Metronet Web Evaluation: Plans, Pricing, Velocity and Availability

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Metronet web evaluate

Going with a smaller, independently-owned regional web supplier can include settling for increased costs, however that is not essentially the case with Metronet. Primarily based out of Evansville, Indiana, the 100% fiber supplier delivers first rate speeds for the cash and has maintained that worth over time.

Two years in the past, Metronet announced a merger with Vexus Fiber, a Texas-based web service supplier, that expanded the supplier’s protection base to over 250 communities. Six months later, it announced a rebrand with a brand new tagline: “You’ll love your web with Metronet.”

Metronet began as a family-run enterprise and is now the nation’s largest independently owned fiber-optic ISP. The corporate is now led by CEO and president Dave Heimbach, who was appointed in October 2023. Most just lately, Metronet announced that it had entered a joint venture agreement with Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. and T-Mobile, promoting its residential fiber operations to T-Cellular.

Metronet earns excessive marks for its dedication to fiber broadband. We have famous quite a few occasions in our CNET ISP reviews that it is arduous to beat the efficiency of a fiber-to-the-home web connection. It is extra dependable than cable, satellite, DSL or 5G home internet, and it is the one one that may declare symmetrical obtain and add speeds.

Metronet has been dedicated to rolling out 100% FTTH networks from its beginnings in central Indiana. That makes it a supplier value taking note of. As is usually the case with ISPs, there are some things value contemplating. With regards to Metronet, that features an extra month-to-month payment for some plans, however we’ll get to that in due time. Let’s discover extra.

Metronet web plans and pricing

Supply: CNET evaluation of supplier information.

Metronet gives 5 totally different velocity tiers, that are all moderately simple. As a result of its community is 100% fiber-optic, it gives symmetrical megabits-per-second obtain and add speeds throughout all plans. What you may pay for every of these plans is not fairly so easy, as some tiers don’t embrace tools. Metronet does ease the ache by nixing time period agreements and offering limitless information. Be careful for a hike in costs after the promo interval ends. Your month-to-month invoice can enhance by $10 after the primary yr and steadily enhance after that.

The entry-level tier options symmetrical speeds of 100 megabits per second, which is not tremendous speedy nevertheless it does meet the Federal Communications Commission’s new benchmark for broadband speeds. For comparability, ISPs like AT&T, Google Fiber and Frontier supply fiber plans that begin from 200Mbps to 1,000Mbps.

Our high choose is Metronet’s gigabit plan as a result of it gives wonderful worth and will present loads of velocity for many households. The cost per Mbps for the 1 Gig tier may be very low-cost: 5 cents in comparison with 30 cents for the 100Mbps plan and eight cents for the 500Mbps plan. Whereas the 5 Gig plan would possibly, on the floor, appear a greater deal, it is greater than double the associated fee and carries an extra $15 month-to-month cost for renting tools. Most households merely do not want that a lot velocity.

The place are you able to get Metronet Web?

Metronet’s headquarters are in Indiana, however its footprint extends past the Hoosier state. As of this writing, Metronet Web is out there to over 250 communities in 16 states:

Most Metronet service areas inside these states are smaller cities and cities. Among the bigger metropolitan areas coated embrace Aurora, Illinois; Des Moines, Iowa; Lansing, Michigan; Lexington, Kentucky; Rochester, Minnesota and Tallahassee, Florida.

After we final reviewed Metronet, it supplied no velocity tiers above one gig. With the roll-out of its multi-gig plans, prospects can now entry 2-gigabit and 5-gigabit speeds. Whereas they are not accessible to all Metronet prospects, listed here are the cities the place you may join. 

The corporate’s fiber footprint is consistently increasing, so you may verify the Metronet coverage map for extra particulars.

Plans and pricing for Metronet

Like different ISPs, Metronet’s promotional pricing is first rate and lasts for a yr. It is value noting that these costs will maintain rising after 12 months with no mounted price till the third yr of service. Moreover that, its velocity tiers will get the job performed, however they don’t seem to be excessively showy. 

For instance, concerning the promo costs, the associated fee per Mbps for Metronet’s fiber gigabit plan is 5 cents, which is an honest deal. That is higher than the gigabit plans supplied by AT&T (8 cents), Spectrum (8 cents) and Frontier (6 cents), all of that are rivals in a number of Metronet service areas. It is also a contact higher than the gig price of Google Fiber (7 cents), which is a Metronet competitor within the Des Moines market.

The common value per Mbps for the promo costs of all 5 plans is roughly 10 cents. Whereas that is higher than the promo prices for a few of its cable rivals, like Xfinity, it falls wanting the common worth for another fiber suppliers we have reviewed: Frontier (6 cents) and Google Fiber (5 cents). One of many principal causes? With most add and obtain speeds of 100Mbps, Metronet’s beginning tier is slower than many different suppliers’ opening choices. For example, Quantum Fiber’s lowest fiber choice is 500Mbps, AT&T and Verizon Fios begin at 300Mbps, and Frontier’s opening salvo is 500Mbps. So, whereas Metronet prospects get an honest bang for his or her buck with the gigabit plan, you will not discover the identical worth with its most cost-effective tier. 

Metronet fares slightly higher whenever you evaluate its common charges to these of its rivals. General, Metronet’s customary charges after a yr roll up at a median value per Mbps of 13 cents, which continues to be in the course of the pack — AT&T, CenturyLink, Google Fiber and Verizon Fios retain their spectacular costs per Mbps as a result of they do not do promo pricing — however finally ends up cheaper in the long term than Spectrum (20 cents) and even Ziply Fiber (18 cents), which had a greater promo price however ranges out after a yr.

Service phrases for Metronet Web

Metronet’s month-to-month pricing is honest, nevertheless it additionally consists of some customer-friendly approaches that not all ISPs embrace, together with no-term agreements (or the tough early termination charges that include them). Let’s look at Metronet’s service phrases a bit extra to understand higher what you may be paying. 

Extra charges

Virtually all ISPs cost an set up payment whenever you first join web service, so it is no shock to seek out that right here. Normally, that cost ranges between $50 and $99, relying on the supplier. Metronet falls in the course of the size because it prices a $75 set up payment upon signing up for service. Which is fairly tame in comparison with what most different ISPs will invoice for a similar service. Let’s speak about an unavoidable cost we do not typically see.

Tech Guarantee payment

The one a part of Metronet service that’s outdoors the norm amongst ISPs is what it calls a “Tech Guarantee payment.” This is what it’s: It is a necessary month-to-month cost of just about $13 on high of your common month-to-month price. Metronet says on its website, “Tech Guarantee covers any service calls or repairs to all Metronet-owned tools.” In different phrases, it is primarily ISP insurance coverage that covers the shopper for any points which may come up. 

That is advantageous in concept, nevertheless it provides $156 a yr to your web invoice, which is important. I see the worth of not worrying in regards to the extra prices of any wanted home calls or tools fixes, however as an web expertise, fiber is the sturdiest and least finicky broadband connection. So (fingers crossed), you should not have to fret about your web consistently. I would like to see that be an optionally available value for the patron. 

No tools charges

Metronet does not cost an extra tools payment for a few of its plans — a wi-fi router is included in your month-to-month invoice. The exception is the 5-gigabit plan, which prices $15 for the premium router, however you may skip this payment through the use of your personal. Comparatively, fiber suppliers like AT&T Fiber, Frontier Fiber, Google Fiber and Verizon Fios additionally embrace the router leases of their month-to-month prices, nevertheless it’s not at all times a given — Ziply Fiber prices for its tools leases.

In case your family wants extra assist with Wi-Fi, Metronet gives a wi-fi extender rental (what it calls its WholeHome WiFi) for an extra $10 a month. It is not a prerequisite, so not all properties might want to add this value, however you need to be conscious of it nonetheless. Metronet presently gives a promo that features this extender for gratis within the first yr for its 500Mbps, 1-and-2 gigabit plans.

No information caps

Like many fiber suppliers, Metronet doesn’t implement data caps on any of its plans. Meaning you do not have to fret a couple of throttled reference to slower speeds when you hit a sure threshold. It additionally means you do not have to concern looming overage prices when you exceed a knowledge cap. Once more, that is not unusual amongst fiber suppliers. It is nonetheless value calling out, primarily because the Metronet protection map consists of areas coated by cable and satellite tv for pc web suppliers, a lot of whom implement month-to-month information limits. 

Perks and promos

Lastly, the place some ISPs attempt to lure new subscribers by providing a trial subscription to a streaming service like Disney Plus, HBO Max or Paramount Plus, Metronet permits its prospects to earn vital account credit. Metronet’s referral program promotion encourages you to refer family and friends to the service. This implies you may earn a $50 account credit score for every particular person you get to enroll utilizing your distinctive referral hyperlink. There is no such thing as a restrict to the variety of credit you may earn. This rivals the aggressive referral program we have seen from Nomad Internet.

Metronet prospects who join the 1-gig and 2-gig plans can also be eligible for a limited-time $100 present card.

Metronet Web vs. the competitors: Buyer satisfaction scores are extra hit than miss 

No ISP emerges unscathed relating to buyer satisfaction numbers. The American Customer Satisfaction Index — which we continuously use to assist gauge how suppliers fare with US subscribers — notes that the web trade commonly ranks on the backside amongst all tracked classes. 

Since Metronet did not earn a person rating rating inside the newest ACSI or the J.D. Power US Residential Internet Service Provider Satisfaction for 2023 (resulting from its measurement), we leaned on the Better Business Bureau. Metronet earned a median rating of 1.08 out of 5 factors, which initially did not appear all that nice. It nabbed an A plus score, and its numbers had been higher than the scores of rival suppliers like Frontier (1.05), Viasat (1.03) and Hughesnet (1.04). Comparatively talking, it did OK there.

Metronet additionally did effectively on the 2023 Ookla speed test report. Per Ookla, Metronet crossed the end line because the quickest ISP in Iowa, coming in with a median obtain velocity of 266Mbps.

The underside line on Metronet Web

You possibly can’t go fallacious with an FTTH connection. Its reliability and the symmetrical speeds it gives are presently unparalleled in broadband. Metronet’s dedication to constructing 100% fiber-optic networks is each admirable and forward-looking (or future-proof, as they are saying). Its plan pricing is kind of affordable, particularly contemplating its protection map performs in areas the place cable and satellite tv for pc providers have beforehand reigned. Whereas I might like to see the Tech Guarantee Program payment grow to be an optionally available cost somewhat than a compulsory one, I give Metronet props for skipping a number of the different extra prices — just like the tools rental on most of its plans. It must be close to the highest of your listing when you fall underneath the Metronet protection map. 

Metronet Web FAQs