Source: CNET analysis of provider data
While New Orleans is mainly an AT&T-versus-Cox battleground, there are a few other options. Verizon 5G Home Internet is especially worthy of a look if you can’t get fiber and want an alternative way to get online.
How many members of your household use the internet?
ISP availability is extremely address-dependent in New Orleans. Your buddy a couple of blocks away may have AT&T Fiber while your home only gets Cox or AT&T DSL. Home internet from Verizon or T-Mobile can save you a little money if you bundle with a phone plan. Those services are easy to test out, and I recommend giving them a whirl if you’re not satisfied with your wired ISP options.
Expect to pay at least $50 per month for home internet in New Orleans. However, you can get Cox’s service for $30 per month for 100Mbps downloads if you qualify for it. When it comes to value, AT&T Fiber’s $55-per-month 300Mbps plan is worthy of consideration.
It’s a challenge to bargain shop for internet in New Orleans since all the major providers kick off at about the $50-per-month level. If you’re already a Verizon or T-Mobile phone customer, then check into pairing your home internet with an eligible mobile plan for a bundle discount.
Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee | Contract |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cox 100 Read full review | $50 | 100Mbps | Varies | None |
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | $60 ($40 with eligible mobile plan) | 245Mbps | None | None |
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | $50 ($35 with eligible mobile plan) | 300Mbps | None | None |
AT&T Fiber 300 Read full review | $55 | 300Mbps | None | None |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data
Recent Ookla speed test data put New Orleans way down in 93rd place for median download speeds among the 100 most populous cities in the US. New Orleans logged an average of 175Mbps. Compare that to top-ranked Raleigh, North Carolina at nearly 290Mbps.FCC data shows that all of New Orleans can access broadband internet, remember that the FCC says 100Mbps down and 20Mbps up qualify as broadband. Gig speeds and higher are harder to come by in the Big Easy. Your best bets for fast speeds will be with AT&T Fiber or Cox.
It’s hard to touch AT&T Fiber when it comes to the fastest internet in New Orleans. The ISP maxes out at 5,000Mbps and no one else comes close. The catch is its patchwork availability across the metro area. If you’re moving to town and multi-gig speeds are a must, then do your homework on AT&T Fiber’s service areas and aim to land within its coverage zone. If fiber doesn’t come to your home, then check into Cox’s 1-gig cable plan as an alternative. Just keep in mind that cable can’t touch fiber’s fast upload speeds.
Provider | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Starting price | Data cap | Contract |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
AT&T Fiber 5 Gig Read full review | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | $245 | None | None |
AT&T Fiber 2 Gig Read full review | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | $145 | None | None |
AT&T Fiber 1 Gig Read full review | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | $80 | None | None |
Cox 1 Gig Read full review | 1,000Mbps | 35Mbps | $110 | 1.25TB | None |
Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read full review | 1,000Mbps | 50Mbps | $70 | None | None |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data
In New Orleans, the most common question when it comes to home internet is “AT&T or Cox?” I recommend looking at A&T Fiber first and Cox cable second. Don’t sleep on T-Mobile and Verizon as 5G home internet alternatives, particularly if fiber isn’t available to you.
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’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.
Is fiber internet available in New Orleans?
AT&T Fiber is the biggest player in fiber home internet in New Orleans. Coverage is limited. A few tiny areas are serviced by Cox’s full fiber-to-the-premises network, but this option is likely unavailable to most of the city.
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Which internet provider in New Orleans offers the fastest plan?
If your need for speed can only be satisfied with a multi-gig plan, then look to AT&T Fiber. It maxes out at 5,000Mbps, which will make even power users happy.
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Is AT&T or Cox better in New Orleans?
This is a more complicated question than it might seem on the surface. If you can get AT&T Fiber, then you’ll appreciate the speed, pricing and symmetrical uploads compared to what Cox offers in most of the city. If it’s down to AT&T’s older DSL service versus Cox, then give the cable provider the first shot.
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Source: cnet.com