Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
It’s hard to cover the internet options of an entire state like Illinois while giving individual cities the in-depth attention they deserve. That’s why we’ve also put together lists of the best internet providers in cities across the US, including those in Illinois. If you don’t find your hometown below, check back later. We’re working to add more every day.
Cable internet providers Xfinity, Astound, Sparklight and Mediacom have the cheapest internet plans in Illinois. Astound has the cheapest plan at $20 per month for speeds up to 300Mbps, Xfinity and Sparklight cheapest plans are decent deals too, offering speeds up to 150Mbps and 300Mbps for $30 and $35 per month, respectively.
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Plan | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
---|---|---|---|
Astound 300Mbps Read full review | $20 | 300Mbps | Free modem, $5 whole-home Wi-Fi (optional) |
Sparklight Connect Internet 100 Read full review | $25 | 100Mbps | $12.50 (optional) |
Mediacom Internet 100 Read full review | $30 | 100Mbps | $14 (optional) |
Rise Broadband 25 Unlimited Read full review | $45 | 25Mbs | $10 |
Frontier Fiber 500 Read full review | $45 | 500Mbps | None |
Spectrum Internet Read full review | $40-$50 | 300Mbps | Free modem, $7 router rental (optional) |
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | $50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 300Mbps | None |
Brightspeed Internet | $50 | 100Mbps | $15 |
AT&T Fiber 300 Read full review | $55 | 300Mbps | None |
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | $60 ($40 with eligible mobile plans) | 245Mbps | None |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
The best internet deals and top promotions in Illinois depend on what discounts are available during that time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Illinois internet providers, such as Astound Broadband, may offer lower introductory pricing or special offers for a limited time. Others, including AT&T Fiber, Xfinity 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.
Ookla speed test data from Q4 2023 shows Illinois had a median download speed of 187Mbps, good for 39th place among all 50 states and Washington, DC. The speeds are lower than the national average of 227Mbps and neighboring states of Indiana (201Mbps), Kentucky (210Mbps), Missouri (208Mbps) and Wisconsin (201Mbps) but faster than Iowa (162Mbps).
Fiber internet is often the best source for fast speeds and has the advantage of symmetrical (or close) upload and download speeds. Cable internet can also pack plenty of download speed (Astound Broadband offers up to 1,500Mbps, for example) but upload speeds are typically much slower.
Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Xfinity Gigabit Pro Read full review | $300 | 10,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
Frontier Fiber 5000 Read full review | $140 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000MBps | None | Fiber |
AT&T Fiber 5000 Read full review | $245 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
Xfinity Gigabit X2 Read full review | $95 | 2,000Mbps | 300Mbps | None | Cable |
Astound 1500Mbps Read full review | $55 | 1,500Mbps | 20Mbps | None | Cable |
Mediacom 1 Gig Read full review | $70 | 1,000Mbps | 50Mbps | Unlimited | Cable |
Sparklight | $60 | 940Mbps | 50Mbps | Unlimited | Cable |
Spectrum Internet Gig Read full review | $40-$70 | 940Mbps | 35Mbps | None | Cable |
Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read full review | $70 ($45 with qualifying Verizon 5G mobile plans) | 1,000Mbps | 75Mbps | None | Fixed wireless |
Show more (5 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
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 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; 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 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, 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 (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis) and FCC reports.
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
Xfinity has the best coverage of any non-satellite provider, the cheapest internet plan and the fastest internet speed tier in Illinois. The cheapest plan only offers speeds up to 75Mbps, and availability for Xfinity’s fastest plan (up to 10,000Mbps) requires access to the provider’s fiber network, which is limited in Illinois.
While there’s a good chance your Illinois address is serviceable for Xfinity, it’s worth considering other providers that may be available as well to ensure you’re getting the best speeds and value.
If fiber internet is available from providers such as Frontier Fiber or AT&T Fiber (CNET’s pick for best ISP in Illinois overall), it’s likely to be a better value, even if it is slightly more expensive in the first year or two. Otherwise, look to cable providers such as Astound, Mediacom, Sparklight and Spectrum, or fixed wireless service from T-Mobile Home Internet and Verizon 5G Home Internet for fast, reliable home internet in Illinois.
What is the best internet service provider in Illinois?
AT&T Fiber is the best internet service provider in Illinois due to its broad fiber coverage, reasonable pricing on a variety of high-speed plans, simple service terms and high customer satisfaction.
Is fiber internet available in Illinois?
Fiber internet is available in Illinois, but only to around 29% of households, according to the FCC. AT&T Fiber is the largest fiber provider in Illinois, with coverage in Chicago, Springfield, Belleville, Urbana and other areas. Fiber service may also be available from Brightspeed, Frontier Fiber, Xfinity or others, depending on where you live in Illinois.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Illinois?
Astound has the cheapest internet plans in Illinois. It's 300Mbps plan costs $20 per month for the first two years. If you rent equipment, Astound even has the lowest all-in pricing and comes with considerably more speed. Your modem is included at no extra cost, and renting a Wi-Fi router will add only $5 to your bill. Your other reasonable option for cheap internet is Xfinity's Connect plan which costs $30 for 150Mbps, though you may have to take into consideration a rental fee of $15 for equipment too.
Which internet provider in Illinois offers the fastest plan?
Xfinity’s Gigabit Pro plan, with speeds up to 10,000Mbps, is the fastest internet plan from any major provider in Illinois. The speed tier is available only where Xfinity, largely a cable internet provider, offers fiber internet service.
While not as fast, AT&T Fiber and Frontier Fiber offer speeds up to 5,000Mbps and have greater availability in Illinois than Xfinity’s fiber service.
Source: cnet.com