What is the best internet provider in Horseheads, NY?
Located just outside the Finger Lakes of upstate New York, Horseheads offers residents some decent options for getting connected to the internet. Fiber Network From Empire Access. Despite the price increase, CNET’s pick for the best Internet service provider in Horseheads is Spectrum InternetWe chose Spectrum because of its village-wide availability, straightforward pricing, and compatibility with fixed wireless providers and Satellite InternetAccording to the most recent data from the Federal Communications Commission, Spectrum is available in 92% of Horseheads, meaning if you live within the city limits, you’re likely able to get Spectrum internet service.
If your home is eligible for Empire Access fiber optics, Fiber Connection. Empire Access offers the fastest internet speeds in the city, offering lucky residents up to 2,000Mbps download and upload. There are two other plans available: 500Mbps for $55/month and 1,000Mbps for $70/month. These are pretty affordable and Cost per Mbps 11 cents and 7 cents respectively.
If your address isn’t covered by Empire Access fiber and you want to cut the cable, both Verizon and T-Mobile are offering big discounts. 5G Home Internet Horseheads footprints. Based on wider availability, Verizon 5G Home Internet The best fixed wireless option in the cityVerizon’s 5G internet service is available in 69% of the city, T-Mobile Home Internet According to the Federal Communications Commission, you can expect a 50% speed increase. Verizon is also faster than T-Mobile Home Internet, with speeds of up to 1,000 Mbps in some areas. In addition to being faster and more widely available than T-Mobile Home Internet, Verizon’s 5G Home Internet also comes with perks like a 2-3 year price guarantee, depending on the plan you choose. Streaming Bundle Add-ons It’s only an additional $10 per month.
If you are looking for Cheap InternetYour best bet is to bundle a fixed wireless internet plan with a qualifying phone plan from T-Mobile or Verizon, which can save you $10-25 on your monthly bill, depending on your provider. Otherwise, most internet plans in Horseheads start at $50/month. Affordable Connectivity ProgramNew York State recently required internet service providers to offer internet at minimum rates. $15 per month for qualifying low-income householdsbut while waiting for that law to go into effect, some providers are already offering some discounts to qualifying households. For example, Spectrum Internet Access is offering 50Mbps for just $25 per month to qualifying households who participate in eligible government assistance programs. T-Mobile is offering 100GB of free hotspot internet per year to low-income students with Project 10 Million, and Verizon is offering discount opportunities with Verizon Forward that bring monthly costs down to $20. If none of these discounts apply to you and you’re looking for more affordable internet options in Horseheads, here are some other options you can try: Negotiate prices with your internet provider.
Compare Internet Providers in Horseheads
Provider | Internet Technology | Monthly fee range | Speed range | Monthly Gear | Data cap | contract | CNET Review |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Spectrum Internet Read the full review |
cable | $50-80 | 300 to 1,000 Mbps | $7 (optional) | none | none | 7.2 |
Empire Access | fiber | $55-100 | 500 to 2,000 Mbps | none | none | none | N/A |
T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed Wireless | $50-70 | 72-245Mbps | none | none | none | 7.4 |
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed Wireless | $50-70 | 50-300Mbps | none | none | none | 7.2 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is the cheapest internet in Horseheads?
Provider | Starting price | Maximum Downloads | Monthly equipment fee |
---|---|---|---|
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible phone plans) | 100Mbps | none |
T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($40 with eligible phone plans) | 245Mbps | none |
spectrum Read the full review |
$50 | 300Mbps | $7 (optional) |
Empire Access | $55 | 500Mbps | none |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to Find Internet Deals and Promotions in Horseheads
The best internet sales and top promotions in Horseheads vary depending on the discounts available during a particular time period, and while most sales are short-lived, we frequently search for the latest offers.
Horseheads internet providers, like Spectrum and Verizon, may offer low introductory prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time, while others, like Empire Access and T-Mobile Home Internet, offer the same standard prices all year round.
For a more extensive list of promotions, check out our guide to the best internet deals.
Fastest Internet Plans in Horseheads
Provider | Starting price | Maximum Download Speed | Maximum Upload Speed | Data cap | Connection Type |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Empire Access | $100 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | none | fiber |
Empire Access | $70 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | none | fiber |
spectrum Read the full review |
$80 | 1,000Mbps | 30Mbps | none | cable |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is a good internet speed?
Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for an internet plan that can handle video conferencing, streaming video, and gaming, a more stable connection will give you a better experience. According to the FCC, here’s an overview of recommended minimum download speeds for various applications: Note that these are only guidelines and internet speeds, services, and performance will vary depending on your connection type, provider, and address.
For more information, check out our guide on how fast internet speed you really need.
- 0-5Mbps will do the basics like browsing the internet, sending and receiving email, and streaming low-quality video.
- 5-40Mbps allows for higher quality video streaming and video conferencing.
- 40-100 Mbps provides enough bandwidth for a single user to meet the demands of modern work-from-home, video streaming, and online gaming.
- 100-500 Mbps allows one or two users to simultaneously participate in high-bandwidth activities like video conferencing, streaming, and online gaming.
- 500-1,000 Mbps allows three or more users to carry out high-bandwidth activities simultaneously.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Horseheads
Internet service providers are numerous and vary by region. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router, or kitchen tools, it’s not practical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What’s our approach? First, we leverage our proprietary price, availability, and speed database. This database is drawn from our own historical ISP data, partner data, and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
Don’t stop there. Visit the FCC website to review the data and consider all ISPs that offer service in your area. Also, enter your local address into provider websites to find specific options for your residents. Check sources such as the American Customer Satisfaction Index or JD Power to rate how satisfied customers are with the ISP’s service. ISP plans and pricing may change frequently. All information provided is accurate at the time of publication.
Once you have the localized information, there are three main questions to ask:
- Does your provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Are your customers getting value for what they pay?
- Are your customers satisfied with your service?
The answers to these questions are often complex and layered, but the provider that comes closest to a “yes” to all three questions is the one we recommend. When choosing the cheapest Internet service, look for the plan with the lowest monthly price, but also consider factors such as price escalation, equipment fees, and contracts. Choosing the fastest Internet service is relatively simple: look at the advertised upload and download speeds and consider actual speed data from sources such as Ookla and FCC reports.
To learn more about our process, check out our “How We Test ISPs” page.
Horseheads Internet Provider FAQs
What is the best internet service in Horseheads?
The best internet service in Horseheads comes from Spectrum, and while Spectrum doesn’t boast the same speeds as fiber providers, it still offers competitive rates, reliable speeds, and is the most widely available provider in the city.
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Is fiber optic internet available in Horseheads?
Yes, fiber optic internet is available in Horseheads through Empire Access. Some homes can get speeds up to 2,000Mbps. Empire Access offers two plans: 500Mbps for $55/month and 1,000Mbps for $70/month.
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What is the cheapest internet provider in Horseheads?
There are no cheap internet providers in Horseheads. Most providers start at $50 per month. To get cheap internet, your best bet is to bundle your home internet with a qualifying phone plan with T-Mobile Home Internet or Verizon 5G Home Internet, look for programs that offer discounts to eligible households, or try to negotiate a price.
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Which internet provider offers the fastest speeds in Horseheads?
Empire Access offers the fastest speeds in the city, reaching up to 2,000Mbps in some cases. As a full-fiber provider, Empire Access delivers symmetrical upload and download speeds on both the 1,000Mbps and 2,000Mbps tiers, surpassing the gigabit speeds offered by Spectrum. If your address qualifies, we can’t recommend a faster internet connection type than fiber.
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