Internet providers in San Francisco, CA

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Internet options in San Francisco, CA

New to San Francisco? Getting settled in a new place can be stressful. Getting utilities and moving furniture takes a lot of time and energy. Installing internet service is an important piece of the moving puzzle. Even if you are already a resident of the Bay area, periodically checking internet prices can save you money. Rely on our experts to find and compare internet and cable providers in the San Francisco area.

What type of internet is available in San Francisco?

There are several options for quality internet service providers (ISPs) in San Francisco. The most widely-available ISPs in the San Francisco area are AT&T and Xfinity, which both offer gigabit speeds over fiber optic or cable internet. However, depending on your current ZIP code, you may have access to DSL, fixed wireless and satellite internet as well. 

Internet availability in San Francisco, CA 

  • Cable – 99%

  • DSL – 98%
  • Fiber optic – 30%


  • Fixed wireless – 14%

San Francisco residential internet providers

*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 11/12/20.

Installation fees in San Francisco

When selecting an internet provider, remember to check for fees that may appear on your first bill. Installation fees for San Francisco internet providers can vary, but the good news is, most providers will run promotions for free or discounted installation throughout the year. 

  • AT&T: up to $99 installation fee; free self-install where available
  • EarthLink: $79.95 installation fee
  • HughesNet: up to $99 installation fee 
  • Raw Bandwidth: free installation with 12 mo. agreement
  • Sonic: free installation 
  • Wave Broadband: $60 installation fee; $9.99 activation fee
  • Xfinity: up to $89.99 installation fee; free self-install where available

Compare the largest internet providers in San Francisco

The two largest providers in San Francisco are AT&T, Xfinity and Sonic. AT&T internet in San Francisco offers greater availability, while Xfinity offers no contract plans and Sonic has the lowest price on gigabit plans. Here’s other details on how each provider compares.

  • AT&T internet in San Francisco can be either a DSL or fiber optic connection. AT&T DSL service is available to 96% of San Francisco residents and is available in the city center and throughout Alameda, Berkeley, Daly City and Oakland. AT&T’s fiber optic network is available to 20% of San Fran residents, including neighborhoods in Albany and San Leandro.

    • Five internet plans
    • Starting at $35/mo.*
    • One-year contract
    • Modem with Wi-Fi $10/mo.*


    Store locations:

    • 1 Powell St., San Francisco, CA 94102
    • 425 Market St., San Francisco, CA 94105
    • 2300 16th St., Suite 150 San Francisco, CA 94103
    • 3555 Geary Blvd., San Francisco, CA 94118
    • 2025 Irving St., San Francisco, CA 94122

  • Xfinity cable service is available to 86% of San Francisco residents and their fiber optic network is available to 3%. Xfinity service is available in the southern parts of San Francisco, such as Broadmoor and Colma, and throughout the neighborhoods surrounding the University of California, such as Haight-Ashbury, Glen Park and the Mission District.

    • Six internet plans
    • Starting at $29.99/mo.*
    • One-year promotional rate
    • Some areas have a 1TB data cap


    Store locations:

    • 260 Potrero Ave., San Francisco, CA 94103
    • 2186 Geary Blvd., San Francisco, CA 94115

  • Sonic

    Sonic DSL and fiber internet uses AT&T infrastructure. However, Sonic’s starting price for gigabit internet ($39.99) beats both AT&T and Xfinity. Plus, all Sonic internet plans come with a home phone included. Sonic is available mainly in the metro areas ranging from Chinatown in the North to just south of the Excelsior District.

    • Three internet plans
    • Starting at $39.99/mo.*
    • One-year contract
    • No data caps


    No store locations

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*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 11/12/20.

Fastest internet in San Francisco

Providers using a fiber optic or cable network are more likely to have the fastest internet services in San Francisco. San Francisco has four high-speed fiber optic and cable internet providers to choose from. 

San Francisco’s fastest max advertised download speeds

  • Xfinity Gigabit Pro – Cable and fiber optic network with speeds for up to 2,000 Mbps
  • Sonic Gigabit – Fiber optic network with speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
  • AT&T 1000 – Fiber optic network with speeds up to 940 Mbps
  • Wave Gig – Cable network with speeds up to 940 Mbps

Download speeds 250 Mbps or higher

San Francisco – 97%

California – 76%

U.S. – 73%

Download speeds 1,000 Mbps or higher

San Francisco – 44%

California – 14%

U.S. – 16%

Source: FCC

Call or click below to find and compare the fastest San Francisco internet plans in your area.

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Cheapest internet service providers in San Francisco

If you are looking for affordable internet service in San Francisco, there are a few choices for providers that have plans under $40/mo.* You may be able to get additional savings off your monthly internet price by bundling with TV and home phone services or using your own compatible equipment to cut rental costs.

Cheap internet plans in San Francisco

  • Wave Broadband – $19.95/mo.* for up to 25 Mbps
  • Raw Bandwidth – $29.95/mo.* for up to 3 Mbps
  • Xfinity Performance Starter – $29.99/mo.* for up to 100 Mbps
  • AT&T Internet 100 – $35.00/mo.* for up to 100 Mbps
  • Sonic Gigabit – $39.99/mo.* for up to 1,000 Mbps

*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 11/12/20.

Call or click below to find and compare the cheapest San Francisco internet plans in your area.

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Free Wi-Fi hotspots in San Francisco

Many public areas in and around San Francisco allow access to their free Wi-Fi network. Whether spending the day enjoying popular attractions, there are Wi-Fi locations you can take advantage of. Remember that these networks are usually public or have widely-known passwords, so it is a good idea to avoid online activity that involves sharing passwords or sensitive information when you’re connected to free Wi-Fi networks.

Here are some public places where you can find free Wi-Fi in San Francisco:

As a subscriber to either of San Francisco’s internet providers, AT&T or Xfinity, you can gain access to free Wi-Fi hotspots. Hotspot availability will often directly correlate with the provider’s availability in the area, so there may be AT&T or Xfinity hotspots.

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