Top 8 Internet Providers in Brooklyn, NY

Find Brooklyn Internet Providers with the Best Deals

Brooklynites have a deep love for our city, and for good reason. From the Brooklyn Academy of Music to NBA basketball with the Brooklyn Nets, there’s nonstop action and entertainment everywhere you go.The mermaids of Coney Island and the cables of the Brooklyn Bridge are emblems of the fun and grit that give Brooklyn its mystique.

But Brooklyn is also a very digital city. The large number of tech startups in Fort Greene is one sign that Brooklyn is more than a historic working class area. Brooklyn is also part of one of the leading tech economies in the world. And that is great news for you if you are looking for a Brooklyn internet provider.

Because of the buzzing digital culture, ISPs have built a lot of infrastructure to support high-speed internet here. So you have lots of options if you’re looking for the best internet providers in Brooklyn.

This guide will help you find the best Brooklyn internet providers and compare their internet speeds, plans and pricing.

First, you’ll need to decide what kind of internet service will work best for your unique internet needs. Whether you live in upscale Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights, Carroll Gardens, Crown Heights, Greenpoint or Williamsburg, you will have top national choices from among the internet providers in Brooklyn.

Types of Internet Services in Brooklyn

Your internet speed will determine whether you can do the things you like on the internet. You’re going to want more speed if you do a lot of data-intensive activities such as videoconferencing or streaming in HD. But you can get by with a lot less internet speed if you mostly like to use email and browse social media.

Here are the types of internet technology available in Brooklyn, depending on where you live.

Fiber Internet

Fiber internet is the fastest, most reliable service option from Brooklyn internet providers. Your fiber internet will be much faster than other technologies and will have symmetrical upload and download speeds. All older technologies have slower upload speeds, which makes fiber a standout for real-time activities such as online multiplayer gaming. Fiber’s fast upload speeds and low latency will also make it easier to work from home if you have to upload large files or videoconference.

Fiber internet providers in Brooklyn currently serve about 76% of area households.

DSL Internet

DSL is the oldest technology available and uses copper telephone cable to transmit data. Most of the time, DSL is very slow compared to cable internet or fiber internet. If DSL is one of your providers, check the speed carefully to be sure it is at least 25 Mbps download/3 Mbps upload, which is the FCC definition of high-speed internet.

Cable Internet

Cable internet travels along the same wiring used for cable television. These coaxial cables usually send internet data at much higher speeds than DSL does. Advances in cable technology mean that average cable internet speeds can even match average fiber download speeds at 200-940 Mbps. Just make sure you compare potential upload speeds for cable and fiber if you frequently upload large files or videos.

Satellite Internet

Satellite internet can be a good way to stay connected for homes in more remote areas or those that only have DSL wiring. If you don’t have cable or fiber wiring, satellite service will cover your home.

Satellite internet is available to any household that has an unobstructed view of the southern sky. In Brooklyn, you may run into issues with skyscrapers blocking your view, or with shared walls of apartments. But if you do have that clear sky, satellite can often be a good option.

Satellite internet has higher latency, which means a small delay in its signal. You won’t notice latency if you’re mainly interested in email and web browsing. But satellite is not recommended for real-time online gaming or HD video streaming on multiple devices. In addition, satellite providers will have monthly data allowances. If you exceed your data allowance, your internet will slow down.

Top Internet Providers in Brooklyn

You can compare internet plans for speed and reliability. To help find the right option for you, let's look at which companies stand out as the best Brooklyn internet providers.

Overall Best Internet Provider in Brooklyn

One company takes the lead as best overall home internet provider in Brooklyn for availability, best price, and internet speed. Verizon Fios will give all of these advantages, with fiber internet from 300 to 940 Mbps internet speeds and plans from 39.99/month to 89.99/month.

Fastest Internet Provider in Brooklyn

Verizon Fios, Optimum, and Spectrum can each provide up to 940 Mbps download speed. Because Verizon provides more fiber and Optimum and Spectrum more cable, you are more likely to get faster upload speeds with Verizon. But at any address where Optimum can supply you with full fiber, you should also get those fast upload speeds.

Most Affordable Internet Provider in Brooklyn

Verizon Fios is currently the most affordable internet provider in Brooklyn, NY with its $39.99/month plan for up to 300 Mbps internet speeds.

Best Satellite Internet Provider in Brooklyn

If you don’t have wired infrastructure, HughesNet is your best choice for satellite internet. HughesNet offers consistent speeds of 25 Mbps download speed/3 Mbps upload speed. In addition, HughesNet is rolling out HughesNet Fusion in select areas of the country as a breakthrough low-latency satellite internet service.

FAQs: Internet Choices in Brooklyn

How do I choose my internet speed?

First, you’ll need to think about what kind of internet activities you prefer. How many people in your household will be using the internet at once?  For just one or two people checking email and enjoying basic browsing, you need 10-25 Mbps download speed.

If you plan to have multiple devices streaming for gaming, video chats, or HD movies, your ideal speed would be at least 50-150 Mbps. You might want to choose a fiber provider with low latency and high upload speeds. But cable internet can approach the performance of fiber for many internet activities.

If you don’t know your current internet speed, you can test it here.

I work from home. What internet speed should I get?

Remote workers should look for a high-speed connection of at least 25 Mbps download speed/3 Mbps upload speed. If you often upload large files such as videos or graphics, you should look for an upload speed of at least 10-12 Mbps. If you have more than one household member working from home, you will probably want at least 50-100 Mbps download speed.

What internet speed is best for streaming?

Choose an ISP that offers internet speeds of at least 50 Mbps for the best HD streaming experience. For streaming HD video on several devices simultaneously, try out a plan with at least 150 Mbps download speed.

What internet speed is best for gaming?

If you’re an avid realtime gamer with other internet users in the home, you may need download speeds of at least 100-150 Mbps. But upload speed is also crucial for gaming.  Fiber is the only technology with equal download and upload speeds, but cable can provide a decent gaming experience. Just be sure your cable connection has high speed and low latency.

Is there a financial assistance program for internet access in Brooklyn?

Both federal and state governments have made it clear in the past few years that creating digital opportunity for all people is crucial. High-speed internet opens up jobs and educational options that are only available online.

Like many cities, Brooklyn has a digital divide that means lower-income households often cannot afford high-speed internet. Some organizations such as the Brooklyn Public Library have programs to deploy free mobile hotspots to try to close that divide.

The best option would be for all Brooklynites to have internet access in their homes through a steady, reliable internet plan. That’s why in 2022, the federal government announced the Affordable Connectivity Program. Qualified households can receive a $30 subsidy for internet access through the ACP.

See if you qualify to apply here on the federal ACP site.