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What is the best internet provider in Charlotte?
Budget and speed are both important factors in your search for a new internet service provider, but availability can be just as crucial. Thankfully, Charlotte has plentiful coverage from a wide variety of providers, from fiber to cable to wireless. AT&T Fiber is CNET’s pick for the best internet provider in Charlotte, North Carolina. It’s our top recommendation because it offers promising high speeds with its multi-gig plans, and it offers them at fabulous prices.
However, AT&T isn’t your only solid option. Spectrum has cheaper plans, and its high-speed cable coverage throughout Charlotte is much more extensive, making it attractive for those who want to bundle internet with TV services — or those outside the 62% of the city with fiber access.
If you’re looking for an internet connection with blazing-fast speeds? You should take a look at Google Fiber. Its fastest plan offers 8 gigabits per second for $150 a month, at least for the 15% of the city it covers. For those looking for budget-friendly home broadband, Kinetic by Windstream’s $25 a month plan is a great option, which offers speeds up to 100 Mbps.
Living in the greater Charlotte area my whole life — from Concord to Fort Mill and spending time in University City, Oakhurst and Pineville — I’ve become quite familiar with the local internet providers. I can guide you toward the cheapest plans and fastest speeds to help you easily compare your options.
Best internet in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte internet providers compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Internet Air Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $60 | 75-225Mbps | None | 1.5TB | None | 7.4 |
| AT&T Fiber Read full review |
Fiber | $55-$245 | 300-5,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Google Fiber Read full review |
Fiber | $70-$150 | 500-8,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Kinetic by Windstream | DSL | $25-$70 | 100-1,000Mbps | None | None | None | 6.7 |
| Spectrum Read full review |
Cable | $30-$70 | 100-1,000Mbps | Free modem; $10 router (free on gig plan) | None | None | 7.2 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$55 for eligible mobile customers) | 87-415Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Other available internet providers in Charlotte
- EarthLink: Internet service from EarthLink runs on the networks of other providers. In Charlotte, that provider is AT&T, so EarthLink is technically available wherever you find AT&T. However, AT&T has many of the same selling points as EarthLink, such as unlimited data and no contracts, not to mention lower pricing, so you’re better off going with AT&T.
- Kinetic by Windstream: Kinetic is largely known for offering service in suburban or rural areas, and its coverage in Charlotte is no different. While a few Charlotte neighborhoods are serviceable for Kinetic, you’ll find the best coverage in surrounding areas such as Albemarle, Concord and Matthews.
- Satellite internet: Service from Hughesnet and Viasat is also available throughout most of Charlotte and the surrounding area. But with plenty of other internet options, satellite service is not worth the cost.
Cheap internet options in Charlotte
The average starting price for internet service in Charlotte is around $50 per month. Kinetic by Windstream has the lowest starting price in the area at $25 per month with speeds up to 100Mbps.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Charlotte?
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kinetic by Windstream | $25 | 100Mbps | None |
| Kinetic by Windstream | $40 | 300Mbps | None |
| Spectrum Internet Read full review |
$30 | 100Mbps | $10 (optional) |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
$50 ($35 for eligible mobile customers) | 318Mbps | None |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Charlotte
The best internet deals and top promotions in Charlotte depend on what discounts are available during that time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Charlotte internet providers, such as Spectrum, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, however, including AT&T and Google, run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promotions, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
How fast is Charlotte broadband?
According to Ookla’s speed test index, speeds in the Queen City are faster than the state’s average, with a median download speed of around 361Mbps. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) Keep in mind that many factors go into speed test data, such as equipment, Wi-Fi versus Ethernet connections and the internet plan itself.
Faster speeds than the area’s average are certainly available. Google Fiber offers speeds up to 8Gbps to Charlotte residents, and AT&T’s fastest plan hits speeds up to 5,000Mbps. Numerous providers — including Google Fiber and Spectrum — also offer single gigabit plans.
Fastest internet plans in Charlotte
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Fiber 8 Gig Read full review |
$150 | 8,000Mbps | 8,0000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Google Fiber 3 Gig Read full review |
$100 | 3,000Mbps | 3,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| AT&T Fiber 5000 Read full review |
$245 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| AT&T Fiber 2000 Read full review |
$145 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Google Fiber 2 Gig Read full review |
$100 | 2,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| AT&T Fiber 1000 Read full review |
$70 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Google Fiber 1 Gig Read full review |
$70 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Kinetic 1 Gig | $60 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Spectrum Internet Gig Read full review |
$70 | 1,000Mbps | 40Mbps | None | Cable |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Internet providers in popular cities near Charlotte
- Best internet providers in Asheville, NC
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See all results for internet providers in North Carolina.
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 Charlotte
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every internet service provider in a given city. So what’s our approach? For starters, we tap into a proprietary database of pricing, availability and speed information that draws from our own historical ISP data, partner data 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:
- 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?
While the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who 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.
What’s the final word on internet providers in Charlotte?
As we always say, fiber connectivity will be your best bet for home internet. For Charlotteans, many fiber providers offer blazing speeds at an affordable monthly cost. Using a high-speed internet connection makes consuming lots of data each month easy, which can be problematic if you have a data cap. However, you won’t have to worry about that in Charlotte, as all major ISPs have unlimited data. Contracts aren’t an issue, either, because AT&T, Google Fiber, Kinetic, Spectrum and T-Mobile’s 5G home internet service don’t require one when signing up.
Internet providers in Charlotte FAQs
Does Charlotte have fiber internet?
A little over 62% of Charlotte is serviceable for fiber-optic internet service. AT&T is Charlotte’s largest fiber internet provider, but Google Fiber also contributes to the area’s fiber coverage.
Can you get free internet in Charlotte?
Aside from the Access from AT&T, your best bet to get free Wi-Fi in Charlotte is at your local Mecklenburg County Library branch. Other county facilities, such as the Mecklenburg County Courthouse, may offer a free Wi-Fi connection. You can also look at other public buildings, such as restaurants and coffee shops. When using a public Wi-Fi connection, remember that your data may not be secure, so try to avoid accessing or entering private information on your computer or mobile device when using a public Wi-Fi network. A VPN service can help protect your data, as well.
How much is Wi-Fi in Charlotte?
Wi-Fi is a way of connecting to your internet service, not a separate one on its own, so you’ll need a standard internet connection and a Wi-Fi router to get Wi-Fi in your home. Starting prices for internet service in Charlotte range from $30 to $70 per month, but the added fee for ISP-provided Wi-Fi router will vary by provider. AT&T, Google Fiber and T-Mobile 5G are some providers that include Wi-Fi equipment at no extra cost, meaning your Wi-Fi is essentially “free.” Spectrum charges $10 per month for Wi-Fi equipment rental, but you can skip that fee by using your own router or enrolling in the 1,000Mbps plan (which includes a free router).
Does Charlotte have Optimum or Xfinity?
No. Spectrum is Charlotte’s primary cable internet service provider, though Comporium may be an option for those south of the city. Optimum and Xfinity are not available in Charlotte.
