Best Internet Providers in Burlington, Vermont
Our Experts
What is the best internet provider in Burlington?
Burlington Telecom is the best internet provider for most homes in Burlington, Vermont. The ISP has wide coverage across town and delivers symmetrical fiber speeds up to a gig with straightforward pricing. However, Xfinity and T-Mobile Home Internet may also be solid picks, depending on which providers service your address.
Xfinity offers some temptingly low prices with introductory deals as cheap as $30 a month. However, you’ll need to account for equipment costs and be prepared for the price to jump once the honeymoon period is over. If you don’t want to deal with that but still need an alternative to Burlington Telecom, check into T-Mobile Home Internet with its no-fuss $50-a-month plan. You can test drive it to see if it works well for your location.
Our methodology
CNET considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service in Burlington 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 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 Burlington. 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. Other discounts and promotions might also be available for things like signing a term contract or bundling with multiple services.
To learn more about how we review internet providers, visit our full methodology page.
Best internet in Burlington, Vermont in 2023
Burlington Telecom
Best internet provider in Burlington, VT
Our take - Burlington Telecom is a hometown broadband hero in the Queen City. The fiber network offers symmetrical speeds, so customers’ uploads are as fast as the downloads. It also has one of the best value deals in town at $70 a month for the gig speed tier.
Xfinity
Best cable internet in Burlington, VT
Our take - When it comes to download speed, Xfinity takes the crown for the fastest ISP in town with a top speed of 1,200Mbps. However, uploads are capped at 35Mbps. It’s also one of the cheapest providers, with plans starting at $30 a month, but some caveats come with that pricing.
T-Mobile Home Internet
Best 5G home internet in Burlington, VT
Our take - It's tough to top Burlington Telecom regarding pricing and symmetrical speeds, but there is an alternative ISP in the form of T-Mobile Home Internet. It's an especially good deal if you're a T-Mobile customer and bundle an eligible phone plan for monthly savings. Here's what you need to know about 5G home internet.
Burlington internet providers compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington Telecom | Fiber | $40-$70 | 5-1,000Mbps | Varies | None | None | N/A |
| Consolidated Communications | DSL | $57-$84 | 20-100Mbps | $12 (included in pricing) | None | 2-year | N/A |
|
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | Fixed wireless | $50 ($30 with eligible mobile plans) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| VTel | Fixed wireless | $40-$110 | 10-300Mbps | Varies | Soft cap varies with plan | Optional | N/A |
|
Xfinity Read full review | Cable | $30-$90 | 200-1,200Mbps | $15 (optional) for some plans | None | None | 7 |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Other available internet providers in Burlington
- Consolidated Communications: Consolidated Communication’s DSL network covers much of the wider Burlington metro area, but speeds and prices will vary with location. On the high end, you may get up to 100Mbps for $84 a month (which includes a router). The 20Mbps speed tier costs $57 a month. There’s a two-year contract. While Consolidated has been rolling out a fiber network to some locations in Vermont, Burlington is not currently on that list. Consider DSL a fallback option if other ISPs don’t reach your home. Otherwise, you’re better off with Burlington Telecom or Xfinity.
- VTel Wireless: Fixed wireless ISP VTel is a local provider that reaches across the wider Burlington area. Speeds range from 10 to 300Mbps, though most locations will average 25Mbps. Plans are based on the data you purchase, ranging from $30 for 10GB to $110 for 500GB. If you hit your limit, your speeds will be throttled. Contracts are optional. You can sign a two-year contract and pay a $20 monthly fee for an antenna or bring your own equipment. Fixed wireless is mainly of interest to rural households with few internet options. Here’s how fixed wireless compares to other connection types.
- Satellite internet: Starlink, HughesNet and Viasat compete to provide satellite internet to the US, focusing on rural homes that can’t get satisfactory connections through other ISPs. Starlink has the potential to deliver faster speeds than its rivals, but it comes with a $599 upfront equipment cost. If you can swallow that initial investment, Starlink is one of the better options for satellite internet in the Burlington area.
Cheap internet options in Burlington
Prices for home internet in Burlington range from $30 to over $100. There are usable options around the $50 level, though you may be able to shop around for cheaper plans. Burlington Telecom’s $55-a-month 150Mbps plan is your best bet for fiber at an affordable price. Xfinity’s $30-a-month 200Mbps is a decent deal, though you’ll need to factor in equipment costs. Also, be aware the price will go up after your one-year introductory period.
Low-income households should check eligibility for the federal Affordable Connectivity Program and its $30-a-month internet subsidy ($75 on tribal lands). Most ISPs participate. Xfinity offers its Internet Essentials program for ACP customers. That means free internet at the 50Mbps or 100Mbps level.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Burlington?
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Xfinity Connect More Read full review | $30 | 200Mbps | $15 (optional) | 1 year |
|
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | $50 ($30 or $40 with eligible mobile plans) | 245Mbps | None | None |
| Burlington Telecom | $55 | 150Mbps | None | None |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Burlington
The best internet deals and the top promotions in Burlington depend on what discounts are available during that time period. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Burlington internet providers like Xfinity may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Burlington Telecom, however, tends to run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of deals, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
How fast is Burlington broadband?
Burlington doesn’t have the multi-gig home internet plans available in some other areas, but gig speeds are widespread across town thanks to Burlington Telecom and Xfinity. Recent Ookla Speedtest.net data for Burlington shows the city has a median download speed of about 138Mbps for fixed internet like fiber and cable. Xfinity’s 1,200Mbps Gigabit Extra plan offers the fastest downloads, but Burlington Telecom can boast symmetrical gig speeds for fast uploads.
Fastest internet plans in Burlington
| Provider | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Starting price | Data cap | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Xfinity Gigabit Extra Read full review | $90 | 1,200Mbps | 35Mbps | None | Cable |
| Burlington Telecom | $70 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
Xfinity Gigabit Read full review | $80 | 1,000Mbps | 20Mbps | None | Cable |
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 like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming all at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Burlington
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it's impractical to personally test every internet service provider 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.
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 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 it comes to 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 take into account real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.
To explore our process in more depth, you can visit our How we test ISPs page.
What’s the final word on internet providers in Burlington?
The two main home internet competitors in town are Burlington Telecom and Xfinity. Local ISP Burlington Telecom has an edge due to its good customer service reputation, symmetrical fiber speeds and straightforward plans. Xfinity has a lot of plan options, but those tempting introductory rates don’t last, and upload speeds are considerably slower than you get with fiber. T-Mobile Home Internet is a dark horse candidate and it’s easy enough to test drive the service to see if it works well for you.
Internet providers in Burlington FAQs
Who is the cheapest internet provider in Burlington?
Xfinity’s $30-a-month 200Mbps plan is as cheap as it gets in Burlington, but pricing is only good for a year. Plus, you’ll need to rent equipment for $15 a month or provide your own. T-Mobile customers with certain phone plans can also get their home internet for as low as $30 a month.
Which internet provider in Burlington offers the fastest plan?
Xfinity’s top-level 1,200Mbps plan has the fastest download speed in Burlington, but uploads are slow. The fastest symmetrical plan with speedy uploads comes from Burlington Telecom’s 1,000Mbps fiber tier.
Is fiber internet available in Burlington?
Burlington Telecom has the city well covered with a fiber network that delivers speeds up to 1,000Mbps. Its biggest competitor is cable company Xfinity.
Home Internet Guides
- Sometimes a provider is available in your Zip code, but not at your exact address
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