Best Internet Providers in Poughkeepsie, New York

What is the best internet provider in Poughkeepsie?

In Poughkeepsie, Verizon Fios is CNET's top pick for the best internet provider. Along with having the city's fastest speeds -- up to 2,300 megabits per second -- Fios offers multiple plans with symmetrical speeds, meaning upload speeds are just as fast as downloads. This symmetrical service is thanks to its fiber internet network, making it the best choice for speed, dependability, and overall value.

While Verizon Fios offers free equipment, unlimited data and no contracts, it's not the only ISP with those perks. You'll find similar benefits from other local providers -- Spectrum includes a free modem, Optimum gives you both a modem and router at no cost, and neither has contracts or data caps.

Looking for the cheapest internet in Poughkeepsie? Optimum's plans start at $40 a month for speeds up to 300Mbps -- $10 less than Verizon Fios for the same download speed plan. Spectrum is also a solid alternative, offering a 500Mbps plan for $50 a month, but it charges an additional $10 for a router. All in, Optimum will come out as the cheapest wired internet provider in Poughkeepsie.

Fixed wireless providers like Verizon 5G Home Internet and T-Mobile Home Internet are also available in Poughkeepsie. Since Verizon Fios already covers much of the area, Verizon's 5G home service has limited availability here. If you're considering fixed wireless internet, T-Mobile Home Internet will likely be your better choice.

Best internet in Poughkeepsie, New York

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

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How to find internet deals and promotions in Poughkeepsie

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

Poughkeepsie internet providers, such as Optimum and Spectrum, may offer lower introductory pricing or other incentives for a limited time. Others, however, including Verizon Fios, 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.

What’s a good internet speed?

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 FCC. 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, streaming low-quality video.
• 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
• 40 to 100Mbps should give one person sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming. 
• 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two people to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming. 
• 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more people to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.

How CNET chose the best internet providers in Poughkeepsie, New York

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. So 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.

But 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 the time 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 answers to those questions are often layered and complex, the providers that 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, though 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.

Internet providers in Poughkeepsie, New York, FAQs