CNET Scores 31 ISPs With 2026 Framework Weighted 50% to Cost per Mbps
Updated
Updated · CNET · Aug 22
CNET Scores 31 ISPs With 2026 Framework Weighted 50% to Cost per Mbps
1 articles · Updated · CNET · Aug 22
Summary
Nearly two months of review produced CNET’s 2026 ISP scoring framework, which evaluated 31 providers on value, contract terms, price transparency and consumer satisfaction.
A 50/20/20/10 weighting puts cost per Mbps at the center, with contract friction, transparency and survey-based satisfaction filling out the score; ISPs lacking survey data were weighted 60/20/20.
Provider websites, Broadband Facts labels, phone calls and email clarifications supplied the pricing and speed data, while CNET’s 2026 People Picks survey added real-world sentiment on reliability, price and speed.
DSL plans were excluded as outdated, and brands offering both DSL and fiber were judged only on their fiber business, reflecting CNET’s view that 5G or satellite often offers better value.
The methodology is framed as a response to uneven ISP disclosure practices, including hidden fees, short-lived promotional pricing and limited router opt-out choices.