Best Internet Providers in Cleveland, Ohio
What is the best internet provider in Cleveland?
Spectrum is CNET’s pick for the best Internet provider for Cleveland residents, due to the availability and affordable options in the city. Of course, Spectrum isn’t the only internet game in town, but your options depend on where you live in Forest City. AT&T’s fiber optic internet service offers speeds of 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 also have access to 5G home internet (from Verizon and T-Mobile) and satellite internet from HughesNet, Viasat and Starlink. If you already have a cell phone plan through Verizon or T-Mobile, you get access to home internet discounts that make these providers quite attractive. Plans start from $35 per month. Otherwise, Spectrum offers the cheapest internet plan in Cleveland for $50 for 500 Mbps. Some areas also support the $30 per month plan that gets you 100 Mbps speed.
Best Internet Providers in Cleveland, Ohio
Internet providers in Cleveland overview
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data limit | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Read the full review | DSL/fiber optic | $55-$245 | 10-5,000 Mbps | No | 1.5 TB for plans under 100 Mbps | No | 7.4 |
| HughesNet Read the full review | Satellite | $50-$175 | 25Mbps | One-time purchase of $15 or $350 | 15-200GB | 2 years | 5.7 |
| Spectrum Read the full review | Cable | $50-$70 | 500-1,000 Mbps | Free modem; $10 router rental (optional) | No | No | 7.2 |
| Starlink Read the full review | Satellite | $120 | 25-220 Mbps download, 5-20 Mbps upload | One-time purchase of $599 (or $2,500 for priority) | Unlimited; 1-6TB (priority) | No | N/A |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review | Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$50 with eligible mobile plans) | 72-245Mbps | No | No | No | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G home internet Read the full review | Fixed wireless | $60-$80 ($35-$45 with eligible Verizon 5G mobile plans) | 85-1,000 Mbps | No | No | No | 7.2 |
| Viasat Read the full review | Satellite | $50-$300 | 25-100Mbps | One-time purchase of $15 or $300 | 40-300GB | 2 years | 6.1 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data
All available residential internet providers in Cleveland
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 optic internet if 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 the surrounding suburbs, you won’t need satellite internet. It’s only available at speeds of 25 Mbps, with prices starting at $50 with a two-year contract and equipment costs.
- Starlink: Cleveland is one of 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 starting price of $600 for equipment, and the speeds don’t match most wired connections.
- T-Mobile Home Internet: Cleveland residents also have access to T-Mobile’s 5G internet, which is available for $50 to $70 per month and offers speeds up to 245 Mbps.
- Viasat: Viasat’s monthly prices start at $50 and go up to $300, with speeds ranging from 25 to 100 Mbps, depending on your chosen plan.
Pricing information for home internet service in Cleveland
Like its sister cities in Ohio, Cleveland residents can expect an average monthly starting price of $51 for home internet. The cheapest plan is Spectrum’s $50 per month plan for 500 Mbps download speeds.
Cheap Internet Options in the Cleveland Metro Area
If you want the most affordable internet in Cleveland, Spectrum is the place for you. While it’s not available to every address, this provider offers 500 Mbps internet starting at $50 per month (some areas may also qualify for the 100 Mbps plan for $30). Other options include AT&T Fiber, which costs just $5 more per month.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Cleveland?
| Provider/subscription | From price | Maximum download speed | Monthly equipment costs | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum internet benefit Read the full review | $30 | 100Mbps | Free modem; $10 router rental (optional) | No |
| Spectrum Internet Read the full review | $50 | 500Mbps | Free modem; $10 router rental (optional) | No |
| AT&T Fiber 300 Read the full review | $55 | 300Mbps | No | No |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review | $50 ($40 with eligible mobile plans) | 245Mbps | No | No |
| Verizon 5G home internet Read the full review | $50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 300Mbps | No | No |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data
What is the state of broadband in Cleveland?
The average download speed in Cleveland is around 216 Mbps, and there are options available from Spectrum and AT&T that exceed that. Plans that offer speeds around a gig are available for select AT&T and Spectrum addresses.
Fastest Internet Providers in Cleveland
AT&T Fiber multi-gigabit plans may be available in certain areas of Cleveland, but availability is extremely limited. For most residents, the fastest plans are available around a performance and are available from Spectrum and AT&T Fiber.
What are the fastest internet plans in Cleveland?
| Provider/subscription | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | From price | Data limit | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum internet performance Read the full review | 1,000 Mbps | 35Mbps | $70 | No | No |
| AT&T Fiber 1000 Read the full review | 1,000 Mbps | 1,000 Mbps | $80 | No | No |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data
What’s the final word on internet providers in Cleveland?
Cleveland’s internet options can be quite confusing because the same ISP charges different prices based on address. Most providers hope you don’t notice because they think you’re stuck with the options they offer you. But the arrival of 5G home internet service means consumers now have some additional options, even if that just means extra leverage to negotiate better with your ISP. One thing is certain: if you have access to fiber optic internet, we recommend that you opt for it.
How CNET chose the best Internet providers in Cleveland
Internet 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 is our approach? We’ll start by researching the price, availability, and speed information using our own historical ISP data, carrier sites, and Federal Communications Commission mapping information at FCC.gov.
But it doesn’t end there. We go to the FCC’s website to check our records and make sure we’re considering every ISP that provides service in a given area. We also enter local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. To assess how satisfied customers are with an ISP’s service, we look to sources such as the American Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate at the time of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider offer access to reasonably high internet speeds?
- Do customers get a good price for what they pay?
- Are customers satisfied with their service?
Although the answers to these questions are often layered and complex, we recommend the providers who come closest to ‘yes’ to all three questions.
Visit our How We Test ISPs page to explore our process in more depth.
Frequently Asked Questions About Internet Service Providers in Cleveland
What is the best internet provider in Cleveland?
Normally, AT&T’s fiber optic internet would turn heads in every city where it’s available. But service is patchy in Cleveland, leaving many people seeing only the company’s slow and expensive DSL service. That said, we recommend Spectrum as the best ISP for most Cleveland residents.
Is fiber optic internet available in Cleveland?
Yes. Fiber optic internet is available in Forest City from AT&T. However, you will have to roll the dice and enter your address with these ISPs to see if it is available to you.
Which internet provider is the cheapest in Cleveland?
Spectrum offers the cheapest plans in Cleveland. The most affordable plan starts at $50 with speeds up to 500 Mbps. Some areas may also qualify for the 100 Mbps plan that costs $30 per month. Then there’s AT&T Fiber for $55 per month, which gets you speeds of up to 300 Mbps.
Should I choose between Spectrum or AT&T?
If you have a choice between these two ISPs, we recommend choosing AT&T’s fiber optic option if it is available. If not, opt for Spectrum’s reliable cable plans over AT&T’s DSL service. Check out CNET’s guide to AT&T vs. Spectrum for more details.
