Best Internet Providers in Hayward, California
What is the best internet provider in Hayward, California?
AT&T Fiber is the best internet provider in Haywardwith the fastest internet speeds and the best value. AT&T Fiber has no equipment fees or data caps, and your price doesn’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 are looking for the cheapest internet subscriptions, Xfinity is the cheapest internet provider in Hayward. You’ll be hard-pressed to find internet plans cheaper than Xfinity’s $20 monthly plan for 150 megabits per second. That said, Xfinity raises the prices of 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 in the city, and you can get significant discounts by getting a bundle with one of their cell phone plans.
Best Internet in Hayward, California
Hayward Internet Providers Compared
| Supplier | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data limit | Contract | CNET Review Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Fiber Read the full review | Fiber | $55-$245 | 300-5,000 Mbps | No | No | No | 7.4 |
| AT&T Internet Read the full review | DSL | $55 | Up to 140 Mbps | No | 1.5 TB on some plans | No | 7.4 |
| RobinsonHSS | Fixed wireless connection | $25-$55 | 10-100 Mbps | No | No | No | n/a |
| Sterlink Read the full review | Satellite | $120 | 25-220 Mbps | $499 upfront | No | No | 6.5 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review | Fixed wireless connection | $50-$70 ($40-$50 with mobile plans) | 72-245 Mbps | No | No | No | 7.4 |
| Tekify | Fixed wireless connection | $49 | 100-400 Mbps | No | No | One year | n/a |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review | Fixed wireless connection | $50-$70 ($35-$45 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers) | 100-300 Mbps | No | No | No | 7.2 |
| Xfinity Read the full review | Cable | $20-$120 | 150-2,000 Mbps | $15 (included in most plans) | 1.2 TB (unlimited in most plans) | Optional | 7 |
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Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Hayward?
| Supplier | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Monthly equipment costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| RobinsonHSS Basic | $25 | 10 Mbps | No |
| Xfinity connection Read the full review | $20 | 150 Mbps | $15 (optional) |
| Xfinity Connect More Read the full review | $30 | 300 Mbps | No |
| RobinsonHSS-medium | $40 | 20 Mbps | No |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review | $50 ($35 with qualifying mobile plans) | 100 Mbps | No |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Unlimited Read the full review | $50 ($40 with qualifying mobile plans) | 245 Mbps | No |
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Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.
How to find online deals and promotions in Hayward
The best internet deals and top promotions in Hayward depend on what discounts are available at any given time. Most deals are short-lived, but we regularly check for the latest offers.
Hayward internet providers, such as Xfinity and Verizon 5G Home Internet, may offer lower introductory prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time. However, others, including AT&T Fiber, maintain the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more comprehensive overview of all promotions, check out our guide to the best online deals.
Fastest Internet Plans in Hayward
| Supplier | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | Data limit | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Internet 5000 Read the full review | €245 | 5,000 Mbps | 5,000 Mbps | No | Fiber |
| AT&T Internet 2000 Read the full review | $145 | 2,000 Mbps | 2,000 Mbps | No | Fiber |
| Xfinity Gigabit X2 Read the full review | $120 | 2,000 Mbps | 200 Mbps | 1.2 TB | Cable |
| Xfinity Gigabit Extra Read the full review | €75 | 1,200 Mbps | 200 Mbps | No | Cable |
| Xfinity Gigabit Read the full review | $65 | 1,000 Mbps | 100 Mbps | No | Cable |
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Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.
What is a good internet speed?
Most internet plans now can handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for an internet plan that’s suitable for video conferencing, streaming video, or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here’s a look at the recommended minimum download speeds for different applications, according to the FCCPlease note that these are guidelines only and that Internet speed, service, and performance vary by connection type, provider, and address.
For more information, check out our guide to how much internet speed you really need.
- With 0 to 5 Mbps you can perform basic tasks: surfing the web, sending and receiving email, and streaming low-quality videos.
- 5 to 40 Mbps gives you higher quality video streaming and video conferencing.
- 40 to 100 Mbps should be enough bandwidth for one person to meet the demands of modern teleworking, video streaming, and online gaming.
- With 100 to 500 Mbps, one or two people can simultaneously participate in high-bandwidth activities such as video conferencing, streaming, and online gaming.
- With 500 to 1,000 Mbps, three or more people can participate in high-bandwidth activities simultaneously.
How CNET Picked the Best Internet Providers in Hayward
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router, or kitchen utensil, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So how do we approach this? We start by examining pricing, availability, and speed information, drawing on our own historical ISP data, the providers’ websites, and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission on FCC.gov.
But it doesn’t stop there. We go to the FCC website to check our data and make sure we account for every ISP that offers service in an area. We also enter local addresses into carrier websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power to evaluate how satisfied customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and pricing are subject to frequent change; all information provided is accurate at the time of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask ourselves three main questions:
- Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Do customers get value for their money?
- Are customers satisfied with their service?
While the answers to these questions are often multi-layered and complex, the providers that come closest to “yes” to all three questions are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fees, though we also consider things like price increases, equipment costs, and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively simple. We look at advertised upload and download speeds, and consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla And FCC Reports.
If you would like to take a more detailed look at our process, please visit our How We Test ISPs page.
Frequently Asked Questions About Internet Providers in Hayward
What is the best internet provider in Hayward?
AT&T Fiber is the best internet provider in Hayward, offering the fastest speeds by far. You also get unlimited data and no equipment fees.
Is fiber optic internet available in Hayward?
Yes, fiber internet is available to 35% of homes in Hayward, 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 starting at just $20 per month for download speeds of 150 Mbps.
Which internet provider in Hayward offers the fastest plan?
AT&T Fiber offers the fastest internet plan in Hayward, with upload and download speeds of up to 5,000 Mbps.
