What is the best internet provider in Hayward, California?
AT&T Fiber is the best internet provider in Hayward, offering the fastest internet speeds and best value. AT&T Fiber doesn’t have equipment fees or data caps, and your price won’t automatically go up after a promotional period ends. That’s why the internet provider has the best customer satisfaction scores in the country.
If you’re looking for the cheapest internet plans, Xfinity is the cheapest internet service provider in Hayward. You’d be hard-pressed to find internet plans cheaper than Xfinity’s $20 monthly plan for 150 megabits per second. That said, Xfinity increases prices on all of its plans after one or two years (or both).
Another good option in Hayward is wireless internet. T-Mobile and Verizon offer wireless home internet service in the city, and you can get significant discounts by bundling with one of their cell phone plans.
Best internet in Hayward, California
Hayward internet providers compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
AT&T Fiber Read full review |
Fiber | $55-$245 | 300-5,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
|
AT&T Internet Read full review |
DSL | $55 | Up to 140Mbps | None | 1.5TB on some plans | None | 7.4 |
| RobinsonHSS | Fixed wireless | $25-$55 | 10-100Mbps | None | None | None | N/A |
|
Starlink Read full review |
Satellite | $120 | 25-220Mbps | $499 upfront | None | None | 6.5 |
|
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($40-$50 with mobile plans) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Tekify | Fixed wireless | $65 | 100-400Mbps | None | None | One year | N/A |
|
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers) | 100-300Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
|
Xfinity Read full review |
Cable | $20-$120 | 150-2,000Mbps | $15 (included in most plans) | 1.2TB (unlimited in most plans) | Optional | 7 |
Show more (4 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Hayward?
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| RobinsonHSS Basic | $25 | 10Mbps | None |
|
Xfinity Connect Read full review |
$20 | 150Mbps | $15 (optional) |
|
Xfinity Connect More Read full review |
$30 | 300Mbps | None |
| RobinsonHSS Medium | $40 | 20Mbps | None |
|
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 100Mbps | None |
|
T-Mobile Home Internet Unlimited Read full review |
$50 ($40 with eligible mobile plans) | 245Mbps | None |
Show more (2 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Hayward
The best internet deals and top promotions in Hayward depend on what discounts are available during a given time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Hayward internet providers, such as Xfinity and Verizon 5G Home Internet, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, however, including AT&T Fiber, run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
Fastest internet plans in Hayward
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
AT&T Internet 5000 Read full review |
$245 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
AT&T Internet 2000 Read full review |
$145 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
Xfinity Gigabit X2 Read full review |
$120 | 2,000Mbps | 200Mbps | 1.2TB | Cable |
|
Xfinity Gigabit Extra Read full review |
$80 | 1,200Mbps | 200Mbps | None | Cable |
|
Xfinity Gigabit Read full review |
$75 | 1,000Mbps | 100Mbps | None | Cable |
Show more (1 item)
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 Hayward
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 answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who 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 providers in Hayward FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Hayward?
AT&T Fiber is the best internet service provider in Hayward, offering the fastest speeds by far. You’ll also get unlimited data and no equipment fees.
Is fiber internet available in Hayward?
Yes, fiber internet is available to 35% of Hayward households, according to FCC data. AT&T Fiber is the only fiber provider in the city.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Hayward?
Xfinity is the cheapest internet provider in Hayward, offering plans that start at just $20 a month for 150Mbps download speeds.
Which internet provider in Hayward offers the fastest plan?
AT&T Fiber offers the fastest internet plan in Hayward, with upload and download speeds up to 5,000Mbps.
