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Internet providers in Madison, WI

Table of contents

What's the right internet speed for your home?

Households within Madison are, on average, getting download speeds of 196 Mbps and upload speeds of 164 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.

  • Light
    Internet use
    1 to 2

    Email, browsing, basic video, one streaming device at a time.

    Broadband guidelines:

    1 to 2 devices:
    5 to 20 Mbps
    2 to 4 devices:
    20 to 40 Mbps
    5 to 10 devices:
    50 to 100 Mbps
    View Allconnect's take
  • Moderate
    Internet use
    3 - 4

    The same functions as Light, plus one high-demand application like streaming HD video, video conferencing, online gaming or telecommuting.

    Broadband guidelines:

    1 to 2 devices:
    5 to 20 Mbps
    2 to 4 devices:
    20 to 40 Mbps
    5 to 10 devices:
    75 to 200 Mbps
    View Allconnect's take
  • High
    Internet use
    5+

    The same functions as Light and Moderate, plus multiple high-demand applications running simultaneously.

    Broadband guidelines:

    1 to 2 devices:
    100 to 200 Mbps
    2 to 4 devices:
    200 to 300 Mbps
    5 to 10 devices:
    400 to 500 Mbps
    View Allconnect's take

DON'T KNOW WHAT INTERNET SPEED YOU NEED?

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Best internet provider in Madison - Allconnect's Choice

Allconnect's choice for the best internet provider in Madison is AT&T, with their fiber plans covering 44% of the city. AT&T internet plans start at $55 with speeds up to 5,000 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.

at&t
Plans starting at
$55/mo.
Available speeds
300-5,000 Mbps
Contract length
None
Call to order: (844) 451-2720
Check with AT&T

Cheapest internet providers in Madison, WI

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.

EarthLink has the cheapest internet plans in Madison, starting at 50 Mbps for $49.95/mo.

Spectrum also has an affordable internet plan offering 300 Mbps for $49.99/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

EarthLink
Cheapest Plan
EarthLink logo
Monthly price
$49.95/mo.
Download speed
Up to 50 Mbps
Contract length
12 mos.
Connection type
Fiber
Call to order
(844) 451-2720
Spectrum
Next Best Plan
Spectrum logo
Monthly price
$49.99/mo.
Download speed
Up to 300 Mbps
Contract length
None
Connection type
Cable
Call to order
(844) 451-2720

Fastest internet providers in Madison, WI

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 AT&T and EarthLink offer the fastest internet in Madison.

AT&T has fiber internet speeds starting at $250.00/mo. for up to 5,000 Mbps while EarthLink offers plans up to 1,000 Mbps for their fiber internet.

Fastest plans

AT&T
Fastest Plan
AT&T logo
Monthly price
$250.00/mo.
Download speed
Up to 5,000 Mbps
Contract length
None
Connection type
Fiber
Call to order
(844) 451-2720
EarthLink
Next Best Plan
EarthLink logo
Monthly price
$99.95/mo.
Download speed
Up to 1,000 Mbps
Contract length
12 mos.
Connection type
Fiber
Call to order
(844) 451-2720

Most available internet providers in Madison, WI

The most available ISPs in Madison are T-Mobile and EarthLink which serve 100% of the area.

Most available plans

T-Mobile
Most Available Plan
T-Mobile logo
Monthly price
$50.00/mo.
Download speed
245 Mbps
Contract length
None
Connection type
Fixed wireless
Call to order
(844) 451-2720
EarthLink
Next Best Plan
EarthLink logo
Monthly price
$49.95/mo.
Download speed
100 Mbps
Contract length
12 mos.
Connection type
Fiber
Call to order
(844) 451-2720

Explore internet options near Madison

Popular nearby cities

Monona, WI
Middleton, WI
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Cottage Grove, WI
Verona, WI
Windsor, WI
See all results for Wisconsin

Compare top internet services in Madison, WI

  • AT&T
    Speeds up to
    5,000 Mbps
    Contract length
    None
    Connection type
    Fiber
    Rating
    High
    Plan cost
    $55 - $250/mo.
    Check with AT&T
    Or give us a call
  • EarthLink
    Speeds up to
    1,000 Mbps
    Contract length
    12 mos.
    Connection type
    Fiber
    Rating
    High
    Plan cost
    $49.95 - $99.95/mo.
    Give us a call
  • Spectrum
    Speeds up to
    1,000 Mbps
    Contract length
    None
    Connection type
    Cable
    Rating
    Average
    Plan cost
    $49.99 - $89.99/mo.
    Check with Spectrum
    Or give us a call
  • Viasat
    Speeds up to
    100 Mbps
    Contract length
    24 mos.
    Connection type
    Satellite
    Rating
    Low
    Plan cost
    $69.99 - $199.99/mo.
    Check with Viasat
    Or give us a call

Madison internet FAQs

What's the cheapest internet provider in Madison?
EarthLink offers the cheapest internet plan in Madison with plans starting at $49.95/mo. for 50 Mbps.

Spectrum also offers cheap plans starting at $49.99/mo. for 300 Mbps.

At $0.17 per Mbps the Internet plan from Spectrum gives you the most value for your dollar.
Two of the fastest plans available in Madison are from AT&T and EarthLink. There may also be local broadband providers that service your address with faster speeds.
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.

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