Best Internet Providers in Durham, North Carolina
What is the best internet provider in Durham?
CNET Recommends AT&T Fiber As Durham’s best internet provider Due to its fiber availability, plan variety and High customer satisfaction. Super-fast plans and reasonable prices make it an obvious choice. Google Fiber It follows closely behind, offering faster speeds of up to 8,000 megabits per second, but not everyone needs such high speeds.
Cutting edge fiber optics is another great option for getting online in Durham, especially for those who want fast, affordable internet plans. Frontier fiber internet starts at $30 per month, the cheapest internet price in Durham, with symmetrical speeds up to 200Mbps. spectrum There’s also a $30 plan with half the speed and a big price increase over a year or two. Verizon 5G Home Internet Also a top choice for cheap internet, especially if you qualify for the provider’s mobile bundle discounts.
There are several internet providers serving the Durham region, and the one that’s best for your home will depend on what’s available in your area and your needs. Below you’ll find details of the top providers in the area to help you make your decision.
Best Internet in Durham, NC
Durham Internet Providers Comparison
| provider | Internet technology | monthly price range | speed range | Monthly equipment cost | data cap | contract | CNET Review Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Read full review |
fiber | $55-$245 | 300-5,000Mbps | without any | without any | without any | 7.4 |
| Cutting edge fiber optics Read full review |
fiber | $30-$300 | 200-7,000Mbps | without any | without any | without any | 7.2 |
| Google Fiber Read full review |
fiber | $70-$150 | 1,000-8,000 | without any | without any | without any | 7.5 |
| spectrum Read full review |
cable | $25-$70 | 50-1,000Mbps | Free modem, $10 router rental (optional) | without any | without any | 7.2 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($40-$50 with eligible mobile plans) | 72-245Mbps | without any | without any | without any | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers) | 50-250Mbps | without any | without any | without any | 7.2 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What are the cheapest internet plans in Durham?
| plan | starting price | Maximum download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum Internet Assistance Read full review |
$25 | 50Mbps | Free modem, $10 router rental (optional) |
| Frontier Fiber 200 Read full review |
$30 | 200Mbps | without any |
| Spectrum Internet Advantages Read full review |
$30 | 100Mbps | Free modem, $10 router rental (optional) |
| Spectrum Internet Premier Read full review |
$50 | 500Mbps | Free modem, $10 router rental (optional) |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 50-85Mbps | without any |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
$50 ($40 with eligible mobile plans) | 72-245Mbps | without any |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to Find Durham Internet Deals and Promotions
Durham’s best internet deals and top promotions depend on the discounts available during the period. Most offers are short-lived, but we’re often on the lookout for the latest deals.
Durham internet providers, such as AT&T Fiber, may offer gift cards or other sign-up bonuses for a limited time. Many companies, including Frontier, Google Fiber, and Spectrum, use the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promotions, check out our guide Best Internet Deals.
Durham’s fastest internet plans
| plan | starting price | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Fiber 8 Gig Read full review |
$150 | 8,000Mbps | 8,000Mbps | without any | fiber |
| Frontier Fiber 7 Gig Read full review |
$300 | 7,000Mbps | 7,000Mbps | without any | fiber |
| Google Fiber 5 Gigabit Read full review |
$125 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | without any | fiber |
| Frontier Fiber 5G Read full review |
$140 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | without any | fiber |
| AT&T Internet 5000 Read full review |
$245 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | without any | fiber |
| Google Fiber 2 Gigabit Read full review |
$100 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | without any | fiber |
| Frontier Fiber 2Gig Read full review |
$110 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | without any | fiber |
| AT&T Internet 2000 Read full review |
$145 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | without any | fiber |
| Spectrum Internet Performance Read full review |
$70 | 1,000Mbps | 35Mbps | without any | cable |
| Frontier Fiber 1G Read full review |
$75 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | without any | fiber |
| Google Fiber 1 Gig Read full review |
$70 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | without any | fiber |
| AT&T Internet 1000 Read full review |
$70 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | without any | fiber |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is a good internet speed?
Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for an internet plan that can accommodate video conferencing, streaming video, or gaming, you’ll get a better experience with a stronger connection. The recommended minimum download speeds for various applications are outlined below, According to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission. Please note that these are guidelines only and internet speeds, service and performance vary based on connection type, provider and address.
For more information, see our guide How much internet speed do you really need?.
- 0 to 5Mbps allows you to handle the basics: browsing the Internet, sending and receiving email, and streaming low-quality video.
- 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher quality video streaming and video conferencing.
- 40 to 100Mbps should provide one user with enough bandwidth to meet the needs of modern remote working, video streaming, and online gaming.
- 100 to 500Mbps allows one or two users to participate in high-bandwidth activities such as video conferencing, streaming and online gaming simultaneously.
- 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities simultaneously.
CNET How to choose the best internet provider in Durham
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. different from the latest cell phone, laptop, router or kitchen toolsit is impractical to personally test every ISP in a specific city. What is our approach? We first looked at pricing, availability, and speed information based on our own historical ISP data, provider sites, and map information from the Federal Communications Commission. fcc.gov.
It doesn’t end there: We went to the FCC’s website to check our data and make sure we accounted for every ISP offering service in a certain area. We also enter local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We evaluate customer satisfaction with ISP services by looking at sources such as the US Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power. ISP plans and prices may change frequently; all information provided is accurate as of publication time.
Once we have localized information, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider offer reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Are customers getting value for money?
- Are customers satisfied with their service?
The answers to these questions are often layered and complex, and we recommend the provider that comes closest to a “yes” on these three questions. When choosing the cheapest internet service, we look for the plan with the lowest monthly fee, although we also consider factors like price increases, equipment costs, and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively simple. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from the following sources: Okla and Federal Communications Commission Report. (Disclosure: Ookla and CNET are owned by the same parent company, Ziff Davis.)
To explore our processes in more depth, visit our How we test ISPs Page.
Durham Internet Provider FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Durham?
Durham has several quality internet service providers, but AT&T Fiber is easily the best, with the largest fiber network in the area and starting prices lower than Google Fiber. AT&T Fiber also received higher customer satisfaction ratings than other Durham ISPs, including Google Fiber and Frontier Fiber.
Is there fiber optic internet in Durham?
According to the Federal Communications Commission, more than half of the homes in Durham have access to fiber optic internet. The communities of New Hope Valley, Waterford and Keene have the highest fiber coverage, although some communities in Durham are also served.
AT&T is the largest fiber optic internet provider in Durham, but fiber optic internet is also available through Google Fiber or Frontier Fiber, depending on where you live.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Durham?
Spectrum offers the lowest monthly home internet rates in Durham, starting at $25 per month with symmetrical speeds up to 50Mbps if you qualify for the Internet Assist program. Beyond that, Frontier Fiber’s 200Mbps plan and Spectrum’s 100Mbps plan are only $30.
Which internet provider in Durham offers the fastest plans?
Google Fiber offers Durham’s fastest internet plans, with symmetrical upload and download speeds of up to 8,000Mbps. Google Fiber also offers 5,000Mbps plans, as do AT&T Fiber and Frontier Fiber, but Google Fiber is cheaper than AT&T and Frontier, starting at $125 per month, compared to $245 for AT&T and $140 for Frontier.
