Best Internet Providers in South Bend, Indiana
What is the best internet provider in South Bend?
According to CNET, AT&T Fiber is considered the best internet provider in South Bend, Indiana. That’s thanks to fast, symmetrical speeds, competitive pricing, and excellent customer satisfaction. It also has incredible speeds to match. Plans start at 300 Mbps and go all the way up to 5,000 Mbps. And that’s with unlimited data, free devices, and no contracts.
If you’re looking for cheaper internet, Xfinity can also be a great option. Especially with the affordable Connect plan, which offers speeds of 150 Mbps for just $30. Other Xfinity plans are also bargain-priced, but fixed price increases after a year or two, plus a data cap and the possibility of a contract tarnish the provider’s overall value a bit.
Between AT&T Fiber and Xfinity, South Bend residents are pretty well covered when it comes to home internet. If you’re looking for other options, fixed wireless internet from T-Mobile Home Internet, Four way, View communication and others may be available. Speeds and prices for each vary by location, but T-Mobile Home Internet is likely the best option for most South Bend households.
Best internet in South Bend, Indiana
Internet Providers in South Bend, Indiana Compared
| Supplier | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data limit | Contract | CNET Review Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Fiber Read the full review | Fiber | $55-$245 | 300-5,000 Mbps | No | No | No | 7.4 |
| AT&T Internet Read the full review | $60 | 25 Mbps | No | 1.5 TB | No | 7.4 | |
| Four way | Fixed wireless connection | $75-$175 | 100-400 Mbps | No | No | No | n/a |
| Mercury Broadband | Fixed wireless connection | $50-$99 | 75-210 Mbps | Mesh Wi-Fi $10 (optional) | No | 1 year (optional) | n/a |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review | Fixed wireless connection | $50-$70 ($40-$50 with qualifying mobile plans) | 72-245 Mbps | No | No | No | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review | Fixed wireless connection | $60-$80 ($35-$45 with qualifying mobile plans) | 100-300 Mbps | No | No | No | 7.2 |
| View communication | Fixed wireless connection | $60-$140 | 10-400 Mbps | $10 | No | No | n/a |
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Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.
What is the cheapest internet plan in South Bend?
| Plan | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Monthly equipment costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xfinity connection Read the full review | $30 | 150 Mbps | $15 (optional) |
| Xfinity Connect More Read the full review | $45 | 300 Mbps | $15 (included) |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review | $60 ($35 with qualifying mobile plans) | 100 Mbps | No |
| AT&T Fiber 300 Read the full review | $55 | 300 Mbps | No |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review | $50 ($40 with qualifying mobile plans) | 245 Mbps | No |
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Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.
How to Find Online Deals and Promotions in South Bend
The best internet deals and top promotions in South Bend depend on what discounts are available at the time. Most deals are short-lived, but we regularly check for the latest offers.
Internet providers in South Bend, such as T-Mobile Home Internet and Xfinity, may offer lower introductory prices, streaming add-ons or other incentives for a limited time. Others, including AT&T Fiber, 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 Plans in South Bend
| Plan | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | Data limit | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Internet 5000 Read the full review | $245 | 5,000 Mbps | 5,000 Mbps | No | Fiber |
| AT&T Internet 2000 Read the full review | $145 | 2,000 Mbps | 2,000 Mbps | No | Fiber |
| Xfinity 2 Gigabit Read the full review | $95 | 2,000 Mbps | 35 Mbps | 1.2 TB | Cable |
| AT&T Internet 1000 Read the full review | $80 | 1,000 Mbps | 1000 Mbps | No | Fiber |
| Xfinity Gigabit Read the full review | $65 | 1,000 Mbps | 20 Mbps | 1.2 TB | Cable |
| Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read the full review | $80 ($45 with qualifying mobile plans) | 300 Mbps | 20 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 Chose the Best Internet Providers in South Bend, Indiana
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.
Internet Providers in South Bend, Indiana, Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best internet provider in South Bend?
AT&T Fiber is the best internet provider in South Bend, largely because of its local fiber coverage, fast speeds, clear pricing, and high customer satisfaction. While not the cheapest internet provider in South Bend (that’s Xfinity), AT&T Fiber adds a lot of value with free equipment rentals, unlimited data, and no flat rate increases.
Is fiber optic internet available in South Bend?
Recent FCC data shows that about half of South Bend households will have fiber internet coverage by December 2023. Coverage is greatest just south of Notre Dame and around South Bend Regional Airport, though fiber is available in random neighborhoods throughout the city. AT&T Fiber is the largest fiber internet provider in South Bend, while Xfinity also has a small fiber presence in the area.
What is the cheapest internet provider in South Bend?
Xfinity is the cheapest internet provider in South Bend, with three plans that match or beat AT&T Fiber’s lowest starting prices. Xfinity’s Connect, Connect More and Fast plans start at $30, $45 and $55 per month for speeds of 150Mbps, 300Mbps and 500Mbps, respectively.
AT&T Fiber starts at $55 per month for speeds up to 300 Mbps. It’s worth noting, however, that certain Xfinity plans may have a $15 equipment rental fee and a data cap. Additionally, a one- or two-year contract may be required for the lowest Xfinity prices.
Which internet provider in South Bend offers the fastest plan?
AT&T Fiber offers the fastest internet plan in South Bend with symmetrical speeds of up to 5,000 Mbps. AT&T Fiber also offers a 2,000 Mbps and 1,000 Mbps plan. Xfinity also offers a 2,000 Mbps plan in South Bend, but the max upload speeds are significantly slower, around 200 Mbps.
