Best Internet Providers in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

As someone who was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (I spent the first 34 years of my life there), I know from experience that the two most important internet service providers are AT&T and Spectrum. I have used both and have seen the pros and cons of both. Our pick for best overall internet provider in Milwaukee goes to AT&T for higher speeds and availability of fiber optic internet, while offering comparable prices to our second-place provider, Spectrum.

Good internet speedsFair prices, broad availability, and strong customer service are essential when we spend a lot of time online. Whether you work remotely, surf the web for fun, or have kids who scream when the internet doesn’t work right, Milwaukee has several options. AT&T and Spectrum may be the primary options that consumers choose in Milwaukee, but other providers such as T-Mobile, Verizon and EarthLink may be available at your address.

Best Internet Providers in Milwaukee

Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.

Other Residential Internet Providers in Milwaukee

Internet providers in Milwaukee range from large telecom companies to satellite providersWhen deciding which internet provider to choose, it’s important to know your options and how to get the fastest, most reliable service for your home.

• EarthLink is available in 45% of Milwaukee, has speeds up to 5,000 Mbps and features DSL, fiber optic and satellite connections.
• T-Mobile Home Internet also offers 5G wireless internet in Milwaukee. It has one plan for $50 per month and speeds ranging from 72 Mbps to 245 Mbps.
• Satellite internet is available almost everywhere, including Milwaukee, thanks to providers like Hughesnet, Starlink and Viasat.

Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.

The best internet deals and top promotions in Milwaukee depend on what discounts are available at the time. Most deals are short-lived, but we regularly search for the latest offers.

Milwaukee internet providers like Spectrum may offer lower introductory prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many providers, including AT&T Fiber and Verizon 5G Home Internet, 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 Providers in Milwaukee

Speed test results for the Brew City puts the median fixed download speed at 286 Mbps. Keep in mind that several factors play into your speed test results, such as the time of day the test is performed and whether you are performing the test over an Ethernet connection or over your Wi-Fi.

Several internet providers in Milwaukee offer fast speeds throughout the city. Spectrum offers speeds of up to 1Gbps, with AT&T’s Fiber offerings of up to 5Gbps in some areas. These speeds allow you to work remotely, game online, and have multiple people streaming on the network.

Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.

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

There are many fast, affordable, and available options in the city of Milwaukee. Most importantly, you can find home internet plans with no contracts or data caps, such as AT&T, Spectrum, T-Mobile Home Internet, and Verizon 5G Home Internet.

How CNET Picked the Best Internet Providers in Milwaukee

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 price, availability, and speed information based on our own historical ISP data, the providers’ websites, and map information from FCC.gov.

And it doesn’t stop there. We use the FCC website to review our data and make sure we consider every ISP that offers service in an area. We also enter local addresses into provider websites to find specific options for residents. To evaluate how satisfied customers are with an ISP’s service, we look at sources like the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power. 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 providers we recommend.

Want to learn more about our process? Visit our How We Test ISPs page.

Frequently Asked Questions About Internet Providers in Milwaukee