Best Internet Providers in La Crosse, Wisconsin
What is the best internet provider in La Crosse?
Spectrum is the best internet provider in La Crosse, Wisconsin, partly because of its wide availability, fast speeds and low, straightforward prices. It has the best internet coverage in La Crosse, is the largest cable internet provider in the area and offers a selection of competitively priced plans with unlimited data, free modem rentals and no contracts.
Spectrum is a great all-around internet provider, but it doesn’t hold the title of cheapest or fastest internet provider in La Crosse. Fiber provider TDS has the cheapest internet plan, starting at $30 per month for speeds up to 300 megabits per second, and the fastest internet plan, with speeds up to 8,000 Mbps or 8 gigabits per second.
TDS availability is limited in La Crosse. If you are looking for fiber internet, Brightspeed is a more likely option, although the service does not offer the same low-cost, high-speed plan selection as TDS.
Other potential broadband options in La Crosse include Mediacom and T-Mobile Home Internet. Mediacom’s cable internet service is inexpensive, but can’t match Spectrum’s availability and overall value. T-Mobile Home Internet’s fixed wireless internet, on the other hand, is worth considering for its easy installation, free equipment, unlimited data, and no contract requirements.
Best internet in La Crosse, Wisconsin
La Crosse, Wisconsin, 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 | $50-$65 | 200-940Mbps DSL, up to 940Mbps fiber | $15 | No | No | n/a |
| Insect Tussel | Fixed wireless connection | $40-$85 | 5-50 Mbps | Differs | No | No | n/a |
| Mediacom Read the full review | Cable | $35-$70 | 100-1,000 Mbps | $14 | 350-3,000 GB | No | 6.4 |
| Spectrum Read the full review | Cable | $50-$80 | 300-1,000 Mbps | $7 (optional) | No | No | 7.2 |
| TDS | Fiber | $30-$295 | 300-8,000 Mbps | $12 (optional) | No | No | n/a |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review | Fixed wireless connection | $50 ($40 with qualifying mobile plans) | 72-245 Mbps | No | No | No | 7.4 |
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Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.
What is the cheapest internet plan in La Crosse?
| Plan | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Monthly equipment costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| TDS Extreme 300 | $30 | 300 Mbps | $12 (optional) |
| Mediacom Prime Internet 100 Read the full review | $35 | 100 Mbps | $14 |
| Spectrum Internet Read the full review | $50 | 300 Mbps | $5 (optional) |
| Clear speed 200 Mbps | $50 | 200 Mbps | $15 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review | $50 ($40-$50 with qualifying mobile plans) | 245 Mbps | No |
| Clear speed 940 Mbps | $65 | 940 Mbps | $15 |
| Spectrum Internet Ultra Read the full review | $70 | 500 Mbps | $7 (optional) |
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Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.
How to Find Online Deals and Promotions in La Crosse
The best internet deals and top promotions in La Crosse depend on what discounts are available at any given time. Most deals are short-lived, but we regularly check for the latest offers.
Internet providers in La Crosse, such as Spectrum and T-Mobile Home Internet, may offer lower introductory prices or gift cards for a limited time. Others, including Brightspeed and TDS, maintain the same standard prices year-round.
For a more comprehensive overview of all promotions, check out our guide to the best online deals.
Fastest Internet Plans in La Crosse
| Plan | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | Data limit | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TDS 8Gig | €295 | 8,000 Mbps | 8,000 Mbps | No | Fiber |
| TDS 5Gig | $225 | 5,000 Mbps | 5,000 Mbps | No | Fiber |
| TDS 2Gig | €165 | 2,000 Mbps | 2,000 Mbps | No | Fiber |
| Clear speed 940 Mbps | $65 | 940 Mbps | 940 Mbps | No | Fiber |
| Mediacom Prime Internet 1 Gig Read the full review | $55 | 1,000 Mbps | 50 Mbps | 3TB | Cable |
| Spectrum Internet Gig Read the full review | $80 | 1,000 Mbps | 35 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 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 Picked the Best Internet Providers in La Crosse
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.
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 J.D. 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 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.
Internet Providers in La Crosse, Wisconsin, Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best internet provider in La Crosse?
Spectrum is the best internet provider in La Crosse because of its broad local coverage, variety of high-speed plans, low prices, and customer-friendly terms of service. Available to over 90% of La Crosse households, Spectrum offers competitively priced plans with unlimited data, no contracts, and free modem rental.
Is fiber optic internet available in La Crosse?
According to the FCC, about 35% of La Crosse households, or about 9,200 homes, are fiber-capable. Usability is highest in the communities of Bluffside and Washburn, although availability is also high north toward Onalaska. Brightspeed is the largest fiber-optic provider in La Crosse, while TDS has a smaller fiber presence in the city.
What is the cheapest internet provider in La Crosse?
TDS offers the cheapest internet plan in La Crosse, starting at $30 per month for speeds up to 300 Mbps. Availability is limited, so La Crosse residents may have better luck looking for cheap internet with Mediacom or Spectrum. Mediacom has a lower monthly setup fee of $35 compared to Spectrum’s $50, but Spectrum has a lower (and optional) equipment fee and delivers more speed for the price.
Which internet provider in La Crosse offers the fastest plan?
TDS offers the fastest internet service in La Crosse with 2,000, 5,000 and 8,000 Mbps speed tiers. Other La Crosse high-speed providers, including Brightspeed, Mediacom and Spectrum, offer maximum speeds of around 1,000 Mbps.
