Getting a good internet relationship has become a need, but getting one can be tiresome. There are a lot of companies offering different speeds, rates and special offers, which can make it difficult to pick the right relationship for you. Most US properties can choose from at least three companies that provide a variety of boxes and velocity, though some may only have a few options.

Then, setting up your home computer may not seem like the most entertaining element, but picking the right company and program will save you a lot of money and trouble down the line. What are the things you need to know.

How do you know which company and program is best for your wants?

Things to watch out for:

• Speed usage&nbsp,
• How much money do you want to invest online?
• Internet service related information: network form, extra fees, agreements and data caps

Read more: How’s How Your Broadband Provider You Quit Internet Throttling.

1. Assess your requirements for digital speed.

The best place to begin is asking yourself these questions: How many net speed do I already use? Would a better network be preferable? How many people in my house use the internet and how many devices are connected to my community? Do you have a gamer or two living it? Does everyone work from home? Do more than one bright device have a network connection?

For basic internet use like online shopping, browsing social media and light TV streaming, download speeds of 100 megabits per second are usually enough ( and they meet the Federal Communications Commission’s new definition for broadband ). However, I suggest faster internet speeds for working and learning at home, streaming in HD on various devices at once, and connecting a number of wise household products, such as security cameras, digital doorbells, and smart listeners. &nbsp,

Although gig and multi-gig plans are frequently the most expensive ones, they almost guarantee that you have sufficient speed for everyone in your home. If you don’t like to spend on gig services but also want something on the faster part, consider speeds in the 300 to 600Mbps range, assuming they’re available in your area.

Marketed vs. real velocity

Pro tip here: Keep in mind that advertised velocity and true speeds are two different things. The advertised optimum velocity from an ISP may be 100 Mbps, but those are velocity for homes. &nbsp,

Real home speeds are likely to be lower, and this is even more so when adding various devices to your network and using a Wi-Fi link. CNET’s Trisha Jandoc discovered this upon facing slower speeds despite being on a gig program. Also, you might not be receiving the frequencies you’re paying for if you have an archaic network. When shopping for online services, be sure to factor in that speed loss and choose a plan with posted speeds faster than what you’d like your real speeds to get.

Our internet speed guide provides a detailed analysis of the possible amount of speed your home might require.

2. Examine all of your ISP choices.

Available internet providers vary by location and possibly by address within the same ZIP code. Even if you aren’t moving very far, the options for internet service providers and the technologies they employ could be different. Your options can understandably feel limited, so know that it’s uncommon for one provider to be the absolute only ISP option in an area. &nbsp,

In markets where a cable internet provider such as Xfinity or Spectrum is available, there’s also likely to be a fiber or DSL service available from providers like AT&amp, T, CenturyLink or Frontier. Additionally, the recent rise of 5G home internet from T-Mobile and Verizon has increased broadband competition in both rural and urban areas.

Serviceability check tools like the one you’ll find a bit further up the page are a good way to identify the internet providers in your area and get an overview of potential plans and pricing. Although I don’t know the names of all serviceability tools, CNET’s version uses proprietary internal technology to help you verify the accuracy and security of your information.

3. Consider the type of connection.

Speed and cost are among the most important considerations when it comes to choosing an internet service, but you may want to start by comparing the internet connection type each provider uses.

There are some exceptions, but I’d start with fiber-optic, cable, and 5G home internet if we were to rank connection types in order of most desirable. Keep DSL, fixed wireless and satellite as a last resort.

The best option for fast, consistent speeds, low latency, and best overall value is fiber-optic internet. Service also comes with the advantage of symmetrical or close to symmetrical upload speeds. In terms of speed and value, cable internet is frequently a good option for cheap internet, especially since some providers frequently offer a discount cable TV and internet package.

Meanwhile, 5G home internet is quickly proving to be a convenient alternative to cable and even fiber connections in rural areas. Customers are reportedly happier with a wireless 5G connection because it’s more affordable and accessible. The new technology could also provide much-needed upgrades to broadband in rural areas where less speedy or reliable DSL, fixed wireless and satellite internet services are often the only options.

4. Compare speeds, not just pricing

The bulk of your online shopping happens here: comparing plans from each one of the various providers.

It’s tempting to look at the price first and speed second, but I’d suggest focusing on speeds first, then price. When you need to upgrade to a faster plan or provider anyway, opting for a less expensive plan that doesn’t quite meet your household’s speed demands, especially one that comes with a contract might end up costing you more.

Look for plans with the speeds you want, or higher, then compare the prices among those options. Find the one that best suits your budget and your needs for speed. &nbsp,

value vs. price

Pro tip here: A low price is nice, but is it a good deal? Divide the cost by the advertised speed to get an idea of how valuable a plan is. For example, Xfinity’s cheapest plan is available for as low as$ 40 a month for speeds up to 400Mbps– that’s a cost of around 10 cents per Mbps. Not bad, but one of Frontier Fiber’s cheapest plans costs$ 50 per month, which is more expensive than Xfinity’s cheapest plan. Frontier’s plan comes with speeds up to 1, 000Mbps for a cost per Mbps of just 5 cents. Frontier is the better deal, despite the lower cost of Xfinity’s plan.

5. Beware of fixed price increases.

So you’ve identified potential providers and plans. Let’s take a closer look at the monthly cost. Will it be the same a year down the road? Or are you awaiting astronomical price increases and inflated fees?

On average, internet costs around$ 78 a month in the US, but your monthly bill could be more than that once the promo period ends. I am aware that low pricing can be enticing, but a low-cost plan can completely lose its value when the price rises by 50 % or more from one bill to the next. Xfinity, Spectrum, Cox and others have competitive introductory pricing but a looming monthly hike of$ 20,$ 30 or more after 12 months.

Examine the broadband labels issued by the FCC for each plan carefully. Check for hidden infrastructure fees or equipment fees you could bypass by buying your own equipment. The good news is that providers must be fairly open about price increases as far as when you can anticipate them and how much they’ll increase your bill. Additionally, many providers don’t require a contract, so if the price hike is too steep, you can cancel without penalty. &nbsp,

Not all providers have a planned price increase. You won’t have to worry about a guaranteed price increase because AT&amp, T, Frontier, Verizon Fios, and a few others, including Earth Link, don’t have promotional or introductory pricing. Your bill may still go up at some point, which understandably happens, but it won’t go up as drastically or quickly.

6. Know your ( data ) limits

Some ISPs place data caps and charge extra fees or stifle internet speeds when you use them. Be aware of the data cap, if any, before signing up for an internet service.

Those who are considering satellite internet will need to be the most aware of data caps and usage. Although none of the major satellite internet providers impose overage fees for data used, unless you upgrade to an unlimited data plan, your speeds will significantly slow after going over your priority data allotment.

Even though data caps are less problematic with all other connection types, they still exist. Fixed wireless internet like what you may find from AT&amp, T or Rise Broadband in rural areas often comes with a data cap of 250 to 350GB. Data caps for select cable and DSL providers range from 1 to 1.5TB per month, although they are typically much higher. &nbsp,

That’s a lot of data, and it’s much higher than the typical household will use it, but a plan with unlimited data is always better. You don’t want to have to watch your data usage all month, and you certainly wouldn’t want to suffer slowed speeds or added fees for going over.

7. Weigh all Wi-Fi options in your new home

You’ll need a router to create a home Wi-Fi network. The majority, if not all, of ISPs provide a router for rent, purchase, or free of charge. &nbsp,

If you intend to rent your equipment, make sure to check the rental fee in advance and add that information to the monthly cost. Some rental fees are better than others, but anticipate it to add anywhere from$ 5 to$ 20 extra to your bill. Make sure you read the fine print before settling on a promotional internet rate, as an example, an appealing$ 20 rate might increase to$ 35 or even$ 40 after equipment costs.

Many providers have started including your equipment at no extra cost. For instance, AT&amp, T, Verizon Fios, Google Fiber, and 5G home internet providers Verizon and T-Mobile do not charge additional equipment fees. Others, like Spectrum, CenturyLink and Xfinity, may include either a free modem ( but not the router needed for Wi-Fi ) or all of your equipment at no extra cost with select plans. &nbsp,

You may also have the option of using your own router and skipping the equipment fee altogether. Joe Supan, a CNET contributor, decided to use his router as an example to save close to$ 1, 000 in yearly fees. Although the upfront costs may be high, including the potential optimizations like mesh Wi-Fi, supplying your own may pay off in a year or two if you can save$ 15 per month in equipment fees. &nbsp,

The option to purchase your router is a little less common, but you may come across it with satellite internet or prepaid internet services. This may increase your upfront costs, especially when using satellite internet, but you may save money over the long run.

8. Take into account any drawn-out agreements.

Your internet provider may lock you into a contract, sometimes disguised as a “term agreement”. If you want to sign up for service again in the future, you could be breaking your contract by canceling service or not making payment by the due date.

Some providers require a contract, typically of one or two years, with all plans and services. For some people, a one-year contract might be necessary in order to receive the best introductory rates or special offers. Most ISPs require no contract at all. &nbsp,

Term agreements aren’t much of an issue if you plan on keeping the service for the length of the contract, but if you think you may move or want to switch providers at some point, it’s nice to know you can do so without penalty.

Also take note that if you switch providers and you rented equipment from a previous one, you must return it within the agreed time frame to avoid any additional costs ( often up to$ 300 ).

9. Take into account the satisfaction of the client

It’s no secret that most of us aren’t particularly fond of our internet provider. According to data from sources like the&nbsp, ACSI&nbsp, and J. D. Power, customer satisfaction ratings can be used to determine which providers perform better than others and why.

In most cases, customer satisfaction numbers will fall somewhere in the middle of the road and not indicate much one way or the other. Some things may be a little more illuminating in comparison to Optimum’s consistently low customer satisfaction score, Frontier’s improving numbers, or Verizon’s consistently high marks.

Do a little social research. Ask friends and neighbors what they like and dislike about themselves, and why. Check out Reddit, downdetector.com and other media sources for further insight. Take the feedback for what it is worth, but don’t believe everything you read or hear.

10. Watch out for marketing promotions

There’s a reason I’m mentioning this tip last. Signup bonuses are tempting, much like low introductory rates, but they never provide enough motivation to sign up for an ISP or plan that isn’t in line with your needs. &nbsp,

Gift cards, free Internet access, or streaming subscriptions eventually run out of value. When that happens, you don’t want to be stuck with an expensive plan that is faster than you need or a cheap ISP that doesn’t deliver the speeds you want. Additionally, if you accept promotional offers, you might have to agree to a term agreement to prevent you from canceling as soon as you receive the reward.

Still, promotional offers like Verizon’s streaming bundles which comes with a free Netflix and Max subscription for a year and then$ 10 a month after, may be worth investigating.

Bottom line: the effort is worthwhile in order to find reliable internet service.

There can be a lot to consider when signing up for an internet service. Be sure to check the fine print, such as price increases, data caps, equipment fees, and contract requirements, before signing the bill each month so you know what to expect when you receive it each month.

It can be overwhelming, but ultimately, your research and knowledge of the internet provider you settle for will pay off in the long run.

10 expert advice on how to find the best ISP FAQs