Best Internet Providers in Lincoln, Nebraska

Lincoln’s internet options shine like its nickname: Star City. Home to the beautiful Sunken Gardens and a fantastic collection of museums, Lincoln isn’t just stuck in the past. It also has some of the fastest and most reliable internet connectivity options for its residents. In most cases, that would be a choice between Allo, Spectrum, and Kinetic by Windstream.

Allo is the best internet provider in Lincoln, Nebraska. The company’s extensive fiber network and straightforward pricing make it the obvious choice. Don’t forget to shop around, as Spectrum and Windstream may also have better plans for your needs. Let’s go over the pros and cons of Lincoln’s best internet providers.

Best internet in Lincoln in 2024

Source: CNET analysis of carrier data

Other available internet providers in Lincoln

While Allo, Spectrum, and Kinetic by Windstream are our top three in Lincoln, there are a few other options to consider, especially if you live in a more rural area. Fixed wireless or 5G home internet are alternatives for those who can’t get fiber or cable or aren’t satisfied with the options available.

• Next link Internet: Nextlink offers fixed wireless service in Lincoln with no data caps. Prices start at $45 for 25 Mbps and go up to $90 for 100 Mbps for standard plans. The ISP has upgraded plans in some locations, costing $140 for 500 Mbps. You can get better prices by agreeing to a two-year contract instead of month-to-month. There is a $250 installation fee, but keep an eye out for a free installation deal. The prices mean that Nextlink is likely to be considered most by residents who don’t have access to cheaper or faster plans.
• Broadband Rise: Rise specializes in rural fixed wireless internet, with plans starting at $45 per month. Rise offers up to 250 Mbps in some areas, but you’ll likely find speed options between 25-100 Mbps around Lincoln. The 100 Mbps plan costs $65 per month. There’s a $10 modem rental fee, so factor that into your budget. Keep an eye out for a deal that includes unlimited data and free installation. Rise can be a solid option for rural households who don’t have a lot of ISP choices and want a more affordable alternative to satellite internet.
• T-Mobile Home Internet: If the wired internet options aren’t satisfying, check out T-Mobile Home Internet. You can get an idea of ​​availability by looking at T-Mobile Coverage Map and look for the dark purple areas that indicate the ISP’s 5G Ultra Capacity network. There’s pretty solid coverage in Lincoln, but open slots for home internet service can be limited. The price is $50 per month for typical speeds of 72-245 Mbps, with no contract or data cap. Equipment is included. Bundling with a qualifying phone plan can save you $20 on your monthly bill.
• Satellite internet: Starlink, Viasat, or Hughesnet all offer satellite internet service, but at a price that is usually higher than other options. The upfront cost can be high and the speed may not be as good as you want. Consider satellite internet as a fallback option if you don’t have a cheaper or faster ISP in your location.

Lincoln Broadband at a glance

Everyone in Lincoln has access to broadband speeds, according to FCC data. For the FCC, that means at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload. Fortunately for Lincoln residents, gigabit speeds are widely available through Allo, Spectrum, and Windstream’s Kinetic. There are some good deals, at least when you consider the introductory prices for new customers.

Home Internet Service Pricing Information in Lincoln

Cheap promotional prices from Spectrum and Windstream’s Kinetic mean you can get online with decent speeds for $40 a month. If you’re looking at Windstream, make sure you have access to the ISP’s fiber network rather than its DSL network. You’ll also need to factor in a $10 monthly equipment fee or bring your own hardware. Allo’s initial price is higher, with a 500 Mbps plan starting at $76 a month, but the equipment is included and the ISP has a strong reputation for customer service.

Cheap internet options in the Lincoln area

Windstream’s Spectrum and Kinetic are leading the Lincoln Broadband price war, with entry-level plans starting at $40 per month. If you’re looking at Windstream, make sure you can get a faster fiber network instead of the outdated DSL. The catch with these ISPs is that your price will increase after your initial promotional period. After that, compare with Allo or be prepared to try to negotiate your way back to a lower rate.

What is the cheapest internet plan in Lincoln?

Source: CNET analysis of carrier data

How fast is broadband in Lincoln?

Thanks to Allo, Windstream’s Kinetic, and Spectrum, a large portion of Lincoln’s population has access to gigabit internet. A recent Ookla Internet Speed ​​Ranking For the 100 most populous cities in the U.S., Lincoln came in eighth, with a median download speed of 269 Mbps. Only Raleigh, North Carolina, was faster. Ookla highlighted Allo as Lincoln’s fastest provider, with a median download speed of nearly 308 Mbps. Lincoln’s strong position in the city rankings is a testament to the availability of gig speeds throughout the area.

Fastest internet providers in Lincoln

The gigabit internet dream is alive and well in Lincoln, but when it comes to equally fast upload speeds, look to Allo or Kinetic by Windstream’s fiber offerings. Spectrum’s uploads top out at 35 Mbps. You won’t find any multi-gigabit deals, but you can read about the best multi-gig plans available in other parts of the country.

What are the fastest internet plans in Lincoln?

Source: CNET analysis of carrier data

How CNET Picked the Best Internet Providers in Lincoln

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 database of pricing, availability, and speed information based on our own historical ISP data, partner data, and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.

Next, 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 provider 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 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.

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

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

I’m always a fan of fiber internet, so I recommend prioritizing the fiber plans from Allo or Kinetic by Windstream when shopping for home internet in Lincoln. Spectrum is widely available and has affordable introductory prices, but slower uploads. T-Mobile Home Internet is a hassle-free alternative for anyone unhappy with wired options.

Frequently Asked Questions About Internet Providers in Lincoln