Internet Providers in Chicago, Illinois

Best Internet Providers in Chicago, IL

The best internet provider in Chicago is AT&T, which uses fiber-optic connections to deliver the fastest internet speeds in the city. AT&T’s download speeds are remarkable: The company advertises speeds of up to 5 Gbps. Customers can also expect very reliable performance and very fast upload speeds (on a fiber network, upload speeds can be just as fast as download speeds).

Chicago’s other major provider, Xfinity, is also a strong option. Xfinity offers gigabit plans to many Chicago residents. Xfinity’s cable connections don’t impress us as much as AT&T Fiber, but they stack up much better in areas of Chicago that don’t have access to AT&T’s fiber network.

Fastest Internet Providers in Chicago, IL

AT&T Fiber offers the speediest plans in Chicago. The fastest AT&T plan tops out at a dizzying 5 Gbps in advertised download speeds, which is far faster than most internet users are accustomed to.

If you can’t get AT&T Fiber, consider its rival Xfinity’s plans, which offer speeds of up to 1.25 Gbps.

How can AT&T deliver such fast internet? The answer is that AT&T has a fiber-optic network. Fiber networks are faster than older connection types like DSL and dial-up — and even cable, though cable networks can often offer speeds of 1 Gbps or more.

Internet Availability in Chicago, IL

If you live in Chicago, then you almost certainly have access to AT&T internet plans. AT&T’s coverage area reaches 95.1 percent of Chicago. However, AT&T Fiber covers a little less of the city — 95.1 percent, to be exact. Check out our AT&T availability map for all the details.

Xfinity, like AT&T, has impressive coverage in Chicago. Xfinity’s service area covers 30.7 percent of the city.

Most Chicagoans will find that AT&T and Xfinity are their only two major options for wired internet, but there are a few other ISPs at play in select parts of the city. Astound Broadband by RCN covers 49.2 percent of Chicago; you’ll rarely encounter it south of Hyde Park or west of I-90, but there’s a good chance you’ll have access to RCN if you live on the Near North Side or the near South Side (Astound’s coverage in the Loop is a little spottier). RCN is also available in Lincoln Park, Wrigleyville, and beyond (Astound is very popular with our neighbors up in Evanston). Meanwhile, folks in South Chicago neighborhoods like Roseland may have access to WOW!, a cable internet provider.