Best 5G Home Internet Providers: Is it worth upgrading to 5G Internet?

While 5G is often associated with smartphones, the actual reach of the technology goes much further, potentially impacting VR, AR, IoT, and even home internet access. G home internet service providers are still quite rare. We saw two of the big three US aircraft carriers enter the ring. There is also an independent player and a smaller carrier. In this guide, we walk you through the best 5G home internet plans to help you decide if 5G internet is the right move.

What is 5g home internet and should you consider it?

As you probably guessed from the name, 5G home internet is based on 5G wireless networking technology. It represents the fifth generation and is the successor to the existing 4G LTE standard. It offers higher speed, lower latency and significantly higher bandwidth capabilities. If interested, we have a more in-depth guide where you can learn more about the differences between LTE and 5G.

5G home internet requires a simple receiver that connects to a 5G wireless network. There are no wired connections involved at the site beyond the router and receiver. This is in contrast to traditional cable, fiber or DSL internet options. This makes it easier to connect and navigate. Unfortunately, at least in its current capacity, 5G internet tends to have a rather low reach making it more common in cities and other areas with higher population numbers.

Ultimately, 5G internet is able to offer similar speeds and performance to some of the traditional wired internet plans available. Just be aware that consistency and availability will remain its biggest weakness for now. Still, it’s an easy way to get online, and there are some significant discounts if you’re an existing Verizon, US Cellular, or T-Mobile subscriber.

If you were hoping it would give you an option for rural or remote access, you’re far better off looking into Starlink, a satellite service that works similarly but is available for more remote regions.

The best 5G home internet plans

Right now, there are only three major 5G fixed wireless carriers in the US: T-Mobile, Verizon, and Starry. The first two are the broadest services, but for now, 5G home internet is mostly limited to larger cities. Here’s a quick breakdown of pricing, speed, latency, and other key details:

T-Mobile 5G Home Internet will cost just $30 for subscribers to a Go5G or Magenta plan, or $50 for those without T-Mobile phone service. It’s pretty similar to Verizon’s pricing, though it’s a bit cheaper than the more expensive Verizon plan. Of course, Verizon includes some freebies and perks, but T-Mobile doesn’t.

Let’s talk about speed. T-Mobile’s own terms mean, During congestion, home Internet customers may experience slower speeds than other customers due to data priority.This means that your home ISP will take priority over T-Mobile phone service, which isn’t ideal for those who need consistently fast speeds for working from home or other use cases like gaming. If you’re wondering how fast T-Mobile’s 5G home internet is, the answer will surely depend, but T-Mobile says you’ll typically get around 72-245 Mbps.

Again, it will depend on how congested the 5G network is. Based on my research (which involved hitting Reddit and asking the only friend I know who has it), you’re more likely to see speeds in the 40-180Mbps range, especially during peaks.

If there are cheaper mainstream ISPs and you don’t mind the extra setup, you could probably find a better deal. However, if you’re a T-Mobile subscriber, this is an inexpensive way to get Internet service, especially if you qualify for the US government’s Affordable Connectivity Program, which can save you $30 on your bill if you qualify for its low-income guidelines.

While Big Red’s typical MO is the most expensive, Verizon 5G Home Internet is actually quite affordable. You’ll only pay $25 for the basic plan or $35 for the Home Plus option. Of course, that’s only if you have a Verizon postpaid plan. Otherwise, it will cost you $50 and $70 respectively.

The biggest difference between the two plans is that the latter locks in the price for three years versus two years for the basic plan. It also gives you some extra benefits. That includes a $100 Verizon gift card and your choice of a free VerizonStream TV Soundbar or $400 off the VerizonStream TV Soundbar Pro. Don’t want a soundbar? There’s also the option to get a $200 gift card from Home Depot. Those who sign up for the basic service will still get a $50 Verizon gift card. Both plans include a free Wi-Fi 6 router.

While Verizon doesn’t specifically mention higher speeds for Plus, it is likely to prioritize these customers over the basic plan. So how fast is Verizon 5g home internet? Speeds should be between 85 and 300 Mbps, depending on traffic. From my anecdotal research, Verizon comes much closer than T-Mobile to actually sticking to these speeds, with typical speeds of 100-250Mbps.

If you care about speed, Verizon is the better deal and much more comparable to cable Internet options than T-Mobile.

Starry

Starry is an independent landline wireless carrier using their own mmWave 5G technology and offering a variety of plans ranging from $50 to $80. The biggest drawback is that it has the most limited availability: Boston, Denver, Los Angeles, New York City, Washington, DC and Columbus, Ohio. Depending on where you live in those cities, you might not qualify for the fastest plans, but you should still see similar speeds to T-Mobile and Verizons 5G options.

The Starrys Plus plan claims you’ll see speeds in the 200Mbps range for downloads versus 500Mbps for the Pro plan. The most limited availability will be found with the Gigabit plan, but if you qualify, you’ll get up to 1Gbps for just $ 80. Based on my research, consistency will really depend on the time of day. Typically you’ll see speeds of at least 75-100Mbps even at peaks, but your mileage will vary depending on the city you live in and the plan you choose.

Like Starry, US Cellular will have somewhat limited availability. The carrier is primarily known for serving the Midwest and select rural pockets across the country. The good news is that if you have US Cellular service, it might actually work on 5G even if you live outside the city limits. We recommend checking their availability map for more details.

The price for US Cellular is actually quite steep compared to the others, at $50 with a required US Cellular phone plan. It promises speeds of around 80-300Mbps. For those who live outside the city limits and have limited wired options, this might be right for you if you live in a covered part of the Midwest.