Best Internet Providers in Cheektowaga, New York - CNET

What is the best internet provider in Cheektowaga?

Verizon Fios has CNET’s highest review score (7.6/10) of the 40-plus top internet providers reviewed, so when it’s available throughout much of an area, it’s likely to be the pick for best local internet service provider overall. That’s true in Cheektowaga, where Verizon Fios is indeed CNET's pick for the best internet provider.

In addition to having the best fiber internet coverage in Cheektowaga, Verizon Fios stands out for its competitive pricing, lengthy price guarantees and high customer satisfaction. Free equipment and unlimited data sweeten the deal, but Verizon Fios is also known to throw in extra signup bonuses for new customers.

If Verizon Fios isn’t available at your address, fiber internet from GoNetspeed (formerly Otelco) may be available. Speeds and pricing are similar to Verizon Fios, but GoNetspeed offers slightly faster max speeds, up to 1,000 megabits per second, the fastest available in Cheektowaga.

Cable ISP Spectrum also offers download speeds up to 1,000Mbps, but max upload speeds are significantly slower at 35Mbps. The provider does, however, have the cheapest internet in Cheektowaga starting at $40 per month for download speeds up to 300Mbps.

Those who have T-Mobile or Verizon for their mobile service may want to see if home internet is available from their mobile carrier. Both T-Mobile Home Internet and Verizon 5G Home Internet offer a mobile bundle discount. Verizon 5G Home Internet has a faster speed potential, but T-Mobile Home Internet is much more widely available in Cheektowaga.

Best internet in Cheektowaga, New York

Cheektowaga, New York, internet providers compared

Provider	Internet technology	Monthly price range	Speed range	Monthly equipment costs	Data cap	Contract	CNET review score
GoNetspeed	Fiber	$55-$70	500-1,000Mbps	$10 (optional)	None	None	N/A
Spectrum Read full review	Cable	$40-$60	300-1,000Mbps	$7 (optional)	None	None	7.2
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review	Fixed wireless	$60 ($40-$50 with eligible mobile plans)	72-245Mbps	None	None	None	7.4
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review	Fixed wireless	$50-$70 ($35-$45 with eligible mobile plans)	50-1,000Mbps	None	None	None	7.2
Verizon Fios Read full review	Fiber	$50-$90	300-940Mbps	None	None	None	7.6

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

What is the cheapest internet plan in Cheektowaga?

Plan	Starting price	Max download speed	Monthly equipment fee
Spectrum Internet 300 Read full review	$40	300Mbps	$7 (optional)
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review	$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans)	300Mbps	None
Verizon Fios 300 Read full review	$50	300Mbps	None
GoNetspeed 300	$55	300Mbps	$10 (optional)
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review	$60 ($40-$50 with eligible mobile plans)	245Mbps	None

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Cheektowaga

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

Cheektowaga internet providers, such as Spectrum or T-Mobile Home Internet, may offer lower introductory pricing or other incentives for a limited time. Many, however, including Verizon Fios and GoNetspeed, run the same standard pricing year-round. 

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

Fastest internet plans in Cheektowaga

Plan	Starting price	Max download speed	Max upload speed	Data cap	Connection type
GoNetspeed 1000Mbps	$70	1,000Mbps	1,000Mbps	None	Fiber
Spectrum Internet Gig Read full review	$90	1,000Mbps	35Mbps	None	Cable
Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read full review	$70 ($45 with eligible mobile plans)	1,000Mbps	75Mbps	None	Fixed wireless
Verizon Fios 1 Gig Read full review	$90	940Mbps	880Mbps	None	Fiber

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 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 Cheektowaga, New York

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 the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.

But 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:

Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds? Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying? Are customers happy with their service?

While the answers to those questions are often layered and complex, the providers that 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 consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.

To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.

Internet providers in Cheektowaga, New York, FAQs