Ezee Fiber vs. Astound: Which Internet Provider is Best?

The right internet service provider doesn't just offer the fastest speeds. The best ISP should be a partner you can trust to keep you connected to what matters most. Whether you're working from home, streaming your favorite shows, or running a small business, your internet choice impacts your daily life in countless ways. Let's explore a straightforward comparison of two providers that might be on your radar: Ezee Fiber and Astound.

Internet Overview: Ezee Fiber and Astound

Ezee Fiber is a trusted player in the internet service game, focusing exclusively on fiber optic technology. As a locally-oriented provider, they've built their reputation on symmetrical speeds (meaning equal download and upload capabilities), transparent pricing, and community-focused service.

Astound (formerly RCN, Grande Communications, and Wave Broadband) is a provider offering both cable and fiber internet. With their broader reach comes a more diverse set of service options, although availability varies significantly by location.

Key Factors to Consider When Choosing an Internet Provider

When selecting an internet provider, it's important to evaluate several important factors to ensure the service meets your needs.

Speed and Reliability

When evaluating internet providers, speed isn't just about the numbers on paper. You should be receiving consistent performance when you need it most. Fiber internet provides more reliable and consistent speeds than cable, especially during peak usage times. It ensures smooth performance for video calls, gaming, streaming, and uploading large files.

Pricing and Contracts

The true cost of internet service goes beyond the advertised monthly rate. Internet service costs often exceed the advertised price due to hidden fees like promotional rate hikes, equipment rentals, installation charges, early termination fees, and data overage costs. Consumers are demanding greater transparency to avoid these surprises.

Customer Support

Even the fastest internet connection loses its value when problems arise and support is nowhere to be found. Look for providers with local teams, multiple contact options, quick response times, and flexible service appointments.

Features and Perks

Beyond the basic connection, providers can enhance their service with extras like quality Wi-Fi equipment, home networking support, bundling options, and community involvement.

Comparing Ezee Fiber vs. Astound

When comparing Ezee Fiber and Astound, it's important to evaluate their offerings across the key categories to determine which provider best meets your needs.

Speed and Symmetrical Service

Ezee Fiber delivers 100% fiber optic internet with symmetrical speeds, meaning your upload speeds match your download speeds. This is particularly valuable for streaming, video conferencing, cloud backups, gaming, and content creators who regularly upload large files. Their standard offerings typically start at 1 Gig (1,000 Mbps), and go all the way up to blazing-fast 8 Gig speeds..

Astound offers a mix of cable and fiber internet, depending on your location. Their speed tiers range from 300 Mbps to 1 Gig in most areas, with some fiber zones offering speeds up to 1.5 Gig. On Astound’s cable network, however, upload speeds are significantly lower than download speeds — sometimes as low as 5-20 Mbps upload on a 300 Mbps download plan.

Pricing Transparency

Ezee Fiber offers simple, transparent pricing with no term contracts, no data caps, no hidden fees, and no sudden price hikes. The price you agree to is the price you’ll pay — no surprises, all-inclusive pricing.

Astound provides promotional rates for new customers, charges for equipment rentals unless you use your own, and varying access to unlimited data.

Customer Experience

Ezee Fiber focuses on local support with community-based service. Their approach includes personalized installation experiences where technicians take care to ensure optimal setup for each home's unique requirements, and responsive local support channels that provide quick resolution when issues arise. All of this contributes to Ezee Fiber’s impressive 4.9/5 rating on Google and it’s slew of awards.

Astound offers a larger customer service infrastructure that provides extensive coverage across its network. However, they receive mixed reviews on support quality that vary significantly by region, with some areas reporting excellent service while others experience inconsistencies. They provide both local and centralized support options to handle different types of customer needs, and offer self-installation options in some areas for customers who prefer to set up their service independently.

Extra Features

Both providers offer valuable features, but Ezee Fiber emphasizes delivering a premium internet experience tailored to your needs without unnecessary add-ons that you'll never use. Their service is designed to prioritize reliability, speed, and convenience.

Key features include:

• Professional Installation: Our expert technicians handle every detail to ensure your high-speed internet is set up flawlessly, allowing you to enjoy a hassle-free experience — all at no cost to you.
• Wi-Fi 7 and Wi-Fi 6E Included: Ezee Fiber brings you the latest in Wi-Fi technology with every plan, powered by eero's cutting-edge routers. Their plans include the powerful eero Pro 6E (covering up to 2,000 sq. ft.). Our 5 Gig and higher plans upgrade you to the state-of-the-art eero Max 7 (covering up to 2,500 sq. ft.)—a value of up to $600 included at no extra cost! The Max 7 delivers blazing-fast speeds of up to 9.4 Gbps wired and 4.3 Gbps wireless, while the Pro 7 and Pro 6E ensure multi-gigabit wireless speeds throughout your home. Select plans in some markets even offer the eero Pro 7.
• Enhanced Security and Seamless App Control: eero devices are equipped with top-tier encryption and advanced security protocols to keep your network safe. Beyond the router's top-tier encryption, every Ezee Fiber plan includes a complimentary subscription to eero Secure. The intuitive eero app, available for both iOS and Android, makes it easy to set up and manage your Wi-Fi network with just a few taps.
• Whole-Home Wi-Fi Coverage: Enjoy connectivity throughout your entire home with advanced Wi-Fi technology. For larger spaces, easily expand coverage by adding mesh Wi-Fi with an additional router, for the 8 Gig plans you’ll even get a free Wi-Fi extender.
• Explore Streaming TV: Tailor your entertainment experience with streaming options perfectly matched to your preferences, integrated with your internet service for ultimate convenience.

Astound offers bundled internet, TV, and phone services, along with equipment rental options and mobile service in select areas.

Pros and Cons of Each Provider

Ezee Fiber Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Industry-leading 8,000 Mbps symmetrical speeds
• Lifetime pricing with no increases ever
• Ultra-low 3 millisecond latency
• Premium eero router included
• 24/7 local customer support

Cons:

• Currently available in select areas throughout TX, NM, WA, and IL

Astound Pros and Cons

Pros:

• No contracts or data caps (in most areas)
• Comprehensive bundling options with TV, phone, and mobile services
• Self-installation options available
• Speeds up to 5,000 Mbps in select areas

Cons:

• Steep price increases after 12-month promotional periods (up to $60+ more per month)
• Network Access and Maintenance Fee up to $16.93/month
• Asymmetrical speeds on cable plans (significantly slower upload speeds)
• Customer service quality varies significantly by region
• Data caps in some West Coast markets (WA, OR, CA)
• Equipment rental fees ($8-10/month for modem/router)

Who Should Choose Ezee Fiber vs. Astound?

Ezee Fiber is ideal for:

• Customers who are tired of promotional pricing games and hidden fees
• Those who value local customer service and community investment
• Users who prioritize internet quality over traditional cable TV bundles
• Tech-forward households with multiple connected devices
• Remote workers who depend on reliable upload speeds

Astound might be better for:

• Budget-conscious customers who can take advantage of short-term promotional rates
• Those looking to bundle internet with TV and phone services
• Households with modest internet usage
• Residents in areas where Ezee Fiber isn't yet available

When comparing Ezee Fiber vs. Astound, the "best" choice ultimately depends on your specific needs, location, and priorities. If you value symmetrical speeds, pricing transparency, and local service, Ezee Fiber offers a refreshingly straightforward approach to internet service. If bundling options, promotional pricing, or wider availability are more important to you, Astound might be the better fit.

Remember that internet service is increasingly essential to our daily lives — it's worth taking the time to choose a provider that aligns with both your technical requirements and your values as a consumer. The right internet partner should deliver not just megabits per second, but peace of mind knowing you're getting fair value and reliable service without the fine-print frustrations.

Before making your final decision, check current offerings from both providers in your specific location, as services, pricing, and availability can vary significantly by address.

Ready for an Internet upgrade? Ditch the lag and level up with Ezee Fiber.

Enjoy ultra-fast, high-speed home internet with premium fiber speeds up to 8 Gig. Whether you're streaming, gaming, working, or learning — do it all with 99.99% reliable performance. Switch to Ezee Fiber today and experience the future of internet connectivity.