Best Internet Providers in Bridgeport, Connecticut
Our Experts
What is the best internet provider in Bridgeport?
Offering wide coverage, competitive pricing and simple service details, Optimum is CNET's pick for the best internet service provider in Bridgeport, Connecticut. According to the FCC, Optimum covers over 94% of Bridgeport, meaning your address will likely be serviceable. But if you want a fiber or fixed wireless connection instead, check out Optimum's fiber network, Frontier Fiber or T-Mobile Home Internet, which all serve select households in the area.
The average starting cost for home broadband in Bridgeport is $47 per month, but cheaper rates are available. Optimum and Spectrum tie for the most affordable plan, offering 300-megabit-per-second connectivity for $40 per month. Frontier Fiber offers 500Mbps for $45, which comes with better cost-per-Mbps than Optimum or Spectrum.
For those with a need for speed, Optimum is Bridgeport's fastest ISP by a long shot. Optimum offers a few multi-gigabit plans in this Connecticut city: 2,000Mbps for $120, 5,000Mbps for $180 or 8,000Mbps for $280 monthly.
Our methodology
CNET considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service in Bridgeport across several categories. Our evaluation includes referencing a proprietary database built over years of reviewing internet services. We validate that against provider information by spot-checking local addresses for service availability. We also do a close read of providers' terms and conditions and, when needed, will call ISPs to verify the details.
Despite our efforts to find the most recent and accurate information, our process has some limitations you should know about. Pricing and speed data are variable: certain addresses may qualify for different service tiers, and monthly costs may vary, even within a city. The best way to identify your particular options is to plug your address into a provider's website.
Also, the prices, speed and other information listed above and in the provider cards below may differ from what we found in our research. The cards display the full range of a provider's pricing and speed across the US, according to our database of plan information provided directly by ISPs. At the same time, the text is specific to what's available in Bridgeport. The prices referenced within this article's text come from our research and include applicable discounts for setting up automatic payments each month -- a standard industry offering. Discounts and promotions might also be available for signing a term contract or bundling multiple services.
To learn more about how we review internet providers, visit our full methodology page.
Best internet in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in 2024
Optimum
Best internet provider in Bridgeport, CT
Our take - Optimum is Bridgeport's largest and fastest internet provider, offering low pricing and speedy connection to almost everyone in the city. Most customers can choose from six plans, ranging in speed from 300Mbps to 8,000Mbps, with no data caps, contracts or equipment fees. Pricing starts at $40 per month, one of the cheapest rates available for most households.
Frontier Fiber
Best fiber internet in Bridgeport, CT
Our take - Frontier Fiber is your best bet if you're looking for the symmetrical speeds only a fiber ISP can offer. Frontier offers fiber and DSL networks in Bridgeport, so make sure you're not getting stuck with slower DSL speeds. For fiber customers, speeds up to 5 gigabits -- or 5,000Mbps -- are available with unlimited data and equipment included.
Verizon 5G Home Internet
Best fixed wireless in Bridgeport, CT
Our take - For eligible mobile users, Verizon 5G Home Internet may be the cheapest option for broadband in Bridgeport. Although service costs between $50 and $70 per month, Verizon mobile customers may only have to pay $35 to $45 for the same speeds. Plus, there are no data caps or required contracts under this fixed wireless provider, and equipment is included for no extra charge.
Bridgeport internet providers compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Frontier Communications Read full review | DSL/Fiber | $45-$155 | 500-5,000Mbps | None | None | None | 6.3 |
|
Optimum Read full review | Cable/Fiber | $40-$280 | 300-8,000Mbps | None | None | None | 6.2 |
|
Spectrum Read full review | Cable | $40-$60 | 300-1,000Mbps | Free modem; $7 router | None | None | 7.2 |
|
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | Fixed wireless | $60 ($40 for eligible mobile customers) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
|
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 with qualifying Verizon 5G mobile plans) | 50-1,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Bridgeport?
| Provider | Starting monthly price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Optimum 300Mbps Read full review | $40 | 300Mbps | None |
|
Spectrum Internet Read full review | $40 | 300Mbps | $7 (optional) |
|
Frontier Fiber 500 Read full review | $45 | 500Mbps | None |
|
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | $50 ($35 with eligible mobile plan) | 300Mbps | None |
|
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | $60 ($40 with eligible mobile plan) | 245Mbps | None |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Bridgeport
The best internet deals and top promotions in Bridgeport depend on what discounts are available during that period. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Bridgeport internet providers, such as Optimum and Spectrum, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, however, such as Frontier and Verizon, run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
Photo by ChristianProhaska/Getty Images
Fastest internet plans in Bridgeport
| Provider | Starting monthly price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Optimum 8 Gig Read full review | $280 | 8,000Mbps | 8,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
Frontier Fiber 5 Gig Read full review | $155 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
Optimum 5 Gig Read full review | $180 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
Frontier Fiber 2 Gig Read full review | $100 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
Optimum 2 Gig Read full review | $120 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
Frontier Fiber 1 Gig Read full review | $60 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
Spectrum Internet Gig Read full review | $60 | 1,000Mbps | 35Mbps | None | Cable |
|
Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read full review | $70 ($45 with eligible mobile plan) | 1,000Mbps | 75Mbps | None | Fixed wireless |
|
Optimum 1 Gig Read full review | $80 | 940Mbps | 940Mbps | None | Fiber |
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 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.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Bridgeport
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 publication.
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. 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 also consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
Internet providers in Bridgeport FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Bridgeport?
Optimum is the best internet provider in Bridgeport, primarily due to its large area coverage. As the second largest ISP in the city, Frontier serves only 45% of addresses (compared to Optimum's 94%). Optimum also comes with low pricing, fast speeds and unlimited data on all plans.
Is fiber internet available in Bridgeport?
Fiber connectivity is available to over 76% of Bridgeport addresses, with Frontier Fiber offering the largest fiber network within city limits. However, select residents may also be serviceable for fiber internet under Optimum or GoNetspeed.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Bridgeport?
Optimum and Spectrum both offer $40-per-month service for download speeds up to 300Mbps, but Optimum offers larger availability in Bridgeport.
Which internet provider in Bridgeport offers the fastest plan?
Optimum is the fastest provider in Bridgeport, offering 8 gigabits for $280 per month.
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