Find cable internet providers in your area
Cable internet is an excellent choice for those who do not want to pay the costs of fiber internet or for those who do not live in an area with fiber. With speeds up to 2,000 Mbps, you can have multiple devices at a time searching and streaming the internet.
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What is cable internet?
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 service provider. The modem receives electrical signals, which then converts into internet service, similar to how a cable TV box receives a signal and displays an image.
The packages offered by different cable internet providers range significantly, so make sure you know what your internet speed needs are and how much monthly data you require. Also keep in mind hidden costs when choosing your internet provider as expenses, such as installation fees, equipment rental fees, price increases, data overage fees, late payment fees and cancellation fees, can add up quickly.
Advantages of cable internet
- No home phone line is required to get cable internet
- Cable internet offers speeds up to 10x faster or higher than DSL internet
- Available to about 89% of U.S. residents
- Already installed in most homes, unlike Fiber
Things to consider
- Lower internet speeds during peak usage times because you’ll share a connection with users in your area
- Select cable internet providers have data caps and may throttle your internet speed or charge additional fees when you go over
- Not as fast or reliable as fiber internet
Top cable internet providers
- Xfinity: best value overall
- MediaCom: most affordable
- Suddenlink: fastest starting speeds
- Spectrum: best unlimited data plan
- Sparklight: most cost-efficient for fast download speeds
Cable internet provider details
| Provider | Monthly starting price* | Starting download speeds | Max download speeds | Data cap | Contract |
 Atlantic Broadband | $39.99 | 50 Mbps | 1,000 Mbps | None | None |
 Buckeye Broadband | $19.99 | 25 Mbps | 1,000 Mbps | 250 GB/mo. or unlimited | None |
 Cox Communications | $29.99 | 10 Mbps | 940 Mbps | 1 TB/mo. | One year |
 Mediacom | $19.99 | 60 Mbps | 1,000 Mbps | Varies by plan, up to 6 TB/mo. | One year |
 Optimum | $29.99 | 20 Mbps | 940 Mbps | None | One year |
 Shentel | $40.00 | 50 Mbps | 1,000 Mbps | Varies by plan, unlimited options available | One year |
 Sparklight | $39.00 | 100 Mbps | 1,000 Mbps | Varies by plan, up to 1.2 TB/mo. | None |
 Spectrum | $49.99 | 60 Mbps | 940 Mbps | None | None |
 Suddenlink | $34.99 | 100 Mbps | 1,000 Mbps | None | One year |
 Xfinity | $29.99 | 15 Mbps | 2,000 Mbps | 1 TB/mo., unlimited options available | None required |
*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. Last updated 09/01/20.
Best cable internet customer satisfaction ratings
While some cable internet providers — such as Xfinity, Cox and Optimum — managed to improve their American Customer Satisfaction Index scores over the years, others, including Spectrum and Suddenlink, experienced continued declines.
Source: ACSI
Cable vs. DSL vs. Fiber
Cable vs. DSL: While cable internet is integrated into the cable television infrastructure, DSL is integrated into the telephone line infrastructure. A coaxial cable supports higher bandwidth than a telephone line, which gives cable internet a significant speed advantage over DSL internet. With greater speeds, you can stream and search the internet with multiple devices at a time.
Cable vs. Fiber: Coaxial cables are more common and less expensive than fiber-optic cables. This makes cable internet more widely-available and sometimes lower-priced than fiber-optic internet service. Cable can also be more convenient as it is already installed in most homes, as opposed to Fiber. While cable tends to provide faster internet speeds than DSL, fiber is known for providing faster and more reliable internet. Although fast, Fiber only covers approximately 25% of the country. Cable, on the other hand, covers close to 90%.
Cable internet FAQs
Is ADSL or cable internet faster?
Cable internet supports higher bandwidth and faster speeds than ADSL internet. Cable internet plans vary by location, but cable internet can deliver more than 10x the speeds of DSL in select areas.
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-optic cables.
Do you need a phone line for cable internet?
No. Unlike DSL and dial-up internet, which require a phone line for service, 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” speed depends on your needs.
Last updated 09/01/20.
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Written by:
David AndersStaff Writer
David joined the Allconnect team in 2017, specializing in broadband and TV providers. He is our transactional content lead and responsible for the most popular post in our Resource Center… Read more
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