Xfinity is the best internet service provider in Kent. It offers the fastest and cheapest plans in the city and is available almost everywhere. The main downsides are the presence of data caps and Xfinity’s steep price increases after a year or two.
It’s not widely available, but Quantum Fiber offers the best fiber internet in Kent. It gets you upload speeds as fast as download speeds, and equipment is included in every plan. Wireless internet from Verizon or T-Mobile is another decent option for smaller households, and you can save by bundling with an eligible cellphone plan.
Our methodology
Cable
150 - 6,000 Mbps
$20 - $300 per month
Our take - Xfinity is the only wired internet provider -- cable or fiber -- that’s widely available in Kent. That means it will be the default option for most people. It’s a pretty good option as your default: Its starting prices are incredibly cheap, equipment is included on most plans, and Xfinity has above-average customer satisfaction scores from J.D. Power and the American Customer Satisfaction Index. The main downside is Xfinity’s steep price increases -- prices go up by as much as $41 per month after the promotional period ends.
Cable
150 - 6,000 Mbps
$20 - $300 per month
Fiber
200 - 8,000 Mbps
$30 - $165 per month
Our take - Quantum Fiber is only available to around 5% of Kent households, but if you’re one of the lucky few who can get it, it’s a great alternative to Xfinity. You’ll get symmetrical upload and download speeds, prices don’t automatically increase after a year or two, and equipment is included in all plans. (Quantum Fiber is part of Lumen, which also offers slower DSL service through CenturyLink in Kent.)
Fiber
200 - 8,000 Mbps
$30 - $165 per month
Fixed wireless
85 - 1,000 Mbps
$50 - $70 per month
Our take - Wireless internet is a good backup option if you want something other than Xfinity and can’t get Quantum Fiber. Both Verizon and T-Mobile offer wireless home internet plans in Kent. Verizon’s speeds go up to 300Mbps, which is plenty for most households. You can also get great discounts by bundling with an eligible cellphone plan. That said, wireless internet tends to be more prone to network congestion than cable or fiber.
Fixed wireless
85 - 1,000 Mbps
$50 - $70 per month
Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CenturyLink Read full review |
DSL | $55 | Up to 100Mbps | $15 (optional) | None | None | 6.7 |
Quantum Fiber | Fiber | $50-$75 | 500-940Mbps | None | None | None | 6.7 |
Starlink Read full review |
Satellite | $120 | 25-220Mbps | $599 upfront | None | None | 6.5 |
T-Mobile
Home
Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $60 ($40-$50 with mobile plans) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
Verizon
5G
Home
Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers) | 100-300Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
Show more (1 item)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
---|---|---|---|
Xfinity
Connect Read full review |
$20 | 150Mbps | $15 (optional) |
Xfinity
Connect
More Read full review |
$35 | 300Mbps | None |
Quantum Fiber | $50 | 500Mbps | None |
Verizon
5G
Home
Internet Read full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 100Mbps | None |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
The best internet deals and top promotions in Kent depend on what discounts are available during a given time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Kent internet providers, such as Xfinity and Verizon 5G Home Internet, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, however, including Quantum Fiber, run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
Xfinity
Gigabit
Extra Read full review |
$80 | 1,200Mbps | 35Mbps | 1.2TB | Cable |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Xfinity
Gigabit Read full review |
$75 | 1,000Mbps | 20Mbps | 1.2TB | Cable |
Quantum Fiber | $75 | 940Mbps | 940Mbps | None | Fiber |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
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.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.
What is the best internet service provider in Kent?
Is fiber internet available in Kent?
What is the cheapest internet provider in Kent?
Which internet provider in Kent offers the fastest plan?
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