About us
How we decide which provider goes first
Nobody pays for placement here. This is the actual formula, written out.
June 20, 2026 · 4 min read
Every comparison site says it is impartial. Here is ours, as a formula you can check against the results.
The inputs
Each plan gets a score from five components:
| Component | Weight | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | 30% | Fiber > cable > 5G > fixed wireless > DSL > satellite |
| Download speed | 22% | On a log scale — 100→500 Mbps counts far more than 2→5 Gbps |
| Symmetry | 10% | Upload as a fraction of download |
| True cost | 26% | Two-year average including the promo step-up, equipment rental and install |
| Terms | 12% | Penalties for contracts, data caps, equipment fees and expiring promos |
A provider's position on a city page is set by its best available plan, with a small penalty if it only reaches part of the city.
What is not in it
No provider pays for placement, and no ranking changes because of a commercial relationship. There is no affiliate link that reorders anything.
What "true cost" means
The number we compare is not the advertised price. It is:
(promo price × promo months + regular price × remaining months) ÷ 24
+ monthly equipment rental
+ installation ÷ 24
That is why a flat $65 fiber plan often outranks a $45 cable promo. Over two years the fiber plan is cheaper, and the ranking says so.
Where we are weakest
Coverage. Availability in the US is decided address by address, and no public dataset is accurate at that resolution. We model it from state footprints, market size and published reach figures, and we are explicit that it is a model. Always confirm with the provider before you plan around it.