Best Internet Providers in Opelika, Alabama

Opelika is often lumped in with nearby Auburn, a city famous for Auburn University and its mighty Tigers, but Opelika has a history and feel all its own. The city has plenty to draw you out, thanks to an active downtown, historic sites, Tiger Town and a burgeoning craft brewing scene. Those perks attract people to Opelika, and residents want fast, reliable internet to keep them connected for work and play. 

What is the best internet provider in Opelika?

AT&T Fiber is CNET's choice for the best internet provider in Opelika due to its 5,000Mbps speed tier, which is available in some parts of the city. Fiber provider Point Broadband makes a strong case for consideration as well. Spectrum cable internet, T-Mobile Home Internet and Verizon 5G Home Internet offer affordable alternatives where fiber isn't available. Let's get the ISP train rolling and look at the best internet options for Opelika.

Regarding fast internet plans, Opelika is a good place to shop. Much of the city is hooked up for fiber internet, the Cadillac of residential internet services. Both AT&T Fiber and Point Broadband operate in the city, so your choice may come down to availability and price. If you're in a spot with no fiber coverage, check into Spectrum for cable internet, T-Mobile Home Internet or Verizon 5G Home Internet for 5G fixed wireless. 

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

All available Opelika residential internet providers

Opelika is a pretty typical market for ISP shoppers. There are several fiber options with AT&T and Point Broadband, a cable option from Spectrum, and fixed wireless from T-Mobile and Verizon. AT&T's slower DSL service also reaches many homes, and satellite internet is a potential alternative for more rural locations in the area. 

• AT&T Internet: AT&T's fiber offering is its premium internet service, but the company also offers DSL connections in places not serviced by fiber. It's a much, much slower option and likely won't be your first choice. The price is $70 with no contract and no equipment fees, but you may find only poky speeds. For example, some addresses in Opelika can only get up to 10Mbps through AT&T's DSL.
• Satellite internet: No fiber? No cable? Is fixed wireless not working out? Satellite internet from Starlink, Viasat or Hughesnet is an option for more rural areas that might not have much choice in how to get internet. Frequent RV travelers should also consider Starlink's on-the-go internet plan for staying connected on the road.
• Spectrum: Charter Communications' Spectrum cable internet is widely available across Opelika. It's a strong option if fiber isn't available at your address. Speeds range from 300Mbps ($50 per month) to 1,000Mbps ($70 per month). You get a free modem, and there are no data caps or contracts.
• Verizon 5G Home Internet: Verizon tells CNET it has some home internet availability in Opelika. Not every home will be able to sign up just yet, though. You'll have to run your address to find out. Plans run $60-$80. Verizon offers speeds of up to 1,000Mbps in some cities in the US, but Opelika residents will be looking at a max speed of 300Mbps. Combining Verizon's home internet with an eligible phone plan can net you a sweet deal of 50% off your internet bill. 
  

Opelika broadband at a glance

In keeping with Opelika's railroad heritage, let's compare the internet to trains. AT&T's DSL is like an overloaded freight working its way up a steep pass. It'll get there eventually, but it won't go fast. Fixed wireless is like Amtrak. Maybe it'll be timely; maybe it'll be running a little slow. Spectrum's cable offering is like regional passenger rail. Solid, capable and decently fast. Lower-gig tiers of fiber from AT&T and Point Broadband are like express commuter trains: plenty fast enough for most people. Fiber at its speediest (as in AT&T's 5-gig plan) is like a bullet train. Zoom. Which one will you board?

Opelika internet pricing

The average starting price for internet in Opelika is just a hair under $50 per month. All Opelika ISPs have at least one plan at around the $50 level. AT&T Fiber and Spectrum are on the faster side of that with 300Mbps offerings. Point Broadband's $59-per-month introductory deal for 300Mbps service is the next best option for fiber, but keep an eye on future price hikes.

Cheap internet options in the Opelika area

If cost is your top concern, it's hard to beat Verizon's $35 or T-Mobile's $40 special price when you bundle with an eligible phone plan. You can pull down faster speeds from Spectrum, Point and AT&T Fiber for starting prices between $50 and $65. Point may offer some tempting deals, but watch for price changes. 

What are the cheapest internet plans in Opelika?

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How fast is Opelika broadband service?

According to Ookla, of Speedtest.net fame, Opelika's median download speed for fixed internet is about 258Mbps. AT&T has some of the slowest and fastest internet speeds in Opelika. It's all about technology. AT&T Internet's DSL will likely be too slow, while AT&T Fiber and its max speeds up to 5,000Mbps will keep your online experience peppy. Point Broadband and Spectrum cable both make a case with speeds in the 1,000Mbps range.

Fastest internet providers in Opelika

There's one clear champ in the race to provide the fastest internet service to Opelika, and that's AT&T Fiber's 5,000Mbps plan at the $255-per-month price. That may be overkill for many internet users, but big-time gamers and households with multiple heavy internet users can take advantage of that offering. Just watch out for limited availability in Opelika. Most people who enjoy streaming, browsing and gaming will do just fine at the 1,000Mbps (1 gigabit) level from AT&T Fiber, Point Broadband or Spectrum. 

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

What's the final word on internet providers in Opelika?

When it comes to the internet in Opelika, it's all about location. Does AT&T Fiber or Point Broadband service your address? Those are good places to start for fast, reliable fiber connections. If fiber isn't available or you don't have that need for speed, chances are good Spectrum has you covered with cable. Finally, don't sleep on T-Mobile Home Internet or Verizon 5G Home Internet. They can be extremely affordable and fast enough for many households in good locations for fixed wireless.

How CNET chose the best internet providers in Opelika

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: 

• 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 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.

FAQs on internet providers in Opelika