How many cable companies are there in the US?
There are 450 cable internet service providers in the United States as of 2020. The largest provider in terms of coverage area is XFINITY from Comcast with availability in 40 states and an availability footprint covering 111,564,376 people.
Pros and Cons of Cable Internet
Pros
- Wide coverage
- Relatively low cost
- Low latency (lag)
- Low-priced TV and/or phone bundling options
Cons
- Limited providers in a given area
- Limited rural availability
- Slower speeds at peak hours
What is cable internet?
Cable internet makes use of pre-existing cable television infrastructure to deliver high-speed internet to consumers, which is faster than DSL in most areas. Unlike satellite internet, cable is not affected by outages caused by storms. While cable cannot perform as fast as fiber-optic internet, cable providers offer much wider coverage than fiber at this time.
You can find out more about the technology powering cable internet providers in our Cable Broadband technical guide.
Top 5 Cable Providers in the USA by Coverage Availability
Cable internet providers include some of the top telecom companies in the United States, as measured by size. Cable is one of the most common choices for internet service in suburban and urban areas since it combines relatively fast speeds with competitive, low pricing.
The top five most available cable internet providers listed by coverage in the US are XFINITY from Comcast, Charter Spectrum, Cox Communications, Optimum by Altice, and Mediacom Cable.
| Cable Internet Provider |
Speed Range |
Price Range (internet-only) |
| XFINITY |
15 - 2000 Mbps |
$49.95-299.95/month |
| Spectrum |
60 - 940 Mbps |
$49.99-109.99/month |
| Cox Communications |
10 - 940 Mbps |
$19.99-99.99/month |
| Optimum |
200 - 1000 Mbps |
$24.99-69.99/month |
| Mediacom |
60 - 1000 Mbps |
$39.99-79.99/month |
If you are trying to compare multiple cable internet providers in the same city, be sure to consider factors such as promotions, data caps, download/upload speeds, contract terms, and local consumer reviews.
XFINITY from Comcast and Charter Spectrum have widespread coverage while Cox Communications, Optimum by Altice, and Mediacom have coverage in dense pockets where they’re available. If you’re considering bundling, whether now or later down the line, each of these providers offer double and triple play plans. Cable providers often offer discounts on each service when bundled together. Perks like no data caps and an extended promotional period are also offered for bundle package.
Cable Companies In Your Area
You can check for which of these providers is in your area using the Zip Code search tool at the top of the page.
While there are hundreds of cable providers registered with the FCC, most customers will only have access to one provider. Why? Keep in mind cable internet service is delivered by cable TV companies. The coaxial cable lines they use for internet and TV are privately owned. In most cases, only one cable provider will be connected to any given house.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cable Providers
Who offers cable internet?
The top two cable providers by coverage are XFINITY from Comcast and Charter Spectrum, with coverage in 40 and 42 states, respectively. XFINITY has greatest coverage in California, Florida, and Illinois, while Charter Spectrum offers the most coverage in California, Texas, and New York.
Who is the best cable provider?
Currently, XFINITY from Comcast offers the most coverage and the best offers, especially when it comes to bundling TV and/or phone services with high-speed internet. XFINITY’s bundles start at $79.99/month.
How to install cable internet?
Most cable internet providers offer self-installation kits. Each router and provider’s installation may vary but generally, it is a simple plug-and-play type of set up able to be done in less than 30 minutes. Determine where you want to place your modem, then follow the directions sent by your provider.