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Best rural internet providers

By Robin Layton Last updated: March 18, 2025

Satellite internet is available to 99% of rural households in the U.S. 5G fixed wireless and DSL are also rural internet options. Our experts share top picks for the fastest rural internet providers below.

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Top rural internet providers

hughesnet
Best availability
  • Speeds – 50 – 100 Mbps
  • Prices starting at – $49.99/mo.
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verizon-5g-terrestrial-wireless
Best for high speeds
  • Speeds – 85 – 1,000 Mbps
  • Prices starting at – $35.00/mo.*
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starlink
Best for travelers
  • Speeds – 100 – 200 Mbps
  • Prices starting at – $120.00/mo.
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t-mobile
Best for simple pricing
  • Speeds – 87 – 415 Mbps
  • Prices starting at – $35.00/mo. with mobile plan
  • Data caps – None
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Check plans with T-Mobile
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centurylink
Best for DSL rural availability
  • Speeds – 100 Mbps – 940 Mbps
  • Prices starting at – $50.00/mo.**
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Check plans with CenturyLink
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*5G Home Internet: 5G Home plan at $35/mo. or 5G Home Plus plan at $55/mo. when combined with postpaid mobile unlimited plan that includes 5G Ultra Wideband. Auto Pay & paper-free billing req’d. Availability varies. Subject to credit approval. Price guarantee: 2 yrs for 5G Home, 3 yrs for 5G Home Plus, for new Verizon Home Internet (“VHI”) households who have not subscribed to a VHI service within the last 90 days. Applies only to the then-current base monthly rate exclusive of any other setup and additional equipment charges, discounts or promotions, plan perk and any other third-party services. As of 03/18/25.
**Limited availability. Service and rate in select locations only. Paperless billing required. Taxes and fees apply. Rate excludes CTL Fee not to exceed $1.50/mo./line.

Our internet experts review:

  • Rural internet providers
  • Rural internet connection types
  • How to improve your rural connection

What fast internet options are available in rural areas?

Rural internet is not known for having fast internet speeds, but satellite providers can provide up to 150 Mbps and 5G home internet speeds can reach 245+ Mbps.

Finding a quality internet connection can be challenging in many rural areas of the U.S. According to the Pew Research Center, 99% of rural residents in the U.S. have access to an internet connection, compared to 97% of suburban residents.

Satellite internet is often one of the only connection types available for rural customers and it can be more expensive than other alternatives like DSL and fixed wireless.

Internet service is based on your address, so even if your neighbor has access to a certain provider, you may not. Check your address to see what internet options are available to you.

Enter your ZIP code to view internet plans available near you

Hughesnet Logo

Allconnect Rating

2.22 / 5

Hughesnet: Best availability

Hughesnet is a solid choice for a rural internet provider due to its availability. With its Fusion plan, Hughesnet also has less latency than other satellite providers.

  • Promotional rates – New subscribers start off with six months of promotional pricing, so you’ll save money off the bat with Hughesnet
  • Availability – You can get Hughesnet internet at almost every address in the U.S.
  • Bonus data – Hughesnet supplies 50 GB/mo. of extra data during off-peak hours (2 a.m. – 8 a.m.)
  • Two-year contracts – You’ll have to commit to two years with most Hughesnet plans
  • Activation fee – It costs $99 to activate Hughesnet service

*Video streaming services with minimum speed requirements may not operate properly. During high-traffic periods, you may experience reduced speeds. As of 03/18/25.

Learn more about Hughesnet internet
Verizon logo

Allconnect Rating

4.46 / 5

Verizon 5G: Best for high speeds

Verizon offers two 5G plans: 5G Home and 5G Home Plus. You’ll get a discount if you have a Verizon cellphone plan, with plans ranging from $35.00 to $55.00/mo.

  • Equipment included – A Wi-Fi 6 router is included with either plan
  • No data caps – Unlike many providers, Verizon 5G Home Internet does not impose data caps
  • 5G Ultra Wideband – Verizon 5G Home Internet uses the 5G Ultra Wideband network which provides fast speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
  • Speeds vary – How fast your connection is will depend on how close you are to Verizon’s cellular towers
  • Availability – Verizon’s 5G network is still expanding, but it’s not available everywhere yet

*5G Home Internet: 5G Home plan at $35/mo. or 5G Home Plus plan at $55/mo. when combined with postpaid mobile unlimited plan that includes 5G Ultra Wideband. Auto Pay & paper-free billing req’d. Availability varies. Subject to credit approval. Price guarantee: 2 yrs for 5G Home, 3 yrs for 5G Home Plus, for new Verizon Home Internet (“VHI”) households who have not subscribed to a VHI service within the last 90 days. Applies only to the then-current base monthly rate exclusive of any other setup and additional equipment charges, discounts or promotions, plan perk and any other third-party services. As of 03/18/25.

Learn more about Verizon 5G internet

Allconnect Rating

2.40 / 5

Starlink: Best for travelers

Starlink internet is the most promising option for high-speed satellite internet in rural areas. It is also a service you can take on the road. There are no contracts and speeds can reach up to 500 Mbps. Although Starlink is one of the fastest internet services available in rural America, it doesn’t come cheap, with pricing starting at $120/mo.

  • Fast speed – Download speeds can reach 200 to 500 Mbps and the latency of Starlink satellites is much lower than other providers because they are in low orbit
  • High setup costs – Pricey starting costs at $349 to set up, with $50 in shipping added. Prices can vary for shipping, depending on location
  • Satellite and weather – This service will be open to weather-related disruptions

*Prices without Autopay and Paperless Billing. Per month for 12 mos. One-year agreement, early termination fee, and one-time charge apply. Max speeds are wired. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary. As of 03/18/25.

Learn more about Starlink internet
tmobile home internet logo

Allconnect Rating

4.35 / 5

T-Mobile Home Internet: Best for simple pricing

T-Mobile’s 5G Home Internet service is one of the most affordable internet plans available starting at just $35/mo. with AutoPay, with taxes included.

  • No contracts – You can cancel anytime and T-Mobile won’t raise prices after the first year
  • No data caps – You won’t have to worry about getting charged for going over your data limit
  • Inconsistent speeds – Speeds are more erratic than cable and fiber optic internet connections
  • Location – The quality of your connection will depend on how close you are to a T-Mobile tower
Learn more about T-Mobile Home Internet
CenturyLink authorized retailer logo

Allconnect Rating

2.97 / 5

CenturyLink: Best for DSL rural availability

CenturyLink internet offers simple pricing and added features such as unlimited data and free self-installation with select plans. It also has options for rural internet like DSL.

  • Broad service areas – CenturyLink internet is available to many areas where cable or other fiber providers may not offer high-speed internet
  • No contracts – There are no contracts with CenturyLink service, so you can change or move service at any time without early termination fees
  • Limited plan options – DSL and fiber service is one cost, so you won’t have the option of choosing a cheaper or faster/more expensive plan

*Limited availability. Service and rate in select locations only. Paperless billing required. Taxes and fees apply. Rate excludes CTL Fee not to exceed $1.50/mo./line. As of 03/18/25.

Learn more about CenturyLink internet

How we evaluated rural internet providers

Our evaluation considers: cost, speed, data caps and latency.

Shopping for fast internet is a much different experience in rural areas than in cities and suburbs, so we modified our usual approach when evaluating rural providers.

Most internet plans these days don’t come with data caps, but that’s not the case with many rural providers. The average American household used 652 GB of data per month in 2023 — well above the data caps on many rural plans.

Latency is also more of an issue for rural customers. This refers to the time it takes for data to be transferred between its source and destination, and it’s extremely important for activities like online gaming and video calls. Unfortunately, many rural providers struggle with this metric, so we wanted to make sure we highlighted plans where it wouldn’t be an issue.

Why is rural internet different from urban internet?

Expanding internet infrastructure to rural areas is expensive for internet providers and, despite federal incentives, there are many places where slower satellite and DSL connections are the only options.

Urban internet is more available simply because connections are closer together, such as apartments or subdivisions, so an ISP’s investment in expanding service can be lucrative for them.

Additional rural internet providers

In addition to the providers listed above, there are other providers that offer internet service in more rural parts of the country.

AT&T: Best for speeds

AT&T’s new 5G home internet, Air Internet, is an affordable option, as plans start at $60.00/mo. Speeds reach up to 300 Mbps. Plans are available to 15% of its coverage area.

Nomad: Best for no data caps

Nomad Internet is a 4G LTE high-speed internet service for rural residents and people on the go. Nomad Internet doesn’t impose data caps and doesn’t require a contract; however, the service is expensive, with plans starting at $99.95/mo. Plans are available to about 75% of the country.

Viasat: Best for availability

Viasat is a satellite provider with speeds going up to 150 Mbps, and there are no data caps. Plans range from $99.99 to $199.99/mo. and are available to 99% of the country

Additional rural ISPs: Pricing and speeds

*Only available in select areas. Visit buy.viasat.com to check plans available in your area. If your data usage is trending to exceed the “typical usage” of a residential user on our network, you may have reduced priority during times of network congestion resulting in slower speeds. Typical usage currently means usage trending to not exceed 850 GBs in any 30-day period. The typical usage amount will vary based on network demands. Please visit www.viasat.com/legal for more details. Speeds are “up to,” are not guaranteed and will vary. Viasat Unleashed does not require an annual contract, which means there is no minimum service term commitment You will have a month-to-month service term, which you may cancel at any time without an early termination fee. As of 03/18/25.

Rural internet technology types

There are a few options for rural internet, including satellite, fixed wireless, home internet and DSL.

To help you find the best broadband providers in your area, we’ve ranked the various internet service types available in rural areas based on pricing, speed and reliability. While fixed wireless internet and 5G home internet are the best options for rural residents overall because they get you the fastest speeds for the best price, they are not as widely available as other options, such as DSL and satellite.

Fixed wireless and 5G home internet – Lower latency makes online gaming possible

5G home internet requires you to live close to a cell tower to receive a signal. You’ll need to live close to a cellular tower to get fixed internet from providers such as Rise Broadband, AT&T, Verizon or others. Internet speeds can range from 1 to 1,000 Mbps.

Unlike cable or fiber optic internet, DSL internet uses existing phone lines to carry service. Internet speeds can range from 1 to 140 Mbps.

Satellite internet is a great option for rural-area residents because it’s available virtually anywhere. All you need is a clear view of the southern sky to be eligible for satellite internet from Hughesnet, Viasat and, in some areas, Starlink.

How to get internet in rural areas

Getting home Wi-Fi to your rural address may be a challenge. ISPs tend not to build costly infrastructure unless many potential customers are in a certain area.

When you are considering moving to a new rural home, double-check that the internet is actually available. Start your internet search by entering your address to see what options are available to you. Compare providers for speed and price, checking for data caps that can limit your use.

Satellite internet is available to nearly 90% of the country. If you are near a cell tower for Verizon or T-Mobile, you can access their 5G home internet plans, faster than satellite options like Viasat and Hughesnet.

How rural internet will improve in coming years

The FCC acknowledged the digital divide in the broadband progress report, noting that one-fifth of those living in rural areas (around nine million people) lacked reliable access to broadband internet. In reality, that number could be much higher.

SpaceX, Boeing and even Amazon are investing in low-flying satellites, which won’t offer the expansive coverage traditional satellites can but will be able to deliver faster speeds and lower latency.

How to improve your rural internet connection

  • Find another provider with faster plans or upgrade your current plan or type of internet
  • Plug in your equipment with an Ethernet cable rather than use your Wi-Fi
  • Monitor data usage if you have a data cap to prevent your ISP from throttling your speed
  • Update your equipment’s operating systems often

Alternative options for rural internet service

Here are more outside-the-box options for rural broadband, including white space internet, dial-up and mobile hotspots.

  • White space internet – A new use for old technology, white space internet uses the vacant radio waves “between” TV broadcast channels to carry internet signals
  • Dial-up – Yes, dial-up is still around and a viable option for rural areas, and it’s a decent and cheap internet option for those in rural areas needing the internet for little more than checking email. You’ll need a home telephone line, but remember that speeds top out at a humble 56 Kbps (0.056 Mbps)
  • Mobile hotspots – Some smartphones can be used as mobile hotspots within your home, for an added fee, of course. Check with your cellphone provider to see what hotspot options are available for you

Rural internet FAQs

What internet works best in rural areas?

Satellite internet is the best option for those living in rural areas because of its widespread availability. While it’s known for its slow connection, some providers like Starlink and Hughesnet are providing faster speeds than other satellite providers. Fixed wireless is also a great option if it’s available near you.

Both fixed wireless and satellite internet are good choices for internet service in rural areas. Fixed wireless internet has lower latency than satellite internet because the wireless signals travel a shorter distance. Satellite internet, however, is generally better than fixed wireless because it can offer fast speeds and a more reliable connection.

Yes. You will want to choose an ISP that offers at least 25 Mbps and has as low latency as possible. Starlink internet is likely the best option available for rural areas.

You can get Wi-Fi in rural areas by subscribing to an internet provider available in your area or using public or mobile hotspots.

If you don’t want to subscribe to an ISP, you can get an internet connection by using a mobile hotspot or finding a public Wi-Fi network.

If you live in an area without any internet options, you most likely will need to go to a place with internet available, like a school, community center, library or storefronts like coffee shops.

Rural residents may be able to get help with internet bills from providers, if they qualify for the offered low-income plans. The state or municipality may also have incentives or help. There are some federal avenues for help with internet bills as well.

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Robin Layton

Written by:

Robin Layton

Senior Editor, Broadband Content

Robin Layton is a Senior Editor for the broadband marketplace Allconnect. She built her internet industry expertise writing and editing on the site since January 2020, as well as on Allconnect’s sister site MYMO… Read more

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