Best Internet Providers in Riverside, California
What is the best internet provider in Riverside?
spectrum is the best internet service provider for most homes in Riverside, CA. According to the Federal Communications Commission, the cable TV giant offers affordable prices, speeds, a vast network and services covering more than 90% of families.
However, CNET recommends AT&T Fiber For those who want to get their fiber. For fixed wireless connections, you should consider T-Mobile Home Internet. Ultimately, the internet provider that’s best for you will depend on what’s available in your location.
We’ve found the best prices and fastest service in Riverside to meet your broadband needs. Spectrum offers a $50 plan. For the fastest option, AT&T Fiber has a 5 GB plan.
The Best Internet in Riverside in 2024
Riverside Internet Providers Comparison
| provider | Internet technology | monthly price range | speed range | Monthly equipment cost | data cap | contract | CNET Review Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Internet Airlines Read full review |
fixed wireless | $55 | 10-100Mbps | without any | 1.5TB | without any | 7.4 |
| AT&T Fiber Read full review |
fiber | $55-$245 | 300-5,000Mbps | without any | without any | without any | 7.4 |
| spectrum Read full review |
cable | $50-$70 | 500-1,000Mbps | Free modem; $10 router (optional) | without any | without any | 7.2 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$55 for eligible Go5G Plus and Magenta Max mobile customers) | 87-415Mbps | without any | without any | without any | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 with eligible Verizon 5G mobile plans) | 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 Riverside?
| provider | Starting monthly price | Maximum download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum Internet Advantages Read full review |
$30 | 100Mbps | $10 (optional) |
| Spectrum Internet Premier Read full review |
$50 | 500Mbps | $10 (optional) |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 85Mbps | without any |
| AT&T Internet Air Read full review |
$55 | 100Mbps | without any |
| AT&T Fiber Read full review |
$55 | 300Mbps | without any |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 245Mbps | without any |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to Find Internet Deals and Promotions in Riverside
The best internet deals and top promotions in Riverside depend on the discounts available during the period. Most offers are short-lived, but we’re often on the lookout for the latest deals.
Riverside Internet providers such as Spectrum may offer lower introductory prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, including AT&T, Frontier and Verizon, use the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promotions, check out our guide Best Internet Deals.
The fastest internet plans in Riverside
| provider | starting price | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Fiber 5000 Read full review |
$245 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | without any | fiber |
| AT&T Fiber 2000 Read full review |
$145 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | without any | fiber |
| AT&T Fiber 1000 Read full review |
$80 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | without any | fiber |
| Spectrum Internet Performance Read full review |
$70 | 1,000Mbps | 35Mbps | without any | cable |
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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 Riverside
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, leveraging our own historical ISP data, provider site and map information: 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, but 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.
