Best Internet Providers in Trenton, New Jersey

Even though the FCC says that at least 69% of people in Trenton can get gigabit speeds, we want to make it clear that this doesn’t always hold true. CNET spoke with a spokesperson from Optimum who said, “While Optimum does not currently offer internet services to customers in Trenton, NJ (either via our fiber or HFC network), the company does provide service in Hamilton Township, which lies just outside of Trenton. Customers in this area can access speeds of up to 1 Gig, and a majority of them have additional access to multi-gig speeds of up to 8 Gig via Optimum Fiber.”

If Optimum is available at your address, then there’s the possibility that you can use Optimum’s fiber multi-gigabit plans, all of which reach up to blazing speeds of 8,000Mbps for just $280 a month. If you’d like something more affordable, you can bump down that cost with Verizon Fios’ 2-gigabit plan with symmetrical download and upload speeds of up to 2,300Mbps for $110 monthly. The cost per Mbps of the 2-gigabit plan is only 5 cents. Residents can find the most coverage along South Trenton and in the Lamberton area.

Andrena is another cheap internet option in the area if Xfinity isn’t cutting it for you. They have a plan for just $30 a month that gives you speeds of 50 Mbps. The best part is that the equipment is included, so you won’t have to deal with any extra fees.

Best internet in Trenton, New Jersey

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Trenton?

The best internet deals and top promotions in Trenton depend on what discounts are available during a given time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers. 

Trenton internet providers, such as T-Mobile, Optimum and Xfinity, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Other providers, such as Verizon Fios, run the same standard pricing year-round.  

For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals. 

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

What’s a good internet speed?

Most internet connection plans can now 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 Trenton

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 publication.

Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:

1. Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
2. Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
3. Are customers happy with their service?

While the answers to those questions are often layered and complex, the providers that 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 fee, 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 (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)

To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.

Internet providers in Trenton FAQs