Internet providers in Raleigh, North Carolina

What's the right internet speed for your home?

Households within Raleigh are, on average, getting download speeds of 189 Mbps and upload speeds of 95 Mbps. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) assigns internet requirements into light, moderate and high-use categories.

Our online speed guide can help you decide which internet speed is best for your household.

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Best internet provider in Raleigh, NC

Allconnect's choice for the best internet provider in Raleigh is Google Fiber, with their Fiber plans covering 14% of the city. Google Fiber internet plans start at $70 with speeds up to 8,000 Mbps.

To make that choice, we look at the affordability, performance, value and customer satisfaction of internet service providers (ISPs). View our full methodology here.

google-fiber
Plans starting at
$70/mo.
Available speeds
1,000-8,000 Mbps
Contract length
None

Cheap internet in Raleigh

Most internet service providers offer cheap internet plans between $20-$30, for the lowest tier of speed, usually up to 75-100 Mbps. These plans are fast enough for light use in a small household.

Verizon 4G LTE has the cheapest internet plans in Raleigh, starting at 300 Mbps for $35/mo.

T-Mobile also has an affordable internet plan offering 245 Mbps for $40/mo.

Keep in mind that for just $5 or $10 extra a month, the second-to-cheapest plan offered by an ISP is sometimes the better deal, often providing more speed for your dollar.

Cheapest plans

Verizon 4G LTE
Cheapest Plan
Verizon 4G LTE logo
Monthly price
$35.00/mo.
Download speed
Up to 300 Mbps
Contract length
None
Connection type
Wireless
T-Mobile
Next Best Plan
T-Mobile logo
Monthly price
$40.00/mo.
Download speed
Up to 245 Mbps
Contract length
None
Connection type
Wireless

Fastest internet in Raleigh

The speed you need depends on what you use the internet for. If high-speed internet is necessary for your household to game, work and learn, you'll be happy to know that Google Fiber and AT&T offer the fastest internet in Raleigh.

Google Fiber has Fiber internet speeds starting at $150.00/mo. for up to 8,000 Mbps while AT&T offers plans up to 5,000 Mbps for their Fiber internet.

Fastest plans

Google Fiber
Fastest Plan
Google Fiber logo
Monthly price
$150.00/mo.
Download speed
Up to 8,000 Mbps
Contract length
None
Connection type
Fiber
AT&T
Next Best Plan
AT&T logo
Monthly price
$245.00/mo.
Download speed
Up to 5,000 Mbps
Contract length
None
Connection type
Fiber

Most available internet providers in Raleigh

The most available ISPs in Raleigh is Hughesnet, which serves 100% of the area, with plans starting at $74.99/mo.

T-Mobile covers 99% of Raleigh, with plans beginning at $40.00/mo.

Satellite and 5G home internet are available in nearly 99% of the country, so if cable or fiber internet isn't available at your Raleigh address, you probably can connect to another internet type.

Most available plans

Hughesnet
Most Available Plan
Hughesnet logo
Monthly price
$74.99/mo.
Download speed
50 Mbps
Contract length
None
Connection type
Satellite
T-Mobile
Next Best Plan
T-Mobile logo
Monthly price
$40.00/mo.
Download speed
245 Mbps
Contract length
None
Connection type
Wireless

Compare Top Internet Services

Raleigh internet FAQs

What's the cheapest internet provider in Raleigh?

Verizon 4G LTE offers the cheapest internet plan in Raleigh with plans starting at $35.00/mo. for 300 Mbps.

T-Mobile also offers cheap plans starting at $40.00/mo. for 245 Mbps.

At $0.02 per Mbps the 8 Gig plan from Google Fiber gives you the most value for your dollar.

The fastest internet provider in Raleigh is Google Fiber. It has Fiber internet plans with speeds up to 8,000 Mbps. AT&T also has fast Fiber plans up to 5,000 Mbps.

In most cases, your initial cost of buying a modem and router pays for itself within a year. Rental equipment fees from internet providers are usually around $10/mo. and you can buy combination modem/routers (gateways) for under $100. If you want to avoid a monthly fee from your ISP, buying your router is the way to go. If you need support for your equipment, rent it from your ISP and you’ll have access to technical support. See our full guide on whether you should rent or buy internet equipment.

Once you have compared and chosen an internet provider, you often have the choice to install your internet yourself or have the ISP send a tech to your address. If you install it yourself, the ISP will provide you with a step-by-step guide to connect their equipment to yours and set up your Wi-Fi access. If you choose professional installation, all you’ll have to do is schedule an appointment with your ISP and they’ll take care of everything.

When choosing an internet service provider, it’s important to consider technology types. Fiber internet is the fastest and most reliable internet technology type since it provides symmetrical download and upload speeds, but it’s not the most widely available type of internet. We recommend fiber if it’s available at your address, but if not, you have other options.

Cable internet is a common internet type and the best alternative to fiber internet. It offers fast, reliable speeds and is more widely available than fiber. Satellite internet is a great choice if you live in a rural area and other internet technologies aren’t an option.

5G internet, or fixed wireless internet, is another internet technology type to consider. 5G home internet isn’t always as fast as cable or fiber plans, but some providers like T-Mobile are expanding rapidly to offer 5G home internet service to most of the country and can reach speeds up to 245 Mbps.