Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Beyond the three picks above, several other broadband choices exist in the Houston metro area. Some can be found only in small pockets of the city, while others are mainly located in the city suburbs. There are some compelling choices here, even though they're not as widely available.
The average starting price for internet service in Houston is just over $46 a month, but a few providers offer plans cheaper than that.
How many members of your household use the internet?
Xfinity and Astound Broadband offer the lowest starting price in Houston. Xfinity's Connect plan (150Mbps) has a promo price of $20 for the first two years and then $67 a month after that. It's also widely available throughout the Houston metro area and the Bayou City burbs. Astound Broadband's $20 plan grants download speeds up to 300Mbps, which is double the speed of Xfinity's Connect plan and includes your equipment rental.
Provider | Starting monthly price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
---|---|---|---|
Astound Broadband 300 Read full review | $20 | 300Mbps | Free modem; $5 for Whole-home Wi-Fi (optional) |
Xfinity Connect Read full review | $20 | 150Mbps | $15 modem (optional) |
Optimum 300 Read full review | $40 | 300Mbps | None |
Spectrum Internet Read full review | $40 | 300Mbps | Free modem; $7 router (optional) |
Frontier Fiber 500 Read full review | $45 ($60 after 12 months) | 500Mbps | None |
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | $50 ($35 with eligible mobile plan) | 300Mbps | None |
AT&T Fiber 300 Read full review | $55 | 300Mbps | None |
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | $60 ($40 with eligible mobile plan) | 245Mbps | None |
Tachus 300 | $65 | 300Mbps | None |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
The best internet deals and top promotions in Houston depend on what discounts are available during a given time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Houston internet providers, such as Xfinity, Astound Broadband, Spectrum and Optimum, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, including AT&T, Frontier and Verizon, run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
Houston, we have a problem. Although it's one of the top five most populated metros in the US, H-Town couldn't crack the top 50 on Ookla's list of the country's fastest cities for broadband.
Per the speed-testing site's most recent reporting, Houston managed to clock in at only No. 58. By contrast, its fellow Lone Star State cities of Austin, Corpus Christi, El Paso and San Antonio all placed in the top 15. Other Texas towns that placed higher on the speed chart -- adding insult to injury -- include Arlington, Fort Worth, Garland, Irving, Lubbock and Plano. Some small consolation: Houston finished well ahead of Dallas, which was in the bottom 5.
Some Houstonians may have access to the splashy 5Gbps plans from AT&T and Frontier which cost $225 and $130 per month, respectively.
Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Frontier Fiber 5 Gig Read full review | $130 ($140 after 12 months) | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
AT&T Fiber 5000 Read full review | $225 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
Tachus Fiber 5 Gig | $180 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
Tachus Fiber 2.5 Gig | $110 | 2,500Mbps | 2,500Mbps | None | Fiber |
AT&T Fiber 2000 Read full review | $125 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
Frontier Fiber 2 Gig Read full review | $100 ($110 after 12 months) | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
Xfinity Gigabit X2 Read full review | $120 | 2,000Mbps | 200Mbps | 1.2TB | Cable |
Astound 1500 Read full review | $55 | 1,500Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Cable |
Xfinity Gigabit Extra Read full review | $70 | 1,200Mbps | 35Mbps | 1.2TB if using own equipment; none if renting with Xfinity | Cable |
Astound Broadband 1000 Read full review | $45 | 1,000Mbps | 50Mbps | None | Cable |
AT&T Fiber 1000 Read full review | $80 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
Frontier Fiber 1 Gig Read full review | $65 ($80 after 12 months) | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
Spectrum Internet Gig Read full review | $60 | 1,000Mbps | 35Mbps | None | Cable |
Tachus Gig | $90 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
Xfinity Gigabit Read full review | $65 | 1,000Mbps | 20Mbps | 1.2TB if using own equipment; none if renting with Xfinity | Cable |
Optimum Gig Read full review | $80 | 940Mbps | 35Mbps | None | Cable |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
See all results for internet providers in Texas.
Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you're looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you'll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here's an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.
For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information, drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
It doesn't end there: We go to the FCC's website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP's service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
While the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
Houston offers several high-speed internet choices. You can get hooked up with home internet from fast fiber options, including AT&T, Frontier and local internet service provider Tachus. You could hop online via cable connections from Optimum and Spectrum. You could join the 5G home internet movement by trying Verizon 5G Home Internet or T-Mobile Home Internet.
Comcast's cable internet offering of Xfinity has Houston covered with the most extensive availability across the metro area. As we say in our CNET home internet reviews, a fiber internet connection outperforms cable almost every time. If you can access a fiber provider in the area -- including AT&T Fiber, Consolidated Communications, Frontier Fiber or Tachus -- don't hesitate to sign on the virtual dotted line.
Which internet service provider has the most coverage in Houston?
More than a dozen different ISPs are in the greater Houston metro, including satellite internet providers like Hughesnet, Starlink and Viasat (all three are available to 100% of the area, according to the FCC). Besides those satellite providers, Xfinity covers the most extensive area. You can find Comcast's cable service as far as Conroe to the north, East Bernard to the west, Baytown to the east, and Freeport and Galveston to the south.
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Is fiber internet available in Houston?
Yes. You can find fiber internet throughout H-Town. Houston's top fiber internet providers include AT&T Fiber, Frontier Fiber and Tachus Fiber. It should also be noted that a small percentage of Xfinity locations are also eligible for fiber service, but it first requires a site survey to ascertain if the address is serviceable.
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What internet provider has the fastest speeds in Houston?
The fastest internet speed you can currently get in Houston is 5Gbps (5,000Mbps), provided by AT&T Fiber, Frontier Fiber and Tachus Fiber. Per Ookla's latest findings, the provider with the fastest average download speeds in Houston is AT&T, with a median download speed of approximately 257Mbps.
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Source: cnet.com