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Internet 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
| Provider | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | $40.00 | 10 - 1,000 Mbps | Fiber-optic | 6.774% |
| AT&T | $30.00 | 10 - 75 Mbps | DSL | 87% |
| Spectrum | $44.99 | 200 - 300 Mbps | Cable | 49% |
| Cox | $119.99 | 10 - 1,000 Mbps | Fiber-optic | 4.676% |
| Cox | $29.99 | 10 - 300 Mbps | Cable | 86% |
| HughesNet | $59.99 | 25 - 25 Mbps | Satellite | 100% |
| Viasat | $50.00 | 12 - 12 Mbps | Satellite | 100% |
San Diego Broadband  | $59.95 | 1.5 - 30 Mbps | 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 Oct 13, 2021.
Need help?San Marcos internet service at a glance
Broadband availability
83693
people have access to broadband internet of any type
1 provider - 97.15%
2 providers - 91.93%
3 providers - 40.55%
4+ providers - 0.40%
Source: FCC
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 six 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 six 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 Oct 13, 2021.
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, $45.82.
AT&T 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, $1.00.
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, 457 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 Oct 13, 2021.
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, $45.82.
Spectrum customers who choose the lowest-priced plan can expect speeds up to 200 Mbps, which comes to an estimated $0.22 per Mbps, about the same as the average cost per Mbps for the lowest priced plans in San Marcos, $1.00.
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, 457 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 Oct 13, 2021.
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, $45.82.
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, $1.00.
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, 457 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 about 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.
Fixed wireless is another popular internet option for those in rural areas. Those living in or just outside of San Marcos may have access to fixed wireless internet service from HughesNet, with plans starting at $59.99 and available download speeds up to 25 Mbps. Fixed wireless service is less likely to come with the high latency of satellite internet, but monthly data limits can still be an issue compared to San Marcos DSL, cable, and fiber-optic internet providers.
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, $45.82.
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 internet providers are available at my address?
No matter where you live, your address is likely serviceable for satellite internet from providers such as HughesNet and Viasat. You will probably also have the option of at least one cable provider, such as Cox, Spectrum and Xfinity, and DSL providers such as Frontier and Verizon. Roughly a third of households will be eligible for fiber internet from AT&T, CenturyLink, Windstream or other providers.
How do I change internet providers?
Learn the penalty, if any, of canceling service with your current provider. Find other internet providers in your area and compare plans and pricing. Choose the internet provider and plan that best meets your needs. Order your new services and get your installation/activation date. Call your current internet provider and cancel service by the activation date of your new service.
How much speed do I need for streaming?
Each video streaming service has varying recommended speeds, but speeds up to 10 Mbps will often handle streaming on one device. For HD and 4K streaming, consider faster speeds of at least 25 Mbps to reduce buffering and maintain optimal picture quality.
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