Cable internet providers in your area
Limited time offer; subject to change; new residential customers only (no Spectrum services within past 30 days) and in good standing with Spectrum. Taxes and fees extra in select states. SPECTRUM INTERNET ADVANTAGE: Offer based on eligibility requirements. Standard rates apply after promo period. Additional charge for installation. Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds (including wireless) vary and are not guaranteed. Services subject to all applicable service terms and conditions, subject to change. Not available in all areas. Restrictions apply. ©2025 Charter Communications, all rights reserved. As of 03/18/25.
Find cable providers near you
Cable is the most widely available internet connection type behind satellite internet. You can find cable providers in your area by inputting your address with Allconnect. Spectrum is the largest cable provider, serving more than 30 million U.S. addresses, with Xfinity following. Spectrum serves about 30% of the country, mostly in Midwest and East Coast states, but with some coverage in the West and South.
Enter your ZIP code to view internet plans available near you
Compare the best cable providers
Cable internet is one of the most common types of internet available and relies on cable TV wiring, such as coaxial cables, to deliver your internet connection to your home.
Compare top cable providers by price and speed. Mediacom, Breezeline and Buckeye Broadband have some of the lowest starting prices, but Cox, Xfinity and Optimum offer some of the fastest speeds.
| Provider | Speed range | Starting price range* | Monthly data cap |
|---|---|---|---|
 Breezeline | 100 – 1,000 Mbps | $19.99 – $59.99/mo. | None |
 Buckeye Broadband | 200 – 1,000 Mbps | $39.99 – $159.99/mo. | None |
 Cox | 100 – 2,000 Mbps | $50.00 – $150.00/mo. | 1 TB |
 Mediacom | 250 – 2,000 Mbps | $19.99 – $84.99/mo. | 400 GB – Unlimited |
 Optimum | 300 – 5,000 Mbps | $40.00 – $180.00/mo. | None |
 Shentel | 50 – 1,000 Mbps | $40.00 – $175.00/mo. | 500 GB – 3 TB |
 Sparklight | 200 – 1,000 Mbps | $50.00 – $110.00/mo. | 700 GB – Unlimited |
 Spectrum | 100 – 1,000 Mbps** | $30.00 – $70.00/mo. | None |
 Xfinity | 150 – 6,000 Mbps | $19.99 – $299.95/mo. | 1.2 TB |
*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. As of 03/18/25.
**Limited time offer; subject to change; new residential customers only (no Spectrum services within past 30 days) and in good standing with Spectrum. Taxes and fees extra in select states. SPECTRUM INTERNET ADVANTAGE: Offer based on eligibility requirements. Standard rates apply after promo period. Additional charge for installation. Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds (including wireless) vary and are not guaranteed. Services subject to all applicable service terms and conditions, subject to change. Not available in all areas. Restrictions apply. ©2025 Charter Communications, all rights reserved.
**Limited time offer; subject to change; new residential customers only (no Spectrum services within past 30 days) and in good standing with Spectrum. Taxes and fees extra in select states. SPECTRUM INTERNET: Standard rates apply after promo period. Additional charge for installation. Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds (including wireless) vary and are not guaranteed. Capable modem required for all Gig speeds. For a list of capable modems, visit Spectrum.net/modem. Services subject to all applicable service terms and conditions, subject to change. Not available in all areas. Restrictions apply. ©2025 Charter Communications, all rights reserved.
Allconnect methodology
We evaluate broadband providers in four categories: affordability, performance, value and customer satisfaction. Each category contains multiple sub-factors, all of which are weighted differently to impact the provider’s overall score.
For each sub-factor, we score all providers on a continuous scale of 1 to 5, relative to the industry as a whole. Because the average download speed in America is currently 180 Mbps, for example, we assigned all plans with download speeds between 100 and 299 Mbps a score between 3 and 4. Xfinity’s 200 Mbps plan received a 3.50 score for download speed, while Spectrum’s 500 Mbps plan got a 4.16.
We only considered standardized data points in our scoring system. More abstract data like consistency of service and brand reputation is still part of our analysis, but we opted to let our writers address them in the context of each review.
Pros and cons of cable internet
- Cable internet offers competitive pricing and a wide range of speeds
- Cable internet has slow upload speeds and is inferior to a fiber connection
Pros of cable internet
- Competitive pricing
- Wide range of speed tiers
- Widely available
- TV and phone are commonly available for bundling with cable internet
Cons of cable internet
- Slow upload speeds
- Inferior to fiber technology
- Potential data caps
- Weather or other outside issues can affect wiring
- More susceptible to slowed speeds during peak usage
Cable internet customer satisfaction ratings
While many cable internet providers increased their satisfaction scores in the past year, none received anything above what could be considered a “passing grade” in customer satisfaction.
This isn’t uncommon, as internet providers are notorious for poor customer satisfaction in general, but the year-over-year increases from many providers indicate a continued effort to improve customer satisfaction in the industry. Compare customer satisfaction scores from the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) for top cable internet providers below.
| Provider | 2024 ACSI score | 2023 ACSI score | 2022 ACSI score | 2021 ACSI score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xfinity | 67/100 | 68/100 | 66/100 | 67/100 |
| Optimum | 63 | 58 | 59 | 60 |
| Spectrum | 68 | 64 | 63 | 63 |
| Cox | 68 | 64 | 61 | 63 |
| Mediacom | 61 | 65 | 60 | 60 |
Source: ACSI
What is cable internet?
Cable internet is a widely available internet technology that uses coaxial cables to deliver an internet connection.
Cable internet, much like cable TV service, uses coaxial cables that connect from your home through a modem receiver to a nearby node, and then to your internet service provider. The modem receives electrical signals, which then convert into internet service, similar to how a cable TV box receives a signal and displays an image.
Cable internet isn’t perfect, but it is one of the better internet connection options out there. It is widely available and offers many speed options, making it a great option for many households. The fast speeds and high data allowances — many providers even have unlimited data — are ideal for streaming, gaming and more.
Those needing fast upload speeds for video conferencing or uploading large files, however, may find cable internet a bit lacking. Furthermore, cable internet is more susceptible to slowed speeds during peak usage times.
Cable internet vs. other connection types
Cable is much more widely available than fiber internet, but fiber provides a faster and more reliable connection, with speeds up to 8 gigs. Cable reaches about 3 gigs.
Satellite, on the other hand, is available throughout the entire country but provides much slower internet speeds, rarely more than 150 Mbps.
5G home internet is a newer addition to the broadband playing field and provides an affordable alternative to cable and fiber connections. However, the speeds don’t yet top 300 Mbps, so take that into consideration if you have a large online home.
Cable internet FAQs
What kind of cable is used for internet?
Cable internet uses a coaxial cable, the same as cable TV service. Within the coaxial cable is a copper or copper-plated steel line, which carries internet signals from a provider to a residence. Other cables used for internet include telephone lines and fiber cables.
Can you get internet without a cable or phone line?
No. Cable internet uses a coaxial cable. Home phone services are available from most cable internet providers, but one is not required for internet service.
What is a good cable internet speed?
Cable internet is capable of delivering a wide speed spectrum. A good cable internet speed for most homes is 100 Mbps or higher, but a “good” internet speed depends on your needs.
Does cable internet still use Wi-Fi?
Yes, you can use Wi-Fi to connect your devices to the internet with your cable connection.
How is cable internet installed?
Cable internet infrastructure is centered around a coaxial cable, the same technology your cable TV service uses. The coaxial cable connects to your modem, which communicates with your router to allow your devices to connect wirelessly to the internet.
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