Top 12 Internet Providers in Brooklyn, NY (Nov 2021)
For most Brooklynites, the best internet options will be Verizon or one of the two cable internet providers that are available in Brooklyn: Optimum and Spectrum.
Optimum has wider coverage than Spectrum, which is mostly available in the outskirts (Red Hook, Fort Hamilton, and areas closer to Manhattan, like Williamsburg and Greenpoint). Enter your ZIP code at the top left to see which providers are available in your neighborhood.
Fastest Internet Providers in Brooklyn
The fastest internet in Brooklyn will be offered by a fiber or cable provider. Let’s start with Verizon, which offers two internet services in Brooklyn: Verizon Fios, their fiber internet service, and Verizon High-Speed Internet, their DSL service. Both services are available to 75 percent of Brooklyn, with Verizon Fios offering higher speeds. You can get gigabit download and upload speeds (up to 1,000 Mbps) with Verizon Fios.
Cable providers like Optimum and Spectrum also offer high-speed plans reaching up to gigabit speed, but neither provider has upload speeds higher than 35 Mbps.
Fixed wireless internet from providers like Starry Internet and BarrierFree is also available if you’re looking for an alternative. Starry Internet has faster plans, with speeds reaching up to 200 Mbps as opposed to BarrierFree’s 25 Mbps.
Cheapest Internet in Brooklyn
If you need up to 100 Mbps, Verizon Fios and Optimum have the lowest-priced plans, with pricing starting at $35 a month. Truth be told, Optimum has the best deals on internet plans in Brooklyn. Optimum’s gigabit plan usually has promotional pricing starting between $45 and $60 for the first year. We recommend clicking the “View Plans and Pricing” buttons next to each provider to see which has the best deals for you.
Comparing Verizon to Cable Providers (Optimum and Spectrum)
Verizon Fios is the fastest option, hands down. That said, there’s a handful of Brooklynites without access to it, primarily those in parts of Flatbush and near Borough Park. If Verizon Fios isn’t available, lean on Optimum and Spectrum for high-speed internet.
Bundle seekers can get a good deal on internet, TV, and/or home phone package with either provider. Choosing a provider with as many services as possible can save you money in the long run, since bundling normally saves $10-$30 per month. Verizon and Spectrum offer the most services, since they also have mobile phone service.
Digital Equity Programs in Brooklyn
Brooklyn residents have an array of resources for internet at home or quick access via hotspot. Try one of these avenues if you need a free internet connection:
- See if you’re eligible for 60 days of free Wi-Fi at home through Spectrum or Optimum.
- Visit any branch of the Brooklyn or New York Public Library.
- Connect to free Wi-Fi in one of the public spaces in lower Manhattan.
- Visit a LinkNYC kiosk.
Brooklyn’s most popular providers participate in national broadband programs to make service affordable for low-income households. Check your eligibility by reading our guide on low-income internet options.
- Ridgewood, NY
- Howard Beach, NY
- New York, NY
- Breezy Point, NY
- Middle Village, NY
- Ozone Park, NY
- Woodhaven, NY
- Maspeth, NY
- Elmhurst, NY
- Richmond Hill, NY
- Rockaway Park, NY
- South Richmond Hill, NY
- Long Island City, NY
- Rego Park, NY
- Sunnyside, NY
- South Ozone Park, NY
- Woodside, NY
- Kew Gardens, NY
- Forest Hills, NY
- Far Rockaway, NY
Internet Statistics for Brooklyn, New York
As the 58th most-connected city in New York and one of the most thriving, evolving boroughs in New York City, Brooklyn has multiple internet providers available to nearly 100 percent of its residents. The city has an average download speed of 166.7 Mbps and is more connected than ahead of Middle Village, Ridgewood, Howard Beach, and Breezy Point. With such a dense population, there are a few, approximately 6,000 people, with access to only one or fewer wired internet providers. With fixed wireless internet’s wide coverage in Brooklyn, these residents may still have access to high-speed internet.
