Internet providers in Charlotte, NC
By Camryn Smith Last updated: November 4, 2024
Find the best fiber, cable, 5G, satellite or DSL internet provider in Charlotte for your needs and compare plans to make the most informed decision for your home.
Best internet providers in Charlotte
Spectrum
- Speeds – 500 – 1,000 Mbps
- Prices starting at – $50.00/mo.
- Data caps – None
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. Gig capable modem required for Gig speed. For a list of Gig 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. ©2024 Charter Communications, all rights reserved.
AT&T
- Speeds – 10 Mbps – 4,700 Mbps
- Prices starting at – $55.00/mo.
- Data caps – 1 TB/mo. DSL, unlimited with AT&T Fiber
Verizon 5G
- Speeds – 85 – 1,000 Mbps
- Prices starting at – $35.00/mo.*
- Data caps – None
Google Fiber
- Speeds – 1,000 – 8,000 Mbps
- Prices starting at – $70.00/mo.
- Data caps – None
*5G Home Internet: 5G Home plan at $35/mo. or 5G Home Plus plan at $45/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.
Our 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 one to five, 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 three and four. Xfinity’s 200 Mbps plan received a 3.50 score for download speed, while Spectrum’s 400 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.
Compare internet providers in Charlotte, NC
Provider | Starting price* | Speed range | Internet type |
---|---|---|---|
Spectrum | $50.00/mo.*** | 500 – 1,000 Mbps | Cable |
AT&T | $60.00/mo. | 300 – 4,700 Mbps | DSL, fiber |
Windstream | $24.99/mo. | 100 – 8,000 Mbps | DSL, fiber |
Google Fiber | $70.00/mo. | 1,000 – 8,000 Mbps | Fiber |
Hughesnet | $49.99/mo. | 50 – 100 Mbps | Satellite |
Verizon | $35.00/mo.** | 85 – 1,000 Mbps | 5G |
T-Mobile Home Internet | $40.00/mo. | Up to 245 Mbps | 5G |
*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. Speeds may vary. As of 11/04/24.
**5G Home Internet: 5G Home plan at $35/mo. or 5G Home Plus plan at $45/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.
***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. Gig capable modem required for Gig speed. For a list of Gig 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. ©2024 Charter Communications, all rights reserved.
Cheap internet in Charlotte, NC
The cheapest internet plan in Charlotte is Windstream’s 100 Mbps fiber plan, which is enough speed to power a small household with light to moderate internet activities. If you need a faster plan to support more connected devices and activities like gaming and streaming, Windstream’s 300, 500 and 1,000 Mbps plans are still cheaper than most fiber plans in the area. Spectrum, Verizon and T-Mobile also offer cheap internet options in Charlotte.
Provider | Download speed | Price* | Connection type |
---|---|---|---|
Spectrum | 500 Mbps | $50.00/mo. | Cable |
Kinetic by Windstream | 100 Mbps | $24.99/mo. | Fiber |
Verizon 5G Home Internet | 85 – 300 Mbps | $35.00/mo.** | 5G |
T-Mobile | 245 Mbps | $40.00/mo. | 5G |
*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. Speeds may vary. 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. Gig capable modem required for Gig speed. For a list of Gig 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. ©2024 Charter Communications, all rights reserved.
**5G Home Internet: 5G Home plan at $35/mo. or 5G Home Plus plan at $45/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 11/04/24.
Fastest internet providers in Charlotte, NC
The fastest internet in Charlotte comes from fiber internet providers such as AT&T, Google Fiber and Windstream. The fastest internet plans top out at 5,000 to 8,000 Mbps, depending on the provider. Many households don’t need this much speed; 1,000 Mbps is enough to power a household of heavy internet users. However, multi-gigabit plans can support multiple internet users participating in bandwidth-heavy activities like gaming, downloading large files, streaming and working from home simultaneously. Prices range from $150 to $300/mo.*
Provider | Download Speed | Plan name | Connection type |
---|---|---|---|
AT&T | 4,700 Mbps | Internet 5 Gig | Fiber |
Google Fiber | 8,000 Mbps | 8 Gig | Fiber |
Spectrum** | 1,000 Mbps | Internet Gig | Fiber |
Windstream | 8,000 Mbps | Kinetic Fiber 8 Gig | Fiber |
*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices are subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address.
**Price for Gig speed additional. Gig capable modem required for Gig speed. For a list of Gig capable modems, visit Spectrum.net/modem. ©2024 Charter Communications, all rights reserved. As of 11/04/24.
What internet provider do you need in Charlotte?
Some of the best internet service providers (ISPs) in Charlotte include Spectrum, Verizon, AT&T and Google Fiber. All three have footprints that extend across the city, from Highland Creek to Ballantyne.
If you have fiber available at your Charlotte address, it’s your best internet option because it offers symmetrical upload and download speeds, making your connection fast and stable. Windstream, Google and AT&T offer fiber internet in Charlotte. If fiber isn’t available to you, Spectrum offers reliable cable internet plans with speeds from 500 to 1,000 Mbps.
Internet deals in Charlotte, NC
Residents of Charlotte have several deals available from internet providers:
- Verizon offers up to $500 in credit to help customers switch from a current provider
- AT&T Access is a low-cost internet plan for qualifying households in Charlotte
- T-Mobile and Verizon offer inexpensive bundled internet and mobile plans
Allconnect Rating
4.34 / 5
Google Fiber: Best overall
Google Fiber is a popular offering for apartment buildings and houses in Charlotte and offers fast speeds from 1 to 8 gigs. Plans come with no data caps, no hidden fees and no contracts.
What we like
-
Plans offer up to 8 gigs, one of the fastest plans for fiber internet in Charlotte
-
Free professional installation
Things to consider
-
More expensive compared to other providers
Google Fiber Customer Reviews:
Allconnect Rating
4.48 / 5
AT&T: Fast internet options
AT&T is among the best internet providers in Charlotte and is available throughout much of the city, including Uptown and South Charlotte communities such as Southpark, Steele Creek and Carmel. To the east, AT&T is available in Hickory Grove and Mint Hill, but hard to find in much of Matthews. AT&T is also available to the west past Charlotte Douglas Airport and north to Huntersville.
What we like
-
AT&T is the highest rated in customer service for the southern region
-
There is a wide range of internet speeds to choose from, with speeds as high as 5 gig with fiber-optic internet
Things to consider
-
Limited availability
AT&T Customer Reviews:
Allconnect Rating
3.82 / 5
Spectrum: Best availability
Spectrum is available at almost every address in Charlotte, and it’s a solid option overall, although you won’t get the same speeds as fiber internet providers like AT&T and Google Fiber.
What we like
-
Nearly 95% availability in the Charlotte area
-
Low equipment fees compared to other providers
Things to consider
-
Spectrum typically increases prices after 12 months
-
Upload speeds are slower than fiber internet providers
Spectrum Customer Reviews:
Find internet providers near Charlotte, NC
Charlotte internet service availability by ZIP code
Internet availability in Charlotte
Google Fiber is the clear winner when it comes to fast internet in the Charlotte area, with average download speeds over 300 Mbps. In fact, it has one of the fastest average speeds you’ll find anywhere in the country. That said, AT&T and Spectrum still provide plenty of speed for most people, and both are above the national average.
The only provider that you might run into issues with is Spectrum. Because it’s a cable internet provider instead of fiber like Google and AT&T, its upload speeds are significantly slower. That means you might have trouble doing things like online gaming and Zoom calls at the same time.
About 90% of Charlotte addresses can access cable or DSL. The city also has a high percentage of fiber access at 78%. ISP speed is above the mid-200’s of the nation, at 310 Mbps.
Internet assistance in Charlotte
Although the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) has ended, there are still ways you can get affordable internet access in Charlotte, NC.
Access Charlotte
Access Charlotte began as a solution to the digital divide that was exacerbated in Charlotte due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A $3.25 million investment as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funded internet access to 1,700 households, two community centers and four public spaces. Today, Access Charlotte has scaled the program to provide free in-home internet for more than 8,600 households across 75 cities through a partnership between the City of Charlotte and Spectrum Internet®. The City of Charlotte allocated $10 million toward digital inclusion, which is currently funding the program and partnership with Spectrum.
Lifeline
Lifeline is a federal assistance program that provides $9.25/mo. toward the cost of phone, internet or bundled services. Your eligibility is based on your income or participation in other government programs.
Charlotte internet provider store locations
Charlotte internet FAQs
Who is the cheapest internet provider in Charlotte?
Windstream at $24.99/mo. for 100 Mbps is the cheapest internet in Charlotte, but for $10 more a month, you can get up to 300 Mbps with Verizon 5G Home Internet.
What internet provider is most available in Charlotte?
Outside of satellite or 5G home internet, Spectrum is the most available internet provider in Charlotte at 90%.
What is the fastest internet provider in Charlotte?
Google Fiber and Windstream offer the fastest internet speeds in Charlotte, NC, up to 8,000 Mbps.
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