CNET’s pick for the best internet service provider in North Carolina is Spectrum. The birthplace of flight offers speeds as high as 8,000Mbps. CNET’s list of the top internet service providers in North Caroline help you pick out the fast and most affordable options for your needs.
What’s the best internet providers in North Carolina?
Whether gaming, watching movies and TV shows, or working, North Carolina is home to some of the fastest internet speeds in the country. While AT&T and Google’s fiber options are mainly limited to Charlotte and The Triangle, North Carolinians can access many internet connection types. Due to its wide availability in the state, fast speeds and simple pricing, we’re giving the nod to Spectrum as the best internet provider overall in North Carolina. Your options will vary depending on where you live, but fortunately, everyone in the state can get online, although it may be through satellite internet.
Best internet options in North Carolina
Rural internet options in North Carolina
| Provider | Connection type | Price range | Speed range | Data cap | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brightspeed | DSL/fiber | $50 | Up to 100Mbps | None | Eastern part of the state |
| Hughesnet Read full review |
Satellite | $50-$95 | 50-100Mbps | 100-200GB | Entire state |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50 ($40 with eligible phone plans) | 72-245Mbps | None | Entire state |
| Viasat Read full review |
Satellite | $150 | 25-150Mbps | 850GB | Entire state |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data
North Carolina broadband at a glance
Around 96% of North Carolinians have access to download speeds of 100Mbps and upload speeds of 20Mbps, according to state data. Additionally, North Carolina ranks seventh among the 50 states and Washington, DC, for the fastest median download speeds, per the speed-testing company Ookla. The median download speed in the Tar Heel State sits at about 262Mbps, thanks in part to the reliably fast Google Fiber, and in fact, Raleigh holds the top spot on its list of cities with the fastest internet, with median download speeds of about 331Mbps. North Carolina boasts a whopping five cities in the top 30 of Ookla’s ranking of 100 cities by fastest internet speeds, with Raleigh coming in at the top, Durham at seven, Charlotte at 21, Winston-Salem at No. 22 and Greensboro at No. 45. So yes, the Tar Heel State has some fast internet, mostly thanks to fiber internet from AT&T and Google. Just over 48% have access to a fiber internet connection, although mostly in Charlotte and The Triangle.
Internet breakdown by city in North Carolina
It’s hard to cover the broadband options of an entire state and give individual cities the attention they deserve. That’s why we also compile lists of the best internet providers in cities across the US, including those in North Carolina. We tackle details such as internet connection types, max speeds and cheapest providers. Check back later if you don’t find the city you’re looking for below. We’re working to add more locations every week.
Internet pricing in North Carolina
The starting price of internet service in North Carolina will depend on where you live, but judging by the most widely available ISPs in the state, expect to pay around $50 to get online. If you’re an existing customer of certain T-Mobile plans and have access to its 5G internet offering, you can get that service for $40 per month.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in North Carolina
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. 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.
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, although 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.
Future of broadband in North Carolina
The federal government in late June awarded North Carolina $1.5 billion to expand high-speed internet access across the state. The Department of Information Technology Division of Broadband and Digital Equity “will use [Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment] funding to connect high-cost areas, remaining unserved and underserved locations, and community anchor institutions without fiber access,” reads the state’s five-year plan draft. The government also plans to boost digital literacy and make internet access more affordable.
Internet in North Carolina FAQs
Does North Carolina have good internet?
You bet your tar heel it does. Not only does North Carolina rank 7th out of the 50 states and District of Columbia in terms of fast median download speeds, according to Ookla, but five cities — Charlotte, Durham, Greensboro, Raleigh and Winston-Salem — boast some of the highest city download speeds in the country.
Is there fiber internet in North Carolina?
Yes. There are two primary providers: AT&T and Google. Fiber internet is mostly available in Charlotte and The Triangle, but the state government plans to expand access to the technology over the next five years.
Is Spectrum or AT&T better to connect to the internet in North Carolina?
If you have access to Spectrum and AT&T, you may wonder which is the best choice. The short answer: If you can get fiber internet from AT&T, that’s your best option. If AT&T’s DSL service is matched up against Spectrum’s cable connection, you’d be wise to turn to Spectrum. Read more in CNET’s breakdown of AT&T vs. Spectrum.
