Cable high-speed internet, though, runs through coaxial cables, just like your cable TV, and those cables need to be installed. But the trade-off is that cable internet is typically much faster than DSL. Both technologies have nationwide service, even to rural areas. But if you don’t have either service in your area, check out some satellite internet providers. However, on average, cable has higher speeds than DSL providers can offer. The fastest DSL upload speeds reach 30 Mbps, and cable upload speeds reach about 50 Mbps (which should still work for most users). And a big advantage of fiber-optic internet is its symmetrical speeds (same download and upload speeds), up to 1,000 Mbps—or 2,000 Mbps for a select few areas. Not many people really need high upload speeds—but you do if you’re big on file-sharing or live streaming, or if you work professionally as a photographer or videographer and often send clients large files. To find the best DSL or cable internet service in your area, plug in your ZIP code to our handy-dandy tool below. For example, a cable plan for $25 per month with 25 Mbps download speeds seems like a much better value than a DSL plan for $20 per month with 6 Mbps download speeds. But it all depends on your needs and priorities. Cable internet prices from providers like Optimum, Astound Broadband Powered by RCN, and WOW! Internet range from $25 per month to $175 per month—and remember you’ll need to buy or rent your cable modems and routers too. Cable pricing can be pretty similar to DSL, if not better in some cases, considering the speeds you can get.
