We use the Internet for quite a lot these days. No matter what you choose to use it for, however, one thing is clear – you always want to make sure you are taking advantage of the best deals on residential Internet in your area. You don’t want to have to pay more for Internet service than is necessary. On the other hand, you don’t want to have your livelihood impacted by poor connection speeds or quality of service, either. With that in mind, let’s take a look at a few things you should look at in any residential or unlimited Internet plan.
1. Data Caps and Charges
First and foremost, you want to be aware of how much data you can use for a month according to your ISP. These plans, caps, and charges can vary widely, so be sure to shop around and see who’s offering the best deals for your particular need. If you use the Internet a lot or use it for things that can eat up data fast (for example, gaming, streaming, video conferencing, and so on) you might want to consider signing on with an unlimited Internet data plan.
2. Connection and Browsing Speed
No matter what your data limit may be, you want to make sure you have a strong connection and good browsing speed. Ideally, you should look for plans that offer somewhere between at least 5 to 10 Mbps. Basic plans that fall within this range are often the best for users with low bandwidth needs as well as single-person households. On the flip side, if you intend to do a lot of gaming, you’ll likely want a connection that is significantly faster than that.
3. Annual Commitments
Some ISPs offer or require annual commitments. On the one hand, this can mean lower prices and can solve your Internet issues for the long-term. On the other hand, if you are not in a financial or personal situation that is well-suited to such long-term financial commitments, these may seem like albatrosses that are best avoided in favour of shorter plans. Be aware of what you’re signing up for, and for how long.
4. Plans for Video Conferencing
If video conferencing is a regular part of your day, you’ll want to make sure you have a residential Internet plan that can handle that. This means getting a connection that has faster speeds and higher performance. Given the rise in video conferencing of late, more and more Internet providers offer special packages to accommodate these needs, so see what each plan has to offer.
5. Customer Support and Company Reputation
Even the best Internet connections can have trouble at times, and when they do, you don’t want to be left in the dark or Internet-less for very long. You should thus look for plans that offer 24/7 customer support. Of course, bad help is no help at all. As such, you’ll also want to check the company’s reputation for helpfulness.
6. Internet Gaming Speeds
If you are a gamer or have one in your household, you’re going to need to make sure you have the Internet speed to handle all that data usage. This is also true if you regularly stream HD movies or other content that uses up a lot of data. If this sounds like you, then you’re likely looking for plans that offer speeds far greater than the optimal packages mentioned above – anywhere from at least 50 to 115 Mbps is ideal.
Do your research, review the individual plans and prices, and get the residential Internet connection you need with the help of the best Internet provider for your particular needs.