Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Fiber is fantastic and Spectrum is everywhere, but there are a few other ISPs to consider when you’re shopping in Raleigh. T-Mobile, in particular, is worthy of consideration as a no-fuss option with simple pricing and a tempting bundle discount.
Raleigh residents are in the enviable position of having two major fiber providers competing for their dollars. It’s hard to go wrong with either AT&T Fiber or Google Fiber, but pricing is a factor that can influence which ISP you go with. It may push you to explore options from Spectrum, Verizon or T-Mobile.
How many members of your household use the internet?
The average starting price for home internet in Raleigh is around $50 a month. It will cost you a little more to get started with fiber. AT&T’s 300Mbps runs $55 a month while Google’s lowest-cost plan is $70 for 1,000Mbps. Look to Spectrum, Verizon and T-Mobile if you’re searching for budget options.
One of the cheapest ways to get online is to bundle Verizon or T-Mobile home internet with an eligible phone plan. That knocks your home internet price down to as low as $35 for Verizon and $30 for T-Mobile. If you’re shopping for Google Fiber, keep an eye out for the ISP’s Neighborhood 100 Meg plan, which is available in some areas. It’s for households with an annual income under $40,000, and it costs only $20 a month. You’ll be asked to confirm your income when you sign up.
Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee | Contract |
---|---|---|---|---|
Frontier Internet Read full review | $30 | 200Mbps | None | None |
Spectrum Premier Read full review | $50 | 500Mbps | Free modem; $10 router | None |
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | $50 ($35 with eligible mobile plan) | 300Mbps | None | None |
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | $50 ($30 with eligible mobile plan) | 245Mbps | None | None |
AT&T Fiber 300 Read full review | $55 | 300Mbps | None | None |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Wanna go fast? AT&T Fiber’s got your back with a 5,000Mbps plan that’s available in Raleigh. That’s in stark contrast to the other end of the speed spectrum. Pokey DSL service in some locations may only reach 10Mbps. But chances are good your Raleigh address qualifies for fiber, or at least Spectrum’s cable offerings that reach up to 1,000Mbps.
AT&T Fiber and Google Fiber duke it out for the fastest ISP in Raleigh, but AT&T has an edge with the wide availability of its 5,000Mbps plan. Google Fiber is catching up in some markets but hasn’t yet hit that speed in Raleigh. AT&T’s offering comes with a hefty price tag of $245 a month, which may encourage you to consider a different option, like AT&T’s 2,000Mbps plan for $145 or Google Fiber’s rival 2,000Mbps plan that trims that to $100 monthly. Check out our guide to the best multi-gigabit internet plans.
Provider | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Starting price | Data cap | Contract |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
AT&T Fiber 5000 Read full review | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | $245 | None | None |
AT&T Fiber 2000 Read full review | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | $145 | None | None |
Google Fiber Read full review | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | $100 | None | None |
Google Fiber Read full review | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | $70 | None | None |
AT&T Fiber 1000 Read full review | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | $70 | None | None |
Spectrum Internet Gig Read full review | 1,000 Mbps | 35Mbps | $70 | None | None |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
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 FCC.gov.
It doesn’t end there: We use 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 also 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.
In case it’s not obvious already, I’m a fan of fiber. It’s fast. It’s reliable. Upload speeds are just as fast as download speeds. Your decision on whether to go with AT&T Fiber or Google Fiber may be made for you if just one of those ISPs services your address. If both do, consider the price (Google’s plans are a little cheaper) and speed (AT&T tops out at a faster 5,000Mbps). If it comes down to it, Spectrum almost certainly services your Raleigh home, but future price hikes aren’t appealing. I’ve also tested out and been happy with fixed wireless, so don’t sleep on Verizon or T-Mobile as an affordable alternative.
Is fiber internet available in Raleigh?
Raleigh is fortunate to have two major fiber providers at work in the city. AT&T Fiber and Google Fiber offer simple, no-strings-attached plans and speeds to keep everyone from gamers to remote workers happy.
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Which internet provider in Raleigh offers the fastest plan?
AT&T Fiber is the king of the hill for residential internet speeds in Raleigh, with its 5,000Mbps plan for $245 a month. Whether you need all that speed is a question only you can answer. Households with multiple heavy internet users, remote workers that need to upload massive files and serious gamers may be able to justify the expense.
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Is AT&T Fiber or Google Fiber better in Raleigh?
Choosing between AT&T Fiber and Google Fiber is a bit of a toss-up. They both earned similar CNET review scores, with AT&T coming in at 7.4 and Google Fiber at 7.5. There are no contracts, equipment fees, or data caps with either one. AT&T offers a more affordable fiber entry point with its 300Mbps plan for $55 a month. That’s a good deal for budget buyers, but Google’s faster plans cost slightly less than the AT&T equivalents. One big point to note is that AT&T hits 5,000Mbps in Raleigh, so power users may be tempted to try that out over Google Fiber.
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Source: cnet.com