Best Internet Providers in Glendale, Arizona

What is the best internet provider in Glendale?

Glendale’s high-speed connectivity leaves much to be desired and Cox has the widest network in the region. It’s also got the fastest plans going all the way up to 2,000Mbps, making Cox the best Internet service provider in Glendale according to CNET.

With service starting at $30 per month for speeds up to 100Mbps if you qualify, Cox isn’t the cheapest internet service provider on the market, but that pricing is still among the lowest in Glendale.

You’ll get more speed with Quantum Fiber, up to 500Mbps, for $50 monthly. Meanwhile, Verizon 5G Home Internet, which has a speed range of 50 to 300Mbps will run you close to $50 per month.

T-Mobile Home Internet, Phoenix Internet and CenturyLink round out the list of practical internet options in Glendale. T-Mobile Home Internet may be worth considering, but you’re likely to get more speed for the money with providers other than Phoenix Internet and CenturyLink.

Best internet in Glendale, Arizona

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

What other internet options are there in Glendale?

Depending on where you live in Glendale, any or all of these internet providers may also be available. While worth considering, the ISPs listed below largely lack the speed or overall value to serve as practical alternatives to Cox, Quantum Fiber or Verizon 5G Home Internet.

• CenturyLink: Quantum Fiber and CenturyLink share the same parent company, Lumen Technologies, but CenturyLink is the less desirable of the two services. The DSL internet speeds won’t qualify as broadband in many areas, though the starting price remains $55 regardless of the speeds you can get.
• Phoenix Internet: Fixed wireless internet is a great option for internet in rural areas, but you’ll get faster speeds and a better value from most other Glendale ISPs. 
• T-Mobile Home Internet: Though it is slightly more available in Glendale than Verizon 5G Home Internet, the low speed range (87 to 415Mbps) is probably worth passing on in favor of faster, cheaper providers. That said, T-Mobile voice customers may want to check out home internet service for the potential $15 bundle discount.
• Satellite internet: Often a last resort for internet in rural areas, satellite internet can’t compete with the cable, fiber, DSL or fixed wireless options in Glendale. If you’re outside the city, Hughesnet and Viasat are popular satellite internet options, but I would recommend checking out Starlink first.

Glendale broadband at a glance

According to the FCC, 100% of Glendale residential addresses have access to broadband speeds, defined as at least 100Mbps down and 20Mbps up. That number drops a bit when you remove satellite internet from the equation, however. Around 94% of Glendale households have access to a wired or fixed wireless internet connection.

Aside from satellite ISPs, Cox has the greatest availability in Glendale, followed by CenturyLink, T-Mobile Home Internet, Verizon 5G Home Internet and Quantum Fiber. Cable internet (Cox) is the most readily available connection type while fixed wireless internet from Phoenix Internet, T-Mobile Home Internet and Verizon 5G Home Internet are also available throughout much of Glendale.

Internet pricing in Glendale

The average starting price for internet in Glendale is just under $55 a month. Depending on the providers in your area $50 to $60 a month will get you varying speeds. Cox, for example, offers up to 250Mbps for $70 while Quantum Fiber doubles the speed for a similar price (and no looming price hike down the road).

Keep in mind that equipment fees, data overage fees and other factors can further inflate your monthly internet bill. Consider the introductory rate when shopping for internet, but also be aware of potential fees and price increases before committing to an ISP and plan.

What’s the cheapest internet plan in Glendale?

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Glendale

The best internet deals and top promotions in Glendale depend on what discounts are available during that time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers. 

Glendale internet providers, such as Cox, may offer lower introductory pricing on select plans for a limited time. Many, however, including CenturyLink, Quantum 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.

How fast is Glendale broadband?

Cox, the largest ISP in Glendale, tops Ookla’s most recent list of providers with the fastest median download speeds at 265Mbps. That’s a good bit higher than the city average of 218Mbps, which ranked 69th fastest among major US cities. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)

That doesn’t necessarily mean all Glendale residents should expect speeds of 265Mbps from Cox, or significantly lower speeds from other internet providers. Many variables, such as using a Wi-Fi versus Ethernet connection, distance from the router, time of day and a plan’s max advertised, can affect speed test results.

Fastest internet plans in Glendale

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, 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 Glendale

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. So 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.

But 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:

1. Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
2. Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
3. Are customers happy with their service?

While the answers to those questions are often layered and complex, the providers that come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, though 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 consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.

To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.

Internet in Glendale recap

Cox is the leading ISP in Glendale when it comes to availability and max speeds, but it’s not the only internet provider worth considering in the area. Quantum Fiber has the advantage of symmetrical speeds and better long-term pricing, though availability is currently limited in Glendale.

Other alternatives to Cox include CenturyLink, Verizon 5G Home Internet and T-Mobile Home Internet. Of the three, Verizon 5G Home Internet has the potential to offer the fastest speed and best overall value.

Internet providers in Glendale, Arizona, FAQs