What is the best internet provider in Cleveland?
Spectrum is CNET’s choice for best overall internet provider for Cleveland residents, because of its availability and affordable options across the city. Of course, Spectrum isn’t the only internet game in town, but your options will depend on where you live in the Forest City. AT&T’s fiber internet service offers speeds up to 5,000 megabits per second, making it the fastest internet provider in Cleveland. Unfortunately, AT&T fiber is only available at a small portion of addresses in the area.
Cleveland residents can also access 5G home internet (from Verizon and T-Mobile) and satellite internet from HughesNet, Viasat and Starlink. If you already have a mobile phone plan through Verizon or T-Mobile, you can access discounts on home internet that make these providers fairly enticing. Otherwise, Spectrum offers the cheapest internet plan in Cleveland at $50 for 500Mbps.
Best internet providers in Cleveland, Ohio
Internet providers in Cleveland overview
| 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-$245 | 10-5,000Mbps | None | 1.5TB for plans under 100Mbps | None | 7.4 |
| HughesNet Read full review |
Satellite | $50-$175 | 25Mbps | $15 or $350 one-time purchase | 15-200GB | 2 years | 5.7 |
| Spectrum Read full review |
Cable | $50-$70 | 500-1,000Mbps | Free modem; $10 router rental (optional) | None | None | 7.2 |
| Starlink Read full review |
Satellite | $120 | 25-220Mbps download, 5-20Mbps upload | $599 one-time purchase (or $2,500 for Priority) | Unlimited; 1-6TB (Priority) | None | N/A |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($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 with qualifying Verizon 5G mobile plans) | 85-1,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
| Viasat Read full review |
Satellite | $50-$300 | 25-100Mbps | $15 or $300 one-time purchase | 40-300GB | 2 years | 6.1 |
Show more (3 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data
All available Cleveland residential internet providers
Some Cleveland residents may be fortunate enough to have a few choices when it comes to their ISP. If you find yourself in this situation, we recommend fiber internet if it’s available for its speed and stability. For those who live in parts of the city without access to the options mentioned above, here are the other choices:
- HughesNet: Hopefully, if you’re in Cleveland or its surrounding suburbs, you won’t need satellite internet. It’s only available at speeds of 25Mbps, with prices starting at $50 with a two-year contract and equipment fees.
- Starlink: Cleveland is among the cities with access to SpaceX’s satellite internet, but like the other satellite internet options, we don’t recommend it for city dwellers. First of all, it’s pricey, with a $600 starting price for equipment, and speeds won’t match most wired connections.
- T-Mobile Home Internet: Cleveland residents also have access to 5G internet from T-Mobile, which is available for $50 to $70 monthly and offers speeds up to 245Mbps.
- Viasat: Viasat’s monthly prices start at $50 and go up to $300, with speeds ranging from 25 to 100Mbps, based on your chosen plan.
Pricing info on Cleveland home internet service
Much like its sister cities in Ohio, Cleveland residents can expect to pay an average starting monthly price of $51 for home internet. The cheapest plan belongs to Spectrum’s $50-a-month plan for download speeds of 500Mbps.
Cheap internet options in the Cleveland metro area
If you want the most affordable internet in Cleveland, Spectrum has you covered. Although it’s not available for every address, this provider offers 500Mbps internet starting at $50 a month. Other options include AT&T Fiber, which costs just $5 more a month.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Cleveland?
| Provider/Plan | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum Internet Read full review |
$50 | 500Mbps | Free modem; $10 router rental (optional) | None |
| AT&T Fiber 300 Read full review |
$55 | 300Mbps | None | None |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
$50 ($40 with eligible mobile plans) | 245Mbps | None | None |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 300Mbps | None | None |
Show more (0 item)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data
What’s the state of broadband in Cleveland?
Median download speeds sit around 216Mbps in Cleveland, and options are available from Spectrum and AT&T that exceed that. Plans that offer speeds around a gig are available to certain addresses from AT&T and Spectrum.
Fastest internet providers in Cleveland
Multi-gigabit plans from AT&T Fiber may be available in select areas of Cleveland, but availability is extremely limited. For most residents, the fastest plans tap out around a gig and are available from Spectrum and AT&T Fiber.
What are the fastest internet plans in Cleveland?
| Provider/Plan | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Starting price | Data cap | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum Internet Gig Read full review |
1,000Mbps | 35Mbps | $70 | None | None |
| AT&T Fiber 1000 Read full review |
1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | $80 | None | None |
Show more (0 item)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data
What’s the final word on internet providers in Cleveland?
Cleveland’s internet options can be fairly confusing, because the same ISP will charge different prices based on address. Most providers hope you don’t notice, thinking you’ll be stuck with whatever options they give you. But the advent of 5G home internet service means that consumers now have some additional options, even if that just means additional leverage to better negotiate with your ISP. One thing is for sure, though: if you have access to fiber internet, we recommend going with that.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Cleveland
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’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 Cleveland FAQs
Which is the best internet service provider in Cleveland?
Typically, AT&T’s fiber internet would get the nod in any city it’s available. But the service is spotty in Cleveland, leaving many people being presented only with the company’s slow and pricey DSL service. With that said, we recommend Spectrum as the best ISP for most Cleveland residents.
Is fiber internet available in Cleveland?
Yes. Fiber internet is available in Forest City from AT&T. You’ll have to roll the dice and plug your address in with these ISPs to see if it’s available to you, however.
Who is the cheapest internet provider in Cleveland?
Spectrum offers the cheapest plans in Cleveland. The most affordable plan starts at $50 with speeds up to 500Mbps, then there’s AT&T Fiber for $55 a month that gets you speeds up to 300Mbps.
Should I choose between Spectrum or AT&T?
If you have the choice between these two ISPs, we recommend going with AT&T’s fiber option if it’s available. If not, go with Spectrum’s reliable cable plans over AT&T’s DSL service. Check out CNET’s guide to AT&T vs. Spectrum to get further details.
