Our picks
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Best cable internet provider overall
Fastest cable internet provider
Best cable ISP for cheap internet
Best prepaid internet plan
What’s the best cable internet provider?
When exploring internet service providers in your area, chances are a cable ISP or two will be available. Cable internet is the most widely available wired internet connection type, with coverage to more than 8 in 10 U.S. households, according to the Federal Communications Commission.
There are dozens, if not hundreds of cable ISPs across the U.S., but a few stand out for their availability, low pricing, simple service terms, high customer satisfaction and other attributes. Spectrum is CNET’s pick for the best cable internet provider overall thanks to its broad coverage area, fast speeds, unlimited data and straightforward pricing.
Xfinity, the nation’s largest cable ISP, is another solid choice, particularly if you’re looking for a wide variety of high-speed options, the fastest being up to 1,200 or 2,000 megabits per second. Astound, where available, is likely to be your cheapest cable internet provider with service starting at $20 per month for speeds up to 300Mbps.
No two major cable ISPs are equal when it comes to availability, speeds, pricing and service terms. Considering these factors and others, select cable ISPs rise to the top. Here are my picks for the best cable internet providers.
Best cable internet service providers
500 – 1,000 Mbps
$50 – $80 per month
Our take – Spectrum doesn’t have the cheapest internet plan, but speeds are high — download speeds start at 500Mbps — and all plans include unlimited data with no contract requirements.
500 – 1,000 Mbps
$50 – $80 per month
150 – 2,000 Mbps
$19 – $95 per month
Our take – Comcast Xfinity is not only the largest cable internet provider, it’s also the fastest in many areas. Xfinity’s Gigabit X2 advertises download speeds up to 2,000Mbps, twice the speed available from most other cable ISPs.
150 – 2,000 Mbps
$19 – $95 per month
100 – 1,500 Mbps
$20 – $80 per month
Our take – Astound plans and pricing vary by market, but you can count on low introductory rates wherever service is available. Plans start at $20 to $55 a month for maximum speeds of 300 to 1,500Mbps. Plans include unlimited data and, in most areas, free equipment rental.
100 – 1,500 Mbps
$20 – $80 per month
100 – 1,000 Mbps
$25 – $80 per month
Our take – Providers like Xfinity, Spectrum, Cox and Optimum primarily stick to big cities, Mediacom caters to much of America’s heartland, extending broadband availability to rural areas throughout much of the Midwest and South.
100 – 1,000 Mbps
$25 – $80 per month
Mostly cable, some fiber
100 – 2,000 Mbps
$50 – $110 per month
Our take – Cox’s Straight Up Internet prepaid service comes with speeds up to 100Mbps starting at $50. Pricing is good for three years and there are no equipment fees, contracts or credit checks when you sign up.
Mostly cable, some fiber
100 – 2,000 Mbps
$50 – $110 per month
Top cable internet providers compared
Please note that the plans below show each provider’s cheapest available tier. The maximum speed is the top advertised speed for that given plan, but it might not be available in your area.
Overall, the best selection for you — and the most cost-effective plan — might be a different tier that provides a faster speed at a higher price but a better value. To more fully understand this value-based approach, check out CNET’s guide to examining the cost per Mbps.
| Plan | Starting price | Max download speed | Cost per Mbps | Equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astound Broadband 300 Read full review |
$20 | 300Mbps | 7 cents | $15 (optional) |
| Cox Go Fast Internet | $50 | 100Mbps | 50 cents | $15 (optional) |
| Mediacom Xtream Connect Read full review |
$15 | 100Mbps | 15 cents | $14 (optional) |
| Spectrum Internet Read full review |
$50 | 500Mbps | 10 cents | $10 router (optional) |
| Xfinity Connect Read full review |
$20 | 150Mbps | 13 cents | $15 (optional) |
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Cable internet versus cable TV service
“Cable” has become so synonymous with “TV service” that it’s easy to confuse cable internet with a TV and internet bundle. Cable internet is broadband through and through. It just uses a coaxial cable — yes, the same one as for your cable TV — to deliver service.
It’s the most widely available internet connection outside of satellite internet, covering 83% of US households and 97% of urban areas. As such, there’s a good chance that you have available cable internet access in your area. It’s not a bad option if you don’t want to shell out the big bucks for fiber optic internet.
What is a coaxial cable?
A coaxial cable is a copper line surrounded by an insulated shield and protective plastic sheath (usually black) used to transmit television, internet and telephone signals. The cables can also be used to carry weak electrical currents, like those to power a satellite dish.
If you have cable TV or a satellite TV service with an HD or DVR box, the line that connects to the back of your box is likely a coaxial cable. With cable internet service, that same cable type plugs into your modem and sends internet data instead of TV signals.
Coaxial cables are capable of supporting higher bandwidth than DSL (which uses telephone lines), but they fall short of fiber-optic cables. Most cable internet providers can offer download speeds up to 1,000Mbps or slightly higher, although upload speeds are significantly slower, often 10 to 50Mbps. Fiber internet, on the other hand, can deliver multigigabit download and upload speeds of 10,000Mbps and higher.
How to choose the best cable internet provider
Cable internet providers operate in specific areas, often with little overlap of other cable internet providers, so choosing the best cable ISP starts with identifying the available providers in your area.
If you have the choice of two or more cable internet providers, you’ll want to compare those options the same as you would any other available ISPs. Here’s how to choose the best cable internet provider for your home:
- Know what speeds you need. Identify the providers that offer those speeds or close.
- Compare pricing. Be sure to take into account promotional rates, how long they last and how much your rate will increase after the promotional period ends.
- Consider any bundle offers. Cable internet providers are often the best source for TV and internet bundles. If you’re interested in getting the two together, compare available speeds and channel packages to find the one that best fits your household’s speed and entertainment demands.
- Understand the fine print. Whether it’s with standalone internet service or an internet and TV bundle, it’s important to be aware of any added fees, such as equipment rental fees, data caps and contract requirements.
It’s possible only one cable internet provider will be available at your address. In that case, you’ll want to compare speeds, pricing and service terms such as equipment fees and data caps to ISPs of other connection types like fiber or fixed wireless.
How CNET determined the best cable internet providers
Cable internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every cable ISP. To evaluate the top providers, we start by researching the availability, pricing and speed information of the top providers, drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
We also input addresses on provider websites to find and compare specific options. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how content customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication.
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
Best cable ISPs honorable mentions
These cable internet providers also offer decent pricing and speeds. If any are available in your area, they are also worth a look.
Optimum
Optimum is one of the largest cable ISPs in the U.S., covering much of the greater New York City area along with smaller markets in 21 states since parent company Altice rebranded Suddenlink under the Optimum brand. Pricing and service terms are comparable to most major cable internet providers, but pricing has gone up while customer satisfaction and upload speeds have gone down in recent years.
Sparklight
Formerly known as Cable One, Sparklight is another cable provider that largely serves rural and suburban areas. Plans range from $39 for up to 100Mbps to $125 per month for gig service, which is a bit higher than most ISPs.
WideOpenWest
Another great source for cheap internet, WideOpenWest, or WOW, offers internet starting at $30 for speeds up to 300Mbps. Other WOW plans, up to gig service starting at $60 monthly, are competitively priced as well, but you may find a better value than its $95, 1,200Mbps plan elsewhere.
Best cable ISPs recap
Cable internet boasts almost the same availability as DSL but can deliver much faster speeds and better connection quality, making it a top choice for broadband, especially in markets where fiber is unavailable. For the most part, cable ISPs have similar speeds and pricing, but those featured in our list of the best — Xfinity, Spectrum, Mediacom, Cox and WOW — stand out for their exceptional speeds, customer-friendly service terms and/or unique services.
Read more: The best high-speed ISPs for gigabit internet
Cable internet FAQs
What is the best coaxial cable for high-speed internet?
Your cable internet provider should provide you with any coaxial cables needed for home internet service. If you need additional cables, RG6 coaxial cables are best suited for home broadband due to their flexibility, reliability and ability to carry large amounts of data.
Fiber vs. cable internet: what’s the difference and which is better?
Cable internet is available to nearly twice the number of households as fiber optic and can support similar download speeds, but its advantages over fiber largely end there. Fiber internet has with faster upload speeds and better speed reliability than cable, often for a price lower than or equal to what you would pay for cable internet, depending on the available providers in your area.
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Which cable company has the fastest internet?
Xfinity offers the fastest cable internet plan of any major internet provider with download speeds up to 2,000Mbps available in select areas. Xfinity also offers a 1,200Mbps plan throughout much of its service area, as does WideOpenWest.
Astound, a cable internet provider with service areas in New York City, Chicago and other major markets across the U.S., has maximum download speeds of up to 1,500Mbps.
Most other cable ISPs, including Spectrum, Cox, Mediacom and Optimum, top out at max download speeds of around 1,000Mbps.
How does cable and DSL internet compare?
Cable internet is preferable to DSL in the same way fiber internet is more desirable than cable service. Cable internet has a faster max speed potential — up to 1,000Mbps or higher — than DSL service, which tops out at around 100Mbps. Cable internet also provides a more reliable connection than DSL, especially over long distances. Given the choice of cable or DSL internet service, cable is almost always the better option.
What is a coaxial cable splitter and do I need one?
A coaxial cable splitter allows you to connect multiple devices, such as a cable TV box and an internet modem, to the same line. If one is needed for your home networking, your cable ISP should provide one at the time of installation.
Why are cable internet upload speeds so slow?
Cable internet providers use coaxial cables, the same ones used for cable TV, to run internet service the last mile or so to your home. These cables do not have the same bandwidth capacity as fiber-optic cables and therefore cannot support symmetrical download and upload speeds. As a result, cable internet upload speeds often range from 1 to 50Mbps, although the download speeds may be much higher.
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Why do I only have one cable internet provider?
Operating costs are the biggest obstacle preventing multiple cable providers from offering service in the same market. More people have access to more than one provider with cable internet than any other service type (excluding satellite). According to the FCC, multiple cable internet providers are available to around 7% of U.S. residents, compared with less than 4% with fiber and 3% with DSL service.
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What cable internet deals are available to seniors?
Cable internet providers, including Xfinity, Spectrum, Mediacom and others, offer internet plans intended for low-income households. Additionally, the Affordable Connectivity Program grants qualifying households up to $30 per month to use toward the cost of home internet. View our guides to internet deals and how to apply for the ACP credit for more information.
Which cable internet service is available near me?
Cable internet providers operate in specific locations, so the ISP near you will depend on your address. There are a few cable internet providers that are available in more areas than others. Xfinity boasts the largest availability, covering 36% of the U.S. population. Spectrum is right behind Xfinity at 33%, followed by Cox (7%), Altice brands Optimum and Suddenlink (5.6% total), RCN (2.6%), WideOpenWest (2.3%) and Mediacom (2%). There are also dozens of regional cable internet providers that operate in hyper-local markets that your address could be serviceable for.
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