Internet Providers in Redwood City, California

With over 250 days of sunshine every year, Redwood City’s slogan “Climate Best by Government Test” holds true. As a bustling city home to several tech and gaming companies, Redwood City residents and businesses alike need reliable internet. Both locals and newcomers to the area will benefit from this Internet Buyer’s Guide. You’ll get the latest need-to-know details on internet providers to help you compare key factors like plans, pricing, coverage, and speed, so you can decide which internet provider is best for your home or business.

What type of internet is available in Redwood City?

Redwood City currently has five types of internet available including DSL, cable, fiber-optic, fixed wireless, and satellite internet.

• DSL: Using telephone lines for data delivery, DSL internet can typically reach speeds up to 100 Mbps. Sonic, EarthLink, and AT&T are internet providers in Redwood City with a DSL connection.
• Cable: Cable internet makes use of the same cables that television networks use to deliver data, and speeds vary by area. Local residential cable internet providers include Wave and Xfinity.
• Fiber-Optic: Considered the fastest internet type with speeds in the range of 100-1000 Mbps, fiber internet is named for the fiber-optic cables used for data delivery. Redwood City internet providers with fiber capabilities include AT&T Fiber and EarthLink.
• Fixed Wireless: Instead of using phone or cable lines, fixed wireless internet transmits data through radio waves from a nearby cell tower and requires an antenna to be installed at your house. Local companies with a fixed wireless connection include Etheric Networks and Cruzio Internet.
• Satellite: Utilizing satellites to feed data to a dish installed on your property, satellite internet offers wide coverage for those with limited wired connections available. Both Viasat and HughesNet provide satellite coverage for Redwood City residents.

Since connections and availability vary greatly by location, it is important to check which internet options are available at your specific Redwood City address.

How do I find the cheapest internet option in Redwood City?

In Redwood City, there are 39 internet providers to choose from, with 14 of those offering residential services and 25 offering business services. Some of the lowest-priced internet plans in Redwood City are from Wave Broadband, XFINITY from Comcast and AT&T Fiber.

How Much Internet Speed Do I Need In Redwood City?

Known for its high-tech, oil, and gaming industries, a strong internet connection is crucial to the daily activities of many in both the professional and private sectors of Redwood City.

Before committing to an internet plan, it’s wise to consider your lifestyle and how the internet fits into it. If you’re a light internet user just looking to browse a few news articles at the end of the day, you can likely do with a lower speed. However, if you’re working or gaming from home, a high-speed internet plan is essential.

For casual internet users or small households, a plan with 25-50 Mbps download speeds will be enough to load your favorite web pages and check your email. For more heavy internet usage such as streaming, video chatting, or online gaming, a 100+ Mbps plan is recommended. For households with multiple power internet users needing to stream high-definition video or work from home, a 1000 Mbps plan is best.

Below are the recommended download speeds based on frequent internet activities and the residential providers in Redwood City that offer these speeds.

How do I find the fastest internet in Redwood City?

At least three of the internet providers in Redwood City offer residential internet plans with 1000+ Mbps download speeds for users that need the fastest internet. XFINITY from Comcast offers speeds up to 1200 Mbps for $84.99/month. EarthLink Fiber has a 1000 Mbps plan starting at $99.95/month.

Should I bundle TV or phone service in Redwood City?

Some internet providers offer bundles known as double or triple play plans, meaning phone and/or TV is included in your monthly subscription. When you opt to bundle phone and/or television with your internet provider, you can potentially save money and simplify the billing process, since you’ll be receiving multiple services from one provider. A few internet providers that offer double and/or triple play bundles in Redwood City are AT&T Internet and AT&T Fiber.

Bundled Cable Plans and Pricing in Redwood City

How can I compare the major internet providers in Redwood City?

For current and future Redwood City residents, the biggest factors that play into choosing an internet provider are price, speed, data caps, and contracts. To ensure you are getting the best service to meet your needs, finding the ideal internet plan means finding the provider that offers the right balance of these four things.

• Price: Before you start shopping, determine how much money you are willing to spend on internet service each month. Bear in mind that many internet providers offer promotional rates at slashed prices for the first few months or a year and then increase their prices.
• Speed: If you’re telecommuting for work or want no lag for online gaming, springing for higher internet speeds will be worth it.
• Data Caps: Since many internet providers place caps on how much data is included in their plans each month, it’s good to get an estimate on how much data you plan to use. For example, if you do a lot of streaming, you may exceed a low data cap.
• Contracts: Before you commit, make sure you are comfortable staying with the same provider for the full length of your contract. If not, you’ll want a month-to-month plan.

What do I need to keep in mind when moving to Redwood City?

Whether you’re moving to Redwood City to pursue your dream career designing video games at Electronic Arts Inc. or to just enjoy the San Francisco Bay views, one of your first orders of business in your new home is choosing an internet provider.

If you haven’t moved yet and you are satisfied with your current internet provider, check to see if they offer the same services at your future address in Redwood City. If so, you may be able to simply transfer your services to your new location. If your current internet provider does not serve Redwood City or you’d like to take this opportunity to find a new provider, you may face early termination fees.

Most internet providers penalize those under contract who cancel before the agreement is up. Depending on your provider, the cancellation fees can be quite expensive, so it’s best to avoid breaking your contract, if possible. In Redwood City, early termination fees range from $0-400. Some providers calculate cancellation fees based on how many months are left remaining on the contract.

If you’re planning on staying in the same residence for the next year or two, signing a contract might save you money in the long-run. If, however, you are unsure of your future plans, it may be best to avoid a contract, so you don’t face possible termination penalties. XFINITY from Comcast and AT&T Internet offer contract-free plans in Redwood City.

Installation Fees in Redwood City

Some internet providers supply new subscribers with a self-installation kit, usually at low or no cost. Other providers may give you the option of trying to install it yourself but offer to send a technician out for a fee should you require extra help. Others require professional installation, with fees in Redwood City ranging from $0 to $99.

How much data do you need for your home or business internet in Redwood City?

For video game designers and other internet-based professionals in Redwood City, having a strong internet connection both on the job and at home is key. Still, fast internet is only helpful if your plan includes enough monthly data for your needs. Many internet providers in Redwood City place data caps on their plans. If you’re working with large files, streaming a lot of content, or gaming heavily, an internet plan with a small data allowance likely won’t suffice.

In Redwood City, Viasat Internet and EarthLink plans do not have data caps. Etheric Networks and XFINITY from Comcast have plans that have data caps of at least 1 TB.

What are the most-connected neighborhoods in Redwood City?

Redwood City is well-connected with many neighborhoods enjoying more than five choices for internet providers. Some of the most internet-connected areas in Redwood City are Mt. Carmel, Edgewood Park, Palm Park, and Redwood Oaks. The two primary internet types in Redwood City are cable and DSL. The main providers in Redwood City are Etheric Networks and XFINITY from Comcast.

Internet Statistics for Redwood City, California

Redwood City has a relatively good connection and ranks as the 37th most-connected city in the state of California, ahead of nearby cities including ahead of San Carlos, Menlo Park, Belmont, Atherton, and Stanford. Average download speeds in Redwood City are 181.5 Mbps. Around 0.98% of the residents in Redwood City have more than one wired internet provider to choose from, and 67 percent have a residential fiber internet provider available to them. This is good for the 3,500+ residents who primarily work from home. Currently, an estimated 4,000 people do not have access to wired broadband with more than 25 Mbps, and about 3,000 residents do not have access to any wired internet options at all.