Benefits to using a CSP are that they are easy to use and they may have special features or services not offered anywhere else, technical support to the access sites in their control and they may create home pages. Drawbacks are higher prices for CSP users and often slower performance. In contrast, an ISP is a direct connection to the Internet. This allows the customer to take full advantage of the vast data flow of the Internet. A local number is used, as is local software running on the customer's system, that may be purchased either from the ISP or in a retail package at your local software store.
Advantages are cost, full access to the Internet, and performance.
Drawbacks usually relate to the variety of software which may be used by customers and some aspects of technical support since the ISP is not in control of sites. Both types of connections have their strengths and weaknesses. The decision as to which type of service to use depends upon the individual needs of the user. Internet Indiana now has over 2,000 customers, and according to Zuhlke, it is difficult to determine how many of them are business customers and how many are personal customers. There is often a great deal of overlap between the two.