What is the best internet provider in Lynchburg?
Xfinity is CNET's top pick for the best internet service provider in Lynchburg thanks to its affordable pricing and wide coverage in the area. Xfinity covers most addresses in Lynchburg and offers plans with speeds of up to 2,000Mbps. In addition to the fast speeds, it also offers the lowest prices in the area, with plans starting as low as $30 per month. If you're looking for alternatives, Glo Fiber and Verizon 5G Home Internet are also great choices for home internet. But your choice will largely depend on your internet needs and what’s available in your area.
If you're looking for speed, Lynchburg has multi-gig internet plans. Xfinity offers some of the fastest plans in the area, with speeds up to 2,000Mbps. However, as a cable network, its speeds are asymmetrical, meaning slower upload speeds compared to downloads. However, Glo Fiber takes the gold with its 5-gigabit service at a monthly price of $290. Ookla's latest data says Lynchburg has a median download speed of 278Mbps, which means you should find decent speeds in the city. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
Best internet in Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg internet providers compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glo Fiber | Fiber | $70-$290 | 600-5,000Mbps | $10 (optional) | None | None | N/A |
| Shentel | Cable | $70-$205 | 150-1,000Mbps | $10 (optional) | 1.02-3.25TB on some plans | None | N/A |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$55 for eligible Go5G Plus and Magenta Max mobile customers) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 with eligible Verizon 5G mobile plans) | 50-1,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
| Xfinity Read full review | Cable | $30-$95 | 300-2,000Mbps | $15 (optional) | None | 1 year on some plans | 7 |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Lynchburg?
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xfinity Connect More Read full review | $30 | 300Mbps | $15 (optional) |
| Xfinity Fast Read full review | $45 | 500Mbps | $15 (optional) |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | $50 ($35 with eligible mobile plan) | 245Mbps | None |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | $50 ($35 with eligible mobile plan) | 300Mbps | None |
| Glo Fiber 600Mbps | $70 | 600Mbps | $10 (optional) |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Photo by Sean Pavone/Getty Images
How to find internet deals and promotions in Lynchburg
The best internet deals and top promotions in Lynchburg depend on the discounts available during that period. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Lynchburg internet providers, such as Xfinity, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, including Verizon and T-Mobile, run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
Fastest internet plans in Lynchburg
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glo Fiber 5Gbps | $290 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Glo Fiber 2.4Gbps | $140 | 2,400Mbps | 2,400Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Xfinity Gigabit X2 Read full review | $95 | 2,000Mbps | 200Mbps | None | Cable |
| Glo Fiber 1.2Gbps | $85 | 1,200Mbps | 1,200Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Shentel 1Gbps | $205 | 1,000Mbps | 35Mbps | 3.25 on some plans | Cable |
| Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read full review | $70 ($45 with eligible mobile plan) | 1,000Mbps | 50Mbps | None | Fixed wireless |
| Xfinity Gigabit Read full review | $60 | 1,000Mbps | 20Mbps | None | Cable |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s a good internet speed?
Most internet connection plans can handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you're looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you'll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here's an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines -- and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.
For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.
- 0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics -- browsing the internet, sending and receiving email, streaming low-quality video.
- 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
- 40 to 100Mbps should give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
- 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming.
- 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Lynchburg
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information, drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
But it doesn’t end there. We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of the time of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
- Are customers happy with their service?
While the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fees, though we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
Internet providers in Lynchburg FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Lynchburg?
Xfinity is the best internet provider in Lynchburg, offering coverage to most of the city with low prices and fast speeds.
Is fiber internet available in Lynchburg?
Yes. However, Glo Fiber is the sole fiber provider in Lynchburg, so you’ll only have access to a fiber connection if that ISP is available at your address.
Who is the cheapest internet provider in Lynchburg?
Xfinity offers the cheapest service to Lynchburg residents, costing $30 monthly for speeds up to 300Mbps.
Which internet provider in Lynchburg offers the fastest plan?
Glo Fiber is Lynchburg’s fastest internet provider, offering 5 gigabits of symmetrical speed for $290 monthly.