Best Internet Providers in Round Rock, Texas
What is the best internet provider in Round Rock?
If you are looking for the best option in Round Rock, Spectrum is CNET’s recommendation for the best internet provider for most households in the city. This cable ISP serves most of the city and offers fast speeds and reasonable prices. That said, Spectrum may not be available at every address in Round Rock, so AT&T Fiber and T-Mobile Home Internet are also solid choices for home broadband.
Looking for the cheapest plans or the fastest speeds? We’ve found the best options in those categories, too. Spectrum, T-Mobile Home Internet, and Verizon 5G Home Internet all tie for the lowest monthly cost of $50. However, eligible T-Mobile and Verizon cellular customers can get $15 to $20 off their monthly bill. For the fastest service, check out AT&T Fiber, which offers plans up to 5 gigabits per second for $225 per month.
Best internet in Round Rock in 2024
Internet providers in Round Rock compared
| Supplier | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data limit | Contract | CNET Review Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Home Internet Read the full review | DSL | $55 | 10-100 Mbps | No | 1.5 TB | No | 7.4 |
| AT&T Fiber Read the full review | Fiber | $55-$245 | 300-5,000 Mbps | No | No | No | 7.4 |
| Broadband Rise Read the full review | Fixed wireless connection | $55-$75 | 25-100 Mbps | Modem $10; router $5-$15 (optional) | 250GB or unlimited | None, but required for some promotions | 6.2 |
| SOS communication | Fixed wireless connection | $60-$175 | 10-100 Mbps | No | No | No | n/a |
| Spectrum Read the full review | Cable | $30-$40 | 500-1,000 Mbps | Free modem; $5 router (optional) | No | No | 7.2 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review | Fixed wireless connection | $60 ($30 for eligible Go5G Plus and Magenta Max mobile customers) | 72-245 Mbps | No | No | No | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review | Fixed wireless connection | $50-$70 ($35-$45 with eligible Verizon 5G mobile plans) | 50-1,000 Mbps | No | No | No | 7.2 |
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Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Round Rock?
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Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.
How to Find Online Deals and Promotions in Round Rock
The best internet deals and top promotions in Round Rock depend on the discounts available during that period. Most deals are short-lived, but we regularly search for the latest offers.
Internet providers in Round Rock, such as Spectrum and Rise Broadband, may offer lower introductory prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time. However, many providers, including AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon, maintain the same standard prices year-round.
For a more comprehensive overview of all promotions, check out our guide to the best online deals.
Fastest Internet Plans in Round Rock
| Supplier | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | Data limit | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Fiber 5000 Read the full review | €245 | 5,000 Mbps | 5,000 Mbps | No | Fiber |
| AT&T Fiber 2000 Read the full review | $145 | 2,000 Mbps | 2,000 Mbps | No | Fiber |
| AT&T Fiber 1000 Read the full review | $80 | 1,000 Mbps | 1,000 Mbps | No | Fiber |
| Spectrum Internet Gig Read the full review | $40 | 1,000 Mbps | 35 Mbps | No | Cable |
| Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read the full review | $70 ($45 with a qualifying mobile plan) | 1,000 Mbps | 75 Mbps | No | Fixed wireless connection |
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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 Picked the Best Internet Providers in Round Rock
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, drawing on our own historical ISP data, the providers’ websites, and map information from FCC.gov.
But 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 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 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 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.
Internet Providers in Round Rock FAQ
What is the best internet provider in Round Rock?
Spectrum is Round Rock’s best internet provider, with its broad coverage and simple service details. Spectrum was also ranked #1 fastest provider in the U.S. by Ookla for Q2 2023, proving the consistency and reliability of home internet (Ookla cited a median download speed for Spectrum of 243 megabits per second).
Is fiber optic internet available in Round Rock?
Yes. AT&T Fiber is the largest fiber provider in Round Rock, but certain households may be eligible for fiber connectivity through SOS Communications.
Who is the cheapest internet provider in Round Rock?
Spectrum had the lowest price of our picks for the cheapest plan in Round Rock. T-Mobile Home Internet and Verizon 5G Home Internet are just below it, with an additional $10 per month for different speeds. However, you could potentially save $15-$20 on your monthly bill if you’re a qualifying T-Mobile or Verizon mobile customer.
Which internet provider in Round Rock offers the fastest plan?
AT&T Fiber is unbeatable when it comes to speed. For $245 per month, customers can reach speeds of up to 5 gigabits (that’s 5,000 Mbps).
