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Best Rural Internet Providers – What Are Your Options?

best rural internet providers

Living in a rural area has its perks. You get to stay away from the hustle-bustle of the city with your family and enjoy a peaceful life. It’s soothing to even imagine that! But there is one potential drawback – lack of quality Internet. It’s a dream to get a fast and reliable Internet connection. Looks like Internet companies are already working on this mission.’

You are in luck today because there are some best Internet options for rural areas out there that not everyone has explored yet.

What Are The Best Rural Internet Providers?

These are the leading contenders:

  1. Spectrum
  2. Century Link
  3. Viasat
  4. Verizon

Let’s dig into each provider and see explore the plans they are offering:

Spectrum

Spectrum Internet service is widely available in rural areas. This fiber Internet service provider offers you up to 1000 Mbps of speed. Now that’s a huge number, right?

Spectrum service has expanded to millions of homes. The most coverage is available in California, Texas, New York and 41 other states. The provider is pretty straightforward when it comes to prices. Its Internet packages are preferred by cord-cutters because there are no data caps and contracts to bind you.

Pros

  • No contracts
  • No data caps

Cons

  • Degraded speed because of signal issue

Here are your options when it comes to Internet plans. The speed of each tier varies depending on your location. Their highest-tier, Gig Internet is not yet available in all states Spectrum is catering to. The best way of checking is to call and ask the sales representative about the plans available in your location.

Century Link

Century Link uses standard telephone lines for delivering Internet to 36 states including the rural areas of the Northwest and Midwest.

The monthly rates are low and download speed is high. The company also offers fiber Internet but it’s only available in big cities for now. You can choose from different speed tiers 15 Mbps, 20 Mbps, 80 Mbps, and 100 Mbps. The best part is the price of 3 plans is the same.

Pros

  • Low monthly prices
  • No contracts

Cons

  • Internet speed always varies
  • Limited availability in most rural areas
Plan Price Speed
Internet up to 20 Mbps $49 per month Up to 20 Mbps
Internet up to 80 Mbps $49 per month Up to 80 Mbps
Internet up to 100 Mbps $49 per month Up to 100 Mbps
Fiber Internet $65 per month Up to 940 Mbps

 

Viasat

How can we forget Viasat when talking about the best Internet for rural areas? It is one of the fastest satellite Internet services available to people who live on the outskirts of the city.

The speed provided is enough for streaming videos and carrying out other basic Internet needs.

Pros

  • No data caps
  • Reliable Internet connection

Cons

  • Limited availability
  • Maximum speed is up to 100 Mbps
Plan Price Speed
Unlimited Bronze 12 $50 per month Up to 12 Mbps
Unlimited Bronze 25 $70 per month Up to 25 Mbps
Unlimited Gold 30 $100 per month Up to 30 Mbps

 

Verizon

Verizon specializes in FiOS, DSL Internet plans and dial-up for those who are out of range.  It’s the 6th largest provider in the United States. With its 4G LTE network, it’s covering 98% of the US. population.

Pros

  • Reliable service
  • High-speed Internet

Cons

  • Limited availability
Plan Price Speed
50/50 Mbps $39.99 per month Up to 50 Mbps
100/100 Mbps $64.99 per month Up to 100 Mbps
150/150 Mbps $74.99 per month Up to 150 Mbps

The Takeaway

Each of these best rural Internet providers is admirable. To help you cut through the noise, here are the best-selling plans by each provider:

Provider Plan Price Speed
Spectrum Spectrum Internet $49.99 per month Up to 100 Mbps
Century Link Internet up to 20 Mbps $49 per month Up to 20 Mbps
Viasat Unlimited Bronze 25 $70 per month Up to 25 Mbps
Verizon 100/100 Mbps $64.99 per month Up to 100 Mbps

 

Choose a plan that suits your download speed requirements and budget. However, before you pick a provider (even if it’s in your head), do your research regarding Internet providers in my location to be certain these providers actually cater to your region.

What Factors To Look For When Buying Rural Internet?

Now that you know your options and how to get Internet in rural areas, it’s time to start shopping for a provider. Even if you are considering these 4 providers, you still need to make a comparison.

So here is our take on how to shop for a rural Internet provider:

Start With the Price

Price is the foremost factor for most of us. Unfortunately, rural Internet options are not cheap. But, you can keep your monthly bill under control with these tips:

  • Buy what you need. That means don’t get tempted by the unlimited data plans. Why should you pay more than what you need? If you don’t know your data usage, monitor it for a month.
  • Be on the outlook of price hikes. Some providers offer competitive introductory rates. Once the first year is over, your monthly rate spikes. You must avoid them at all costs!
  • Check the equipment cost. If you are renting equipment, this could cost you more than buying it upfront. Compare the cost and then make a decision accordingly.

Speed

It’s again tempting to choose a provider and plan with fast speed. But you might not need 100 Mbps after all.

As per the FCC, here is a breakdown of the speed you need with respect to your Internet activity:

  • 1 Mbps for browsing the web, check emails and social media.
  • 3 to 4 Mbps for streaming video in SD or 480 p
  • 3 to 4 Mbps for gaming
  • 5 to 8 Mbps for streaming video in HD or 720 p
  • 25 Mbps for streaming video in 4K

Yes, you don’t need more than 25 Mbps. However, keep in mind if you have multiple devices and more than one individual in the house, your speed requirements will vary.

Data Caps

The data cap is a joy killer. If you are a casual Internet user – you surf the web, check emails and use social media here and there, data cap won’t bother you much.

However, if you are a regular Netflix binge-watcher, you like to play games and you have to send heavy files, you would have to keep an eye on your data usage. Or, you should grab a plan that offers unlimited data and no data caps at all.

Some providers don’t have data caps but they reduce your speed once a certain Mbps hit in a month. It’s good to be aware of it to stay within the safe data usage limit.

Availability

Unfortunately, there is a limited choice when it comes to internet providers in rural areas. If you live in one of the outskirts, you would know well. In terms of availability, DSL and satellite are the best options. The satellite can provide Internet connection almost anywhere. DSL has to be hocked to your existing phone line.

If you perform an Internet speed test, you would see that most locations in the rural areas don’t have access to more than 25 Mbps of speed. It’s recommended to settle for a provider that promises at least 25 Mbps, reliable connection and availability in your region.

Once you consider these tips, picking a rural Internet provider will become easier. Good luck with shopping for the best plan.

FAQs

What’s the best Internet service in a rural location?

Satellite is the best Internet service in a rural location.Viasat is a leading option with its widespread satellite connection. You shouldn’t overlook other options either.

Your best bet is:

  • Spectrum
  • Century Link
  • Viasat
  • Verizon

How to improve rural Internet speed?

  • Adjust the placement of your router. Place it in a central location and clear all obstructions from the way.
  • Switch from DSL to satellite or fixed wireless provider. They offer better speed and a reliable Internet connection.

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—————————————————DISCLAIMER—————————————————

Prices and availability depend upon your location. These packages were taken from the official site and last reviewed on 10th Feb-2020.

Disclaimer: To our knowledge, we have made all the required efforts towards obtaining owner/publisher approval for the use of images in VISIONECLICK.COM blog posts. However, if you find violations of any sorts regarding any image, please feel free to contact us. Prices and packages mentioned may vary with time and the specific locations.