Best Internet Providers in North Carolina
CNET’s broadband experts have done the work to help you find the right internet provider and create a plan for you. Whether you want the fastest speeds or the most affordable options, there’s something for everyone. After reviewing the available providers, our experts selected spectrum As the best internet service provider in North Carolina —Thanks to its fast speeds, wide availability, and reasonable pricing. The cable giant offers service at many addresses in the state, but if you’re not covered, there are plenty of other options depending on where you live in the state.
If you want top speed, Google Fiber Providing the fastest internet in North Carolinawith speeds up to 8,000 megabits per second, at an affordable price. However, Google Fiber only provides service to some cities in North Carolina, such as Charlotte and Wilmington. If you are in a rural area you can choose a local fiber provider or a fixed wireless option such as T-Mobile Home Internet. Parts of the state also have access to speeds of up to 5,000Mbps through AT&T Fiber. Check out all of our top picks below to find the best internet provider for your home.
What is the best internet provider in North Carolina?
Whether you’re playing games, watching movies and TV shows, or working, North Carolina has some of the fastest internet speeds in the country. While fiber options from AT&T and Google are mostly limited to Charlotte and the Triangle, North Carolinians can access many areas Internet connection type. Due to its wide availability in the state, fast speeds, and simple pricing, we endorse Spectrum Named Best Internet Provider in North Carolina. Your options will vary depending on where you live, but luckily everyone in the state has access to the internet, albeit probably via satellite internet.
Best Internet Options in North Carolina
Rural Internet Options in North Carolina
| provider | Connection type | price range | speed range | data cap | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| speed of light | DSL | $50 | Up to 100Mbps | without any | Eastern region of the state |
| light speed fiber optic | fiber | $39-$79 | 200-2,000Mbps | without any | Eastern region of the state |
| hughsnett Read full review |
satellite | $50-$95 | 50-100Mbps | 100-200GB | entire state |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($40-$50 for eligible cell phone plans) | 72-245Mbps | without any | entire state |
| Via Satellite Read full review |
satellite | $150 | 25-150Mbps | 850GB | entire state |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data
North Carolina Broadband at a Glance
According to statistics, approximately 96% of North Carolinians have download speeds of 100Mbps and upload speeds of 20Mbps status data. Additionally, North Carolina ranks seventh out of 50 states. washington d.c.the fastest median download speed according to the speed testing company Okla. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET Ziff Davis.) The Tar Heel State’s median download speed is about 262Mbps, thanks in part to reliable, fast Google Fiber; in fact, Raleigh ranks among the fastest on its list of internet speeds In cities, the median download speed is about 331Mbps. In Ookla’s ranking of the 100 cities with the fastest internet speeds, a whopping five North Carolina cities cracked the top 30, with Raleigh at the top, Durham at No. 7, Charlotte at No. 21, and Wince at No. Salem is ranked 22nd and Greensboro is ranked 7th. 45. Yes, the Tar Heel State has some fast internet, mostly thanks to fiber optic internet from AT&T and Google. just ended 48% have access Fiber optic internet connections are available, though primarily in Charlotte and the Triangle.
Internet breakdown by city in North Carolina
It’s difficult to cover broadband options across an entire state and give individual cities the attention they deserve. That’s why we’ve also compiled a list of the best internet providers in cities across the United States, including North Carolina. We handle details like internet connection type, maximum speed, and cheapest provider. If you don’t find the city you’re looking for below, please check back later. We’re working hard to add more locations every week.
Internet Pricing in North Carolina
The starting price for Internet service in North Carolina depends on where you live, but based on the most widely used ISPs in the state, expect to pay around $50 to get online. If you’re an existing customer on certain T-Mobile plans and have access to its 5G internet service, you can get it for $40 per month.
CNET How to Choose the Best Internet Provider in North Carolina
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 started by looking at pricing, availability, and speed information, using 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?
While the answers to these questions are often layered and complex, 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.
To explore our processes in more depth, visit our How we test ISPs Page.
The future of broadband in North Carolina
In late June the federal government awarded North Carolina $1.5 billion for expansion High-speed Internet access throughout the state. The Department of Information Technology’s Broadband and Digital Equity Division “will use (Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment) funds to connect high-cost areas, remaining unserved and underserved locations, and community anchors without fiber access,” national five-year plan draft. The government also plans to improve digital literacy and make internet access more affordable.
North Carolina Internet FAQs
How good is the internet in North Carolina?
Is Spectrum or AT&T better for Internet connection in North Carolina?
If you have access to both Spectrum and AT&T, you may be wondering which is the best option. In short: If you can get fiber optic internet from AT&T, that’s your best option. If AT&T’s DSL service matches Spectrum’s wired connection, you’re better off switching to Spectrum. Read CNET’s detailed analysis of AT&T and Spectrum.
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