Best Internet Providers in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

CNET’s top pick for internet in Wilkes-Barre is Xfinity thanks to its wide availability, fast speeds and competitive introductory pricing. Offering download speeds from 400Mbps to 2,100Mbps and starting at just $35 per month, Xfinity stands out as a reliable and affordable internet option for most households.

While Xfinity is a national leader in cable internet, Service Electric Cable Television provides better local coverage in Wilkes-Barre. However, its pricing isn’t as competitive, making Xfinity the better value where both services overlap.

For the budget-conscious, Astound is worth considering. With plans starting at just $20 per month for up to 300Mbps, it’s the cheapest option in town, although availability is highly limited. Some areas might also be eligible for the 2-gig plan that costs $80 a month.

If you prefer wireless broadband, Verizon 5G Home Internet and T-Mobile Home Internet are viable alternatives. T-Mobile customers may benefit from bundle discounts, but Verizon is typically the better choice for its wider coverage, faster speeds and better overall value. Plans by both providers start at $50 and go up to $70 a month.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

The best internet deals and the top promotions in Wilkes-Barre depend on what discounts are available during that time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.

Wilkes-Barre internet providers, such as Xfinity, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, including Service Electric Cable Television and Verizon 5G Home Internet, run the same standard pricing year-round.

For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you're looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you'll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here's an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the Federal Communications Commission. Note that these are only guidelines -- and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.

For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.

• 0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics: browsing the internet, sending and receiving email and streaming low-quality video.
• 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
• 40 to 100Mbps should give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
• 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming.
• 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.

Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information, drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.

It doesn’t end there: We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication.

Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:

1. Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
2. Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
3. Are customers happy with their service?

While the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)

To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.