What is the best internet provider in Gainesville?
Offering blistering fast broadband speeds up to 5,000Mbps, AT&T Fiber is CNET's pick for the best broadband service provider in Gainesville, Georgia. It's got symmetrical speeds, no data caps, and straightforward pricing. The high customer satisfaction levels are a testament to the quality of service.
Point Broadband is another local fiber internet provider, but availability is currently limited as the provider continues expansion in the area. One ISP you can count on being available wherever you are in Gainesville is Spectrum. As the area’s largest cable provider, Spectrum is available to roughly 4 out of 5 homes in Gainesville, offering download speeds of 500 to 1,000Mbps.
If you’re looking for cheap internet in Gainesville, Xfinity has the lowest introductory rate, with service starting at $20 a month for max download speeds of 150Mbps. T-Mobile Home Internet and Verizon 5G Home Internet are great choices for cheap internet as well. Both providers offer a mobile bundle discount and include free equipment rental and unlimited data.
Best internet in Gainesville, Georgia
Gainesville, Georgia, internet providers compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Fiber Read full review | Fiber | $55-$245 | 300-5,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Point Broadband | Fiber | $59-$79 | 300-1,000Mbps | None | None | None | N/A |
| Spectrum Read full review | Cable | $50-$70 | 500-1,000Mbps | $10 (optional) | None | None | 7.2 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | Fixed wireless | $50 ($40 with eligible mobile plans) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 with eligible mobile plans) | 50-1,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
| Xfinity Read full review | Cable | $20-$100 | 150-2,000Mbps | $15 (included in most plans) | 1.2TB | 1-2 years (optional) | 7 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Gainesville?
| Plan | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xfinity Connect Read full review | $20 | 150Mbps | $15 (optional) |
| Xfinity Connect More Read full review | $35 | 300Mbps | $15 (included) |
| Spectrum Internet Read full review | $50 | 500Mbps | $10 (optional) |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | $50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 300Mbps | None |
| AT&T Fiber 300 Read full review | $55 | 300Mbps | None |
| Point Broadband Performance Plus | $59 | 300Mbps | None |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | $50 ($40 with eligible mobile plans) | 245Mbps | None |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Gainesville
The best internet deals and the top promotions in Gainesville depend on what discounts are available during that time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
How many members of your household use the internet?
Gainesville internet providers, such as Xfinity, may offer lower introductory pricing or other incentives, such as free equipment rental for a limited time. Many, however, including AT&T Fiber and Spectrum, run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
Fastest internet plans in Gainesville
| Plan | Starting price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Internet 5000 Read full review | $245 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| AT&T Internet 2000 Read full review | $145 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Xfinity Gigabit x2 Read full review | $100 | 2,000Mbps | 200Mbps | None | Cable |
| Xfinity Gigabit Extra Read full review | $85 | 1,200Mbps | 35Mbps | 1.2TB | Cable |
| AT&T Internet 1000 Read full review | $80 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Point Broadband Extreme | $79 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Spectrum Internet Gig Read full review | $70 | 1,000Mbps | 35Mbps | None | Cable |
| Xfinity Gigabit Read full review | $65 | 1,000Mbps | 20Mbps | 1.2TB | Cable |
| Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read full review | $70 ($45 with eligible mobile plans) | 1,000Mbps | 75Mbps | None | Fixed wireless |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s 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 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.
- 0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics -- browsing the internet, sending and receiving email, streaming low-quality video.
- 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
- 40 to 100Mbps should give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
- 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming.
- 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Gainesville, Georgia
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 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:
- Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
- Are customers happy with their service?
While the answers to those questions are often layered and complex, the providers that 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, though 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.
Internet providers in Gainesville, Georgia, FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Gainesville?
AT&T Fiber is the best internet service provider in Gainesville. The area’s largest fiber internet provider offers the fastest speeds, up to 5,000Mbps, and all plans come with free equipment rental, unlimited data and no contract requirements -- perks that aren’t all available from local cable providers Spectrum and Xfinity.
Is fiber internet available in Gainesville?
According to recent FCC data, nearly 60% of Gainesville households are eligible for fiber internet service. AT&T Fiber is the largest fiber internet provider in the area, though local ISP Point Broadband also has a growing fiber presence in Gainesville.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Gainesville?
Xfinity has the lowest introductory price on home internet in Gainesville, with service starting at $20 per month for download speeds up to 150Mbps. For $15 more per month (and still lower than the starting price of AT&T Fiber or Spectrum), Xfinity offers speeds up to 300Mbps.
Which internet provider in Gainesville offers the fastest plan?
AT&T Fiber's 5 gig plan is Gainesville's fastest home internet speed. As a 100% fiber-optic provider, AT&T Fiber has the added advantage of symmetrical upload and download speeds, a benefit not available with cable internet service.