Best Internet Providers in Reno, Nevada

What is the best internet provider in Reno?

AT&T is the best internet provider for most households in Reno due to its range of speeds, prices, and internet options. This includes Internet Air, Fiber, and 5G. AT&T service is not available everywhere in Reno, so Spectrum or local provider Net NV are also solid internet providers, depending on what’s available in your area.

If you’re looking for the lowest prices or the fastest internet speeds, we’ve got you covered. The cheapest internet in Reno is Spectrum, which offers up to 300 megabits per second for $50 a month. The fastest internet speed available in Reno is AT&T’s Internet 5000. You can find 5,000 Mbps in select locations in Reno for $225 a month.

Best Internet in Reno, Nevada in 2024

Reno has a handful of home internet providers available for residential broadband service. All households have access to at least 25 to 250 Mbps, and 93% can get 1,000 Mbps or higher, according to the Federal Communications Commission. Internet providers in Reno offer service throughout the area, but geographic challenges such as inclement winter weather, rural areas and mountains can impact speed and reliability or limit accessibility. That’s why CNET picked three services that offer a variety of home internet options, no matter where you live.

Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.

Other available internet providers in Reno

• Satellite internet: Reno residents have a choice of satellite internet providers including Hughesnet, Viasat, and Starlink. Unless your only other option is a slower DSL plan, we don’t recommend it due to the high cost (including high equipment rental fees) and two-year contract length. The exception power be Starlink, which offers faster speeds without a contract. There is a high initial cost for equipment of almost $600.
• T-Mobile Home Internet: This major mobile carrier offers Reno’s best 5G home internet service with an affordable, internet-only plan starting at $50 per month with no additional equipment fees or commitments. Existing customers with qualifying cell phone plans can add home internet for just $30 per month. There’s a one-time $35 activation fee, but they’re currently waiving it if you order online.

Cheap Internet Options in Reno

The cheapest internet options in Reno depend on the type of internet service and the speed you need. Spectrum has the best prices at $50 per month with speeds up to 300 Mbps.

Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.

How to Find Online Deals and Promotions in Reno

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

Internet providers in Reno, such as AT&T, Spectrum, and T-Mobile, may offer lower introductory prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many providers, including Hughesnet, NV Net, and Viasat, 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 broadband in Reno?

The Biden administration recently named Reno one of 31 Regional technology and innovation hubs in the US. The region also has a concentration of connectivity-intensive data centers and technology companies, including Switch, Tesla And Apple. Ookla’s latest data shows that Reno’s median download speed of over 250 Mbps puts it in the top 25 of the 100 most populous cities in the country. All of which is to say that Reno residents can benefit from a broadband infrastructure that’s more advanced than average. Those faster speeds don’t come cheap.

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 good 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 simultaneously participate in high-bandwidth activities such as videoconferencing, streaming, and online gaming.

How CNET Chose the Best Internet Providers in Reno

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 do it? 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.

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?

The answers to these questions are often multi-layered and complex, but the providers that come closest to yes on all three are the providers we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fees, although 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 such as 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.

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

Reno residents will find a variety of internet options no matter where they live. T-Mobile and Spectrum offer high-speed internet for $50, while many areas have access to fiber with speeds of 1,000 Mbps or faster. Best of all, even the most remote residents have access to satellite service from Hughesnet, Starlink, and Viasat, and radio-broadcast internet from local ISP NV Net.

Frequently Asked Questions About Internet Providers in Reno