Astound Broadband (formerly RCN) Internet Plans & Pricing

Mon, Jan 8, 2024 10:50 PM

RCN's coverage area is narrowly centered on major metropolitan areas such as Chicago, Boston, and Washington, DC, and its no-contract internet plans provide the speed and flexibility that most of us need.

RCN's rates, on the other hand, vary depending on where you live, making it more difficult to set goals. And those special rates are only available for a year. Is RCN internet really worth it? Let's take a look and see what we can find out.

RCN Internet Plans and Pricing

RCN maintains low rates, but prices can vary depending on where you live.

RCN's monthly rates range from $19.99 to $59.99, making it one of the most affordable internet providers available. However, depending on where you live, you can see different pricing than in other cities served by RCN.

Lower RCN plans, such as 10 and 25 Mbps, are perfect for people like my grandparents, who only send me pie recipes and emails with email messages like "RE: The truth about UFOs." To be frank, we wouldn't advise most people to use those sluggish download rates.

RCN's higher-speed packages, on the other hand, are ideal for the majority of families where the kids want to play Xbox in the basement while the parents want to watch HBO upstairs. (Or stay at home and finish the job project.)

RCN's gigabit plan is at the top of the speed charts, with enough capacity to power a small business and contend with some of the best ISPs for gaming.

How much are Astound Broadbands (formerly RCN) Cable fees?

Is the internet cheap?

RCN's rates make our wallets happy, and when compared to the market, they still seem to be very tiny.

For instance, Verizon Fios Home Internet offers a 200 Mbps plan for $39.99 per month, but RCN offers 50 more Mbps for the same price. Furthermore, Verizon's service is fiber, which usually outperforms a cable connection like RCN's.

Xfinity is another ISP you'll find in the same areas as RCN, and it typically has decent prices for the speeds you get. It also provides a 200 Mbps plan for the same price as RCN, but if you need more speed, Xfinity costs more.

RCN Internet    
$19.99–$59.99*
25–1000 Mbps

Verizon Fios Home Internet
$39.99–$79.9
200–940 Mbps

Xfinity Internet
$39.99–$79.99‡
25–1200 Mbps

Pros

No contracts
Fast download speeds

Cons:

Limited availability
Price hikes after one year

RCN Internet Speed and Data

RCN is one of the cheapest internet service providers in the United States. And they rank as one of the fastest internet service providers.

RCN provides download speeds ranging from 10 to 940 megabits per second.

We wouldn't recommend its slower plans to someone who does a lot of online browsing, but the 50 and 100 Mbps plans are a great place to start for a small family—and the speeds only get better from there.

RCN makes good on its promise of delivering speed, which makes it one of the best.

In our analysis of the fastest ISPs in the United States, RCN received a weighted score of 47.4 out of 100. It is now the sixth-fastest internet provider (third if you remove smaller ISPs that only serve one or two cities) and the fastest cable internet provider, beating out Xfinity, Optimum, and Frontier. We're blown away.

Google Fiber, with a score of 75.6 out of 100, was the highest-ranking ISP. RCN's score of 47.4 seems poor, but it is actually quite good.

We averaged download and upload rates, as well as latency, for more than 1 million speed test results for each ISP, which is why fiber providers like Google and Verizon Fios Home Internet score so well. Fiber internet naturally ranks higher than cable or DSL internet because it has faster upload rates.

Is RCN Internet better than Xfinity?

Whether RCN is better than Xfinity (also known as Comcast) depends on various factors, such as your location, specific needs, and preferences. Both RCN and Xfinity are providers of cable television, internet, and home phone services, and they operate in different regions across the United States. Here are some factors to consider when comparing the two:

1. Availability: The most crucial factor is whether these providers are available in your area. Availability can vary significantly, even within the same city, so you may not have a choice between RCN and Xfinity based on your location.

2. Service Quality: The quality of service, including internet speed, reliability, and customer service, can vary between the two providers. Research customer reviews and ask neighbors or friends in your area for their experiences to get a sense of which provider offers better service.

3. Price: Compare the pricing for similar packages from RCN and Xfinity. Keep in mind that promotional pricing and contract terms can affect the overall cost. Consider what fits your budget and offers the services you need.

4. Channel Lineup: If you’re interested in cable TV, compare the channel lineups offered by both providers to ensure they include your favorite channels and shows.

5. Internet Speed: Evaluate the internet speed packages offered by each provider. Consider your household’s internet usage and whether you need faster speeds for activities like streaming, online gaming, or remote work.

6. Bundled Services: Both RCN and Xfinity offer bundled services that combine TV, internet, and phone. Check if bundling services with one provider offers cost savings compared to separate subscriptions.

7. Customer Service: Research customer service ratings and reviews for both RCN and Xfinity. Good customer service can make a significant difference in your overall experience.

8. Contracts and Fees: Pay attention to contract terms, equipment fees, installation costs, and any early termination fees. These can impact the total cost of your service.

9. Add-Ons and Extras: Consider any additional features or extras offered by each provider, such as streaming apps, DVR capabilities, or premium channels.

Ultimately, the better choice between RCN and Xfinity depends on your individual needs and priorities. Some people may prefer one provider over the other due to factors like price, speed, or customer service, while others may not have a choice based on their location. It's recommended to thoroughly research and compare both options before making a decision.

RCNData caps

Fortunately, RCN is one of the many Internet service providers that have eliminated data limits. This is true with all of their plans, which range from 25 Mbps to 1 Gigabit per second. So go ahead and binge, play, and browse!

Fees, Contracts, and Equipment

RCN isn't immune to charges, but it has less than any.

RCN's regular internet packages are all contract-free. Your price is fixed for just 12 months, but you can cancel at any time without incurring any early termination fees.

Equipment

The speed of your internet is limited by the equipment that hosts it.

RCN, thankfully, provides a $14.95 per month modem rental option. For an additional $9.95 a month, you can install an eero whole-home mesh Wi-Fi device.

Modem rental fee: $14.95 a month
eero Whole-Home Wi-Fi system: $9.95 a month
Additional Whole-Home Wi-Fi beacons: $5.00 a month

If you prefer to purchase your own equipment, make sure it is DOCSIS 3.0 or 3.1 compliant. For the complete RCN Wi-Fi experience, we suggest the NETGEAR Nighthawk modem/router duo, which is available on Amazon. It's pricey, but renting RCN's modem for a year will cost you almost the same: $179.40.

Service Fees

Just because you stopped the dreaded early termination payments with RCN doesn't imply you're out of the fee forest yet.

Installation fee: $49.95, but RCN regularly offers free installation deals.
Activation fee: $9.99
Early termination fee: None
Service call fee: $54.95

Customer Service

RCN’s customer support is just, “Press one for repetitive hold music.”

It’s one of the biggest mysteries of our age: internet companies can put the whole world to our disposal almost immediately, but somehow they cannot manage to address our simple technical questions.

Unfortunately, RCN is no exception to this unwritten law. In the most recent customer satisfaction survey, it ranked 11th out of 15 ISPs. RCN's customers aren't pleased, as shown by its low customer service rating of 3.8 out of 5.

Here are the ways you can contact their support:

RCN customer service phone number: 1-800-RING-RCN  (1-800-746-4726)
Online chat
Twitter: @RCNConnects
Facebook:@RCN

Conclusion

RCN internet has a number of appealing features, including no contracts, quick download speeds, and incredibly low promotional rates.

However, it could also be defined as inconsistency. RCN is only accessible in a few major cities, its rates and policies differ by region, and its customer support seems to be deteriorating rather than improving.

This means that while RCN might not be the best overall, it is still a great choice for those looking for cheap, no-contract internet at a reasonable price in specific areas of the United States.

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