Are you looking into changing your high-speed internet provider? If so, you're likely shopping around and comparing different packages. If you feel a bit confused about the differences between everything you're looking at, it helps to know how to spot a great deal so you know it when you see it.

Speeds

You want to start by looking at what speeds are offered in the package. If you are seeing a price that's too good to be true, it may be due to the package not offering speeds that are fast enough to meet your needs. If you stream video or download big files, you are going to need quite a bit of bandwidth to do it all. Consider getting a minimum of 25 Mbps to do basic 4K video streaming and high-speed file downloading. 75 Mbps should give you plenty of bandwidth for multiple people in your home streaming at the same time. Anything faster than that is not necessary for typical use but is a nice perk to have.

Data Caps

Look for any possible cap on how much data you can use per month. Internet service providers handle data caps in different ways. Some don't cap how much data you can use at all, while others may slow down your internet when you reach a data cap, and still others may charge you extra when the cap is exceeded. Look into what potential limits there are on data caps and if you have the potential to exceed them. You should be able to look at your existing Internet service provider's online dashboard to see how much data you use each month.

Hotspot Use

Having high-speed internet is nice, but there will be times when you are out of your home when you need a high-speed connection. Some providers allow access to their network through other people's models by using a guest network, which opens up your high-speed internet package to thousands of locations around the country. This could be a nice perk if you plan on using it.

Equipment Rental

Make sure you understand how much it costs to rent the equipment for a modem and router, and if you can, forgo the rental and bring in your own equipment. Bringing your own equipment can easily save you money after the first year of service. There is no need to rent equipment, especially if you have existing equipment in your home that is compatible.