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What is the best internet provider in San Marcos?
CNET recommends Spectrum as the best internet provider for most households in San Marcos. With availability at over 92% of addresses, according to FCC dataSpectrum is likely an option for home internet wherever you are in this Texas city.
With Spectrum, you can expect reasonable prices and fast bandwidth, but Astound Broadband and Verizon 5G Home Internet are also worth considering, especially for their speed and affordability.
Astound Broadband is the cheapest and fastest provider in San Marcos. Astound’s 300-megabit-per-second plan costs just $20 per month for the first two years, but beware of a steep price hike after the promotional period ends. If you’re looking for a blazing-fast connection, Astound’s 1.5-gig plan costs $55 and includes equipment and unlimited data.
San Marcos internet providers compared
| Supplier | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data limit | Contract | CNET Review Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazing broadband Read the full review | Cable | $20-$55 | 300-1,500 Mbps | No | No | No | 7 |
| Clear speed | DSL/Fiber optic | $50-$65 | 10-940 Mbps | One-time fee of $15 or $200 (optional) | No | No | n/a |
| Spectrum Read the full review | Cable | $50-$70 | 300-1,000 Mbps | Free modem; $7 router (optional) | No | No | 7.2 |
| Spry Wireless | Fixed wireless connection | $79-$139 | 150-400 Mbps | Differs | No | No | n/a |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review | Fixed wireless connection | $50 ($40 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 San Marcos?
| Supplier | From monthly price | Maximum download speed | Monthly equipment costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazing broadband 300 Read the full review | $20 | 300 Mbps | No |
| Clear speed 200 | $50 | 200 Mbps | $15 (optional) |
| Spectrum Internet Ultra Read the full review | $50 | 300 Mbps | $7 (optional) |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review | $50 ($35 with a qualifying mobile plan) | 300 Mbps | No |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review | $50 ($40 with a qualifying mobile plan) | 245 Mbps | No |
| Happy silver | €79 | 150 Mbps | Differs |
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Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in San Marcos
The best internet deals and top promotions in San Marcos depend on what discounts are available during that period. Most deals are short-lived, but we regularly search for the latest offers.
Internet providers in San Marcos, such as Astound Broadband, may offer lower introductory prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time. However, others, such as 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.
Photo by DKAR Images/Getty Images
Fastest internet plans in San Marcos
| Supplier | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | Data limit | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazing broadband 1500 Read the full review | $55 | 1,500 Mbps | 20 Mbps | No | Cable |
| Amazing broadband 1000 Read the full review | $45 | 1,000 Mbps | 20 Mbps | No | Cable |
| Spectrum Internet Gig Read the full review | $70 | 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 |
| Brightspeed 1 Gig | $65 | 940 Mbps | 940 Mbps | No | Fiber |
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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 Chose the Best Internet Providers in San Marcos
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, drawing on our own historical ISP data, the providers’ websites, and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission on 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 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 San Marcos
What is the best internet provider in San Marcos?
With wide availability in San Marcos, speeds up to 1 gigabit, and simple terms of service, Spectrum is the best internet provider for most households in the area.
Is fiber optic internet available in San Marcos?
The FCC reports that fiber internet is available to nearly 44% of addresses in San Marcos. The largest fiber networks in the area are offered by Brightspeed and Pavlov Media, but select homes may also be eligible for fiber under Spectrum.
What is the cheapest internet provider in San Marcos?
Astound Broadband offers the cheapest service in San Marcos: $20 per month for download speeds of up to 300 Mbps.
Which internet provider in San Marcos offers the fastest plan?
The fastest speed available in San Marcos is 1.5 gigabit, or 1,500 Mbps. Astound Broadband offers this for $55 per month.
