CNET recommends Verizon Fios as the best internet provider in Richmond, Virginia, thanks to its reliable fiber connection, solid speeds and competitive pricing. It’s one of the top fiber internet options nationwide, and it stands out in Richmond for offering consistent performance. Xfinity comes in second, with four plan options including the city’s fastest speeds with its 1,300Mbps tier.
If Verizon Fios or Xfinity aren’t available at your address, you might have to opt for Verizon or T-Mobile's fixed wireless service instead.
To learn more about how we review internet providers, visit our full methodology page.
Best internet providers in Richmond
The providers we recommend below offer widespread coverage in Richmond. A check of your home address against the Federal Communications Commission’s broadband map will show your specific options.
Top Richmond internet providers Provider Internet technology Monthly price range Speed range Monthly equipment costs Data cap Contract CNET review score T-Mobile Home Internet
Read full review Fixed wireless $50 ($35 with eligible phone plan) 87-318Mbps None None None 7.4 Verizon 5G Home Internet
Read full review Fixed wireless $50-$70 ($35 with eligible phone plan) 50-250Mbps None None None 7.2 Verizon Fios
Read full review Fiber $50-$90 300Mbps-940Gbps None None None 7.6 Xfinity
Read full review Cable $40-$100 400Mbps-1,300Mbps None None None 7 Show more (0 item) Shop providers at my address
Source: CNET analysis of provider data
Other available Richmond residential internet providers
While the providers listed above are by far the best options for internet in Richmond, according to CNET’s analysis, there may be a few other choices available. Keep in mind, you’ll have to check your actual address to see what plans you have access to.
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Earthlink : Earthlink uses the networks of other providers for its internet service, which usually means it’s more expensive than going through those providers directly. You’ll have to call to find out which plans are available at your address.
: Earthlink uses the networks of other providers for its internet service, which usually means it’s more expensive than going through those providers directly. You’ll have to call to find out which plans are available at your address. Satellite internet : If you can’t get anything else, there’s always satellite internet. While it’s available almost everywhere in the country, it nearly always comes with long contracts, slow speeds, low data caps and high latency. HughesNet and Viasat are the traditional satellite competitors, and there’s not much to recommend about them. Starlink is a newer provider that offers significantly faster speeds, but there’s a high upfront equipment cost of $349, and service may not be available yet at all addresses in Richmond.
: If you can’t get anything else, there’s always satellite internet. While it’s available almost everywhere in the country, it nearly always comes with long contracts, slow speeds, low data caps and high latency. HughesNet and Viasat are the traditional satellite competitors, and there’s not much to recommend about them. Starlink is a newer provider that offers significantly faster speeds, but there’s a high upfront equipment cost of $349, and service may not be available yet at all addresses in Richmond. Verizon 5G Home Internet: Like T-Mobile, Verizon has started to leverage its cellular network for home internet service. It’s not as widely available in Richmond as T-Mobile, but speeds can reach 1,000Mbps in some areas.
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Pricing details on Richmond home internet service
The average starting price for internet service in Richmond is about $44 per month, but you can get T-Mobile and Verizon's plans for cheaper when you bundle them with an eligible phone plan.
Cheapest internet plans in Richmond Provider Starting price Max download speed Monthly equipment fee Contract Xfinity Connect More
Read full review $40 400Mbps None None T-Mobile Home Internet
Read full review $50 ($35 for eligible mobile customers) 318Mbps None None Verizon 5G Home Internet
Read full review $50 ($35 with qualifying Verizon 5G mobile plans) 85Mbps None None Verizon Fios
Read full review $50 300Mbps None None Show more (0 item) Shop providers at my address
Source: CNET analysis of provider data
Richmond internet speeds
Residents of Richmond have access to several internet service providers offering high-speed connections. Verizon Fios offers some of the highest upload speeds in the area, ranging from 300 to 880Mbps, while Xfinity offers cable internet plans with download speeds from 400 to 1,300Mbps.
Fastest internet plans in Richmond Provider Max download speed Max upload speed Starting price Data cap Contract Xfinity Gigabit Extra
Read full review 1,300Mbps 40Mbps $100 1.2TB None Verizon 5G Home Internet
Read full review 250Mbps 20Mbps $70 ($55 with qualifying Verizon 5G mobile plans) None None Xfinity Gigabit
Read full review 1,100Mbps 40Mbps $70 1.2TB None Verizon Fios
Read full review 940Mbps 880Mbps $90 None None Show more (0 item) Shop providers at my address
Source: CNET analysis of provider data
What’s the final word on internet providers in Richmond?
Richmond residents don’t have a lot of providers to choose from, but it’s hard to go wrong with the ones they do have. No matter where you are in the country, Verizon Fios is a no-brainer -- if it’s available, you should probably get it. The only exception is if you’re looking for the cheapest price and you don’t need a ton of speed. In that case, consider T-Mobile or Verizon's plans.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Richmond
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or appliance, it's impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what's our approach? For starters, we tap into a proprietary database of pricing, availability and speed information that draws from our own historical ISP data, partner data and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
Because our database is not exhaustive, we go to the FCC’s website to check the primary data for ourselves and make sure we’re considering every ISP that provides service in an area. Plans and prices also vary by location, so we input local addresses on provider websites to find the specific options available to residents. To evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP's service, we look at sources including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of the time of our prepublication fact-check.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds? Do customers get decent value for what they're paying? Are customers happy with their service?
While the answers to those questions are often layered and complex, the providers that come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
Internet providers in Richmond FAQs
Which is the best internet service provider in Richmond? According to CNET’s analysis of pricing, speed and availability, the best internet service provider in Richmond is Verizon Fios. Verizon Fios offers symmetrical speeds ranging from 300Mbps to 940Mbps and has the highest customer satisfaction scores of any internet provider in the country. Show more
Is fiber internet available in Richmond? Yes, fiber internet is available in Richmond. Verizon Fios offers fiber internet plans ranging from 300Mbps to 940Mbps, with no annual contracts, data caps or termination fees. Because fiber speeds are symmetrical, you’ll get the same upload and download speeds with Verizon Fios. Show more
Who is the cheapest internet provider in Richmond? T-Mobile and Verizon offer the cheapest plans in the area. You can get them for as little as $35 a month when bundled with an eligible phone plan. Show more