Find Chicago internet providers for you
*Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds may vary. For more info, go to www.att.com/speed101. Plus taxes (w/ eligible Autopay & Paperless bill). Price after $10/mo discount with eligible Autopay & Paperless bill (w/in 2 bills). Monthly State Cost Recovery Charge in TX, OH, NV applies. See offer details. As of 03/20/25.
Chicago internet provider comparison
These Chicago internet providers are available from the city and into the suburbs. Whether you’re looking for super-fast fiber service or the best price available, multiple choices are available in the Chicago area.
If you live in Chicago or are planning to move there, we’ll help you compare your options to find the best internet service. Some of the best and largest internet service providers (ISPs) in Chicago are AT&T, Xfinity and Astound.
Not all providers are available in every neighborhood, so we ask for your address. For example, AT&T is available across much of Chicago and its suburbs to the west, like Berwyn, but coverage is not as consistent to the north, as in areas of Highland Park.
| Provider | Starting price* | Download speed range | Connection type | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xfinity | $30.00/mo. | 400 – 3,000 Mbps | Cable, fiber | 98% |
| Hughesnet | $49.99/mo. | 50 – 100 Mbps | Satellite | 97% |
| AT&T | $55.00/mo.** | 300 – 4,700 Mbps** | Fiber | 90% |
| T-Mobile 5G Home Internet | $35.00/mo. with mobile plan | 87 – 415 Mbps | 5G | 80% |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet | $35.00/mo.*** with mobile plan | 85 – 1,000 Mbps | 5G | 42% |
| Astound | $20.00/mo. | 300 – 1,500 Mbps | Cable, fiber | 55% |
| Zentro Internet | $29.00/mo. | 25 – 2,000 Mbps | Fixed wireless | 1% |
*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 03/20/25.
**Plus taxes (w/ eligible Autopay & Paperless bill). Price after $10/mo discount with eligible Autopay & Paperless bill (w/in 2 bills). Monthly State Cost Recovery Charge in TX, OH, NV applies. See offer details. Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds may vary. For 5GIG, single device wired speed maximum 4.7Gbps. For more info, go to www.att.com/speed101.
***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.
Chicago internet takeaways
In the middle of metro Chicago, nature lovers can revel in Lincoln Park, a lakefront greenspace with a zoo and botanical garden. Residents of the surrounding area have great accessibility to Xfinity’s cable internet, but only about half the addresses are served by fiber. Xfinity plans provide speeds up to 3,000 Mbps in some parts of the city.
If you need faster internet with symmetrical download and upload speeds, you may consider moving to West Town, Irving Park or Logan Square, which offer 100% fiber coverage with AT&T, Xfinity or Google Fiber.
Help to pay your internet bill in Chicago
All Chicago residents who need help with internet access or equipment are encouraged to visit the Chicago resource hub that has maps of where to find free Wi-Fi spots and a financial aid guide.
Chicago also has free public wireless access at city facilities, including Chicago Public Library locations and the Chicago Cultural Center.
Internet deals in Chicago
5G home internet providers T-Mobile and Verizon offer affordable deals when you bundle a qualifying mobile plan with an internet plan, starting at $35/mo.
If you live in Belmont Village and surrounding areas, you may be able to get Xfinity internet without a credit check.
Watch Allconnect’s best deals page to see if you can get discounted internet or perks like free streaming and rewards cards for switching providers.
Cheapest internet plans in Chicago
Astound offers the cheapest internet in Chicago, with plans starting at $20.00/mo. for 300 Mbps.
Residents of Chicago have several options for cheap internet. In fact, four internet providers in the Chicago area offer plans for less than $40.00/mo.
- Astound: 300 Mbps for $20.00/mo.
- Xfinity: 400 Mbps for $30.00/mo.
- Verizon 5G Home Internet: Up to 300 Mbps for $35.00/mo. with a qualifying mobile plan
- T-Mobile 5G Home Internet: 87 to 415 Mbps for $35.00/mo. with a qualifying mobile plan
Cheaper internet plans generally offer lower speeds, but Astound offers 300 Mbps for $20.00/mo. and Xfinity offers 400 Mbps for $30.00/mo. 300 Mbps is enough speed for a small to midsize household of light to moderate internet users.
Fastest internet plans in Chicago
AT&T Fiber offers the fastest internet speeds in Chicago, up to 4,700 Mbps.*
Chicago has above-average access to fast internet speeds. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reports that speeds up to 250 Mbps or higher are available in more than 99% of Chicago. Below are some of the fastest internet plans in Chicago, 1 Gbps and higher.
- AT&T Fiber: 4,700 Mbps for $245.00/mo.,* plus taxes (w/ eligible Autopay & Paperless bill)
- Astound: 1,500 Mbps for $55.00/mo.
- Google Fiber: 1,000 Mbps for $70.00/mo.
- Xfinity: 1,300 Mbps for $80.00/mo.
Gig plans are perfect for internet power users and very large families of five or more. You probably won’t need to purchase a plan beyond 1 gig of download speed, but for video creators, home business owners or heavy gamers, you’ll want to find a fiber provider with speeds of 3 to 10 gigs.
Fiber internet in Chicago
For 100% fiber availability, you will need to live in and around Logan Square. Outside of that area, fiber coverage drops to about 40%, with little to no fiber options in the south, around and below South Lawndale.
There are several fiber providers in Chicago, including AT&T, Xfinity and Astound.
*Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds may vary. Single device wired speed maximum 4.7Gbps. For more info, go to www.att.com/speed101. Price after $10/mo discount with eligible Autopay & Paperless bill (w/in 2 bills). Monthly State Cost Recovery Charge in TX, OH, NV applies. See offer details. As of 03/20/25.
Allconnect Rating
4.40 / 5
AT&T: Best overall ISP
Although AT&T Fiber does not offer the cheapest internet plans in Chicago, it does offer the best deals. All three internet plans available with AT&T offer affordable rates, unlimited data and symmetrical download/upload speeds.
AT&T Fiber covers 90% of the city and is the only major provider in Chicago that offers fiber technology, which is known for providing a more reliable connection. AT&T Fiber also has a 5 Gig* plan that’s perfect for heavy internet activity and gaming.
AT&T does not provide the cheapest internet service compared to other providers in the Chicago area.
*Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds may vary. Single device wired speed maximum 4.7Gbps. For more info, go to www.att.com/speed101. As of 03/20/25.
AT&T Customer Reviews:
Allconnect Rating
3.93 / 5
Xfinity: Best high-speed provider
Xfinity offers the fastest internet for Chicago residents, with speeds as high as 3,000 Mbps. The company also offers competitive rates, with its most affordable plan starting at just $30/mo. Xfinity is primarily a cable internet provider but offers fiber technology for its gig-speed plans.
Xfinity’s cable service is available to over 90% of Chicago neighborhoods. You can get Xfinity mobile across Chicago as well, and bundling that with your internet plan will save you some money.
Your monthly bill will likely be higher than advertised because of equipment rentals and hidden fees.
Promotions and discounts — Xfinity often offers promotions when you sign up, and discounts for paperless billing and autopay.
Xfinity Customer Reviews:
Allconnect Rating
3.80 / 5
Astound: Most affordable provider
Astound offers cable and fiber internet speeds ranging from 300 to 1,200 Mbps, starting at just $25/mo. Astound doesn’t impose data caps, meaning you can enjoy your high-speed internet all month long. Astound covers about 50% of Chicago, including Elgin, Naperville, Evanston and Hammond.
You can also bundle your internet plan with Astound’s cable TV for additional value, plus options for Sports Packs, premium channels and DVR service.
Astound Customer Reviews:
Allconnect Rating
4.35 / 5
T-Mobile: Best for simple pricing
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet offers three 5G plans starting at $35/mo. with a qualifying mobile plan and with no hidden fees, price hikes, contracts or data caps. It’s one of the most affordable plans because you pay a flat price with all fees included, whereas other providers have lots of added fees that increase your bill.
Speeds run from 87 to 415 Mbps, which is good for a smaller home, but more than three users will stretch the connection’s capability. T-Mobile’s 5G Home Internet is available to nearly every address in Chicago.
T-Mobile Customer Reviews:
How we review internet in Chicago
Allconnect’s broadband experts review prices, speed, fees, terms and promotions when reviewing internet providers.
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 500 Mbps plan got a 3.71.
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.
Chicago internet customer reviews
That online chat bot on AT&T’s site is unhelpful, but if you call, you can reach someone quickly and they are always so nice!
4/5
The cable connection is good and reliable. However, customer service is lacking. You have to jump through hoops just to get a human being to respond to a computer chat. Once you get through, the agents are helpful, but it takes great patience.
3/5
I was never was told how much I would be charged for a service person to physically come and set up Xfinity. In fact no knew why I couldn’t install Xfinity until the service person came out.
2/5
Compare internet near Chicago
Serviceability in Chicago neighborhoods
According to the FCC, Chicago neighborhoods such as Logan Square and Wicker Park have a high level of fiber serviceability (80% to 100%).
As you move east toward the lake, Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Old Town and Gold Coast have 0% to 40% fiber serviceability, depending on your location. Downtown Chicago also has sparse fiber availability, with some areas having only 0% to 20% serviceability.
The entire city has access to satellite internet, and cable is available to 80% – 100% of the city. Fixed wireless serviceability varies but generally hovers between 20% and 60%, depending on your location.
Surrounding cities
Cities outside of Chicago, such as Evanston, Naperville and Cicero, have similar serviceability to the Windy City. They have wide access to cable and satellite but far less access to fiber.
Explore internet in more cities surrounding Chicago, Illinois:
Chicago internet FAQs
How fast is internet in Chicago?
There are several fast fiber internet providers in Chicago, including AT&T, Xfinity, Zentro and Astound. Fiber speeds in Chicago can reach up to 5,000 Mbps.
What’s the cheapest internet in Chicago?
The cheapest internet in Chicago is Astound’s 300 Mbps plan for just $20.00/mo. Xfinity also offers a cheap option at $30.00/mo. for 400 Mbps.
What’s the fastest internet in Chicago?
The fastest internet in Chicago is AT&T Fiber’s 5 Gbps* plan.
Is 5G internet available in Chicago?
Verizon and T-Mobile provide fixed wireless internet, or 5G home internet, to about a combined 95% of Chicago addresses.
What is the most widely available provider in Chicago?
T-Mobile and Xfinity are the most widely available providers in Chicago with 95% coverage over the city. Hughesnet also provides coverage to 100% of Chicago.
*Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds may vary. Single device wired speed maximum 4.7Gbps. For more info, go to www.att.com/speed101. As of 03/20/25.
Allconnect: Let us compare providers for you
Why should you choose Allconnect? We’re the #1 broadband marketplace in the U.S., meaning you can trust us to search, compare and order internet and TV service for your home.
Get started
We value your feedback
Was this page helpful?
We value your feedback
We’re glad! Tell us what helped most on this page.
We value your feedback
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your insight helps, and we’ll do our best to improve your experience.
Written by:
Robin LaytonSenior 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
Edited by:
Anine SusEditor I
Related pages
-
Featured
![Best Xfinity routers reviewed]()
Best Xfinity routers reviewed Camryn Smith — 5 min read -
Featured
![Need a reason to move? Check out the cheap high-speed internet in these small cities!]()
Need a reason to move? Check out the cheap high-speed internet in these small cities! Samantha Cossick — 6 min read -
Featured
![How to self-install your AT&T internet]()
How to self-install your AT&T internet Camryn Smith — 7 min read
Latest
-
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Americans are getting over 279 Mbps in download speed, but are you?Robin Layton — 6 min read
-
Monday, March 17, 2025
Safety online: A guide for people with autism spectrum disorderRobin Layton — 7 min read
-
Friday, March 14, 2025
Amazon’s Project Kuiper is expected to compete with Starlink, but when?Camryn Smith — 3 min read
