Best Internet Providers in Palm Springs, California

What is the best internet provider in Palm Springs?

Spectrum is CNET's pick for the best internet service provider for most households in Palm Springs because of its wide availability and gig speeds. However, Spectrum service isn't available everywhere in Palm Springs, so Frontier or T-Mobile Home Internet are also solid picks, depending on what's available in your area. 

If you’re hunting for the lowest prices or fastest speeds, we’ve also found those top options. The cheapest internet in Palm Springs is Frontier’s 200Mbps fiber offering for $30 a month. Frontier also offers the fastest internet speed in town, a 5,000Mbps plan. Availability is limited, though, so check in with Spectrum if you can’t get fiber.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Other available internet providers in Palm Springs

• AT&T Internet Air: AT&T Internet Air is a wireless home internet service designed to rival Verizon and T-Mobile’s offerings. AT&T says to expect typical download speeds of 75 to 225Mbps for $60 a month. You can get a 20% discount on home internet when bundling with an eligible phone plan. Equipment is included and there are no data caps or contracts. 
• Satellite internet: Starlink, Viasat and Hughesnet provide satellite internet service in Palm Springs. You’re unlikely to go this route if you have access to cable, fiber or a solid fixed wireless connection, but it can get you online if you’re in a rural or remote spot. Prices are typically higher than with other types of internet and speeds may be variable. Compare plan speeds and equipment costs to find the satellite provider that works best for you.
• Verizon 5G Home Internet: Verizon also offers 5G home internet in Palm Springs. The 5G Home plan is $50 a month for speeds up to 100Mbps, while the 5G Home Plus plan is $70 per month for speeds up to 300Mbps. Bundle with an eligible phone plan and those prices drop to $35 or $45 a month. There are no contracts, data caps or equipment fees. Consider this as an alternative if you’re not satisfied with Spectrum or Frontier at your home. Compare this with T-Mobile’s offering.

Cheap internet options in Palm Springs

Frontier’s 200Mbps fiber plan is the most affordable in town, with a $30-a-month introductory deal. Pricing is good for a year. Spectrum, however, is the only wired internet option for many neighborhoods in Palm Springs. The cable ISP’s budget plan starts at $50 a month for 300Mbps downloads, with pricing staying at that level for the first year. If you’re struggling to cover your home internet bill, check into eligibility for the federal Lifeline program and Spectrum Internet Assist. Both are designed to help low-income households stay connected.

What’s the cheapest internet plan in Palm Springs?

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Palm Springs

The best internet deals and top promotions in Palm Springs depend on what discounts are available during a given time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers. 

Palm Springs internet providers, like Spectrum and Frontier, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, however, including AT&T Internet Air and T-Mobile Home Internet, tend to run the same standard pricing year-round. 

For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals. 

How fast is Palm Springs broadband?

Spectrum’s broad coverage across Palm Springs means most residents can get access to gig downloads. Those within Frontier’s fiber coverage areas can get up to 5,000Mbps symmetrical speeds. That’s the fastest in town. A recent Ookla speed test report logged a median fixed internet download speed of nearly 274Mbps for Palm Springs. Nearby Cathedral City pulled down nearly 304Mbps, while California as a whole came in at 250Mbps. The upshot is Palm Springs residents can expect decently fast internet. If blazing speeds matter to you, try to land in a Frontier Fiber zone for multi-gig plans. 

Fastest internet plans in Palm Springs

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 person sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming. 
• 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two people to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming. 
• 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more people to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.

How CNET chose the best internet providers in Palm Springs

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? For starters, we tap into a proprietary pricing, availability and speed database that draws from our own historical ISP data, partner data 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 answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who 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.

What’s the final word on internet providers in Palm Springs?

Many neighborhoods in Palm Springs have only one wired internet option, and that’s Spectrum. Some areas can get Frontier with its affordable plans and symmetrical fiber speeds. Just watch out for early termination fees with Frontier. Fixed wireless 5G home internet from T-Mobile, Verizon or AT&T is an option for many. Consider that if you can bundle it with a phone plan for extra savings or if you’re not satisfied with Spectrum’s performance at your home. If you have an HOA, you may have internet already included at your address, but you can look into upgrading your speed if the service isn’t fast enough for your liking.

Internet providers in Palm Springs FAQs