What is the best internet provider in Aurora?
According to CNET, AT&T Fiber stands out as the top internet provider in Aurora, Illinois — if you can get it. With straightforward pricing, fast speeds, simple service terms and high customer satisfaction, it’s an excellent choice for home internet. Plans range from 300Mbps to 5,000Mbps, making it the fastest option in the area, and it comes with free equipment and unlimited data.
If AT&T Fiber isn’t available, or if you’re seeking the cheapest internet option, Xfinity is a solid alternative. Xfinity serves nearly every household in Aurora with its five plans. They start at $35 a month for 150Mbps and max out around $95, which gets you 2,000Mbps speed. Data caps, contracts and scheduled price increases might affect its value, but Xfinity still offers fast internet at relatively low prices.
Additionally, fixed wireless options like Verizon 5G Home Internet and T-Mobile Home Internet may be available, both starting at $50 a month. T-Mobile tends to have better local coverage, but Verizon might offer faster speeds at a lower cost. Both providers feature unlimited data, free equipment rental, no contracts and discounts for eligible mobile customers.
Best internet in Aurora, Illinois
Aurora, Illinois, internet providers compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Read full review |
Fixed Wireless, fiber | $60 Fixed Wireless, $55-$245 fiber | 10-100Mbps DSL, 300-5,000Mbps fiber | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$60 ($35-$45 with eligible mobile plans) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 with eligible mobile plans) | 100-300Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
| Xfinity Read full review |
Cable | $35-$95 | 150-2,000Mbps | $15 (included in most plans) | 1.2TB | 1-2 years for lowest pricing | 7 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Aurora?
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Aurora
The best internet deals and top promotions in Aurora depend on what discounts are available during that time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Aurora internet providers, such as Xfinity and T-Mobile Home Internet, may offer lower introductory pricing or free equipment rental for a limited time. Others, including AT&T Fiber and Verizon 5G Home Internet, run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
Fastest internet plans in Aurora
| Plan | Starting price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Internet 5000 Read full review |
$245 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| AT&T Internet 2000 Read full review |
$145 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Xfinity Gigabit x2 Read full review |
$95 | 2,000Mbps | 200Mbps | Unlimited data included | Cable |
| AT&T Internet 1000 Read full review |
$80 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Xfinity Gigabit Read full review |
$65 | 1,000Mbps | 20Mbps | 1.2TB | Cable |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Plus Read full review |
$70 ($45 with eligible mobile plans) | 300Mbps | 75Mbps | None | Fixed wireless |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s a good internet speed?
Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here’s an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.
For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.
- 0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics: browsing the internet, sending and receiving email and streaming low-quality video.
- 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
- 40 to 100Mbps should give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
- 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming.
- 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Aurora
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
It doesn’t end there: We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
- Are customers happy with their service?
The answers to those questions are often layered and complex, but the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When it comes to selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and also take into account real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
Internet providers in Aurora, Illinois, FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Aurora?
AT&T Fiber is Aurora’s best internet service provider due mostly to its local fiber coverage, simple pricing on fast speed tiers and high customer satisfaction. Although AT&T Fiber is available to only around a quarter of Aurora residents, it’s the largest fiber internet provider in the area. Speeds range from 300 to 5,000Mbps, the fastest in the area, and all plans include unlimited data and free equipment rental, unlike Xfinity, which includes such perks only with specific plans.
Is fiber internet available in Aurora?
Around a quarter of Aurora households, or 16,400 residences, are serviceable for fiber-optic internet, according to recent FCC data. Neighborhoods closest to the city center have the highest fiber serviceability, but fiber service can be found in random communities throughout Aurora. AT&T Fiber is Aurora’s largest fiber internet provider, although Xfinity has a small fiber presence in the area.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Aurora?
Xfinity has the cheapest introductory pricing on home internet in Aurora. Xfinity’s cheapest plan starts at $35 per month for speeds up to 150Mbps. At $55, Xfinity’s Fast plan has the same starting price as AT&T Fiber but offers faster maximum download speeds at 500Mbps compared with 300Mbps from AT&T Fiber. Gig service is also slightly cheaper at $65 monthly for speeds up to 1,000Mbps and $95 for up to 2,000Mbps.
Which internet provider in Aurora offers the fastest plan?
AT&T Fiber offers the fastest plan in Aurora with speeds up to 5,000Mbps starting at $245 per month. As a 100% fiber service, AT&T Fiber plans also have the advantage of symmetrical upload and download speeds. AT&T Fiber and Xfinity offer a 2,000Mbps plan in Aurora. Xfinity’s is slightly cheaper at $95 per month versus $145, but AT&T Fiber offers significantly faster upload speeds, 2,000Mbps compared to 200Mbps from Xfinity.
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