Verizon vs. Astound Broadband: Which Internet Provider Is Best for You?
Verizon is faster, but Astound is a good alternative if you can’t get Verizon’s fiber.
Best for speed
- Customer rating: 3.8
- Price: $39.99–$89.99/mo.*†‡
- Speed: 200–up to 940 Mbps
- Internet type: Fiber, DSL
- Data cap: No cap
- Annual contract: No contract
Best for affordability
- Customer rating: 3.7
- Price: $14.99–$49.99/mo.§||#**††‡‡§§||||##***
- Speed: 50–940 Mbps
- Internet type: Cable, fiber
- Data cap: 300–1,000 GB in WA, OR, and CA only
- Annual contract: No contract
* With AutoPay plus taxes and equipment charges.
† w/ Auto Pay. Available in select areas.
‡ w/ Auto Pay.
§ 12 Month Internet Pricing. Equipment priced separately.
|| 12 month Internet Pricing. Equipment priced separately. Experienced speeds may vary.
# 12 Month Internet Pricing. Equipment priced separately. Includes $10 discount for 12 months w/ ebill & autopay.
** 12 month internet Pricing. Internet download speeds may vary and are not guaranteed. Equipment priced separately.
†† 12 month internet Pricing. Internet download speeds may vary and are not guaranteed.
‡‡ 12 month internet Pricing. Equipment priced separately. Includes $5 discount for 12 months w/ ebill & autopay.
§§ 24 Month Internet Pricing. Equipment priced separately.
|||| 13 month Internet Pricing. Equipment priced separately. Experienced speeds may vary.
## 14 month Internet Pricing. Equipment priced separately. Experienced speeds may vary.
*** 12 month internet Pricing. Internet download speeds may vary and are not guaranteed. Equipment priced separately.
Compare Verizon and Astound Broadband head to head
Verizon and Astound Broadband compete mainly in Pennsylvania and high-density areas like Boston, New York City, and Washington, DC. Verizon is the faster of the two, so go with Verizon first. But if fiber isn’t in your area, Astound Broadband’s cable internet is an excellent yet costly alternative.
Pros and cons: Verizon vs. Astound Broadband
Pros:
Pros:- No data caps
- No annual contracts
- Fast fiber speeds up to 940 Mbps
Cons:
Cons:- Limited fiber availability
- No DSL service for new customers
Pros:
- Affordable promo prices
- Optional gaming router
- No annual contracts
Cons:
- Data caps in the West Coast region
- Limited fiber availability
Plans and pricing: Verizon vs. Astound Broadband
Generally, Verizon’s fiber internet competes against Astound’s cable internet in the Northeast. However, both providers offer fiber in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with speeds up to 940 Mbps. If you can’t get fiber from either one, Astound’s cable internet is your next best alternative.
Verizon plans and pricing
| Package | Price | Speed | Type | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Internet 200/200 | $39.99/mo.* | 200 Mbps | Fiber | |
| Internet 300/300** | $39.99/mo.* | 300 Mbps | Fiber | |
| Internet 400/400 | $64.99/mo.* | 400 Mbps | Fiber | |
| Internet 500/500** | $64.99/mo.* | 500 Mbps | Fiber | |
| Fios Gigabit Connection | $89.99/mo.‡ | Up to 940 Mbps | Fiber |
* w/ Auto Pay + taxes & equip. charges.
** Package not available in all areas.
‡ w/ Auto Pay.
Verizon and Astound Broadband offer fiber internet in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Of the two, pricing appears to be cheaper with Astound—even after the promotional period ends. Otherwise, Verizon’s fiber generally competes with Astound Broadband’s cable internet in the Northeast.
But Verizon trumps Astound Broadband in terms of selection. Verizon has five plans with a variety of speeds at set prices across the region. Astound has a long list of internet plans—10 in New York City alone—at varying prices across the Northeast. Plus, Astound’s prices increase dramatically after the first 12 or 24 months, making Verizon the cheaper option for the long term in most areas where they overlap.
Astound Broadband plans and pricing
| Package | Price | Speed | Type | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50–110 Mbps Internet | $19.95–$19.99/mo.* †‡ | Up to 50–110 Mbps (speeds vary by region) | Cable | View Plan |
| 250–300 Mbps Internet | $14.99–$29.99/mo.* ‡§||#** | Up to 250–300 Mbps (speeds vary by region) | Cable | View Plan |
| 400–500 Mbps Internet | $34.99–$39.95/mo.* §#†† | Up to 400–500 Mbps (speeds vary by region) | Cable | View Plan |
| 600–800 Mbps Internet | $24.99–$44.99/mo.* ‡||#** | Up to 600–800 Mbps (speeds vary by region) | Cable, Fiber | View Plan |
| 940 Mbps Internet | $34.99–$49.99/mo.* ‡ ||#**‡‡§§ | Up to 940 Mbps | Cable, Fiber | View Plan |
* 12 Month Internet Pricing. Equipment priced separately.
† 12 month Internet Pricing. Equipment priced separately. Experienced speeds may vary.
‡ 12 Month Internet Pricing. Equipment priced separately. Includes $10 discount for 12 months w/ ebill & autopay.
§ 12 month internet Pricing. Internet download speeds may vary and are not guaranteed. Equipment priced separately.
|| 12 month internet Pricing. Internet download speeds may vary and are not guaranteed.
# 12 month internet Pricing. Equipment priced separately. Includes $5 discount for 12 months w/ ebill & autopay.
** 24 Month Internet Pricing. Equipment priced separately.
†† 13 month Internet Pricing. Equipment priced separately. Experienced speeds may vary.
‡‡ 14 month Internet Pricing. Equipment priced separately. Experienced speeds may vary.
§§ 12 month internet Pricing. Internet download speeds may vary and are not guaranteed. Equipment priced separately.
Astound Broadband has four distinct service regions: the West Coast, Midwest, Texas, and the Northeast. Plan availability and pricing vary across these locations, but they all mainly offer cable internet. Astound also offers a few fiber internet plans in California, Oregon, Texas, and Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
That said, if you want cheap fiber internet after promotional pricing, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, is the place to be. Astound’s 940 Mbps fiber internet plan costs $56.99 per month after 12 months versus Verizon’s similar plan at $89.99 per month after 12 months. But once you leave Luzerne County, Astound’s cable internet prices increase dramatically after 12 months: $159.99 for up to 940 Mbps in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. Ouch!
Deals and promotions: Verizon vs. Astound Broadband
Qualifying Verizon Fios plans offer customers a SimpliSafe bundle (a four- or eight-piece system depending on the plan), a discount on the Stream TV Soundbar, and a Verizon Gift Card worth $50 or $100. Gigabit plans also come with a Disney+ trial.
Get a month of internet service at no cost and a credit on your bill totaling up to $50 when you refer a friend to Astound Broadband.
Extra fees: Verizon vs. Astound Broadband
| Equipment fee | Installation fee | Other fees | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon |
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| Astound Broadband |
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Don’t let Astound’s long equipment list scare you: most of it is optional. The modem and router fees vary between the four networks and locations, so there’s no one specific price. Plus, you can choose to get a gateway if you want just one device or a mesh network system instead of Astound’s standalone router.
But Astound’s list of other fees is extensive, showing that you can end up in a world of financial hurt if you don’t have funds ready for AutoPay. Convenience fees? Network access and maintenance fees? Yep, Astound has those too.
Customer ratings: Verizon vs. Astound Broadband
| Overall Rating | Reliability Rating | Customer Service Rating | Speed Rating | Price Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 3.5 |
| Astound Broadband | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.3 |
Verizon ranks third in overall customer satisfaction in our annual customer satisfaction survey. It also ranks second in speed, price, and reliability, falling just behind EarthLink in most cases. Astound Broadband’s scores are based on RCN, which stays in the top half of our list of 12 providers in each category. RCN ranks sixth in overall customer satisfaction.
Best TV and internet bundles
| Internet speed | TV channels | Price | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon 400 Mbps Internet + Your Fios TV | Up to 400 Mbps | 125+ | $109.99/mo.* | |
| Verizon Fios Gigabit Connection + More Fios TV | Up to 940 Mbps | 300+ | $179.99/mo.† | |
| Astound Broadband 300 Mbps Internet + Signature TV | Up to 300 Mbps | 288–296+ | $62.60–$120.06/mo.‡§ | View Plans |
| Astound Broadband 940 Mbps Internet + Signature TV | Up to 940 Mbps | 288–305+ | $82.60–$140.06/mo.‡§||# | View Plans |
* For new eligible TV and/or Internet res. custs. Availability varies. Wired & wireless Internet speeds vary due to device limits, multiple users, network & other factors. See Verizon.com/yourspeed for more info. $15/mo. router and $99 setup charges & other taxes & terms may apply. Auto Pay & paper-free billing reqd. Subj. to credit approval & may require a deposit. Fios TV: $12/mo. STB charge may apply.
† For new eligible TV and/or Internet res. custs. Availability varies. Wired & wireless Internet speeds vary due to device limits, multiple users, network & other factors. See Verizon.com/yourspeed for more info. $15/mo. router and $99 setup charges & other taxes & terms may apply. Auto Pay (ACH or bank debit card only) & paper-free billing req’d. for Internet service. Subj. to credit approval & may require a deposit. Fios Gigabit Connection: Gigabit network connection to your home. Wired speeds up to 940/880 Mbps with avg. speeds betw. 750-940 Mbps download / 750-880 Mbps upload. Fios TV: $12/mo. STB charge may apply.
‡ 24 Month Internet Pricing. Equipment priced separately.
§ 12 Month Internet Pricing. Equipment priced separately.
|| 12 Month Internet Pricing. Equipment priced separately. Multi-product discount applies.
# 12 Month Internet Pricing. Equipment priced separately. Includes $5 discount for 12 months w/ ebill & autopay.
Astound Broadband has a long list of TV and internet bundles spread out across its four locations, so prices and availability vary. Any additional channels you want to add and the broadcast TV service charge (up to $26.95 per month) are extra.
Verizon keeps your choices simple, with the cheapest Mix & Match option starting at $89.99 per month. You can pick five of your favorite channels with Verizon’s Your Fios TV service. The More Fios TV service includes Verizon’s most popular channels plus regional sports.
Internet types: Verizon vs. Astound Broadband
| Internet type | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon | DSL, fiber | |
| Astound Broadband | Cable, fiber | View Plans |
Verizon is a large DSL internet provider with a growing fiber network. DSL is slower than fiber, topping out around 140 Mbps, but new customers can’t get it. Verizon’s fiber-to-the-home service reaches download speeds up to 940 Mbps and upload speeds up to 880 Mbps.
Most of Astound Broadband’s network uses traditional cable TV lines. Depending on the plan, download speeds go up to 50–940 Mbps. Cable speeds aren’t symmetrical like fiber, however, so Astound’s upload speeds on most plans are much slower at 10–50 Mbps.
Data caps: Verizon vs. Astound Broadband
| Data Cap | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon |
| |
| Astound Broadband |
| View Plans |
Astound Broadband enforces data caps on the West Coast. The data caps start at 300 GB and go up to 1 TB depending on the plan, and the 940 Mbps Internet plan includes the Unlimited Data Plan at no extra charge. Customers can opt for unlimited data on all other plans for $20 per month—but speeds may slow after 2 TB of usage. Astound also offers a cheaper Double Data Plan option for $10 per month, which doubles your data cap.
Astound does not enforce data caps in its other regions—just the West Coast.
Contracts: Verizon vs. Astound Broadband
| Contract length | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon | No contract | |
| Astound Broadband | No contract | View Plans |
Verizon and Astound Broadband do not have annual contracts. Astound, however, has discounted pricing for the first 12 or 24 months, depending on where you live. After that, pricing increases to the standard rates. There are no hidden penalties for canceling your subscription.
Installation: Verizon vs. Astound Broadband
| Installation options | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon |
| |
| Astound Broadband |
| View Plans |
You can’t self-install a fiber-to-the-home connection, so a pro install is your only option from Verizon. Astound Broadband is different, as cable TV lines are probably already present in your neighborhood, so self-install should be available. But according to Astound’s documentation, you can only self-install cable services in California, Oregon, and Washington (the Wave Broadband area).
Astound’s home networking install is an optional service that can have the technician connect your second, third, and fourth computer (Windows or Mac) or computing device.
Methodology
Our HighSpeedTeck.com editorial team bases our analyses on customer input from our annual customer satisfaction survey, results from our speed test tool, and proprietary internet provider data on speeds and pricing. To strengthen our research, we look closely at provider contracts to get hard-to-find information on price hikes, data caps, and extra fees, and we keep tabs on the latest news reports and online reviews. When applicable, we also rely on our personal experiences testing these services.
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