Internet Providers in Cincinnati, Ohio

Best Internet Providers in Cincinnati, OH

The best of Cincinnati’s internet providers is Altafiber, which offers a high-speed fiber internet connection. According to our local review data, Cincinnati residents who are Altafiber customers are relatively happy with the service they receive. Altafiber’s top speed in town is 2 Gbps, which is all the speed that most households could ever need.

Altafiber also offers DSL internet in Cincinnati; however, we generally don’t recommend DSL connections to customers who have access to better alternatives. If you’re in an area where Altafiber offers DSL but not fiber internet, then you should consider Cincinnati’s cable internet provider, Spectrum. Spectrum’s cable connections can reach speeds up to 1 Gbps. Spectrum also offers bundles with other services, such as live TV; those bundles start at $49.99 per month.

Altafiber and Spectrum aren’t Cincinnati’s only internet service providers — actually, a total of 10 companies serve Cincinnati; however, they’re the two that we most recommend. Wireless alternatives may be tempting (especially exciting newcomers like Starlink satellite internet and T-Mobile 5G Home Internet), but the fact of the matter is that fiber and cable internet are the top two connection types available; plus, even the most modern wireless internet options can’t yet match the performance you’ll get from Altafiber or Spectrum.

Fastest Internet Providers in Cincinnati, OH

Cincinnati has a couple of speedy broadband providers. The fastest of them is Spectrum, which offers speeds that can reach up to 1 Gbps.

And fiber internet speeds mean more than internet speeds on other connection types. When Altafiber says it offers up to 2 Gbps on its fiber network, that number refers to download speeds and upload speeds. Not so with cable networks and their claims, such as Spectrum’s speeds up to 1 Gbps; with cable (and DSL and other connection types besides fiber), speed claims refer only to download speeds. Upload speeds for connections of these types are much slower. To be fair, download speed is by far the more important and impactful of the two. However, it should be noted that upload speeds can matter for things like hosting a livestream or playing online video games.

Internet Availability in Cincinnati, OH

Choosing an internet plan always involves a question of geography: Which providers are available where you live? Happily, Cincinnati residents have some pretty good options that are also pretty consistent.

Take Altafiber, for example. Like most modern fiber networks, Altafiber doesn’t offer a ton of residential service in the immediate downtown areas. Coverage is a little block to block in Queensgate, Downtown Cincinnati, and the West End; however, you’re still reasonably likely to be able to sign up for a plan in residential zones of those neighborhoods.

Beyond those areas, however, Altafiber’s coverage is remarkable. You’ll find Altafiber in areas north of downtown, all the way up past Route 75 and Spring Grove in neighborhoods like College Hill, Winton Hills, and Bond Hill. Head west from the heart of town to Evanston, Hyde Park, and Mt. Lookout, and you’ll find the same wide availability. And west of 75 and Mill Creek, it’s the same story yet again: You can get Altafiber in Westwood, Western Hills, and just about anywhere else.

As for cable, Cincinnati residents can expect to be offered service by Spectrum. Just like Altafiber, Spectrum is available virtually everywhere in town. The only spots not included in its footprint — which covers 95.1% of Cincinnati — are places like park land, railroad tracks, and empty lots. If you live in Cincy, you can expect to be able to choose between Spectrum and Altafiber.