Our guide to the best Verizon internet plans (2023)

We'll walk you through the different Internet options Verizon has to offer, as well as the specific supported devices. After that, we can research some competitors to make sure Big Red is a good fit for your needs. Ready to get started?

The provider now known as Verizon Wireless has been around in one form or another for decades. It went through a few name changes, but Fios launched in 2005 under the Verizon name. Since then, Fios has grown to serve more than five million customers in nearly one-fifth of the United States. If you include Verizon's other broadband customers, the carrier has hovered between seven and nine million subscribers in recent years.

When we tried to locate Verizon Fios and other Internet options on the Better Business Bureau, we were taken to the Verizon Communications home page. On the plus side, this site has an A-Plus rating and BBB accreditation. It only has one star customer rating and has closed more than 6,200 claims over the past three years, but that's not uncommon for carriers.

Verizon's Internet plans include a different coverage map than Verizon's cellular service. In fact, you won't necessarily find 5G and Fios home internet in the same places. For more information, see the map on the right.Here.

Verizon's cheapest Essentials plan with 15GB of data is just $20 per line, while the Plus plan goes up to $40 with 50GB. If you hit 100GB with the Pro plan, you can expect a $60 fee, or you can get a premium hotspot with 150GB of data for $80. If you go with the Essentials plan, you can use either 4G LTE or 5G networks Nationwide from Verizon. The other three plans switch to the faster but more limited 5G Ultra Broadband network when available.

You can enjoy streaming media to your heart's content, although the quality depends on your plan. If you opt for the Essentials, you'll get 720p HD streaming, while the Plus, Pro and Premium can handle 4K UHD quality when connected to 5G Ultra Wideband.

Prefer to go the prepaid route? While data caps and pricing are slightly different, Verizon also offers a mobile hotspot plan that you can learn about.more here.

Verizon Fios starts with a 300Mbps plan for $39.99 a month. If you're already a Verizon customer, you can take $10 a month off your account to make it even more attractive. As for benefits, Verizon Fios' basic plan includes six months of the Disney Plus package at no additional cost.

For $64.99 per month you can increase your connection speed to 500 Mbps with a wired connection. The plan has the same $10 discount, plus the Disney Plus package and a $50 Verizon Gift Card when you sign up online.

The Gigabit Fios plan is the only way for true speed demons. It offers the best speeds, up to 940 Mbps, but it's also the most expensive at $89.99 per month. On the plus side, you can save a little more with your Verizon account ($20 a month this time) and get a $100 gift card just for signing up. Verizon is currently offering $300 off any Stream TV soundbar, plus a Wi-Fi router and extender to cover your entire home. Last but not least, you get a year of Disney Plus and 2TB of Verizon Cloud Storage at no extra cost.

Verizon's 4G LTE plan doesn't offer many nice perks, but you do get six months of Disney Plus for free. If you opt for the 5G plan, you get the same access to Disney Plus with a free Verizon Stream TV device and two months to try Sling TV. Of course, be sure to check Verizon's coverage map before signing up.

While the fixed wireless Internet connection seems like a great option for rural areas, it does have some limitations. You will often find that it is not available if you live in a heavily wooded area, as the trees will interfere with the Gateway's signal. Still, this is a great alternative to the traditional internet at home if you get the chance. For those in an area that doesn't work, an access point could still be the answer. For example, our own Andrew Grush lives in a wooded area, but a traditional hotspot can work as a home internet option, even if it doesn't offer an official wireless landline in your area.

As with any internet plan, there are some limitations you should be aware of. These vary from plan to plan, but can help you determine the correct course of action.

For example, Verizon's hotspot plans rely on a separate device to deliver the signal. You've got coverage on Verizon's huge network, though you'll need to watch your battery life so you don't end up with a dead device. Do you plan to use the hotspot primarily at home? You might want to avoid a hotspot plan if Wired or Fixed Wireless is an option, as both tend to offer solid speeds with hardware set and forgotten.

Verizon Fios has one big limitation: It's downright hard to find. You can only register in parts of nine US states, all in the Northeast. These states include New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia and Washington DC. Fios is only available in select major cities in each of these states, to complicate matters further.

If you're leaning towards fixed wireless Internet for Verizon's massive network, you might want to take a moment to check your local availability. The custom fixed wireless gateway requires direct line-of-sight to one of Verizon's base stations, which is often easier said than done. Dense tree cover tends to get in the way, and weather events such as rain and fog can also affect your coverage.

As you might have guessed, each type of Verizon internet plan has its own purpose. Here you should think long and hard about your needs before applying.

For starters, Verizon's hotspot plans are best if you want to use your connection on the go. If you don't have a reliable WiFi source, you can turn on your hotspot and work or stream your favorite shows. A hotspot plan is also great if you depend on an MVNO for cell coverage but don't want to worry about losing priority. The last thing you need in the middle of the workday is for your home internet to slow down.

It's easy to sit here and say that Verizon Fios is the best Internet for as long as you can get it, and in many ways that's true. Fiber optic cables are not interrupted by rain or other weather conditions and can reach gigabit speeds that will make your whole family smile. Fios is more like a traditional Wi-Fi setup, right down to the need for a router and extender. Keep in mind that you are limited to a select few locations.

Finally, Verizon's fixed wireless Internet plans are great for people who don't have DSL or broadband as an option. It is a favorite of rural customers in large areas thanks to its gateway configuration and high data capacity. You also don't have to be a Verizon customer to sign up, but you may qualify for a discount. As always, check local availability first, as tree cover and weather can affect your speeds.

If you've read all of Verizon's options and Big Red isn't for you, don't worry. It's not the only fish in the sea, and there are plenty of other options to see. We'll break down the alternatives for each of Verizon's home internet types, which should help you find a compatible plan, whatever your needs.

Once you've decided on a plan, you might want to get a hotspot device. Some carriers offer 4G-enabled options, while others have a few 5G models to test out. You can also turn your phone into a portable hotspot if needed, but a standalone hotspot device tends to be easier on your phone's battery.

That's what AT&T andT mobileoffer instead:

AT&T:DataConnect is currently the best option for an AT&T access point. You can choose between 25GB or 40GB and pay $50 or $75 respectively. Overages cost $10 for every 2GB of data used. However, you might be better off with one of AT&T's prepaid hotspot plans. They cost a whopping $55 for 100GB of data, or you can save some money with 20GB for $25 a month.

If you decide to use a fiber or DSL connection, consider WiFi routers and extenders as well. This can significantly impact your experience as it offers a range of speeds and device support can range from a handful of devices to nearly 100.

Here are some other ISPs you can try:

Google fiber:Google caused a sensation with the launch of its Fiber service a few years ago. It's available in some of the country's major cities, but it's especially scarce in the Northeast. You can choose between 1 gigabit or 2 gigabit speeds for $70 or $100 a month, so speed should never be an issue. According to Google, Fiber offers 99.9% reliability, so it's worth checking to see if it's available in your area.

One of the best alternatives for rural customers is satellite Internet. Elon Musk's Starlink is one of the best, with an increasing number of satellites reaching 12,000 points. Although the weather can affect your service, it is generally easier to find a satellite than a point on the ground. At the moment Starlink's biggest problem is the price. The starter kit is $599 before your monthly bill, though it's a great option.

Here are some other fixed internet options to think about:

Long Band Boost:Rise is one of the most popular ISPs in fixed wireless gaming, although it does reach download speeds of 50 Mbps. It should suit most people's needs just fine, and the basic plans are just $29 or $39 a month. You can also choose your data limit based on your needs, but most people go under 100GB.

Once you've decided on the Verizon Internet plan of choice, it's time to get online. Since we're looking at mobile hotspot plans for the first time, let's start with the Big Red device options. If you're hoping to take advantage of 5G speeds, this is the place to be.Inseego MiFi M2100it's the only way to pay $11.11 a month. It costs a little more per month than the other options, but it might surprise you in terms of speed too.

Verizonorb speedHotspot is the best option if you need to save money as it only costs $2.22 per month. It claims you can connect up to 10 devices at once, and the battery should keep you going for a solid 12 hours. Remember the speed is 4G LTE.

Another Verizon hotspot to try is theMiFi 8800L Propel Backpack. It's in the middle of the pack at $5.55 a month, but it offers significantly better 24-hour battery life and comes with privacy features like an automatic VPN. Provides an added kick to up to 15 devices simultaneously.

If you decide that Fios is your preferred internet plan, you still have a few more options to choose from. technically you canChoose any router, which is a great way to avoid paying an additional monthly fee. The Verizon Fios router shown above features Wi-Fi 6 and 4x4 tri-band antennas for excellent coverage. It pairs well with the nearly identical Fios extender, which offers the same Wi-Fi 6 compatibility and antenna design.

The router world is at your disposal if you decide to venture outside the realm of Fios. If you prefer a Google-powered home, Nest Wi-Fi is probably the way to go. Every little router and extender follows the same elegant design language you've come to expect from Google.mesh systemthis is easy to set up. Even Amazon can't be beaten with its eero system. It offers a few more designs and configurations, but the whole-house mesh approach is the same.