Staff rating

3.3

Customer rating

3.3

(18)

Plans starting at $24.99

Download speeds up to 1000 Mbps

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Staff rating

4.2

Plans starting at $55.00

Download speeds up to 2000 Mbps

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Staff rating

2.6

Customer rating

4.7

(4)

Plans starting at $120.00

Download speeds up to 100 Mbps

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Staff rating

3.3

Reliable, fast internet, but watch for fees

Mediacom offers a decent overall experience, with fast speeds and modern Wi-Fi gear. However, big rate hikes, a hefty installation cost, and lots of small fees bring the rating down.

What we like

Nice selection of plans
Very low initial prices
Solid availability

What we dislike

Contract required
Regular price increases
No unlimited data option

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Savings tip: Mediacom often has sign-up promotions for first-time customers. Call to ask a rep about current deals and discounts.

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Staff rating

4.2

Outstanding local service with promises to expand in the future

Local internet service providers (ISPs) sometimes lack a certain something. They might be expensive or fail to reach the speeds of national providers. Omni Fiber wants to buck that trend with speedy internet at an affordable price and the promise of local customer service, but can it deliver? Spoiler alert—yes, it seems it can.

What we like

Competitive prices
Symmetrical speeds
No contracts

What we dislike

Limited availability
Relatively limited support options
Very new company

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Savings tip: Omni Fiber often has sign-up promotions for first-time customers. Call to ask a rep about current deals and discounts.

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Staff rating

2.6

Satellite internet with cutting-edge technology

Starlink uses new low-orbit technology to deliver satellite internet to customers around the globe. The company got its start offering faster speeds and much lower latency than other satellite providers, but now offers download speeds comparable to those offered by other satellite providers. Starlink still offers decently low latency for satellite, but it can’t compete against fiber or cable internet providers.

What we like

Low latency
Expanding coverage
Options for mobile satellite connectivity

What we dislike

High upfront equipment cost
Slower speeds than originally advertised
Poor reputation for customer service

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Savings tip: Starlink often has sign-up promotions for first-time customers. Call to ask a rep about current deals and discounts.

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Value

4.0

Excellent initial value, but heavy price hikes hurt the rating

Rating Mediacom’s value requires a long-term mindset. When you first sign up, the prices are extremely low—possibly the best on the market. Some come in at just 20% of the national benchmark, if you opt for paperless billing and autopay (1). However, each year, your cost gradually increases until it reaches a “standard value” (usually after three years). These prices are less exciting: you’ll end up paying roughly double what you initially signed up for. Depending on the length of your contract term, you may be able to jump ship before the price gets too high, but this might be too much effort for some.

Now, to be fair, many internet service providers (ISPs) do this (with a few notable exceptions, like CenturyLink). Mediacom is also pretty transparent about these price hikes and when you can expect them. However, the low starting prices here make the increases feel worse than they are, and that’s not great.

Pricing details vary by location. Visit

Mediacom's website

or call 1-844-716-2788 to speak with a rep.

See pricing

Value

4.0

Exceptional value for relatively little money

Omni Fiber offers excellent value. All three plans are competitively priced—the 1 gig plan is on par with the most affordable options we’ve reviewed, and the 2 gig plan is actually the most affordable plan of this speed we’ve seen from any provider. In addition to the low package prices, you also get equipment included at no extra cost, which further increases the value of the service.

Pricing details vary by location. Visit

Omni Fiber's website

or call 1-844-844-6664 to speak with a rep.

See pricing

Value

2.0

Average pricing among satellite providers

Starlink offers a variety of internet plans in four main categories: Standard, Priority, Mobile, and Mobile Priority. Its Standard plan is decent for home internet if you don’t have any fiber or cable internet options, but it will cost $90–$120. The Mobile plan is intended for RVs and travelers. These standard plans aren’t subject to official data caps, which is a nice change! If you go with the mobile option, you can pause it month to month but your traffic will be deprioritized relative to home and priority users.

Starlink’s most expensive plans are now named Priority plans, and there’s one for fixed locations and one for use on the go. Both have data caps, and both require a spendy high-performance receiver. Both plans cost at least $250 per month, with increased rates if you need more high-speed data. That’s some of the most expensive prices we’ve seen for internet anywhere, so these plans are pretty hard to recommend for most households.

Satellite internet provider Viasat has plans that are priced similarly to Starlink's standard options, but with data caps and much higher latency. That means that, while you can get a Viasat plan of 100 Mbps in some places, your connection will still feel very slow because it takes so long for data to get to and from the high-orbit satellites. HughesNet, the other big satellite provider in the US, has pricing similar to Starlink's but strict data caps and download speeds that reach only 25 Mbps.

Even with its benefits compared to other satellite providers, Starlink earned a pretty low score on value because the service is much slower and more expensive than home internet from cable or fiber internet providers. It doesn’t compete very well against DSL or fixed wireless internet either, but it’s a decent option of last resort if you are a digital nomad or live in a rural area.

Pricing details vary by location. Visit

Starlink's website

or call to speak with a rep.

See pricing

Performance

4.0

Solid performance, but no unlimited data is a bummer

We have no major complaints about Mediacom’s performance. There’s a range of plans available (up to 1 Gbps), so you can find something to suit whatever your needs are. We do have a couple of small gripes, though.

First, there are data caps on all internet plans, with no unlimited data option. The lowest-tier package has a cap of just 350 GB, which is pretty harsh, given the average person uses 536 GB per month (2). The middle-tier internet plans have 1.5 and 3 TB limits, and that's better—this should be plenty for most users and is in line with most other providers that have data caps.

The 1 Gbps plan bumps data caps up to 6 TB, which is effectively unlimited for most use cases, although a household streaming in 4K could theoretically max this one out, too. Going over the cap costs $10 per 50 GB, which, again, is in line with other providers charging overage fees.

Available speeds vary by location. Call 1-844-716-2788 to speak with a Mediacom rep or

go to its website.

Performance

5.0

Fast speeds and unlimited data earn a big thumbs up

Omni Fiber performance is outstanding. Speeds are fast, with plans ranging from 500 Mbps to 2 Gbps. All three plans feature symmetrical upload speeds, which means the upload speeds are equal to the download speeds—this makes a huge difference for sharing content, particularly large files like videos. For reference, a typical upload speed for a cable provider is one tenth of the download speed (and often quite a bit lower). Finally, all Omni Fiber customers get unlimited data, which is a big thumbs up in our book.

Available speeds vary by location. Call 1-844-844-6664 to speak with a Omni Fiber rep or

go to its website.

Performance

3.0

Speeds are slowing as more people sign up

Starlink once offered download speeds that were much, much faster than what satellite competitors could offer, but the company changed its plans and pricing in May of 2023. Today, the service sells home internet with download speeds of 25–100 Mbps, upload speeds of 5–10 Mbps, and latency in the range of 25–50 ms. Those speeds look fast enough for gaming and video conferencing on paper, but third-party research from Ookla found that Starlink users are getting average download speeds of about 66 Mbps, upload speeds of nearly 8 Mbps, and latency of a 62 ms in the first quarter of 2023. That kind of service might be good enough for online shopping or even streaming one show in high definition, but you wouldn’t be able to make video calls, play some online games, or livestream your gameplay. (1)

That same study showed Starlink performed better on all speed metrics than competitors Viasat or HughesNet, but was worse than cable and fiber providers across the board. Unfortunately, Starlink speeds are slowing as the company adds new subscribers because of network congestion. The change in plan offerings is the best evidence of that, but it's not hopeless. The company has launched nearly 4,000 satellites and is planning new launches with updated V2 equipment it says will improve reliability and handle much more bandwidth. (2)

Available speeds vary by location. Call to speak with a Starlink rep or

go to its website.

Equipment and installation

3.0

Equipment is excellent, but the installation fee is steep

Mediacom offers a home networking combo called Xtream WiFi360pro. It uses a cable modem and eero Pro 6 mesh routers to ensure coverage over your whole house. The cost is $10 per month for a pair of routers, and you can add additional units for $6 each if needed.

Installation is less exciting. A professional installation and an activation fee will cost you around $120 total, and there’s no option to do it yourself. The fees can sometimes be waived with certain promotions—we recommend shopping around for one or asking a sales rep because these are steep.

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Equipment and installation options can vary widely depending on

Mediacom plans

available in your area.

View plans

Equipment and installation

4.0

Decent equipment and free installation, with one potential catch

Omni Fiber’s equipment is fairly standard. The provider offers two choices: a standard gateway that’s free of charge, and a Whole Home Wi-Fi gateway you can upgrade to. The standard version, which Omni confusingly calls “premium Wi-Fi,” is a standard Wi-Fi modem and router, while the Whole Home version uses extenders to cover larger areas. It’s recommended for homes larger than about 2,000 square feet.

Mesh networks tend to work a little better than Wi-Fi extenders, but we still think the Omni Fiber system will be adequate for most homes. If you want to use your own equipment, you'll need to make sure it's compatible with a fiber connection but either way, there's no extra charge!

Omni Fiber also gets high marks for installation. There is no installation fee or other cost involved, and the technician will ensure your equipment is properly placed to cover as much of your home as possible. The only potential concern is that Omni Fiber is still building out its infrastructure, so—depending on where you live—there may be some additional construction involved.

Equipment and installation options can vary widely depending on

Omni Fiber plans

available in your area.

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Equipment and installation

2.5

High upfront equipment costs but easy self installation with an app

Unlike other satellite internet providers, Starlink does not require (or even offer) professional installation. Instead, you will be sent a Starlink Kit that contains all the hardware you need to install a Starlink dish yourself. Although the kit comes with a satellite dish and a base, you may want to purchase a mount to place the dish above ground level for a clearer view of the sky.

If you need internet while traveling, you'll need one of Starlink’s mobile plans. If you don’t need to use the receiver while you’re traveling faster than 10 miles per hour, you can stick with the basic $600 model. If you need internet while your RV or boat is moving, though, you’ll need one of the Mobile Priority plans and the required high-performance receiver.

To install Starlink, download the app on your phone and follow the instructions to find an unobstructed view and complete the setup. The do-it-yourself installation is designed to be straightforward, but it can take several hours. If technical issues arise, you can turn to Starlink customer support or an unofficial online community for help.

Unlike HughesNet and Viasat, Starlink doesn’t offer a leasing option for its equipment in the US, or require an activation fee. Instead, customers have to buy the basic Starlink Kit for a high upfront cost of $599. That averages to about $25 per month if you spread the cost over two years, which is more than you would pay for Viasat or HughesNet equipment. If you need the high-performance Starlink kit because of either extreme weather or your Priority service plan, setup starts at $2,500 before taxes.

Equipment and installation options can vary widely depending on

Starlink plans

available in your area.

View plans

Customer experience

2.5

Lots of fees add up to a so-so experience

The Mediacom customer experience is decent overall. The provider scores a bit below average on customer satisfaction surveys like the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) (3), but overall, the service itself is fine. Speeds are solid and reliable, the Wi-Fi equipment is good, and the prices are competitive (at least initially).

Our biggest knock against Mediacom is the tremendous amount of small fees the company hits you with. In addition to the equipment and installation fees already mentioned, the company charges one-time fees for activation, early termination of your contract, and “Wi-Fi certification” (whatever that means). There’s a fee every time you have a technician come out for service. All these fees add up and can really sour the experience over time.

Visit Mediacom's website

or call 1-844-716-2788 for more information on contracts and money-back guarantees.

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Customer experience

4.0

Local service, but without the resources of the big players

If there’s an area to be cautious with Omni Fiber, it’s customer experience. The provider promises personal, local customer support and service to its subscribers. However, remember that this is a relatively small company that is still building and growing. Omni also doesn’t have the same resources as national companies when it comes to providing support—for example, there’s no chat option yet.

On the other hand, local customer service certainly sounds better than the automated and outsourced support many large providers offer. Omni Fiber also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, which is promising.

Finally, it’s important to keep in mind that Omni Fiber is a very new company. While this isn’t inherently a bad thing, there could be growing pains. Issues like billing problems or service outages could crop up as the company gets its infrastructure sorted out.

Omni Fiber will be available first in the Ohio towns of Clyde, Dover, and Shelby. It plans to expand to small and mid-size markets in the Midwest "as quickly as possible," CEO Darrick Zucco said in a press release in August of 2022. (1)

The company, founded in 2022, has not yet been studied by the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in either its annual performance tests (2) or its rate study (3).

Visit Omni Fiber's website

or call 1-844-844-6664 for more information on contracts and money-back guarantees.

Go to provider

Customer experience

3.0

Tech-savvy customers with a do-it-yourself attitude will have the best experience with Starlink

Starlink’s customer support seems to be struggling to keep up with the needs of its growing customer base. Along with sometimes inconsistent speeds and connectivity issues, this is leading to mixed experiences with the service.

Elon Musk, CEO of Starlink, recently said delays were most common in highly populated areas, but rural areas are the best place for the service, anyway. (3) There have also been reports of long delays in receiving Starlink equipment due to the effects of the global chip shortage on production. (4) Some customers who pre-ordered Starlink kits have had to wait more than a year to receive them and received few updates from the company (5), but you can look up your address using this Starlink map to find out what to expect.

Other internet providers tend to offer more customer support options and be more reachable than Starlink. Starlink’s website offers a customer support FAQ section, but there is no public contact phone number or email address. To contact the company directly for assistance, you have to log in and send customer support a message. On the plus side, it is possible to find help elsewhere. Starlink has an enthusiastic community of users who post helpful videos on YouTube and answer questions on Reddit.

Visit Starlink's website

or call for more information on contracts and money-back guarantees.

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Mediacom

3.2

(18)

5 Star

4 Star

50%

3 Star

22%

2 Star

11%

1 Star

11%

Meganfrom Bay Minette , Al

Mediacom Customer for 1+ years

Reviewed on: 6-22-2022

Better options in the area. My area cannot withstand some of the top options that I would happily pay for if it were available in my area.

Anjifrom Havana, FL

Mediacom Customer for 1+ years

Reviewed on: 6-22-2022

They charge alot for service not to work all the time. Customer service is awful and no help at all.

Veronicafrom Leesburg, GA

Mediacom Customer for 1+ years

Reviewed on: 6-17-2022

Lower their price. They are the nay provider

Richardfrom Poplar Grove, IL

Mediacom Customer for Less than a year

Reviewed on: 6-17-2022

It's too early to tell. We had issues at the beginning, but they seem to be getting better

Omni Fiber

0.0

(0)

5 Star

4 Star

3 Star

2 Star

1 Star

Starlink

4.7

(4)

5 Star

75%

4 Star

25%

3 Star

2 Star

1 Star

Johnfrom Hebron, MD

Starlink Customer for Less than a year

Reviewed on: 4-22-2023

Starlink works well in our area. Where we live, cell service and cable do not exist. The speed is comparable to cable speeds.

Bonniefrom Palestine, TX

Starlink Customer for Less than a year

Reviewed on: 4-2-2023

The speed of the internet is great. The improvement would be to have a dark dish instead a white one for aesthetic purposes. As well, for the pricing to not increase after just a few months of usage after a year of waiting to receive the service.

Amir Khubanifrom Demarest, NJ

Starlink Customer for Less than a year

Reviewed on: 9-11-2022

It is very reliable, since I can use it without an actual connection. It is pretty expensive.

Briana from Boise, ID

Starlink Customer for 4+ years

Reviewed on: 8-29-2022

It's pretty good, though the box is a bit old and they tend to not be the best with tech support. Overall we're happy with it.

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Endnotes and sources

1. “2022 Urban Rate Survey – Fixed Broadband Service,” FCC. Accessed 15 December 2022.2. "Broadband Insights Report (OVBI)," OpenVault. Accessed 15 December 2022.3. “Internet Service Providers,” American Customer Satisfaction Index. Accessed 15 December 2022.

Endnotes and sources

(1) "Omni Fiber announces first wave of Ohio markets to be served with new 100% Fiber Network," Omni Fiber via PR Newswire. Accessed 15 December, 2022.(2) "Measuring Broadband America," FCC. Accessed 15 December, 2022.(3) "2022 Urban Rate Survey," FCC. Accessed 15 December, 2022.

Endnotes and sources

1. “New Speedtest Data Shows Starlink Users Love Their Provider,” Ookla. Accessed 12 May 2023.2. “Second Generation Starlink Satellites,” Starlink. Accessed 12 May 2023.3. "Elon Musk Finally Addresses The Starlink Wait List!!!," Ronan's Videos. Accessed 12 Dec 2022.4. "SpaceX's president says liquid oxygen shortages are making it harder to launch rockets — and that people should email her if they have any spare," Business Insider. Accessed 6 June 2022.5. "Some Starlink customers say SpaceX's customer service is 'non-existent' nearly 1 year after paying a $100 deposit and receiving no updates," Business Insider. Accessed 6 June 2022.