Astound Broadband Review 2024

Astound Broadband at a Glance

Best for: Customers who need fast download speeds

Starting Price: $19.99/month

Connection Type: Cable

Download Speeds: 110-1200 Mbps

Coverage: Metropolitan areas in 11 states

Money-Back Guarantee: Within 30 days of installation

What Services and Features Does Astound Broadband Offer?

Astound Broadband offers wired broadband connections, usually through cable, although it’s also rolling out a faster fiber service to more areas. Its standard cable broadband is available at speeds of up to 940 Mbps, but uploads will be slower. The newer fiber optic networks are very fast and symmetrical, meaning that on the up to 1200 Mbps plan, both your uploads and downloads are available at those speeds. 

Astound Broadband is only available in major metropolitan areas, meaning the service isn't available to everyone. It is slowly increasing coverage, however, with Chicago, IL, Evansville, IN, and Anne Arundel, MD added to their network in 2021. The company website provides details of its current service areas.

Prices, Plans, and Value for Money 

Astound Broadband plans are contract-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee. The exact pricing and speeds available will depend on your location. You can expect to pay from $19.99 per month for their 110 Mbps plan up to $54.99 for 1200 Mbps. There are no fancy plan titles or tiers—you can choose your desired package based on speed and price point. 

You’ll need to check Astound’s website for exact, up-to-date pricing. As of October 2022, here are the starting prices we found for Chicago and New York.

Astound Broadband New Customer Prices: Chicago

Astound Broadband New Customer Prices: New York

*Observed internet speeds may vary.

These prices present good value for the first year of service, however, they are promotional prices for new customers. After 12 months though, it’s important to note that the prices can rise significantly.

You aren’t tied into a long-term agreement with Astound Broadband. This means that once you reach the end of your promotional period, you can always see what terms Astound Broadband and other providers have to offer without worrying about any cancellation fees.  

Astound Broadband allows you to tailor the service to your needs with flexible services. But while pricing during the promotional period is good, there may be additional costs. For example, if you do not own your own compatible router, you will need to rent one from Astound Broadband. 

Bundling TV and phone services may also save you money, but as each region has its own pricing structure and range of services on offer, you’ll need to build a plan before comparing like-for-like prices with competitors. This can be done by reviewing Astound Broadband’s rate cards for your area.

Ease of Use, Hardware, and Setup

Astound Broadband currently offers free installation, making it simply to get up and running. If you don’t want to take advantage of this, then a self-install guide is also available. Self-installation is straightforward and consists of connecting the devices using the provided cables, calling to activate your modem, and setting a WiFi network name and password. 

For most packages, Astound Broadband allows you to bring your own modem. If you want to use your hardware, you’ll need a DOCSIS 3.1 type modem for speeds up to 940 Mbps. Unfortunately, you cannot use a personal modem for 1200 Mbps plans, but you can use your own WiFi router by connecting to the provided modem’s ethernet port. 

Astound Broadband Security 

Astound Broadband provides some information and tips on its website about how to keep yourself secure on the internet, but generally speaking, the most vulnerable part of a broadband service remains the devices under your control. This means that to keep safe, you should ensure that your computers and mobile devices have security software installed and software updates applied. 

Astound Broadband recommends that you secure your WiFi router by changing the default password. I’d add that you should be installing updates to your router as you would with any of your other devices.

For the security-conscious who do not already use VPNs or Password Managers, Astound Broadband does offer some additional paid security services. One option available is eero Secure+, which provides features including antivirus software, ad blocking, VPN protection, and password management for $9.99 a month. Depending on your location, you may also be able to get McAfee PC Security for $3.95 a month.

 Astound Broadband Performance 

With up to 1200 Mbps download speeds available, Astound Broadband performs well for internet browsing, streaming, and gaming, even when multiple household members are using the internet simultaneously. 

For families and large houses, Astound Broadband offers an option to upgrade to an Enhanced Whole Home WiFi mesh, powered by eero. This option ensures that multiple devices can reliably connect throughout your house without dropping out. For gamers, Astound Broadband can provide a Netgear Nighthawk XR1000 Pro Gaming router to ensure that you have the best connection for gaming. It is worth remembering that, in both cases, you’ll be renting the hardware through Astound as part of your monthly plan, which can become more expensive long-term than buying the equipment outright. 

Finally, while Astound Broadband does offer fast download speeds, you’ll find the upload speeds significantly slower unless you are on one of its symmetrical fiber connections. If you are uploading large amounts of data to the internet, for example, uploading videos to YouTube, then be prepared to wait a little longer than you might with some other providers. 

Astound Broadband Customer Service 

Astound Broadband provides several support options, allowing you to communicate with its team in a way that works for you. For general self-service inquiries and basic tech support, the customer support center contains all the most common questions and answers. These pages include a live chat option conveniently placed in the bottom right-hand corner in case you can’t find a solution to your problem. 

Astound Broadband also has an active support presence via social media, particularly on Facebook and Twitter. And for those who prefer to call, phone service is available 24/7 at 1-800-427-8686.

 Astound Broadband FAQs

Is Astound now RCN/Wave?

Astound Broadband is the cable operator managing regional broadband providers such as RCN, Wave, and Grande. Depending on your regional location, you can expect to see “Astound Broadband, powered by” followed by the name of one of these providers.

What type of internet is Astound Broadband?

Astound Broadband provides the internet through a wired connection. This usually means cable, although sometimes fiber-optic or DSL networks are used. Which type of connection is used will typically be determined by your location and the speed of connection you are signing up for. 

Who is the best internet provider?

The best internet provider depends on your needs. Some people may be looking for fast download speeds for high-definition streaming, which makes Astound Broadband a good choice. Others may require fast upload speeds or the portability offered by 5G. Check out our list of the top 10 best internet service providers for other great choices.

Bottom Line

Astound Broadband provides high-speed internet connections with no data caps. There’s no contract to commit to, making the service a solid option for people looking to save money by regularly changing providers and taking advantage of introductory deals. The only downsides to Astound Broadband are some additional costs, such as hardware rental, and the big price jump after the initial promotional period. This means that while Astound Broadband offers great value for money over the first twelve months, it can work out to be more expensive in the long term. However, for large households streaming lots of media, the fast connections may still be worth the price.