Best Internet Providers in Jacksonville, North Carolina
What is the best internet provider in Jacksonville?
According to CNET, Spectrum is the leading internet provider in Jacksonville, North Carolina. It offers an excellent balance between extensive coverage and fast plans. Spectrum offers download speeds of up to 1,000 Mbps and serves nearly 90% of households in Jacksonville. Their plans, ranging from 300 Mbps to 1,000 Mbps, come with unlimited data and no contracts.
For those looking for budget options, local fiber provider Metronet offers the cheapest plan at $30 for 100 Mbps. Metronet’s plans include higher equipment costs compared to Spectrum. Metronet also has the fastest speeds in Jacksonville, with symmetrical upload and download speeds of up to 5,000 Mbps.
Brightspeed offers fiber internet in some areas, but most of the coverage in Jacksonville relies on slower DSL connections. For those looking for an alternative to Spectrum and Metronet, T-Mobile Home Internet’s fixed wireless service stands out as the best option.
Best internet in Jacksonville, North Carolina
Jacksonville, North Carolina Internet Providers Compared
| Supplier | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data limit | Contract | CNET Review Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clear speed | DSL, fiber optic | $49-$75 | 20-100Mbps DSL, up to 940Mbps fiber | No | No | No | n/a |
| Metro network Read the full review |
Fiber | $30-$110 | 100-5,000 Mbps | None, $13 monthly tech fee | No | No | 6.9 |
| Spectrum Read the full review |
Cable | $40-$60 | 400-1,000 Mbps | $7 (optional) | No | No | 7.2 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless connection | $50 ($30-$50 with qualifying mobile plans) | 72-245 Mbps | No | No | No | 7.4 |
| American cell phone | Fixed wireless | $60 | 25-100 Mbps | Differs | 600GB, unlimited availability | No | n/a |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless connection | $60-$80 ($35-$45 with qualifying mobile plans) | 50-1,000 Mbps | No | No | No | 7.2 |
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Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Jacksonville?
| Plan | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Monthly equipment costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metronet 100 Read the full review |
$30 | 100 Mbps | None, $13 monthly tech fee |
| Metronet 500 Read the full review |
$40 | 500 Mbps | None, $13 monthly tech fee |
| Spectrum Internet Read the full review |
$40 | 400 Mbps | $7 (optional) |
| Brightspeed Internet | $50 | 20-200 Mbps | No |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
$60 ($35 with qualifying mobile plans) | 50-300 Mbps | No |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($30-$50 with qualifying mobile plans) | 72-245 Mbps | No |
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Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.
How to Find Online Deals and Promotions in Jacksonville
The best internet deals and top promotions in Jacksonville depend on what discounts are available at the time. Most deals are short-lived, but we regularly search for the latest offers.
Jacksonville internet providers like Spectrum may offer lower introductory prices or other incentives for a limited time. Many providers, including Metronet, Brightspeed, and T-Mobile Home Internet, maintain the same standard prices year-round.
For a more comprehensive overview of all offers, please consult our guide to the best online deals.
Fastest Internet Plans in Jacksonville
| Plan | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | Data limit | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metronet 5 Gbps Read the full review |
$110 | 5,000 Mbps | 5,000 Mbps | No | Fiber |
| Metronet 2 Gbps Read the full review |
$90 | 2,000 Mbps | 2,000 Mbps | No | Fiber |
| Metronet 1 Gbps Read the full review |
$50 | 1,000 Mbps | 1,000 Mbps | No | Fiber |
| Spectrum Internet Gig Read the full review |
$60 | 1,000 Mbps | 35 Mbps | No | Cable |
| Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read the full review |
$80 ($45 with qualifying mobile plans) | 85-1,000 Mbps | 50-75 Mbps | No | Fixed wireless connection |
| Brightspeed Fiber | €75 | 940 Mbps | 940 Mbps | No | Fiber |
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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 Federal Communications CommissionPlease 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 provide enough bandwidth for a single user to meet the demands of modern teleworking, video streaming, and online gaming.
- With 100 to 500 Mbps, one or two users can simultaneously participate in high-bandwidth activities such as video conferencing, streaming, and online gaming.
- With 500 to 1,000 Mbps, three or more users can participate in high-bandwidth activities simultaneously.
How CNET Chose the Best Internet Providers in Jacksonville, North Carolina
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 do it? We start by examining pricing, availability, and speed information based on our own historical ISP data, provider sites, and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
And 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?
The answers to those questions are often layered and complex, but the providers that come closest to “yes” on all three are the providers we recommend. When it comes to 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 also 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 Jacksonville, North Carolina
What is the best internet provider in Jacksonville?
Spectrum is the best internet provider in Jacksonville. In addition to the best broadband coverage in the area, Spectrum offers a variety of competitively priced plans that include free modem rentals, unlimited data, and no contract requirements.
Is fiber optic internet available in Jacksonville?
According to recent FCC data from June 2024, approximately 53% of residential addresses in Jacksonville are covered by fiber internet. Coverage is greatest in the Country Club Hills community, although fiber internet can be found in random neighborhoods throughout the city. Metronet is the largest fiber internet provider in Jacksonville, while Brightspeed also has a small fiber presence in the area.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Jacksonville?
Metronet has the cheapest internet in Jacksonville with service starting at $30 per month for speeds up to 100Mbps. While Metronet technically includes equipment at no extra charge, there is an unavoidable monthly “service tech” fee of $13.
Which internet provider in Jacksonville offers the fastest plan?
Metronet offers the fastest internet plan in Jacksonville with speeds of up to 5,000 Mbps for $110 per month. Considering the speeds you get for the price, this is easily the best internet deal in Jacksonville. Metronet also offers speeds of 2,000 Mbps and 1,000 Mbps starting at $90 and $50 per month respectively. Spectrum’s fastest plan advertises maximum download speeds of 1,000 Mbps (35 Mbps upload) starting at $50 per month.
