Introduction

Daily life is more dependent on internet service than ever before. According to Pew Research, 85% of Americans say they use the internet every day for an average of seven hours per day.

It’s clear we all need a quality internet connection. However, if you’re unsatisfied with your current internet service provider (ISP), switching providers is often easier said than done. Many internet service providers employ tactics designed to keep you with them. But with the right approach, you can have a stress-free switch to the internet connection you really want.

In this guide, we’ll tell you what you need to know about comparing internet providers and what to expect when switching providers.

Should you switch internet providers?

There are four main factors to consider when thinking about switching providers.

Speed and bandwidth

Activities like video calling, streaming, gaming and many more require fast upload and download speeds to enable smooth, lag-free calls. See what speeds potential ISPs are offering and do some research to find out what speeds customers actually experience—especially during peak usage times when many devices are connected. Our handy internet terminology guide may be helpful here when navigating the language around internet speed.

Reliability

Cable internet uses electrical signals transmitted through copper wiring. This makes it susceptible to slowdowns and interruptions caused by weather disruptions, electromagnetic field disruptions and heavy traffic. Fiber connections like Ting’s aren’t vulnerable to disruptions from weather or traffic due to a hit show that everyone’s watching at the same time. Fiber-optic cable uses lots of tiny glass threads that transmit data via light and can handle many more users at a single time. It also doesn’t share its bandwidth with cable TV connections like cable internet.

Price

Cable internet costs can vary quite a bit depending on the plan. Fiber connections can cost $75 per month or more, while cable plans range from $20 for a slow connection to over $100. That said, you’ll have to consider the nonmonetary costs of going with a cheaper plan. When your household’s internet needs are greater than the speeds and bandwidth of your plan, you experience slow, unreliable internet when you need it most.

Customer service

Cable-based ISPs, which are used to being the only game in town, often have dreadful customer service. Newer companies like Ting put customers’ needs as a top priority. From billing questions to the rare service request, Ting makes it easy for customers to contact them and resolve any issues that pop up. When choosing a new internet provider, consider how easily you’ll be able to reach a real person and whether your issues will be resolved by the provider quickly.

How do you switch internet providers?

By doing a little homework in advance, you can learn how to switch internet providers in the least disruptive, anxiety-provoking way possible.

Research before calling your current ISP

Get as much information as possible on other ISPs and your current ISP’s cancellation policy before getting on the phone with your current ISP. If you immediately call up your existing ISP and start asking questions, they might connect you with a customer retention specialist who will try to persuade you to stay. Also see how much information you can gather by logging into your customer account portal before you give them a ring.

Check the documentation

Always read the fine print. As you look things over, look for the answer to the question, “Can I switch internet providers mid contract?” You may have a contract that prevents you from switching, or there may be hefty costs associated with doing so.

Determine the costs

An ISP will often charge you an early cancellation fee when you try to leave them for a competitor. If you have any outstanding bills, that could delay the process too. Make sure you find out whether there are any hidden fees and settle up any open account balances before you make the jump.

Verify your equipment

You’ll likely need to return any modem and/or router the ISP provided. Not doing so may result in additional charges. Even if they let you keep your old modem or router, it may not be compatible with your new ISP. Factor in whether your prospective new ISP will give or lease you new equipment at no cost or charge a rental fee, or if you’ll need to purchase your own.

Plan for an overlap between providers

Schedule your switch so your home is never without internet service. Although it might be tempting to cut costs by having your current ISP shut down service before the new internet service is ready to go, you’ll likely avoid some stress if you plan for a bit of overlap between the two—especially if your new install gets delayed.

Setting up email forwarding

Changing your email account can be a source of anxiety—especially if you’ve had that same email account for a long time. If your current ISP gives you the option of forwarding your emails, you’ll be able to get your correspondence originally sent to your old email address automatically routed to your current one. This gives you time to alert all your important contacts that your email address has changed.

The process of setting up email forwarding is a little different for every service, but in general, you’ll need to follow these steps:

1. Ensure your new email address is set up, activated and ready to use.

2. Log into your old email account and navigate to the settings menu.

3. Find the “forwarding” feature. For example:
   a. In Xfinity Connect, go to Email Settings > Auto Forward. 
   b. In Yahoo, go to Mailboxes > Forwarding Address. 
   

Most services have an online guide to walk you through the process.

Once you’ve found the forwarding feature, enter your new email address and select the option to automatically forward messages. Save these settings before exiting.

Forwarded emails will be marked as such in your new inbox. Contact these senders, informing them that you’ve changed your email and giving them the up-to-date address.

Migrating your emails

Doing this one by one would be impossible. Thankfully, well-established email services like Gmail provide tools to do this all at once. The process uses a protocol called POP, and your old email account needs to have POP access enabled for it to work. To transfer old emails into Gmail:

1. Go to Settings > Accounts and Import > Import mail and contacts

2. Follow the steps on-screen and then select “Start import.”

Other email services, including ISP-provided ones, may be able to do this as well. If you can’t figure out how it works or encounter issues, search your email service provider’s help section or (if you’re using the email they’ve provided) contact your new ISP’s customer support.