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Internet providers in Charlotte, NC

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Charlotte internet at a glance

Some of the best internet service providers (ISPs) in Charlotte include Spectrum, AT&T and Google Fiber. All three have footprints that extend across the city, from Highland Creek to Ballantyne. If you live in Charlotte or are planning to move there, we’ll help you compare your options so you can find the best internet service for you. 

Other than pricing and availability, there are a few things to consider when choosing your next ISP. Picking the right speed plan is critical, especially if you have a house full of gamers, students and work-from-home people. Watch for data caps, which can be pricey if you run over your limit. Contracts are another thing to check on because you don’t want to be locked in to one service for the long term. 

Keep in mind that not all providers are available in every neighborhood which is why we ask for your address. With an exact location, we can give you the most accurate results of internet service providers for your home.

Best available providers

  1. Google Fiber – Best overall
  2. AT&T – Fastest internet
  3. Spectrum – Best availability

Internet availability by connection type

  • Cable – 100%
  • DSL – 93%
  • Fiber optic – 78%

All available Charlotte 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. Speeds may vary. As of 9/12/22.

**For existing 5G Do More, 5G Play More or 5G Get More mobile customers who then add and maintain a home internet plan. Availability varies. Price guarantee applies to base monthly rate only. Auto Pay & paper-free billing req’d. Add’l $10/mo. w/o Auto Pay. Subj. to credit approval & may require a deposit. Other terms may apply. Wired speeds advertised. Wireless speeds may vary due to device limited, multiple users, networks & other factors. See Verizon.com/yourspeed for more info. Updated 09/12/22.

Our methodology

We evaluate broadband providers in four categories: affordability, performance, value and customer satisfaction.

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.

See how we review internet providers

Fastest internet available in Charlotte

*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. As of 9/12/22.

Charlotte real-world internet speed performance

Google Fiber is the clear winner when it comes to fast internet in the Charlotte area. 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.

  • Google Fiber – 313 Mbps

  • AT&T – 240 Mbps

  • Spectrum – 132 Mbps

Charlotte internet speed compared to the national average

Charlotte gets pretty average internet speeds compared to the state and country as a whole. Its 109 Mbps download speed is a little slower than average — but still plenty for most households — while its upload speeds are actually a little faster. That’s largely due to fiber internet in Charlotte, which typically provides the same upload and download speeds.

  • Download speeds

    Charlotte – 109 Mbps

    North Carolina – 116 Mbps

    U.S. – 117 Mbps

  • Upload speeds

    Charlotte – 48 Mbps

    North Carolina – 42 Mbps

    U.S. – 42 Mbps

Source

The average speeds listed above are based on over 3 million real speed test results taken in Charlotte over a six-month window from the M-Lab NDT Data Set 2021-09-01–2022-02-28. Measurement Lab is an open source platform aimed at advancing Internet research.

Cheapest internet options in the Queen City

Although all three of these providers — Spectrum, Windstream and Comporium — list prices at or below $50/mo., the rates for these Charlotte internet providers may not cover fees for installation, equipment and taxes. Listed prices may be an introductory offer that could increase after three to 12 months, and you could be required to sign up for autopay and/or paperless billing.

*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. As of 9/12/22.

Allconnect’s affordable choice: Spectrum

While all three of these providers offer cheap high speed internet in Charlotte, NC, Spectrum gives you the best value for your money.

Shop Spectrum plans
Or call to order: (844) 451-2720
Google Fiber logo

Allconnect Rating

4.50 / 5

Google Fiber: Best overall

Google Fiber is a popular offering for apartment buildings and houses in Charlotte and offers fast speeds of 1 and 2 gigs. Plans come with no data caps, no hidden fees and no contracts.

What we like

  • Plans offer up to 2 gigs, the fastest plan for fiber internet in Charlotte

  • Free professional installation

Things to consider

  • More expensive compared to other providers

See all Google Fiber plans
AT&T logo

Allconnect Rating

4.43 / 5

AT&T: Fastest internet

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

  • Limited plan options

See all AT&T internet plans
Spectrum logo

Allconnect Rating

3.57 / 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 100% 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

See all Spectrum internet plans

Additional providers to consider

T-Mobile 5G

One of the newer internet providers around, T-Mobile’s 5G Home internet service uses the same type of wireless connection as your smartphone. It’s not quite as reliable as cable or fiber internet, but you can expect download speeds around 100 Mbps.

Verizon 5G Home Internet

Verizon’s home internet plan is $25/mo. with certain Verizon mobile plans. The service has no data caps or contracts, with speeds ranging from 85 Mbps to 300 Mbps.

Comporium

Comporium is local to North and South Carolina, and it primarily uses a cable internet connection. Plans are a little more expensive than other providers in the area, but it’s a good option if you can’t get cable or fiber internet elsewhere.

Windstream

Kinetic by Windstream is available to around 13% of the Charlotte area. It offers both DSL and fiber internet service. If you can get fiber internet from Windstream, it’s a great option, delivering fast speeds for a reasonable price. If you only have access to Windstream’s DSL plans, however, you’re usually better off going with a different provider.

HughesNet

HughesNet is a satellite internet provider that is typically only used by people who can’t get cable or fiber internet at their address. You’ll have low data limits with HughesNet, and speeds are on the slow side. That said, it might still be a better option than DSL in some cases.

Viasat

Like HughesNet, Viasat is a satellite internet provider that should be viewed primarily as a last resort. You can get plans with decent speeds, but you’ll pay more than twice as much as you would with cable or fiber providers, and you’ll have to deal with low data caps.

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.

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Erin Gobler

Written by:

Erin Gobler

Contributor

Erin Gobler is a freelance writer based in Madison, WI. She writes about topics including budgeting, student loans, credit, mortgages, investing, broadband and insurance. Including Allconnect.com, her work has b… Read more

Robin Layton

Edited by:

Robin Layton

Editor, Broadband Content

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