Shopping for internet in San Diego, California? You’ll want this complete Internet Buyer’s Guide close by to ensure that your search is as simple and stress-free as possible. Complete with residential and business options, along with the pricing, coverage, and speed ranges that set each plan apart, this guide is your all-in-one tool for finding the right internet plan for you.
Residential Internet Providers in San Diego, CA
| Provider | Starting Price | Speed Range | Type Of Internet | Coverage Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum | $49.99/mo. | 200-1000 Mbps | Cable | 100% Cable |
| EarthLink | $49.95/mo. | 7-1000 Mbps | DSL, Fiber | 100% DSL, 89% Fiber |
| Cox Communications | $29.99/mo. | 25-1000 Mbps | Cable | 100% Cable |
| AT&T Internet | $35/mo. | 100-940 Mbps | IPBB, Fiber | 100% IPBB, 89% Fiber |
The table above summarizes San Diego internet providers with the greatest coverage locally.
Fastest Internet Providers in San Diego, CA
| Provider | Maximum Speed | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Cox Communications | 1000 Mbps | $29.99-99.99/mo. |
| EarthLink Fiber | 1000 Mbps | $49.95-99.95/mo. |
| Webpass | 1000 Mbps | N/A |
| Spectrum | 1000 Mbps | $49.99-109.99/mo. |
The providers above offer the fastest download speeds currently available to San Diego residents.
What type of internet is available in San Diego?
San Diego internet users have four different types of internet to choose from: DSL, Cable, Fiber-Optic, and Satellite.
- DSL: For users looking for simple, straightforward internet to support their light browsing, DSL is a great option. Download speeds average around 10-40 Mbps and upload speeds are around 1-10 Mbps.
- Cable: Serviced through your TV power cords, cable internet is ideal for bundling plans and users looking for faster speeds than DSL, with most speeds reaching up to 300 Mbps.
- Fiber-Optic: If you’re on the hunt for some of the fastest internet speeds in San Diego, you’re looking for fiber internet which is the gold standard of internet types.
- Satellite: For San Diegans living in an area with limited broadband availability, satellite internet provides a smart solution by using an installed dish on your property to provide satellite data.
Keep in mind that not all neighborhoods in San Diego have access to the internet network options listed above.
How do I find the cheapest internet option in San Diego?
This coastal California city has a total of 48 internet providers, with 14 residential options and 34 business options. When it comes to finding some of the cheapest internet plans in San Diego, check with Cox Communications, XFINITY from Comcast and AT&T Fiber.
Cheapest internet in San Diego
- Cox Communications—$29.99/mo. for up to 25 Mbps *
- XFINITY from Comcast—$29.99/mo. for up to 50 Mbps *
- AT&T Fiber—$35/mo. for up to 300 Mbps *
- HughesNet—$39.99/mo. for up to 25 Mbps *
- AT&T Internet—$45/mo. for up to 100 Mbps *
How Much Internet Speed Do I Need In San Diego?
Deciding on how much internet speed you’ll need relies on the size of your household or business and the type of frequent internet activities taking place. With a booming tech industry and a growing population of college students and families, San Diego internet users often look for providers that offer fast internet speeds with low prices. It’s worthwhile to take the time to consider what your internet usage looks like to help narrow down your search for the right plan.
Light internet users—checking emails and lightly browsing the web—should look at plans with basic download speeds around 25 Mbps. But for those who will need to download large files or stream content will want to look at plans with download speeds starting at a minimum of 100 Mbps, though the faster the better. If you live in a large household of power internet users, like competitive gamers and heavy streamers, you’ll want to look for an internet plan that offers speeds up to 1000 Mbps.
Below are the recommended download speeds based on frequent internet activities and the residential providers in San Diego that offer these speeds.
| Recommended Speeds | Type of Internet Activities | Internet Providers in San Diego |
|---|---|---|
| 25+ Mbps |
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| 100+ Mbps |
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| 1000+ Mbps |
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How do I find the fastest internet in San Diego?
The fastest internet in San Diego is supplied by Spectrum, EarthLink Fiber, and XFINITY from Comcast, which all offer plans with internet speeds up to 1000 Mbps. If speed is what you’re after, check to see if fiber services are available in your neighborhood.
Should I bundle TV or phone service in San Diego?
Bundled deals are a great option for households looking to keep their services as streamlined as possible. Many internet providers in San Diego offer bundled deals that include TV and/or phone service in addition to their internet plans, including Spectrum, Cox Communications, and AT&T Internet. It’s always a good idea to decide on what you need and chat with several providers to understand all that their bundled offers encompass. If the internet is all you’re looking for, all providers come with internet-only options.
Bundled Cable Plans and Pricing in San Diego
| Internet Providers in San Diego | Services | Price Range of Bundles |
|---|---|---|
| XFINITY from Comcast | Internet + Phone + TV | $54.99-149.99/mo. |
| Spectrum | Internet + Phone + TV | $89.98-152.97/mo. |
| AT&T Internet | Internet + TV | $99.99-129.99/mo. |
| AT&T Fiber | Internet + TV | $129.99/mo. |
| Cox Communications | Internet + Phone + TV | $129.99-209.99/mo. |
How can I compare the major internet providers in San Diego?
Before you commit to any San Diego internet provider, it’s important to know what you’re looking for. Take note of these four key factors to select the plan best for you:
- Price: Whether you’re a college student living with roommates, a young family, or recent retiree, set a reasonable and realistic price range for how much you want to pay for your internet per month.
- Speed: The amount of speed you’ll need greatly depends on how you use the internet, whether you’re a business working with large download files or a family of five looking to stream movies in HD.
- Data Caps: Review your last or track your next monthly data usage to decide if your household or business requires a plan with unlimited data or a set data cap.
- Contracts: In San Diego, most internet providers require a minimum six-month to one-year agreement. If you don’t want to commit to a contract plan, all Spectrum plans are contract-free.
What do I need to keep in mind when moving to San Diego?
There are a plethora of reasons to move to America’s Finest City—to pursue a degree at San Diego State University, start a whisky bar in The Gaslamp Quarter, or to retire by the picturesque shores of La Jolla. To help elevate your moving experience from a broadband perspective, there are a few crucial aspects to keep in mind when it comes time to move from one internet provider to a new one.
If you are happy with your current internet provider, check to see if they are available in your new San Diego neighborhood. If so, you may be able to transfer your current internet plan to your new home and avoid shopping for a new provider.
However, if you aren’t able to transfer your services or the provider is not available in your area, you may be subject to early termination fees. In San Diego, most early termination fees range from $0-400. Before you cancel your service, review your contract to see what, if any, fees you will be charged. It’s also good to take note of these fees before you sign a contract to avoid any surprise penalties.
Most San Diego internet providers require a contract agreement of some length, and you’ll find that most range from 0-1 year. Read up on the contract before committing to fully understand the contract’s policies on cancelling or early termination. If you’d rather avoid contracts altogether, Spectrum and AT&T Internet offer contract-free internet plans in San Diego.
Installation Fees in San Diego
Whether you decide to purchase a self-installation kit or hire a professional installer, installation fees are a common, and often unavoidable, part of setting up a new internet service. Currently, professional installation fees range from $0 to $99 in San Diego. It may be worth asking the internet provider if there are any promotional deals, as some may waive the installation fees.
How much data do you need for your home or business internet in San Diego?
To configure how much data your home or business requires, you’ll need to look at how you use your internet each month. If you frequently use the internet for heavy streaming or downloading large files, you’ll want to look at providers that supply large to unlimited data. Spectrum and EarthLink are some of the San Diego providers who currently offer no data cap restrictions. However, if you don’t anticipate your data use to exceed light internet browsing, a cap may not be an issue.
What are the most-connected neighborhoods in San Diego?
The areas in San Diego with access to four or more internet providers are mainly located in central San Diego, including Mission Valley, North Park, and Downtown, along with more suburban neighborhoods like Rancho Bernardo and Carmel Valley. Most of San Diego county has access to 2-3 internet providers, with most users choosing between AT&T Internet and Cox Communications due to high coverage availability.
Internet Providers in Nearby Cities
Internet Statistics for San Diego, California
Transforming from a laid back surf town to an innovating tech scene, San Diego boasts popular schools and a booming tech industry in addition to its famed weather and lifestyle. Currently, San Diego impressively ranks as the 19th most internet-connected city in California, outranking nearby cities including ahead of National City, Santee, Lemon Grove, and La Mesa.. With three major universities calling the city home, reliable and fast internet is a major requirement among users. AT&T Internet, Cox Communications and EarthLink are some of the most popular providers among San Diegans based on high coverage availability. However, approximately people in the county only have access to one or fewer wired broadband providers. Still, San Diego stands as one of the most popular cities to move to, with strong broadband services for every kind of user.
