Best Internet Providers in Modesto, California

What is the best internet provider in Modesto, California?

AT&T Fiber is Modesto’s best internet providerwith high speeds and customer-friendly terms. It is the only internet provider in the city with symmetrical upload and download speeds — ideal for people who work remotely or play online.

If you are looking for the lowest prices, Xfinity is the cheapest internet provider in Modestowith plans starting at just $20 per month. That said, rates go up significantly on all plans after a year or two (or both). Spectrum is another cable internet provider worth considering, but you’ll also face steep price increases in the second or third year.

There are two other options worth considering for households that don’t need a lot of speed: T-Mobile Home Internet and Verizon 5G Home Internet. Both are mid-range in terms of price and speed, but you can save by bundling with a qualifying mobile plan.

Best Internet in Modesto, California

Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.

Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.

How to Find Online Deals and Promotions in Modesto

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

Modesto internet providers, such as AT&T Fiber, Xfinity and Verizon 5G Home Internet, may offer lower introductory prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time. However, others, including Spectrum and T-Mobile 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.

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 be enough bandwidth for one person to meet the demands of modern teleworking, video streaming, and online gaming.
• With 100 to 500 Mbps, one or two people can simultaneously participate in high-bandwidth activities such as video conferencing, streaming, and gaming.
• With 500 to 1,000 Mbps, three or more people can participate in high-bandwidth activities simultaneously.

How CNET Chose the Best Internet Providers in Modesto

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 based on our own historical ISP data, the providers’ websites, and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.

But it doesn’t stop there. We use the FCC website to review 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 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:

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 multi-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.

Frequently Asked Questions About Internet Providers in Modesto