The 2026 U.S. Internet Competition Report
Our analysis of 33,617 zip codes: Iowa leads America with 10.1 providers per zip, the urban Northeast trails, and 1.1% of zips still have just one option.
READ THE REPORT →
Resources
Plain-English guides to buying home internet
No jargon, no 3,000-word filler intros. Just the stuff that saves you money and regret when choosing an internet plan.
“The stuff we’d tell a friend before they signed anything.”How to lower your internet bill in 2026: 7 tactics that work
The fee audit, the right-sizing math, and the negotiation scripts that actually bring bills down.
6 MIN READHow much does home internet cost in 2026?
Typical prices by speed and connection type, the fees that inflate bills, and how to pay the fair rate.
7 MIN READFiber vs cable internet: which should you get?
Speed, uploads, reliability, and price — compared honestly, including when cable is the smarter buy.
6 MIN READ5G home internet: good enough to replace cable?
Real-world speeds, who it's great for, where it struggles, and how it stacks up against wired options.
6 MIN READNo-contract internet plans explained
What month-to-month really means, when it costs more, and the early-termination-fee traps to dodge.
5 MIN READWhat internet speed do you actually need?
Mbps decoded with real household examples, so you stop paying for speed you never touch.
6 MIN READSwitching internet providers with zero downtime
The exact sequence for changing providers without losing Wi-Fi for a single evening — including the equipment-return trap.
5 MIN READSetting up internet when you move: the checklist
When to order, transfer vs switch, and how to have Wi-Fi working on night one of the new place.
6 MIN READInternet plans for seniors, without the runaround
The speed you actually need, the discounts that exist in 2026, and the phone-scam red flags.
6 MIN READRural internet options in 2026: what actually works out there
Fixed wireless, satellite, DSL, and the fiber quietly reaching farm country — ranked by what it's like to live with.
7 MIN READSatellite vs 5G home internet: the honest matchup
Starlink and Viasat vs T-Mobile and Verizon home internet — speed, latency, price, and weather, compared.
6 MIN READInternet for apartments and renters: your real options
Bulk deals, building wiring realities, the 5G escape hatch, and moving out without paying fees.
6 MIN READNo-credit-check internet: every real option in 2026
Prepaid cable, 5G home internet, Lifeline, and deposit alternatives — explained without judgment.
6 MIN READCheap internet in 2026: every legitimate way to pay less
The $10–$30 programs, the $30–$55 sweet spot, and the fees that make cheap plans expensive.
6 MIN READWhy is my internet so slow? The 10-minute diagnosis
Five common causes, told apart in ten minutes — and the free fix that solves most of them.
7 MIN READModem vs router: what each box does (and which to buy)
Plain-English gear guide — plus the rental-fee math that saves most cable customers $150 a year.
5 MIN READThe best internet for gaming: latency is the whole game
Why ping beats bandwidth, connection types ranked for gamers, and the evening-lag fix.
6 MIN READ
One-tap wisdom
The Tip Shuffler
Six things we tell friends before they sign anything. Deal yourself one.
Screenshot every promo offer you're quoted. "But the ad said" works much better with evidence.