Best Internet Providers in Santa Monica, California
What is the best internet provider in Santa Monica?
CNET’s top recommendations for the best internet service providers in Santa Monica are border. This is the best service for most homes in the city, mainly because of its fast and affordable fiber plans. Whether you’re interested in streaming the latest shows or games, Frontier has the speeds you need. But keep in mind that Frontier’s services may not be available in every area of Santa Monica. If the service is not available at your address, spectrum and starry A great alternative worth considering.
For the best internet deals in Santa Monica, check out Frontier. The company offers 200Mbps fiber plans for just $30 per month, as well as the fastest 5,000Mbps fiber plan for $130 per month.
Best Internet in Santa Monica, CA
Santa Monica Internet Providers Comparison
provider | Internet technology | monthly price range | speed range | Monthly equipment cost | data cap | contract | CNET Review Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AT&T Internet Air Read full review |
fixed wireless | $55 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 75-225Mbps | without any | without any | without any | not applicable |
border Read full review |
fiber | $30-$130 | 200-5,000Mbps | without any | without any | without any | 6.7 |
spectrum Read full review |
cable | $50-$80 | 300-1,000Mbps | Free modem; $7 router (optional) | without any | without any | 7.2 |
Star Internet Read full review |
fixed wireless | $40-$55 | 200-500Mbps | without any | without any | without any | 7 |
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
fixed wireless | $60 ($40 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) | 50-1,000Mbps | without any | without any | without any | 7.2 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Other available internet providers in Santa Monica
- AT&T Fiber: You’ll find a small patch of AT&T fiber coverage southeast of Brentwood Country Club, but it’s more common in nearby communities like Beverly Hills and Inglewood. Plans start at $55 per month (300Mbps) and go up to $250 (5,000Mbps). There are no data caps, contracts or equipment fees.
- AT&T Internet Air: AT&T only has a small portion of fiber coverage in Santa Monica, but it serves the wider area with 5G fixed wireless internet called AT&T Internet Air. There is a plan priced at $55 per month with no data caps, device fees or contracts. Typical download speeds are expected to be in the 75-225Mbps range, which is competitive with T-Mobile’s home internet service.
- Frontier Internet: Frontier provides DSL Internet in certain areas of town not covered by fiber optic networks. This plan offers download speeds of up to 115Mbps (speeds vary by location) and costs $65 per month. It’s expensive and slow considering what you get, so consider Spectrum before signing up for DSL.
- T-Mobile Home Internet: If you’re already a phone customer and want to bundle a plan to save money, consider T-Mobile Home Internet. There is a home internet plan for $60 per month (sometimes discounted to $50) with typical speeds of 72-245Mbps. T-Mobile has strong 5G ultra-high-capacity network coverage in Santa Monica. There are no data caps or contracts, and devices are included.
- satellite internet: If all other internet types fail, look for satellite internet Starlink, hughsnett or Via Satellite. If you live in Santa Monica, you’re unlikely to go this route, but it’s an option for remote homes that don’t have access to fiber, cable, DSL, or a decent fixed wireless network.
Cheap Internet Options in Santa Monica
Santa Monica residents can get some great home internet deals, starting with Frontier’s $30 per month 200Mbps fiber plan. If you need faster speeds, consider Frontier’s $45 per month 500Mbps plan. This is a very good value. Not everyone in Santa Monica has access to fiber, but most homes qualify for Spectrum and its entry-level $50-per-month 300Mbps cable plan. You don’t get fiber’s fast uploads, but it’s a reasonable introductory deal for cable. Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T (Santa Monica’s 5G home internet provider) are competitive on price, especially when you bundle them with a qualifying cell phone plan.
What are the cheapest internet plans in Santa Monica?
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to Find Santa Monica Internet Deals and Promotions
Santa Monica’s best internet deals and top promotions depend on the discounts available during a specific time. Most offers are short-lived, but we’re often on the lookout for the latest deals.
Santa Monica internet providers such as Spectrum, T-Mobile Home Internet, and Frontier may offer lower introductory prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Other companies, including Starry and Verizon, tend to have the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promotions, check out our guide Best Internet Deals.
How fast is Santa Monica broadband?
Santa Monica is a great place to live if you need fast home internet. the latest one Ookla speed test report It shows the city’s median fixed internet speed dropped by nearly 286Mbps. (Disclosure: Ookla and CNET are owned by the same parent company, Ziff Davis.) california Overall download speed is 254Mbps Los Angeles Recorded 222Mbps. Frontier’s fast fiber network helps boost Santa Monica’s numbers. Even if you can’t get fiber, Spectrum still provides downloads of shows throughout town. If you need fast uploads, prioritize fiber when purchasing.
Fastest Internet Plans in Santa Monica
provider | starting price | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | data cap | connect |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Frontier Fiber 5G Read full review |
$130 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | without any | fiber |
Frontier Fiber 2Gig Read full review |
$100 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | without any | fiber |
Frontier Fiber 1G Read full review |
$65 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | without any | fiber |
Spectrum Internet Performance Read full review |
$80 | 1,000Mbps | 35Mbps | without any | cable |
Verizon 5G Home + Internet Read full review |
$70 ($45 with eligible Verizon 5G mobile plans) | 1,000Mbps | 75Mbps | without any | fixed wireless |
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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 Santa Monica
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. different from the latest cell phone, laptop, router or kitchen toolsit is impractical to personally test every Internet service provider in a specific city. What is our approach? First, we leverage a proprietary database of pricing, availability, and speed information drawn from our own historical ISP data, partner data, and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission’s 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.
To explore our processes in more depth, visit our How we test ISPs Page.
What’s the final decision on Santa Monica internet providers?
Frontier meets many home internet needs. You get fast, symmetrical speeds and affordable, hassle-free plans. Frontier’s customer service has improved in recent years, but it still doesn’t have the strongest reputation. Spectrum is Frontier’s main competitor in Santa Monica. It has usability advantages, but uploads are much slower and downloads are the largest. If you have the choice, give fiber optic a try. If not, use Spectrum or check out 5G home internetespecially if you can get fast downloads from Verizon. Apartment residents should check with Starry to see if the ISP reaches your building. It has good speeds, simple plans, and a good customer service reputation.
Santa Monica Internet Providers FAQs
What is the cheapest internet provider in Santa Monica?
Frontier offers fiber optic internet discounts at the 200Mbps level. You’ll pay $30 per month, which is a good price for symmetrical speeds.
Which internet provider in Santa Monica offers the fastest plans?
Frontier claims its symmetrical 5,000Mbps fiber plan is the fastest home internet plan in Santa Monica and costs $130 per month. AT&T Fiber also has 5,000Mbps plans, but availability in cities is extremely limited.
Is there fiber optic internet in Santa Monica?
Frontier doesn’t cover everything in Santa Monica, but its fiber network covers a lot of places. Frontier also operates a DSL network, but fiber’s fast, symmetrical speeds are a better choice. There is also a small selection of AT&T Fiber, but it is rare in Santa Monica.
Which internet provider has the best coverage in Santa Monica?
Spectrum’s cable network has the most extensive coverage in Santa Monica. According to FCC data, nearly 91% of households in the city have been affected.