availability, fast speeds and low entry price make unlimited Best Internet Service Providers in Wilkes-Barre. Download speeds range from 300 megabits per second to 2,000 Mbps, the fastest speeds in Wilkes-Barre, and with service starting at $30 per month, Xfinity is the area’s top choice for cheap internet.
Xfinity is the largest cable provider in the country, but the local cable ISP, Service Electric Cable Television, has better coverage in Wilkes-Barre. Pricing is higher for the speeds you get, so Xfinity will be a better value in areas where both providers are available.
Astound’s wired network is also available in some areas. Starting at $20 per month with speeds up to 300Mbps, Astound offers the cheapest internet in Wilkes-Barre, but availability is very limited.
In addition to multiple wired network options, Wilkes-Barre residents can rely on Verizon 5G Home Internet or T-Mobile Home Internet’s 5G home network for broadband service. T-Mobile Voice customers may want to opt for T-Mobile Home Internet for potential bundle discounts, but Verizon 5G Home Internet is the better option in Wilkes-Barre in terms of availability, speed, and overall value.
Best Internet in Wilkes-Barre, PA
Wilkes-Barre, PA Internet Providers Comparison
provider | Internet Technology | monthly price range | speed range | Monthly equipment cost | data cap | contract | CNET Review Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Amazing bandwidth Read full review |
cable | $20-$80 | 300-2,000Mbps | without any | without any | without any | 7 |
SECTV | cable | $48-$147 | 200-1,500Mbps | $11 (optional) | without any | without any | not applicable |
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$55 with qualifying mobile plans) | 87-415Mbps | without any | without any | without any | 7.4 |
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 with qualifying mobile plans) | 50-250Mbps | without any | without any | without any | 7.2 |
unlimited Read full review |
cable | $30-$95 | 300-2,000Mbps | $15 (optional) | without any | 1-year Select Plan (optional) | 7 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider profiles.
What are the cheapest internet plans in Wilkes-Barre?
plan | starting price | Maximum download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
---|---|---|---|
Shocked 300 Read full review |
$20 | 300Mbps | without any |
Xfinity connection Read full review |
$30 | 300Mbps | $15 (optional) |
Shocked 600 Read full review |
$30 | 600Mbps | without any |
Xfinity connects more Read full review |
$30 | 300Mbps | $15 (optional) |
SECTV 200 | $48 | 200Mbps | $11 (optional) |
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 250Mbps | without any |
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 245Mbps | without any |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider profiles.
How to Find Wilkes-Barre Online Deals and Promotions
The best online deals and top promotions in Wilkes-Barre depend on what discounts are available during that time period. Most offers are short-lived, but we’re often on the lookout for the latest deals.
Wilkes-Barre network providers (such as Xfinity) may offer lower promotional prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many services, including Service Electric Cable Television and Verizon 5G Home Internet, have the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of deals, check out our guide to the best internet deals.
Fastest Internet Packages in Wilkes-Barre
plan | starting price | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | data cap | Connection type |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Xfinity Gigabit x2 Read full review |
$95 | 2,000Mbps | 200Mbps | without any | cable |
Shocked 2000 Read full review |
$80 | 2,000Mbps | 50Mbps | without any | cable |
Shocked 1500 Read full review |
$55 | 1,500Mbps | 50Mbps | without any | cable |
SECTV 1.5 Show | $147 | 1,500Mbps | 40Mbps | without any | cable |
Shocked 1000 Read full review |
$40 | 1,000Mbps | 20Mbps | without any | cable |
SECTV 1 show | $132 | 1,000Mbps | 40Mbps | without any | cable |
Xfinity Gigabit Read full review |
$60 | 1,000Mbps | 20Mbps | without any | cable |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider profiles.
What is a good internet speed?
Most Internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for a network plan that can accommodate video conferencing, streaming video, or gaming, you’ll get a better experience with a stronger connection. Here’s an overview of the FCC’s recommended minimum download speeds for various apps. Please note that these are guidelines only – Internet speeds, service and performance vary based on connection type, provider and address.
For more information, see our guide on the internet speed you really need.
- 0 to 5Mbps lets you handle the basics: browsing the Internet, sending and receiving email, and streaming low-quality video.
- 5 to 40Mbps provides you with higher quality video streaming and video conferencing.
- 40 to 100Mbps should provide enough bandwidth for one user to meet the needs of modern remote working, video streaming, and online gaming.
- 100 to 500Mbps allows one or two users to participate in high-bandwidth activities such as video conferencing, streaming media, and online gaming at the same time.
- 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities simultaneously.
CNET How to Choose the Best Internet Provider in Wilkes-Barre, PA
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 is our approach? We first looked at pricing, availability, and speed information, using our own historical ISP data, provider websites, and map information from the Federal Communications Commission’s FCC.gov.
It didn’t end there: We visited the FCC’s website to check our data and make sure we accounted for every ISP offering service in a certain area. We will also enter your local address on the provider website to find specific options for residents. We evaluate customer satisfaction with ISP services by looking at sources such as the US Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power. ISP plans and prices may change frequently; all information provided is accurate as of publication time.
Once we have localized information, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider offer reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Are customers getting value for money?
- Are customers satisfied with their service?
While the answers to these questions are often layered and complex, we recommend the providers who come closest to a “yes” on these three questions. When choosing the cheapest internet service, we look for the plan with the lowest monthly fee, although we also consider factors like price increases, equipment costs, and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively simple. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports. (Ookla and CNET are owned by the same parent company, Ziff Davis.)
To explore our process in more depth, visit our How to Test ISPs page.
Frequently Asked Questions about Internet Providers in Wilkes-Barre, PA
What is the best Internet service provider in Wilkes-Barre?
Xfinity is the best internet service provider in Wilkes-Barre. While it’s not the most widely available cable ISP (i.e. Service Electric) or the cheapest (Astound), it has the best all-around combination of availability, speed, and overall value of any internet provider in the area.
Is there fiber optic internet in Wilkes-Barre?
According to the latest data from the FCC, less than 32% of residential addresses have access to fiber optic networks. Frontier offers fiber optic internet in the area, but Wilkes-Barre residents are more likely to use the provider’s slower, less reliable DSL service.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Wilkes-Barre?
Astound technically has Wilkes-Barre’s cheapest internet plan — $20 a month, with download speeds up to 300Mbps — but availability is limited. Xfinity is more widely available in Wilkes-Barre and offers competitive pricing on all plans, including its cheapest plan, which starts at $30 per month with speeds up to 300Mbps.
Which internet provider in Wilkes-Barre offers the fastest plans?
Xfinity’s Gigabit x2 is Wilkes-Barre’s fastest internet plan, with claimed download speeds of 2,000Mbps and uplink speeds of 200Mbps. Astound offers a 1,500Mbps plan with a maximum upload speed of 50Mbps, but again, availability in Wilkes-Barre is limited. Local cable ISP Service Electric’s gigabit plan offers speeds of 1,000Mbps down and 40Mbps upstream, but is more expensive than Xfinity’s 2 gig or Astound’s 1.5 gig plans.