Source: CNET analysis of provider data
Some Cleveland residents may be fortunate enough to have a few choices when it comes to their ISP. If you find yourself in this situation, we recommend fiber internet if it’s available for its speed and stability. For those who live in parts of the city without access to the options mentioned above, here are the other choices:
Much like its sister cities in Ohio, Cleveland residents can expect to pay a median price of $50 to connect online. Cheaper plans are available from Spectrum, as well as pricier satellite internet options.
If you want the most affordable internet in Cleveland, Spectrum has you covered. Although it’s not available for every address, the company offers a 100Mbps plan for $30 per month and a 400Mbps option for $40.
Provider/Plan | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee | Contract |
---|---|---|---|---|
Spectrum Internet 100 Read full review | $30 | 100Mbps | Free modem; $7 router | None |
Spectrum Internet Read full review | $40 | 400Mbps | Free modem; $7 router | None |
AT&T Fiber 300 Read full review | $55 | 300Mbps | None | None |
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | $65 ($30 with eligible mobile plans) | 245Mbps | None | None |
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | $60 ($25 with eligible mobile plans) | 300Mbps | None | None |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data
How many members of your household use the internet?
Median download speeds sit around 216Mbps in Cleveland, and options are available from Spectrum and AT&T that exceed that. Plans that offer speeds around a gig are available to certain addresses from AT&T and Spectrum.
Multi-gigabit plans from AT&T Fiber may be available in select areas of Cleveland, but availability is extremely limited. For most residents, the fastest plans tap out around a gig and are available from Spectrum and AT&T Fiber.
Provider/Plan | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Starting price | Data cap | Contract |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Spectrum Internet Gig Read full review | 1068Mbps | 41Mbps | $60 | None | None |
AT&T Fiber 1000 Read full review | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | $80 | None | None |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data
Cleveland’s internet options can be fairly confusing, because the same ISP will charge different prices based on address. Most providers hope you don’t notice, thinking you’ll be stuck with whatever options they give you. But the advent of 5G home internet service means that consumers now have some additional options, even if that just means additional leverage to better negotiate with your ISP. One thing is for sure, though: if you have access to fiber internet, we recommend going with that.
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. So 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.
But it doesn’t end there. We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we’re considering every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. To evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service, we look at sources including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of the time 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.
To explore our process in more depth, visit our How We Test ISPs page.
Which is the best internet service provider in Cleveland?
Typically, AT&T’s fiber internet would get the nod in any city it’s available. But the service is spotty in Cleveland, leaving many people being presented only with the company’s slow and pricey DSL service. With that said, we recommend Spectrum as the best ISP for most Cleveland residents.
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Is fiber internet available in Cleveland?
Yes. Fiber internet is available in Forest City from AT&T. You’ll have to roll the dice and plug your address in with these ISPs to see if it’s available to you, however.
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Who is the cheapest internet provider in Cleveland?
Spectrum offers the cheapest plans in Cleveland. The most affordable plan starts at $30 with speeds up to 100Mbps, then there’s Spectrum Internet for $40 that gets you speed up to 400Mbps.
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Should I choose between Spectrum or AT&T?
If you have the choice between these two ISPs, we recommend going with AT&T’s fiber option if it’s available. If not, go with Spectrum’s reliable cable plans over AT&T’s DSL service. Check out CNET's guide to AT&T vs. Spectrum to get further details.
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Source: cnet.com