What is the best internet provider in Huntsville?
Available internet providers in Huntsville are as good as anywhere, but AT&T Fiber stands out as CNET’s pick for Huntsville’s best ISP overall. AT&T Fiber’s local fiber-optic coverage, selection of plans with symmetrical upload and download speeds, stable pricing and record of high customer satisfaction give it a slight advantage over competing Huntsville providers.
Google Fiber is a close second and can’t be beat regarding gig and multi-gigabit speeds. The provider offers the fastest internet speeds in Huntsville, up to 8,000 megabits per second, but as a gig-only provider, Google Fiber isn’t the cheapest service around.
If you’re looking for cheap internet in Huntsville, Xfinity and WideOpenWest are top choices. Xfinity has the lowest starting price, $20 monthly, for speeds up to 150Mbps, while WOW starts at $30 for double the max speed, 300Mbps.
To top off your potential broadband options in Huntsville, there’s fixed wireless service from Verizon 5G Home Internet and T-Mobile Home Internet. Verizon is a better deal with faster max speeds, while T-Mobile boasts a broader coverage area. Both providers offer unlimited data, free equipment and a discount for qualifying mobile customers.
CNET considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service in Huntsville across several categories. Our evaluation includes referencing a proprietary database built over years of reviewing internet services. We validate that against provider information by spot-checking local addresses for service availability. We also closely read providers’ terms and conditions and, when needed, call ISPs to verify the details.
Despite our efforts to find the most recent and accurate information, our process has some limitations you should know about. Pricing and speed data are variable: Certain addresses may qualify for different service tiers, and monthly costs may vary, even within a city. The best way to identify your particular options is to plug your address into a provider’s website.
Also, the prices, speed and other information listed above and in the provider cards below may differ from what we found in our research. The cards display the full range of a provider’s pricing and speed across the US, according to our database of plan information provided directly by ISPs, while the text is specific to what’s available in Huntsville. The prices referenced within this article’s text come from our research and include applicable discounts for setting up automatic payments each month — a standard industry offering. Discounts and promotions might also be available for signing a term contract or bundling multiple services.
To learn more about how we review internet providers, visit our full methodology page.
Best internet in Huntsville, Alabama
300 – 5,000 Mbps
$55 – $250 per month
Our take – AT&T Fiber’s speed selection, straightforward pricing and high customer satisfaction record make it the best all-around ISP in the Huntsville area.
300 – 5,000 Mbps
$55 – $250 per month
1,000 – 2,000 Mbps
$70 – $100 per month
Our take – If you’re interested in gig internet, check to see if Google Fiber is available. The faster speeds make for a higher starting price than most ISPs, but if you don’t mind the premium (but definitely fair) pricing, Google Fiber is the way to go.
1,000 – 2,000 Mbps
$70 – $100 per month
100 – 1,200 Mbps
$20 – $95 per month
Our take – WideOpenWest offers the best bang for your buck on speeds up to 1Gbps. Even after the promotional period (1 year) ends, the standard rate will only increase your bill by $15 to $25.
100 – 1,200 Mbps
$20 – $95 per month
Fixed wireless
85 – 1,000 Mbps
$50 – $70 per month
Our take – Verizon 5G Home Internet adds to the broadband competition in Huntsville, but available speeds will vary by location. There are no contracts, so you can try it out risk-free to see what speeds you can get.
Fixed wireless
85 – 1,000 Mbps
$50 – $70 per month
150 – 6,000 Mbps
$20 – $300 per month
Our take – Cable internet is often the best source for internet and TV bundles, and that’s true of Xfinity in Huntsville. The area’s largest cable provider offers a variety of internet speeds and bundles, with an increasing monthly discount for each Xfinity service you add.
150 – 6,000 Mbps
$20 – $300 per month
Huntsville, Alabama, internet providers compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
AT&T Read full review |
DSL, fiber | $55 DSL, $55-$225 fiber | 10-100Mbps DSL, 300-5,000Mbps fiber | None | None | None | 7.4 |
|
Google Fiber Read full review |
Fiber | $70-$150 | 1,000-8,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.5 |
|
Mediacom Read full review |
Cable | $35-$70 | 100-1,000Mbps | $14 | 350-3,000GB | None | 6.4 |
|
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $60 ($40-$50 with eligible mobile plans) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
|
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers) | 50-1,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
| WideOpenWest | Cable | $30-$95 | 300-1,200Mbps | $14 (optional) | None | None | 7.2 |
|
Xfinity Read full review |
Cable | $20-$100 | 150-2,000Mbps | $15 (included with most plans for 24 months) | 1.2TB | 1-2 years (optional) | 7 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What other internet options are there in Huntsville?
The internet providers listed above are the ones that I would recommend most, but they may not be your only options for internet in Huntsville. Here’s a quick overview of other potential internet providers in Huntsville.
- Mediacom: Cable internet from Mediacom is known for its low introductory pricing, but availability is highly limited in Huntsville. Less than 5% of Huntsville households are serviceable for Mediacom, according to the FCC.
- T-Mobile Home Internet: It’s available to more Huntsville homes than Verizon 5G Home Internet, but T-Mobile Home Internet has a higher starting price ($60) and lower max speed (72 to 245Mbps).
- Satellite internet: Technically, satellite internet from Hughesnet, Viasat and Starlink is available throughout the Huntsville area, but there are too many other cheaper, faster and overall better options to consider before satellite internet.
Huntsville broadband at a glance
With two fiber providers and two cable providers available throughout much of Huntsville, broadband availability and options is better than most other parts of Alabama and the US.
Between AT&T Fiber and Google Fiber, fiber-optic internet connections are available to nearly 75% of Huntsville’s residential addresses. That’s more than double the total fiber internet availability in Alabama and significantly higher than fiber coverage nationwide.
It’s uncommon for the majority of an area to have more than one cable internet provider available. The local competition helps keep prices low and the service terms favorable to the customer.
Internet pricing in Huntsville
The average starting monthly rate of home internet in Huntsville is around $45, not including taxes and additional fees. Cable internet, with starting rates of $20 to $35, brings that average down while AT&T Fiber, T-Mobile Home Internet and Google Fiber raise it with starting rates of $55, $60 and $70, respectively.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Huntsville?
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Huntsville
The best internet deals and top promotions in Huntsville depend on what discounts are available during that time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Huntsville internet providers, such as AT&T Fiber, Xfinity and WOW, may offer lower introductory pricing or other incentives for a limited time. Many providers, including Google Fiber and Verizon 5G Home Internet, run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
How fast is Huntsville broadband?
Huntsville residents have access to some of the fastest internet speeds anywhere in the US thanks to AT&T Fiber and Google Fiber. Despite the high-speed availability, Huntsville’s tested internet speeds do not rank among the 100 fastest in the US, according to recent Ookla speed test data. Atlanta took the final spot with median download speeds of 91Mbps, meaning Huntsville’s median download speeds fell below that mark.
There are many factors that can affect speed test results, however, not least of which is the internet plan you choose. Gig and multi-gigabit speeds are available from multiple providers in the area. If you want faster-than-average internet speeds in Huntsville, consider the plans listed below.
Fastest internet plans in Huntsville
| Plan | Starting price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Google Fiber 8 Gig Read full review |
$150 | 8,000Mbps | 8,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
AT&T Internet 5000 Read full review |
$225 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
Google Fiber 5 Gig Read full review |
$125 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
AT&T Internet 2000 Read full review |
$150 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
Google Fiber 2 Gig Read full review |
$100 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
Xfinity Gigabit x2 Read full review |
$100 | 2,000Mbps | 200Mbps | None | Cable |
|
Xfinity Gigabit Extra Read full review |
$85 | 1,200Mbps | 35Mbps | 1.2TB | Cable |
|
AT&T Internet 1000 Read full review |
$80 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
Google Fiber 1 Gig Read full review |
$70 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
Mediacom Prime Internet 1 Gig Read full review |
$55 | 1,000Mbps | 50Mbps | 3TB | Cable |
|
WOW Internet 1 Gig Read full review |
$50 | 1,000Mbps | 50Mbps | 3TB | Cable |
|
Xfinity Gigabit Read full review |
$60 | 1,000Mbps | 20Mbps | 1.2TB | Cable |
|
Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read full review |
$70 ($45 with eligible mobile plans) | 85-1,000Mbps | 50-75Mbps | None | Fixed wireless |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s a good internet speed?
Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here’s an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.
For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.
- 0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics: browsing the internet, sending and receiving email, streaming low-quality video.
- 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
- 40 to 100Mbps should give one person sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
- 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two people to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming.
- 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more people to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Huntsville
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information, drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
But it doesn’t end there. We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
- Are customers happy with their service?
While the answers to those questions are often layered and complex, the providers that come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, though we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
Internet in Huntsville recap
Few cities have as many options for home internet as Huntsville. Two fiber providers, AT&T Fiber and Google Fiber, serve much of the area while cable internet is available from Xfinity, WOW and possibly Mediacom. There’s also the possibility of 5G home internet from T-Mobile or Verizon.
If you’re looking for fast internet, consider AT&T Fiber and Google Fiber. Both ISPs offer a 5-gig plan while Google Fiber also has an 8-gig plan in select areas. Cable internet can’t quite compete with those speeds, but it is a good source of cheap internet in Huntsville. Xfinity and WOW have the lowest starting rates in the area at $20 and $30 a month, respectively.
Internet providers in Huntsville, Alabama, FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Huntsville?
AT&T Fiber is the best all-around internet provider in Huntsville. Although not the fastest or the cheapest internet provider in Huntsville, AT&T Fiber offers speeds to accommodate nearly any household, and all plans include unlimited data, free equipment rental and no contract requirements. Other competing Huntsville ISPs may charge for equipment rental and have data caps or, in the case of Google Fiber and Verizon 5G Home, do not offer a similar speed selection.
Is fiber internet available in Huntsville?
Huntsville has greater access to fiber-optic internet than most cities nationwide. Nearly three-quarters of Huntsville households are serviceable for fiber internet, according to the most recent FCC data. AT&T Fiber and Google Fiber are the main contributors to the high fiber availability in the area.
Who is the cheapest internet provider in Huntsville?
Xfinity has the lowest introductory rate on home internet in Huntsville at $20 per month for speeds up to 150Mbps. As you get into faster speed tiers, WOW emerges as the cheaper provider. For example, speeds up to 300Mbps start at $30 with WOW but $35 with Xfinity. Additionally, WOW offers gig service, up to 1,000Mbps, starting at $60 monthly, whereas Xfinity is slightly more expensive at $80.
Which internet provider in Huntsville offers the fastest plan?
Google Fiber offers the fastest internet plan in Huntsville with symmetrical upload and download speeds up to 8,000Mbps, starting at just $150 per month. The provider also offers a 5,000Mbps plan, as does AT&T Fiber, although AT&T’s plan is $100 more per month than Google Fiber’s.
