Best Internet Providers in Portsmouth, RI
All 5 providers, ranked by coverage, speed and customer ratings
Find internet availability by address in Portsmouth, RI
Portsmouth has 5 internet service providers, they are sorted by coverage, available speed, and customer rating from our unbiased internet provider report. Cable, Fiber, and Fixed Wireless internet are available in the city. Reviews are grouped by provider and the type of service they offer, covering all 3 available internet technologies in Portsmouth.
Ranks compare Portsmouth with the 3,338 US towns of 10,000 to 24,999 people, the tiers of our fastest-cities rankings.
The Best Internet in Portsmouth, RI at a Glance
Portsmouth Internet Providers, Ranked by Coverage, Speed and Customer Ratings
Cox
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
Cable
EarthLink
Connection
Customer Rating
Fixed Wireless
T-Mobile Home Internet
Connection
Customer Rating
Fixed Wireless
AT&T
Connection
Customer Rating
Fixed Wireless
Providers with less than 1% coverage in this city are excluded from the list. To see if one of these providers is available at your home, please use the address search above.
Speed and technology may vary by address for all providers. Please note we may have a financial relationship with some of the providers above, which does not impact the customer ratings displayed. Customer ratings listed above are national ratings, local Portsmouth ratings may vary and are shown below.
Who is the Best Internet Provider in Portsmouth, RI?
Cox Communications is the highest-rated internet provider in Portsmouth based on 29 Rhode Island customer reviews, and T-Mobile Home Internet has the highest rating nationwide. The provider information above and the information immediately below can help you decide. Compare provider ratings and review counts above.
Click here to get Cox Communications
or call 1-855-231-3455
Which Providers are Available at my Home in Portsmouth?
Coverage changes block by block. Pick a provider and a technology to see where its service reaches: the darker the area, the larger the share of homes it covers. For your exact address, use the address search above.
How Portsmouth Compares to Places Its Size
Portsmouth's report card score is in the bottom 25% and its connectivity index is in the top 25%.
| Measure | Portsmouth | Rank among US towns of 10,000 to 24,999 people | Newport County | Rhode Island | US | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISP Report Card inputs: what providers offer here | ||||||
| Fiber availability | 94.2% | top 29% | 78.6% | 90.7% | 71.5% | 115 places at 100.0% |
| Average top speed | 1,189 Mbps | bottom 15% | 1,325 Mbps | 1,934 Mbps | 3,486 Mbps | Middle Valley, TN and Red Bank, TN and 1 more (25,000 Mbps) |
| Providers at a typical address | 4.6 | bottom 8% | 4.5 | 5.7 | 7.1 | Joshua, TX (13.3) |
| Connectivity index inputs: how much households need and use the internet | ||||||
| People per household | 2.3 | bottom 20% | 2.3 | 2.5 | 2.7 | North Bay Shore, NY (4.7) |
| Workers who work from home | 16% | top 32% | 16% | 13% | 15% | Brambleton, VA (51%) |
| Homes with a computer, tablet or phone | 99% | top 3% | 97% | 95% | 96% | 86 places at 100% |
| Homes with internet | 97% | top 7% | 95% | 92% | 91% | 11 places at 100% |
| Homes on fiber, cable or DSL | 88% | top 10% | 83% | 78% | 76% | Klahanie, WA and Short Hills, NJ and 1 more (96%) |
| More about the households here | ||||||
| Homes with a desktop or laptop | 92% | top 11% | 88% | 80% | 81% | Stone Ridge, VA and West University Place, TX and 1 more (100%) |
| Median household income | $119,200 | top 24% | $109,930 | $96,849 | $93,246 | West University Place, TX ($249,707) |
| Residents in school (6th grade to college) | 15% | top 37% | 14% | 17% | 16% | Stanford, CA (84%) |
Fiber reaches 94.2% of homes in Portsmouth, against 78.6% across Newport County and 90.7% across Rhode Island. Households in Portsmouth are smaller than the US average (2.3 people against 2.7); 16% of workers work from home (US 15%); and the median household income is $119,200 (US $93,246).
Our demographic data is sourced from the latest 5-year release of the American Community Survey by the US Census Bureau.
Fiber, 5G, Cable and DSL Internet in Portsmouth
Which Fiber Internet Providers are Available in Portsmouth?
Cox Fiber in Portsmouth, RI
Availability:
94.2%
Customer Rating:
(54)
Avg. Download Speed
1,000 Mbps
Cox Communications offers Fiber service to 94.2% of Portsmouth homes. Across the city, Cox Fiber has speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
Which Fixed Wireless and LTE Internet Providers are Available in Portsmouth?
T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed Wireless in Portsmouth, RI
Availability:
97.7%
Customer Rating:
(342)
Avg. Download Speed
59 Mbps
T-Mobile Home Internet offers Fixed Wireless service to 97.7% of Portsmouth homes. Across the city, T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 59 Mbps, with speeds from 25 Mpbs up to 100 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 3.0 and as high as 20, with an average of 11 Mbps throughout the city.
EarthLink Fixed Wireless in Portsmouth, RI
Availability:
87.0%
Customer Rating:
(4)
Avg. Download Speed
39 Mbps
EarthLink offers Fixed Wireless service to 87.0% of Portsmouth homes. Across the city, EarthLink Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 39 Mbps, with speeds from 25 Mpbs up to 100 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 3.0 and as high as 20, with an average of 6.2 Mbps throughout the city.
AT&T Fixed Wireless in Portsmouth, RI
Availability:
87.0%
Customer Rating:
(205)
Avg. Download Speed
39 Mbps
AT&T offers Fixed Wireless service to 87.0% of Portsmouth homes. Across the city, AT&T Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 39 Mbps, with speeds from 25 Mpbs up to 100 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 3.0 and as high as 20, with an average of 6.2 Mbps throughout the city.
Verizon Fixed Wireless in Portsmouth, RI
Availability:
76.0%
Customer Rating:
(362)
Avg. Download Speed
193 Mbps
Verizon offers Fixed Wireless service to 76.0% of Portsmouth homes. Across the city, Verizon Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 193 Mbps, with speeds from 25 Mpbs up to 300 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 6.0 and as high as 20, with an average of 15 Mbps throughout the city.
Which Cable Internet Providers are Available in Portsmouth?
Cox Cable in Portsmouth, RI
Availability:
19.8%
Customer Rating:
(399)
Avg. Download Speed
2,000 Mbps
Cox Communications offers Cable service to 19.8% of Portsmouth homes. Across the city, Cox Cable has speeds up to 2,000 Mbps
Which DSL Internet Providers are Available in Portsmouth?
According to the most recently submitted data by internet service providers to the FCC, there are currently no DSL providers available in Portsmouth, RI.
Internet in Portsmouth by Neighborhood and ZIP Code
Portsmouth has 1 ZIP code with its own page. Each row links to that place’s page.
Neighborhoods in Portsmouth
| Neighborhood | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|
ZIP codes in Portsmouth
| ZIP code | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02871 | 17,605 | 94.3% | 1,191 Mbps | 4.6 | C+ | 78/100 |
How Portsmouth Compares to Nearby Places
The 10 places nearest to Portsmouth that have their own pages are all within 8 miles, 1 of them in Massachusetts. Among them, Jamestown has the most homes with fiber (99.9%) and Little Compton the fewest (0.0%); Portsmouth has 94.2%.
| Place | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth (this page) | 17,304 | 94.2% | 1,189 Mbps | 4.6 | C+ | 79/100 |
| Newport | 24,993 | 81.7% | 1,175 Mbps | 4.8 | C+ | 68/100 |
| Bristol | 22,296 | 3.0% | 2,000 Mbps | 5.9 | C | 64/100 |
| Tiverton | 15,996 | 62.4% | 1,508 Mbps | 4.2 | C | 68/100 |
| Newport East | 12,432 | 89.3% | 1,238 Mbps | 4.4 | C+ | 56/100 |
| Westport, MA | 10,166 | 16.1% | 1,070 Mbps | 4.8 | C- | 68/100 |
| Jamestown | 5,559 | 99.9% | 1,547 Mbps | 4.7 | B | 75/100 |
| Middletown | 5,149 | 76.5% | 1,352 Mbps | 4.3 | C | 82/100 |
| Little Compton | 3,979 | 0.0% | 2,000 Mbps | 3.6 | D+ | 80/100 |
| Prudence Island | 203 | 0.0% | 149 Mbps | 2.6 | F | 75/100 |
| Prudence Park | 28 | 0.0% | 25 Mbps | 0 | F | 55/100 |
Who is the Fastest Internet Provider in Portsmouth?
Based on both FCC data and unbiased customer ratings, the fastest internet in the city comes from Cox Communications.
Data Reported to FCC by ISPs: Average Maximum Available in Portsmouth
| Cox Communications | 2,000 |
|---|---|
| Verizon | 300 |
| Viasat | 100 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet | 100 |
| AT&T | 100 |
| EarthLink | 100 |
| HughesNet | 25 |
How fast is your internet?
Test your connection here and see it next to the speeds providers advertise in Portsmouth. It takes about 20 seconds and, on a fast line, can move a few hundred MB of data.
Customer Ratings for Portsmouth Internet Providers
Based on 29 reviews from Rhode Island internet customers, Cox Communications is the best internet service provider for Portsmouth residents. Cox Communications was rated at an average of 3.63 out of 5 in our report for overall customer satisfaction. Verizon wins for second-place in Rhode Island, with 3.77 out of 5 stars and 76.0% coverage in Portsmouth.
At a national level, based on 2677 national reviews for any of the providers listed above, T-Mobile Home Internet is rated higher than any other provider, with a rating of 4.02 out of 5.
Local, State, and National Ratings for all Portsmouth Internet Providers
The table below shows average customer ratings from customers in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, and customers throughout the country.
| ISP / Tech Type | Portsmouth Overall | Rhode Island Overall | National Overall | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon |  (0) | (13) | (816) | View Plans | ||
| Cox | (0) | (16) | (453) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) |  (25) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (0) | (342) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (0) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (0) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) |  (12) | View Plans |
Customer Ratings for Internet Provider Speeds in Portsmouth
Based on data reported by Portsmouth ISPs to the FCC, the fastest speeds in the city are available through Cox Communications. The company offers speeds up to 2,000 Mbps in Portsmouth. Therefore, the average customer can get up to 1,201 Mbps if they’re willing to purchase the fastest subscription tier available at their homes.
Additionally, actual customers rated their satisfaction with internet speed highest with Cox Communications. This indicates Cox reliably delivers speeds expected by the customer based on the plan they are paying for.
| ISP / Tech Type | Portsmouth Speed | Rhode Island Speed | National Speed | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cox | (0) | (16) | (453) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (13) | (816) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) | (25) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (0) | (342) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (0) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (0) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) | (12) | View Plans |
Who is the Cheapest Internet Provider in Portsmouth?
Of the providers in Portsmouth, customers rate Verizon the best for price. Data comes from customers rating their satisfaction with pricing: in Portsmouth where enough of them have reviewed a provider, otherwise across Rhode Island or the country. This feedback is valuable because it considers price changes and whether the speeds paid for are worth it.
Verizon is rated 3.46 out of 5 for price, which is lower than the average across all internet providers in the country. Cox Communications is rated second for affordability, with an average price rating of 3.19 out of 5.
The table below shows how customers in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, and the United States rated the affordability of their internet service.
Rated Affordability in Portsmouth
| ISP / Tech Type | Portsmouth Affordability | Rhode Island Affordability | National Affordability | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon | (0) | (13) | (816) | View Plans | ||
| Cox | (0) | (16) | (453) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) | (25) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (0) | (342) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (0) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (0) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) | (12) | View Plans |
Customer Reviews for Internet Service Providers in Rhode Island
Customer Reviews
A West Warwick, RI Customer
Verizon Fiber
May 13, 2026 
Glen M
Cox Cable
November 26, 2025 We've been customers of Cox Communications for more than two years. We are very with them. The installation technicians provide a high level of customer service. They are very caring individuals.
Kathy F
Verizon Fiber
July 26, 2025 Verizon has the only reliable internet service in this area. Since changing to Fios I have experienced perfect connections. Customer service is proactive in recommending pricing options that are benefical to the customer. They are consistent with equipment upgrades and service upgrade announcements and communications. I could not be more satisfied with Verizon. Truth
!
A Bristol, RI Customer
Cox Cable
April 16, 2025 Paige W
Cox Cable
December 09, 2024 Using cox is alright. I haven't been a customer for very long so others may have differing opinions. The way they handle customers is fine, not exceptional. As someone who has a lower budget and was looking for internet for working from home, they do the job.
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Which ISP Should You Choose in Portsmouth?
The right ISP for you depends upon your needs, but in general we can make the following suggestions:
- The best all-around internet service provider in Portsmouth is Cox.
- The fastest internet provider should be Cox Communications. Considering speed for the money and reliability in speeds, Cox Communications may be a better choice based on real-world local customer feedback.
- The most affordable internet provider in Portsmouth is Verizon.
- Viasat, HughesNet, and Cox Communications has the broadest coverage in Portsmouth, available to 98.6% of homes, and is most likely to cover your home. To find out exactly what’s available at your home, please use our address search tool.