Internet Providers in Austin, Texas
- Provider
- Fastest Internet
- Lowest Price
- Availability
Home Providers in 78704: Find the speed you need
Compare Top Providers in Your Area
- AT&T Internet vs. Spectrum
- AT&T Internet vs. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet
- AT&T Internet vs. Verizon 5G Home Internet
- Hughesnet vs. Viasat Internet
- Hughesnet vs. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet
- Hughesnet vs. Verizon 5G Home Internet
- Spectrum vs. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet
- Spectrum vs. Verizon 5G Home Internet
- Starlink vs. Viasat Internet
- T-Mobile 5G Home Internet vs. Verizon 5G Home Internet
- Viasat Internet vs. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet
- Viasat Internet vs. Verizon 5G Home Internet
Best Internet Providers in Austin, TX
The best internet provider in Austin, Texas, is AT&T Fiber. Fiber internet is the best and most reliable option for internet, and AT&T Fiber is AT&T’s brand name for its fiber connection. With advertised speeds between 300 Mbps and 5 Gbps and great customer satisfaction, AT&T Fiber is Austin’s top-shelf choice. For standalone internet plans, they range from $55 to $245 per month. AT&T also doesn’t require contracts on any of its fiber plans, making it a top choice in the city.
In areas that don’t have access to AT&T’s fiber internet plans, Austin residents should look for one of the city’s other fiber internet providers. Google Fiber’s top speed of 8 Gbps is more than a typical family would ever need, making it a real competitor to AT&T Fiber. Its internet-only plans start at $70 per month and it offers bundles that include Google Fiber Phone, its home phone service. Like AT&T Fiber, Google Fiber doesn’t require contracts, so you don’t have to worry about early termination fees.
Astound Broadband Powered by Grande also offers fiber internet in some areas, with speeds topping out at 1.5 Gbps. However, availability is much more limited, so we recommend AT&T Fiber or Google Fiber for more accessibility.
If fiber internet options don’t serve your area, your next-best option is Spectrum® Internet. Spectrum uses a cable connection to deliver download speeds between 500 Mbps and 1 Gbps. It’s a very strong fallback option for people who don’t have — or don’t want to pay for — fiber internet in their area. Spectrum also offers cable television, making it a solid option for residents who want to bundle their internet and TV. Its bundles start at $90 per month while standalone internet plans range between $50 and $70 per month.
Beyond Spectrum, AT&T Fiber and Astound Broadband in Austin, we recommend looking into T-Mobile 5G Home Internet. Not only does it offer speeds between 72 and 245 Mbps, but its prices start at just $60 per month (with AutoPay). Featuring a quick setup process and no monthly fees, it’s one of our favorite options when it comes to wireless internet providers.
ISPs typically offer new customers deals and promotions to help them save money on their internet plan. For example, AT&T offers deals for anyone who signs up for one of its fiber internet plans. These change frequently, but currently, some deals include a Visa Reward Card that ranges between $50 to $150 if you sign up for a specific fiber internet plan, a 20 percent discount when you pair a fiber internet plan with an unlimited wireless plan and an opportunity to get up to five AT&T Smart WiFi Extenders included at no additional cost. Like the idea of getting a gift card but don’t want to go with AT&T? Consider T-Mobile 5G Home Internet this month, as it is giving away a $100 Virtual Prepaid Mastercard to all new subscribers. Be sure to check back to see the latest deals and how you can save money on your internet plan.
Fastest Internet Providers in Austin, TX
The fastest internet provider in Austin is AT&T Fiber, which offers speeds of up to 5 Gbps. The second-fastest is Google Fiber, which can reach 8 Gbps. Since those companies are both fiber internet providers, the top speeds are symmetrical — meaning their upload speeds are just as fast as their download speeds.
Of course, not all users need super-fast upload speeds. For a typical household, 1 Gbps of download speed is plenty fast. Spectrum’s cable connection reaches that threshold, making it a strong option even if it’s not quite the fastest in town.
One thing to note about internet speeds is data caps. While fiber internet providers typically include unlimited data, other providers aren’t as generous. Cable internet providers like Spectrum don’t include data caps, but most do. The same goes for satellite and fixed wireless providers. It’s best to keep this in mind when you’re shopping for internet service in Austin, as these data caps might affect your overall online experience and performance.
Internet Availability in Austin, TX
Depending on where you live in Austin, you will have different options for internet service.
Downtown, near the Texas State Capitol and the University of Texas, the most widely available fiber provider is Astound Broadband Powered by Grande. Google Fiber doesn’t have much of a presence in the downtown area, and AT&T serves the area primarily with its AT&T Internet product (AT&T Internet has an IPBB connection, which uses DSL and other connection types together to deliver internet).
North of the University of Texas, in Hyde Park, AT&T Fiber is more widely available. Farther north, into the Northwest Hills, North Austin, and Great Hills neighborhoods, you’ll start to see both AT&T Fiber and Google Fiber become more widely available.
Fiber options are strong just south of the Colorado River. In Zilker, Bouldin Creek, and Travis Heights, you’ll likely be able to choose between AT&T Fiber and Google Fiber. Astound’s fiber internet network has some coverage in those areas too.
The selection of internet companies and plans gets a little thinner south of Route 290. Google Fiber has a solid presence in South Austin, but coverage from its fiber competitors gets a little spottier once you’re past South Manchaca and East Congress.
Fiber availability varies in Austin, but other forms of broadband are pretty consistently available. You’ll be able to get Spectrum Internet’s cable coverage just about anywhere within Austin’s city limits since 94.2% of Austin is covered. AT&T Internet (AT&T’s IPBB offering) is also available at almost any address in Austin.
Internet Provider Store Locations in Austin, TX
Internet Providers in Nearby Cities
Frequently Asked Questions About Internet in Austin, TX
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