Choosing the Best ISP Without the Hassle
Written by Sonic Team
June 25, 2025 | 3 min read
Switching Internet Service Providers (ISPs) can be a hassle. It takes time to research providers that serve your area and browse through confusing bundle packages and speed tier options. Plus, they don’t make it easy to understand what you’re actually paying for and if that price may change. So, we read the fine print for you and are breaking down the key points to consider when looking for a new ISP.
Speed: Don’t just look at download speeds, check for upload speeds too!
Upload speeds are used to measure how quickly data is transmitted from your computer or device to the internet. The average upload speeds in the U.S. are 50 Mbps, according to Highspeedinternet.com. Essentially, the lower the upload speed, the slower and longer it takes to upload stuff onto the internet, including your video calls, or that new TikTok trend for your chance to go viral, or that super long report your boss asked you to submit, and so much more of what we do online day-to-day.
The reality is that upload speeds are just as important in today’s world of ever-evolving technology and many ISPs only advertise and focus on download speeds, often because it’s the fastest of the two. So, look for an ISP that offers symmetric speeds, which means upload speeds will be just as fast as download speeds.
Data Caps: We don’t want ‘em!
Everything you do online uses data - from checking email to scrolling on Instagram and FaceTiming grandma, and some ISPs set monthly data cap limits. This means that if you reach your monthly data limit, your ISP can throttle your speeds (slow down your internet) and charge data overage fees. Hot tip: Look for an ISP with “no data caps” or “unlimited data”.
“Price-Locks”: Contracts are OUT, Price-Locks are IN
Contracts are becoming a thing of the past with ISPs switching to “Price-Lock” models that guarantee their customers a set monthly price for a certain period. A move that may help ease customer fears around price increases due to tariffs or inflation. Be sure to read the fine print because ISPs can still charge extra fees during and after the promotion period, like this Xfinity example below.
Price: Read. The. Broadband. Label.
It’s easy to get lured into checking out a new ISP because of a new ad you saw online offering a low monthly price. And, in today’s economy, let’s be real, most of us are looking for a good deal. But, what exactly is included in your plan, and for how long?
As of April 10, 2024, ISPs are required by the FCC to display “Broadband Labels”. They include internet plan information like speed, price and look like the nutrition labels we see on cereal boxes. Broadband labels are meant to help consumers make informed decisions about the internet plan they choose. Even then, they can still be a bit confusing.
Let’s look at this example, Xfinity’s Connect More Plan that offers 400 Mbps, and calculate the cost of service during the promotional period and what it will actually cost after the promotional period ends.
$50/mo. is the intro rate for 12 months.
$84/mo. is the price you’ll pay after 12 months and is subject to change. So, it could be more than that.
Now, let’s look at the Additional Charges & Terms section.
Optional xFi Complete is the WiFi equipment and is included in the monthly promotional rate ($50/mo.) But after the 12-month promotion is done, the monthly rate is $25/mo.$84/mo. (rate after promo) + $25/mo. (equipment fees)= $109/mo. after promo ends
Is unlimited data included? No. Plus, you can be charged an additional $30/mo. for unlimited data if you’re not using their xFi Complete equipment.
The total monthly cost is $109/mo for 400mbps/40Mbps after the promotional period ends. That’s more than double the introduction price.
Customer Service: Matters more than you think
Customer service doesn’t start the moment your new service is installed. It might start with the first time you call for more information. That initial interaction becomes your first impression of the ISP. Check review sites like Yelp, Reddit or Google Reviews, or Net Promoter Scores (NPS) to see how others like (or don’t) their ISP.
If after reading this, you think to yourself, “Where the heck am I going to find the perfect ISP?!” Look no further than Sonic. We’ve been around since 1994, so we know internet. We built our own fiber network, so we know our service is reliable. Our symmetric 10-Gig speeds are industry-leading and the most affordable around, starting at $49.99/mo. Plus, it only takes a few minutes to sign up for our simple fiber plans that include unlimited data, no contracts, and friendly customer service, because we believe that’s how internet should be.
Check out our Broadband Labels here and see for yourself or call our friendly reps at (855) 757-6111 if you’re ready to make the switch!