Internet Providers in
Chicago, IL

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Best Internet Providers in Chicago, IL

We recommend AT&T Fiber as the best home internet provider for most users in Chicago. Not to be confused with AT&T’s IPBB offering, AT&T Internet, AT&T Fiber is the brand’s lightning-fast fiber-optic internet service. It offers speeds between 300 Mbps and 5 Gbps, and the best part is that these speeds are symmetrical. AT&T Fiber’s internet-only plans are also affordable, with prices ranging between $42 and $194 per month.

If AT&T Fiber isn’t available in your area of Chicago, look for Astound Broadband Powered by RCN. Formerly just RCN, the broadband provider is a longtime favorite of Chicago locals, and it offers fiber internet in some parts of the city. Its cable options aren’t as quick as its fiber connections, of course, but they’re still worth considering if they’re available in your area. Its top download speeds reach up to 1.5 Gbps, and depending on where you live, you might have access to its cable or fiber internet service.

If you don’t have access to AT&T Fiber or Astound Broadband, your next-best option is the city’s ubiquitous cable provider, Xfinity. Xfinity offers speeds between 100 Mbps and 2 Gbps on a cable connection. Its internet-only plans start at $30 per month, with the higher end at $105 per month. If you’re looking for bundles, Xfinity offers internet, home phone, home security, mobile and TV services that start at $70 per month. Unlike AT&T Fiber, Xfinity plans do have data caps, so we recommend going for fiber internet if you prefer unlimited data.

Beyond fiber and cable internet providers is T-Mobile 5G Home Internet. We like T-Mobile 5G Home Internet as an alternative to these providers because it is easy to setup and it has a simple pricing structure starting at $60 per month. With speeds between 133 Mbps and 415 Mbps, it is also equipped with enough speed to handle most online activities.

When it comes to enticing new customers, internet providers typically offer exclusive deals and promotions. For example, some of AT&T’s current promotions include six months of AT&T Fiber free when you add a new Unlimited wireless plan and Reward Cards up to $150 depending on which plan you choose. It also offers stackable Reward Cards for even more savings. For Xfinity, customers get to enjoy 400 Mbps internet when they sign up for an Unlimited mobile line for only $40 per month for one year. These promotions don’t last and tend to change each month, so be sure to check back for the latest deals so you don’t miss out.

Metronet - Fastest Provider
Metronet - Cheapest Provider
Viasat - Widely Available
Viasat - Great for Rural Areas
EarthLink - Offers 5G Home Internet
Metronet - Great Value

Fastest Internet Providers in Chicago, IL

Metronet is the fastest provider in Chicago, with speeds up to 5.12 Gbps.

Metronet is the fastest of Chicago’s broadband home internet companies. It offers speeds of up to 5 Gbps — more than enough for even the most bandwidth-hungry households.

When shopping for internet, consider how much speed you’ll actually need on your home Wi-Fi. More is always better, of course, but it’s not always cost-effective. Once you get past 1 Gbps, you’re not going to notice much difference in your internet speed with typical use. Keep in mind that fiber networks offer faster upload speeds than cable or DSL ones. Download speed is usually the most important thing, but certain activities — such as video chatting or broadcasting your own stream — demand decent upload speeds.

Another thing you’ll want to consider is data caps. Fiber internet plans usually come with unlimited data, but cable and DSL internet providers will have data caps with their plans. If you choose a plan with a data cap and go over the monthly allotted amount, you’ll be charged a data overage fee, and your internet performance might slow down due to throttling. However, data caps don’t always mean they’re bad, especially if you don’t perform online activities that often. It’s only when you live in a large household with multiple power internet users that you should keep an eye on your data usage.

What’s a Good Internet Speed?

Internet Speed	Appropriate For	Providers in your Area offering this Speed	Availability in your Area
25 Mbps	Email Web browsing Light streaming Smaller households	NITCO	3%
100 Mbps	Streaming Video chat Online gaming Larger households	Viasat T-Mobile Rise Broadband EarthLink Hughesnet XNET WiFi WATCH Starlink	100%
1000 Mbps (1 Gbps)	Heavy streaming (4K video multiple devices etc.) Video chat Lag-free gaming Large households	Spectrum AT&T Xfinity Verizon Metronet RCN	98.61999999999999%

Learn more about internet speeds:

Internet Availability in Chicago, IL

Chicago is well served by some very fast broadband internet providers, but your options will depend on what neighborhood you live in — and sometimes your exact address. The main difference you’ll see will be the availability of AT&T Fiber and Astound Powered by RCN. (The availability of Xfinity, on the other hand, won’t change much. You can get Xfinity service at virtually any address in the city.)

Where is AT&T Fiber available, and where can you get Astound Powered by RCN in Chicago?

Generally, AT&T Fiber is more widely available on the North Side of Chicago than it is on the South Side. The best-covered areas are mostly found along I-90 as it heads northwest out of downtown. AT&T has great fiber availability in neighborhoods like West Bucktown, Logan Square, Grayland, Albany Park, Montrose, Portage Park, and Northwood Park. Coverage is a little spotter closer to Lake Michigan, in areas such as Ravenswood and the Near North Side, but it’s still worth checking availability at your address if you live in those areas.

Coverage beyond those areas isn’t great. The Loop, Near West Side, and Near South Side don’t have a ton of access to AT&T Fiber, nor do most neighborhoods south or west of those areas.

Frustratingly, Astound Powered by RCN’s fiber internet footprint has a fair amount of overlap with AT&T’s. It does, however, offer fiber service in some areas that aren’t served well by AT&T — most notably the Near North Side, the Loop, West Loop, and the Near South Side. Astound’s cable internet options — which, although not as fast as its fiber offerings, are still very well regarded — are more widely available. Astound covers pretty much the entire North Side of Chicago. It handles a fair bit of the South Side, too, covering most areas between the Dan Ryan Expressway and Lake Michigan as far south as Hyde Park. Don’t expect to see it in neighborhoods on the western side of Chicago though.

Provider Connection Types in Chicago, IL

Connection Type	About this Connection Type	Availability in Chicago, IL
Satellite	Available even in very rural areas Typically has high latency (lag)	100%
DSL	Typically about 100 Mbps Slower than Cable or Fiber	55.28999999999999%
Cable	Typically 250 Mbps - 1 Gbps Widely available A good choice for most users	99.22%
Fiber	Typically 1 Gbps or faster Upload speeds match download speeds	33.1%