Best Internet Providers in Lexington, Kentucky

What is the best internet provider in Lexington?

Fast internet is essential these days and there is no shortage of good internet providers in Lexington. There are options for everyone, ranging from affordable service providers to some of the fastest internet speeds around. CNET’s top pick is Kinetic by Windstream, which distinguishes itself as the best internet provider in LexingtonPlans start at just $40 per month for speeds of 300 Mbps, and Kinetic’s service is ideal for online gaming or video conferencing.

If you don’t want to worry about your bill going up, T-Mobile Home Internet offers a price guarantee, so you’ll never pay more than $50 a month for service. Metronet is another good fiber provider in the area, but Windstream’s Kinetic offers a slightly better value.

Best internet in Lexington, Kentucky

Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.

Other available internet providers in Lexington

• Satellite internet: No matter where you live in the country, satellite internet is almost always available. However, speeds and prices are low, so it’s rarely your best option. Hughesnet and Viasat offer service to 100% of Lexington households, but we only recommend them if you can’t get anything else. Starlink offers faster speeds and lower latency, but you’ll have to pay a hefty $599 upfront equipment fee and plans start at $120 per month.

Cheap Internet Options in Lexington

There are many cheap internet plans in Lexington. Four different providers offer plans for $50 a month or less.

What is the cheapest internet plan in Lexington?

Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.

How to Find Online Deals and Promotions in Lexington

The best internet deals and top promotions in Lexington depend on the discounts available during that period. Most deals are short-lived, but we regularly search for the latest offers.

Internet providers in Lexington, such as Spectrum and T-Mobile Home Internet, may offer lower introductory prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many providers, including Kinetic by Windstream and Metronet, maintain the same standard prices year-round.

For a more comprehensive overview of all promotions, check out our guide to the best online deals.

How fast is the broadband internet in Lexington?

According to Ookla’s speed test data, Lexington residents see median download speeds of 138 Mbps and upload speeds of 12 Mbps, which is slightly above the national average. It ranks 57th out of the 100 most populous cities in the country; behind Louisville (13th) and Nashville (8th), but ahead of Cincinnati (73rd).

Fastest Internet Plans in Lexington

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 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 Lexington

Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router, or kitchen utensil, it’s impractical to personally test every Internet service provider in a given city. So how do we approach this? To start, we use a proprietary price, availability, and speed database based on our own historical ISP data, partner data, and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.

This guide uses an in-house artificial intelligence tool called RAMP, which is trained on our own writing and uses our database to generate content about specific ISPs that our writers can use in determining and presenting our picks for a given guide. Check out CNET’s AI Policy for more information about how our teams use (and don’t use) AI tools.

Because our database is not exhaustive, we go to the FCC website to check the primary data ourselves and make sure we consider every ISP that offers service in an area. Plans and prices also vary by location, so we enter local addresses into provider websites to find the specific options available to 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 prices are subject to frequent change; all information provided is accurate as of our pre-publication fact check.

Once we have this localized information, we ask ourselves three main questions:

1. Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
2. Do customers get value for their money?
3. 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 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 factor in real-world speed data from sources like Ookla And FCC Reports.

Want to dive deeper into our process? Visit our How We Test ISPs page.

What’s the final word on internet providers in Lexington?

Internet service in Lexington is good. 98% of the city has access to 250/25Mbps speeds, compared to 88% of the country, and fiber is available to 76% of homes. The best is Kinetic by Windstream, but Metronet is another regional fiber provider that offers similar value (just watch out for those hidden fees). Spectrum offers the cheapest internet in the area, but only for the first two years. After that, prices rise dramatically.

Frequently Asked Questions About Internet Providers in Lexington