Best Internet Providers in Salinas, California
What is the best internet provider in Salinas, CA?
Residents of this California city don’t have many choices when it comes to fiber optic internet providers. While there may be more in the future, for now, AT&T Fiber is the best internet service provider in Salinas. It is the only fiber provider in the city – meaning it is the only one with symmetrical upload and download speeds. Plans start at $55 per month (300Mbps) and go up to $245 (5,000Mbps). The only drawback is usability: Federal Communications Commission data showed that only one in five homes in the city has access to fiber optics.
If you are looking for the lowest price, unlimited Is the cheapest internet provider in Salinas. Plans start at an incredibly low price of $20 per month, but that’s a bit misleading—all plans have prices that increase significantly after a year or two. wireless network from T-Mobile and Verizon It’s also available in parts of Salinas, but it doesn’t offer the same top speeds as Xfinity or AT&T Fiber and is more prone to network congestion.
Best Internet in Salinas, CA
Salinas Internet Providers Comparison
provider | Internet technology | monthly price range | speed range | Monthly equipment cost | data cap | contract | CNET Review Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AT&T Fiber Read full review |
fiber | $55-$245 | 300-5,000Mbps | without any | without any | without any | 7.4 |
Starlink Read full review |
satellite | $120 | 30-150Mbps | $299 | without any | without any | 6.5 |
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($40-$50 for mobile plan) | 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) | 85-250Mbps | without any | without any | without any | 7.2 |
unlimited Read full review |
cable | $20-$120 | 150-2,000Mbps | $15 (included in most plans) | 1.2TB (unlimited on most plans) | Elective | 7 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What are the cheapest internet plans in Salinas?
provider | starting price | Maximum download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
---|---|---|---|
Xfinity connection Read full review |
$20 | 150Mbps | $15 (optional) |
Xfinity connects more Read full review |
$35 | 300Mbps | without any |
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 85Mbps | without any |
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
$50 ($40 with eligible mobile plans) | 245Mbps | without any |
Xfinity fast Read full review |
$55 | 500Mbps | $15 (optional) |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to Find Internet Deals and Promotions in Salinas
The best internet deals and top promotions in Salinas 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.
Salinas internet providers, such as Xfinity and Verizon 5G Home Internet, may offer lower introductory prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, including AT&T Fiber, use the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promotions, check out our guide Best Internet Deals.
Fastest Internet Plans in Salinas
provider | starting price | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | data cap | Connection type |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
AT&T Internet 5000 Read full review |
$245 | 5,000Mbps | 4,000Mbps | without any | fiber |
AT&T Internet 2000 Read full review |
$145 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | without any | fiber |
Xfinity Gigabit X2 Read full review |
$120 | 2,000Mbps | 200Mbps | 1.2TB | cable |
Xfinity Gigabit Extra Read full review |
$75 | 1,200Mbps | 200Mbps | 1.2TB | cable |
Xfinity Gigabit Read full review |
$65 | 1,000Mbps | 100Mbps | 1.2TB | 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 a person with enough bandwidth to meet the needs of modern remote working, video streaming, and online gaming.
- 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two people to participate in high-bandwidth activities such as video conferencing, streaming, and online gaming simultaneously.
- 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more people to engage in high-bandwidth activities simultaneously.
CNET How to Choose the Best Internet Provider in Salinas
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. (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.
Salinas Internet Provider FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Salinas?
AT&T Fiber is the best internet service provider in Salinas, offering symmetrical upload and download speeds, free devices, and unlimited data.
Is there fiber optic internet in Salinas?
Yes, 19% of Salinas households have access to fiber optic internet, according to FCC data. AT&T Fiber is the city’s only fiber provider.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Salinas?
Xfinity is the cheapest internet provider in Salinas, offering plans starting at $20 per month.
Which internet provider in Salinas offers the fastest plans?
AT&T offers the fastest Internet plans in Salinas, with download speeds up to 5,000Mbps.