Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How many members of your household use the internet?
We think the three providers highlighted above are your best options for internet in Bakersfield, but there are a few other ISPs you can consider:
Bakersfield residents can expect to pay between $50 and $90 a month for internet service, which is about average for cities across the country. That said, there is a lack of truly cheap internet plans in the city, with starting prices around $50 monthly.
Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee | Contract |
---|---|---|---|---|
Spectrum Read full review | $50 | 300Mbps | $7 | None |
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | $50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 300Mbps | None | None |
AT&T Fiber Read full review | $55 | 300Mbps | None | None |
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | $60 ($40 with eligible mobile plans) | 245Mbps | None | None |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
There are only two providers offering gig speeds -- download speeds reaching 1,000Mbps -- but they are both good options. AT&T’s fiber plans go all the way up to 5,000Mbps, which is far more than most people need, but it’s a nice option for ultra-connected smart homes. While Spectrum’s download speeds reach 940Mbps, households that do a lot of working from home or gaming might run into issues with its 35Mbps upload speeds.
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it's impractical to personally test every internet service provider in a given city. What's our approach? For starters, we tap into a proprietary database of pricing, availability and speed information that draws from our own historical ISP data, partner data 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.
Bakersfield residents aren’t exactly swimming in great options for internet, but 97% of residents have access to at least one provider offering 100/20Mbps speeds -- the new minimum broadband speed proposed by the FCC. While AT&T Fiber is by far the best choice in the city, only about one in five residents currently have access to it. However, Spectrum and T-Mobile are both good backup options.
Which is the best internet service provider in Bakersfield?
AT&T Fiber is the best internet provider in Bakersfield, with plans starting at $55 monthly for 300Mbps download and upload speeds. Spectrum’s cable internet is a distant second, with much lower upload speeds and price hikes in the second year.
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Is fiber internet available in Bakersfield?
Yes. AT&T offers 100% fiber-optic internet plans with speeds up to 5,000Mbps in some areas. However, fiber internet is currently only available to 21% of Bakersfield households.
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What is the cheapest internet provider in Bakersfield?
There are three internet providers that offer internet plans starting at $50 a month in Bakersfield: Spectrum, T-Mobile and Verizon. That said, both T-Mobile and Verizon offer discounts for cellphone customers that bring the price down significantly. Additionally, AT&T Fiber plans start at $55.
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Which internet provider in Bakersfield offers the fastest plan?
AT&T Fiber offers the fastest internet plan in Bakersfield, with 5,000Mbps available at some addresses. Spectrum also has gig-speed plans in Bakersfield -- 940Mbps download -- but upload speeds are just 35Mbps.
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Source: cnet.com