CNET’s pick for the best internet service provider is AT&T Fiber. Fast speeds going all the way to 5,000Mbps and straightforward pricing make it the best broadband choice for most. However, availability isn’t the best, and if you can’t get AT&T Fiber in your area, you might want to look at Cox as a backup. Your ISP choices will vary depending on location, but Cox and AT&T Fiber can deliver gigabit speeds.
Finally, there are also some 5G home internet options from Verizon and T-Mobile. All prices listed on this page reflect available discounts for setting up paperless billing. If you decide not to go with automatic monthly payments, your price will be higher. Cue up some Louis Armstrong, and let’s look at the best internet providers in New Orleans.
Best internet providers in The Big Easy
I’m fully on the fiber train for home internet, so AT&T Fiber is at the top of my recommended list for New Orleans. If you can’t get fiber at your house, look to Cox’s cable service or 5G home internet from T-Mobile or Verizon.
Note: The prices, speeds and features detailed in the article text may differ from those listed in the product detail cards, which represent providers’ national offerings. Your particular internet service options — including prices and speeds — depend on your address and may differ from those detailed here.
New Orleans 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 | $60 | 768Kbps-100Mbps | None | 1.5TB (no data cap for 100Mbps plan) | None | 7.4 |
| Cox Read full review |
Cable | $30-$150 | 100-2,000Mbps | Varies | 1.25TB or unlimited | Varies | 6.2 |
| NOLA Broadband | Fixed wireless | $57-$175 | 25-150Mbps | None | None | None | n/a |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50 ($40 with eligible phone plan) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 with eligible phone plan) | 50-1,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data
All available New Orleans residential internet providers
While New Orleans is mainly an AT&T-versus-Cox battleground, there are a few other options. Verizon 5G Home Internet is especially worthy of a look if you can’t get fiber and want an alternative way to get online.
- AT&T Internet: I chose AT&T Fiber for special recognition, but there’s another side to the company’s internet offerings. AT&T Internet is the ISP’s outdated DSL service. Speeds max out at 100Mbps in some areas, but many New Orleans residents may find drastically lower speeds. There’s no contract, and service costs $60 per month for whatever speed level you can get at your address. Consider this a last-ditch option if fiber, 5G or cable doesn’t work out for you.
- Skycom1: Local fixed wireless ISP Skycom1 primarily serves businesses, hotels and apartment buildings. It doesn’t advertise pricing online, so check with your apartment complex to determine if it services your address.
- Verizon 5G Home Internet: Verizon gives T-Mobile a run for its money regarding 5G home internet. Which one you choose will depend on open slots, your location and if you have a phone with one or the other. Verizon has strong 5G Ultra Wideband coverage across the metro area and even offers speeds up to 1,000Mbps through its $70-per-month 5G Home Plus plan in some spots. The ISP’s basic 5G Home plan runs $50 monthly for typical speeds of 85-300Mbps. Verizon is instituting a price hike for bundled plans, bringing the lowest-cost plan up to $35 per month when paired with an eligible phone plan.
- Satellite internet: If you’re out of faster or more affordable options, there’s always satellite internet from Starlink, Viasat or HughesNet. Satellite service can be slow and expensive, so it’s usually of interest to rural residences with few (or no other) choices in ISP.
New Orleans broadband at a glance
ISP availability is extremely address-dependent in New Orleans. Your buddy a couple of blocks away may have AT&T Fiber while your home only gets Cox or AT&T DSL. Home internet from Verizon or T-Mobile can save you a little money if you bundle with a phone plan. Those services are easy to test out, and I recommend giving them a whirl if you’re not satisfied with your wired ISP options.
Photo by PeterUnger/GettyImages
Pricing info on New Orleans home internet service
Expect to pay at least $50 per month for home internet in New Orleans. However, you can get Cox’s service for $30 per month for 100Mbps downloads if you qualify for it. When it comes to value, AT&T Fiber’s $55-per-month 300Mbps plan is worthy of consideration.
Cheap internet options in the New Orleans metro area
It’s a challenge to bargain shop for internet in New Orleans since all the major providers kick off at about the $50-per-month level. If you’re already a Verizon or T-Mobile phone customer, then check into pairing your home internet with an eligible mobile plan for a bundle discount.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in New Orleans?
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cox 100 Read full review |
$50 | 100Mbps | Varies | None |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
$60 ($40 with eligible mobile plan) | 245Mbps | None | None |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plan) | 300Mbps | None | None |
| AT&T Fiber 300 Read full review |
$55 | 300Mbps | None | None |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data
How fast is the broadband in New Orleans?
Recent Ookla speed test data put New Orleans way down in 93rd place for median download speeds among the 100 most populous cities in the US. New Orleans logged an average of 175Mbps. Compare that to top-ranked Raleigh, North Carolina at nearly 290Mbps.FCC data shows that all of New Orleans can access broadband internet, remember that the FCC says 100Mbps down and 20Mbps up qualify as broadband. Gig speeds and higher are harder to come by in the Big Easy. Your best bets for fast speeds will be with AT&T Fiber or Cox.
Fastest internet providers in New Orleans
It’s hard to touch AT&T Fiber when it comes to the fastest internet in New Orleans. The ISP maxes out at 5,000Mbps and no one else comes close. The catch is its patchwork availability across the metro area. If you’re moving to town and multi-gig speeds are a must, then do your homework on AT&T Fiber’s service areas and aim to land within its coverage zone. If fiber doesn’t come to your home, then check into Cox’s 1-gig cable plan as an alternative. Just keep in mind that cable can’t touch fiber’s fast upload speeds.
What are the fastest internet plans in New Orleans?
| Provider | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Starting price | Data cap | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Fiber 5 Gig Read full review |
5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | $245 | None | None |
| AT&T Fiber 2 Gig Read full review |
2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | $145 | None | None |
| AT&T Fiber 1 Gig Read full review |
1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | $80 | None | None |
| Cox 1 Gig Read full review |
1,000Mbps | 35Mbps | $110 | 1.25TB | None |
| Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read full review |
1,000Mbps | 50Mbps | $70 | None | None |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data
What’s the final word on internet providers in New Orleans?
In New Orleans, the most common question when it comes to home internet is “AT&T or Cox?” I recommend looking at A&T Fiber first and Cox cable second. Don’t sleep on T-Mobile and Verizon as 5G home internet alternatives, particularly if fiber isn’t available to you.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in New Orleans
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’re considering every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. To evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service, we look at sources including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of the time 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.
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
Internet providers in New Orleans FAQs
Is fiber internet available in New Orleans?
AT&T Fiber is the biggest player in fiber home internet in New Orleans. Coverage is limited. A few tiny areas are serviced by Cox’s full fiber-to-the-premises network, but this option is likely unavailable to most of the city.
Which internet provider in New Orleans offers the fastest plan?
If your need for speed can only be satisfied with a multi-gig plan, then look to AT&T Fiber. It maxes out at 5,000Mbps, which will make even power users happy.
Is AT&T or Cox better in New Orleans?
This is a more complicated question than it might seem on the surface. If you can get AT&T Fiber, then you’ll appreciate the speed, pricing and symmetrical uploads compared to what Cox offers in most of the city. If it’s down to AT&T’s older DSL service versus Cox, then give the cable provider the first shot.
