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View detailsInternet providers in San Marcos, CA
Shop the best San Marcos internet providers. Compare internet plan pricing and speeds from cable, DSL and fiber-optic providers in your area.
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San Marcos, CA internet providers
Need help? Call (844) 451-2720
| Provider | ||||
| AT&T | $40 | 100 - 1,000 Mbps | Fiber-optic | 6.774% |
| AT&T | $30 | 100 - 75 Mbps | DSL | 87% |
| Spectrum | $44.99 | 60 - 300 Mbps | Cable | 49% |
| Cox | $119.99 | 10 - 1,000 Mbps | Fiber-optic | 4.676% |
| Cox | $29.99 | 10 - 300 Mbps | Cable | 86% |
| GTT Communications | - | - | DSL | 4.343% |
| HughesNet | $59.99 | 25 - 25 Mbps | Satellite | 100% |
| Viasat | $50 | 12 - 12 Mbps | Satellite | 100% |
| San Diego Broadband | - | - | Wireless | 6.624% |
*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 Jun 1, 2020.
Need help?San Marcos internet service at a glance
At 97%, broadband coverage in San Marcos is comparable to the rest of California - 93%, and comparable to broadband coverage across the U.S. - 95%.
The vast majority of those living in the San Marcos area will have access to cable, which covers 96% of San Marcos residents. DSL internet is also an option for many, offering service to 90% of the area. Fiber-optic is less available but still a popular internet option for roughly 11% of those living in San Marcos.
There are seven internet providers serving the San Marcos area, and 91.93% of households will have internet options from more than one provider. Among San Marcos's seven internet providers, prices start at $29.99 and available download speeds reach up to 1,000 Mbps.
Top high-speed internet providers in San Marcos
The largest internet providers in San Marcos are AT&T, Spectrum, and Cox bringing DSL and cable options to San Marcos.
DSL internet from AT&T is available to nearly all San Marcos residents, covering 87% of households. Some will also have the option of cable from Spectrum, which covers 49% of the area. San Marcos’s third most-available internet provider, Cox, offers cable to around 86% of San Marcos residents.
AT&T DSL internet
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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. Speeds may vary. As of Jun 1, 2020.
DSL from AT&T offers broadband to nearly all households in San Marcos covering 87% of the area.
DSL internet from AT&T uses telephone lines in San Marcos to deliver service, which often leads to lower prices and higher availability, though download speeds are likely to be slower than cable or fiber-optic internet.
Internet prices for AT&T start at $30/mo.*, which is significantly lower than the average starting price for internet in San Marcos, $42.99.
AT&T customers who choose the lowest-priced plan can expect speeds up to 100 Mbps, which comes to an estimated $0.30 per Mbps, about the same as the average cost per Mbps for the lowest priced plans in San Marcos, $0.68.
For those who value internet speed as much as cost, AT&T offers download speeds up to 75 Mbps and upload speeds up to 20 Mbps in San Marcos. These download speeds are available to 87% of the area, and are much slower than the average max speeds from all San Marcos's providers, 542 Mbps.
Spectrum cable internet
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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. Speeds may vary. As of Jun 1, 2020.
Cable from Spectrum offers broadband to about half of households in San Marcos covering 49% of the area.
Spectrum’s cable network is likely to offer faster speeds than DSL or satellite service, but San Marcos residents in densely populated areas may experience slowed speeds during peak usage times.
Internet prices for Spectrum start at $44.99/mo.*, which is about the same as the average starting price for internet in San Marcos, $42.99.
Spectrum customers who choose the lowest-priced plan can expect speeds up to 60 Mbps, which comes to an estimated $0.75 per Mbps, about the same as the average cost per Mbps for the lowest priced plans in San Marcos, $0.68.
For those who value internet speed as much as cost, Spectrum offers download speeds up to 300 Mbps and upload speeds up to 20 Mbps in San Marcos. These download speeds are available to 49% of the area, and are much slower than the average max speeds from all San Marcos's providers, 542 Mbps.
Cox cable internet
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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. Speeds may vary. As of Jun 1, 2020.
Cable from Cox offers broadband to nearly all households in San Marcos covering 86% of the area.
Cox’s cable network is likely to offer faster speeds than DSL or satellite service, but San Marcos residents in densely populated areas may experience slowed speeds during peak usage times.
Internet prices for Cox start at $29.99/mo.*, which is significantly lower than the average starting price for internet in San Marcos, $42.99.
Cox customers who choose the lowest-priced plan can expect speeds up to 10 Mbps, which comes to an estimated $3.00 per Mbps, higher than the average cost per Mbps for the lowest priced plans in San Marcos, $0.68.
For those who value internet speed as much as cost, Cox offers download speeds up to 300 Mbps and upload speeds up to 30 Mbps in San Marcos. These download speeds are available to 86% of the area, and are much slower than the average max speeds from all San Marcos's providers, 542 Mbps.
Internet coverage for rural areas
If you live in the heart of San Marcos, you’ll likely have options from DSL, cable, and fiber-optic internet providers. For those in rural areas or just outside San Marcos, however, satellite or fixed wireless internet may be the best internet option.
Satellite internet from HughesNet and Viasat offers 100% availability in San Marcos and surrounding areas. HughesNet starting prices are significantly higher than average in San Marcos at $59.99/mo. for speeds up to 25 Mbps. Viasat starting prices are higher than average in San Marcos at $50/mo. for speeds up to 12 Mbps. Satellite internet is a less appealing option for many San Marcos residents, however, as service typically comes with high latency and low data allowances.
Internet provider frequently asked questions
What’s the fastest internet provider in San Marcos?
AT&T is the fastest internet provider in San Marcos with download speeds up to 1,000 Mbps. These speeds are available to 6.774% of households in San Marcos. The next fastest internet provider in San Marcos is Cox, offering download speeds up to 1,000 Mbps to 4.676% of the area.
What’s the cheapest internet provider in San Marcos?
Cox offers the cheapest internet in San Marcos with plans starting at $29.99/mo. This is significantly less than the average starting price for internet in San Marcos, $42.99.
Is fiber internet available in San Marcos?
AT&T is the largest fiber-optic internet service provider in San Marcos, covering 6.774% of the city. Cox also offers fiber internet in San Marcos and is available to 4.676% of households.
What's a good internet speed for my home?
Download speeds of 25 Mbps and above are considered broadband speeds, and can handle most online activities including streaming and gaming. For households with multiple devices using a Wi-Fi connection, speeds of 100 Mbps and higher are likely to offer a better online experience. Learn more about what speeds are best for your home.
What’s a good speed for gaming?
Speeds of 10 Mbps and higher are good for gaming, but what you really want to consider when choosing an internet service for gaming is latency, or ping. Latency is the measure of how long it takes for your device to communicate with the server and is the main contributor to lag. The higher the ping, the more likely you are to experience lagging. Shoot for an internet service with latency below 100 ms.
What are my internet options?
Available providers vary by address, but your location is likely serviceable for cable and DSL internet. Fiber internet may also be an internet option, but this technology is typically found in larger cities. Those living in rural areas not serviceable for cable, DSL or fiber internet may find satellite or fixed wireless internet to be their only options.
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