CNET’s top recommendation for the best internet provider in Sarasota is Xfinity. They are the top pick for most households due to their wide coverage in the area and competitive prices, offering speeds of up to 2 gigabits. Xfinity has a variety of plans to meet different budgets and needs, whether for streaming, gaming, or working from home. Other options in the area include Frontier Fiber and T-Mobile Home Internet, both of which are solid choices. Xfinity offers the cheapest internet plan in the area, the Xfinity Connect plan, priced at $35 per month for download speeds up to 150Mbps. On the other end of the spectrum, if budget is not a concern and you require the fastest speeds, Frontier Fiber provides symmetrical speeds of up to 7,000Mbps for $300 per month.
Other internet providers in Sarasota include Blue Stream Fiber, offering DSL, cable, and fiber options with speeds up to 1 gigabit at prices starting at $45 monthly. Rapid Systems is a local ISP serving smaller towns in Florida, offering speeds up to 25Mbps at higher prices. Satellite internet is also available but is not the most recommended option due to high prices and slow speeds. Verizon 5G Home Internet is another option in Sarasota, with plans starting at $50 per month for 100Mbps or $70 per month for 300Mbps, along with discounts for eligible mobile customers.
The average cost for residential broadband in Sarasota is $50 per month, but there are options available for less than that. Xfinity offers the cheapest plan at $35 per month for download speeds up to 150Mbps. Frontier Fiber and Blue Stream Fiber also offer service for less than the average price, with Frontier’s plan providing better cost-per-Mbps compared to Blue Stream. When looking for internet deals and promotions in Sarasota, providers like Xfinity and Blue Stream Fiber may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time, while others like Frontier Fiber and Verizon maintain the same standard pricing year-round.
According to Speedtest by Ookla, Sarasota’s median download speed is 280Mbps, with an upload speed of 61Mbps. Xfinity and Frontier Fiber are the main competitors when it comes to speed, both offering download speeds close to 210Mbps. For those seeking faster connections, Frontier Fiber provides symmetrical speeds of up to 7,000Mbps for $300 per month. Recommended minimum speeds for various applications include 0 to 5Mbps for basics like browsing the internet, up to 500 to 1,000Mbps for accommodating three or more people engaging in high-bandwidth activities simultaneously. CNET’s selection of the best internet providers in Sarasota is based on research into pricing, availability, speed, customer satisfaction, and value for money, with Xfinity coming out on top as the best overall provider for most households.
