What’s the 5G Home Internet Provider?
A couple of years ago, we could get by with internet connection with less than a 10Mbps of speed. That was before we filled our lives with devices for streaming movies and TV shows, and working from home. Now, the demand is higher than ever and we need 25Mbps or more.
The good news is that speedy 5G home internet is helping to improve connectivity. 5G home internet offers speeds of up to 300Mbps without requiring a hard-wired connection. The top 5G home internet service providers offer low prices, convenience, and speeds that soar past those of fixed wireless, satellite, and even DSL connections.
That said, 5G home internet availability is still limited, so the internet service provider (ISP) you select will largely depend on whether it’s available at your location. Companies such as Verizon, T-Mobile, Starry, and Ultra all offer 5G home internet plans with great speeds, reliable service, low prices, and high bandwidth. This guide will cover the strengths, plans, costs, and availability of the best 5G home internet providers available in the market today.
The big players
Verizon
Currently, Verizon offers fixed wireless 5G, known as Verizon 5G home internet in select areas. This internet service uses ultra-wideband 5G technology, that boasts maximum download speeds of up to 1000Mbps and average speeds of about 300Mbps. Verizon offers several price ranges on its service plan for existing and new customers.
Plans range from $25 to $50/month for the 5G Home plan and from $35 to $70/month for the 5G Home Plus plan. You will also get credit worth $500 towards early termination fees if you switch from another ISP plus some extra perks. Like other Verizon plans, this plan requires no contracts and has no data caps.
T-Mobile
T-Mobile claims that you will automatically receive the best speeds and it’s among the most widely available 5G internet services in the US. Currently, T-Mobile can reach millions of households, a feat that no other 5G home internet service can match. T-Mobile anticipates that customers can get average speeds of between 25 and 100Mbps for a starting price of $50/month.
You will get unlimited data, no contracts, and no hidden fees with T-Mobile’s 5G home internet. Additionally, you will get a one-year Paramount Plus subscription for free with an option to pay $5/month for a version with limited ads. Also, you’ll get $10 off Google’s YouTube TV.
Starry
A new player on the ISP market, Starry, offers five times more capacity than a wired network, which gives you consistent speeds that you can rely on even during peak usage hours. It’s the only fixed 5G wireless provider that isn’t also a wireless carrier.
All of Starry’s plans come with unlimited data, no contracts, and zero equipment fees. For $50/month, you get Starry Plus, the most widely available plan with speeds of up to 200Mbps. Additionally, Starry throws in a free installation and router. They also offer a 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re dissatisfied with their services.
Ultra
Ultra home internet uses fixed wireless, which means that it offers a wireless network at one fixed location (like your home), unlike a mobile device that offers internet on the go. If you don’t have many internet options in your area, Ultra home internet is a good alternative to DSL or satellite.
Ultra internet service connects to the same 5G T-Mobile network or 4G LTE network that smartphones run on, depending on the availability of the signal at a specific location.
Unlike satellite internet, which may be affected by changes in weather, Ultra internet is not affected by the weather. For $54.99/month, you get speeds of up to 115Mbps, which is faster than other players in the market such as HughesNet which provides satellite internet service at a top speed of 25Mbps.
Key considerations
Before you decide to switch to a 5G home internet, it’s important to know how the service performs in several different areas. Do you want fast speeds? Are you looking for availability? Are you concerned about the cost? Here are the ISPs that perform best in each of these categories:
Fastest speeds
Verizon
The biggest advantage of 5G home internet is its fast speed. Currently, 5G speeds range from about 40Mbps to as high as 1000Mbps. While 5G’s gigabit speeds are limited to densely populated urban areas, the rise of mid-band 5G types such as C-band are capable of giving millions of users access to high speeds of between 100 and 500Mbps.
Verizon 5G home internet offers fast speeds of up to 1000Mbps and an average of 300Mbps, which is fast enough to play games, stream movies, and have a better internet connection in general. They offer two monthly plans, 5G Home and 5G Home Plus, with no annual contracts, extra fees, and easy setup. Both of these plans come with a Wi-Fi router and 5G ultra-wideband receiver, plug and play self-setup, no data caps, and up to $500 to switch from another ISP for new customers.
Most widely available option
T-Mobile
5G home internet offers consistent speeds and a rapidly growing coverage area. Even in one’s home, a fixed wireless connection on 5G technology receives a good signal.
T-Mobile 5G service covers approximately 40 million households, which makes it among the most widely available providers of 5G home internet. If you don’t like the internet providers in your area, T-Mobile can be a good alternative. You get speeds of up to 115Mbps for streaming and gaming, all at an affordable price.
T-Mobile service provides the lowest speeds on this list because it switches between 5G and 4G LTE. The internet speeds may vary depending on factors such as location, availability, signal strength, and the time of the day.
Wireless ISP meets 5G
Starry
When you need home internet, you need an option that is not only wireless but also supports high-speed and low-latency internet connectivity.
Starry internet technology is focused solely on establishing a fixed and targeted connection to your home. This means that, instead of sending signals in virtually all directions throughout a certain area, a fixed wireless connection such as Starry, sends internet signals directly to and from dedicated points.
While Starry only covers select cities, it has a lower connection and installation cost, which is helping the ISP expand at a high rate. With speeds of up to 200Mbps you can comfortably stream your favorite movie or show in HD, play online games, and even do a video conference with no buffer. No matter the plan you choose, it comes with free equipment, unlimited data, free installation, and no contracts. It’s also the only 5G home internet service provider that features symmetrical or almost symmetrical upload and download speeds at a cost of $15/month, similar to what you would find with fiber internet service.
Best for rural areas
Ultra
Finding reliable fast internet, especially in rural areas may sometimes be a challenge because remote areas often lack the infrastructure for fiber optic, cable and DSL internet connections.
Since it’s backed by LTE and T-Mobile’s 5G network, Ultra is a cheaper alternative to satellite for those who live in rural areas making it among the best rural internet providers in the market. Ultra home internet delivers a wireless internet connection that is faster and more reliable than older types of fixed wireless connections.
You will enjoy speeds above 100Mbps, but every plan comes with a data cap of 25GB per month. For an extra charge, you can get a data cap as high as 100GB per month. All the same, you will enjoy consistent streaming of your favorite TV shows and consistent connection to stream on several devices at once.
What others are saying
Verizon
“Verizon 5G home internet offers high download speeds that could match those from cable or fiber. For this reason, it’s ranked as a top ISP for customer satisfaction according to J.D. Power. Some customers wish that the upload speeds were faster than 50Mbps, given that ISP such as Starry offers uploads as high as 200Mbps. That said, it’s an indicator that there’s room for improvement as Verizon 5G network expands.” – CNET
T-Mobile
“T-Mobile 5G internet averages just over 40Mbps download speeds, and some households may receive up to 100Mbps. Some users indicate seeing download speeds of up to 300Mbps. T-Mobile promises that users will see typical download speeds of between 33 and 182Mbps.” – CNET
Starry
“In an area where the Net Promoter Score (NPS) hovers around zero, the NPS score for Starry has been consistently high averaging between 60 and 70, which is high compared to other ISPs.” – CNET
Ultra
“Ultra home internet uses the same 5G and 4G LTE network that T-Mobile smartphones use. It’s a subsidiary of Ultra Mobile which scores a B rating. This means that you can expect consistent service and an attempt to solve customer complaints quickly.” – Better Business Bureau
5G home internet FAQs
How fast is 5G home internet?
Typically, you will get speeds that range between 30 and 1000Mbps. However, 5G home internet speeds will largely depend on the ISP and the strength of the signal in your specific location.
Are 5G home Wi-Fi and 5G mobile internet similar?
No. To connect to a 5G network, the 5G home Wi-Fi connection uses a dedicated gateway device, which then connects your devices using Wi-Fi. In terms of speed, 5G home internet is faster than 5G mobile service.
What technology powers the 5G network?
The 5G network uses tools like beamforming and multi-user, multiple-input, multi-output (MU-MIMO) technology, to deliver faster, targeted signals to users. The technology also uses a wide variety of radio frequencies, such as millimeter-wave and C-band frequencies, including small-cell transmitters to provide gigabit-plus speeds, especially in densely populated areas.
*Pricing varies by location and availability. Speeds may vary. All prices subject to change; for current pricing and availability visit our internet service page. Prices as of 6/19/22.
Disclosure | Updater articles are based on our own data and research, independent from partner relationships. We are not compensated by partners for information and opinions presented here. Our Editorial Terms of Service can be found here.
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