Best Internet Service Providers in Concord, North Carolina
What is the best internet provider in Concord?
We didn’t have internet when I was growing up in Concord and Kannapolis. That’s not a ‘back in’ Mine day” statement; home internet didn’t exist at the time, aside from early versions of AOL. By the time I moved to Charlotte and eventually just across the southern state line, AT&T and Time Warner Cable (later to become Spectrum) had emerged as the two major players in the area. Others, like Kineticmy top pick for the best internet provider in Concord, followed shortly afterwards. Now there are plenty of options for Concord residents to choose from.
Kinetic distinguishes itself within Concord by the high availability of fiber optic internet, high speeds and favorable service conditions such as unlimited data and no contract requirements. However, not everyone within Concord will be useful to Kinetic, and that’s where other top providers, including Spectrum, T-Mobile Home Internet and, more recently, Google Fiber, come into play.
Best Internet Providers in Concord
The best internet provider for your Concord home depends on what’s available in your area and what you’re looking for. I lean toward Kinetic’s fast, high-quality fiber plans, but if you’re looking for a cheap wireless alternative, T-Mobile may be your best option. Spectrum is also a good choice, especially if you want to bundle internet and TV services. And virtually no provider can match Google Fiber when it comes to gig service. Below you will find more information about each provider, including Concord availability, pricing and service details.
Remark: The prices, speeds and features described in the article text may differ from the prices, speeds and features stated on the product detail cards, which represent the providers’ national offerings. Your specific Internet service options (including prices and speeds) depend on your address and may differ from those described here.
All internet providers in Concord
The providers listed above are not the only ones you will find in Concord, but they are the ones I would most recommend and consider first if I were back in my hometown. Here you will find an overview of all your possible, practical options for internet service in Concord, North Carolina.
Concord ISP quick comparison
| Provider | Monthly price range | Download speed range (Mbps) | Equipment costs | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Fiber Optic Read the full review | $55-$250 | 300-5,000 | No | 7.4 |
| Google Fiber Read the full review | $70-$150 | 1,000-5,000 | No | 7.5 |
| Kinetic (DSL) | $40 | 50-200 | $10 | 6.7 |
| Kinetic (fiber) | $40-$70 | 500-1,000 | $10 | 6.7 |
| Spectrum Read the full review | $30-$70 | 100-1,000 | $10 | 7.2 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review | $50-$70 ($40-$50 with qualifying discount) | 72-245 | No | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G home internet Read the full review | $50-$70 ($35-$45 for eligible Verizon mobile customers) | 50-1,000 | No | 7.2 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data
Best Concord ISP Honorable Mentions
These providers are also technically available in Concord, but lack the availability or value to be included in CNET’s selection of the best.
AT&T Fiber Optic: Reporting from Charlotte and Mecklenburg County extends to Concord, but not by much. Those just north of Concord Mills are likely eligible for service, but if you’re further north in Cabarrus County, look to Kinetic or possibly Google Fiber for fiber optic internet.
Kinetic (DSL): As mentioned above, most Concord residents can get Kinetic internet service, but not everyone qualifies for fiber. Those who can’t get fiber will have to rely on Kinetic’s DSL network, which is actually better than most. Speeds of 50 Mbps to 200 Mbps are possible depending on where you live, and the unlimited data service with no contract starts at just $40 per month.
Verizon 5G home internet: Verizon is another popular option for 5G home internet service, but its Concord coverage isn’t as good as T-Mobile’s. If you can get service, you can expect maximum download speeds of 50 to 300 Mbps starting at $50 per month, or 85 to 1,000 starting at $70. Verizon wireless customers can get discounts on home internet with qualifying cellular plans.
Satellite internet: For rural areas – and I know there are still some in Concord, despite how much the area has changed in the past decade – satellite internet may be the only option for broadband. HughesNet, Starlink, and Viasat offer service throughout Concord and Cabarrus County, although prices are high while speeds and data limits are low (although Starlink may provide some relief from the speed and data drawbacks). I recommend making sure there are no other options available before resorting to satellite internet.
Internet prices in Concord
The average starting price for internet (excluding satellite) in Concord is $51 per month. That’s not exactly cheap internet, but Google Fiber and AT&T Fiber are bringing the average up.
Among the three largest Concord ISPs – Kinetic, T-Mobile and Spectrum – the average starting price is about $43 per month, assuming no mobile discounts from T-Mobile or Spectrum. That’s lower than the average internet setup cost in Charlotte, and some Spectrum plans may be priced lower in Concord than Charlotte thanks to local competition from Kinetic.
Cheapest internet plans in Concord
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data
Internet speeds in Concord
Concord had the most recent download speed of 328 Mbps speed test data from Ookla. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) That’s higher than the state average (231 Mbps) and the national average (246 Mbps). Google Fiber showed the highest speed range, 250 to 371 Mbps, but it’s important to note that the provider’s lowest speed tier is 1,000 Mbps.
Fastest internet plans in Concord
| Plan | Maximum download speed (Mbps) | Maximum upload speeds (Mbps) | From monthly price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Fiber 8 gig Read the full review | 8,000 | 8,000 | $150 |
| Google Fiber 5 gig Read the full review | 5,000 | 5,000 | $125 |
| AT&T Fiber 5000 Read the full review | 5,000 | 5,000 | $250 |
| Google Fiber 2 performance Read the full review | 2,000 | 2,000 | $100 |
| Kinetic 1 performance | 1,000 | 1,000 | $70 |
| Google Fiber 1 gig Read the full review | 1,000 | 1,000 | $70 |
| Spectrum performance Read the full review | 1,000 | 35 | $70 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Plus Read the full review | 1,000 | 10-75 | $70 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data
Summary of Concord Internet Providers
For the most part, home internet options in Concord are as good as anywhere. I consider Windstream’s Kinetic to be the best provider in the region thanks to its wide fiber coverage and competitive pricing, but the best Concord ISP for your home depends on your specific needs and address. Google Fiber, Spectrum, and T-Mobile are also good choices on their own, so it’s important to explore and compare all your internet options before deciding which is best for you.
How CNET chose the best Internet providers in Concord
Internet providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what is our approach? We’ll start by researching the price, availability, and speed information using our own historical ISP data, carrier sites, and Federal Communications Commission mapping information at FCC.gov.
But it doesn’t end there. We go to the FCC’s website to check our records and make sure we’re considering every ISP that provides service in a given area. We also enter local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. To assess how satisfied customers are with an ISP’s service, we look to sources such as the American Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate at the time of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider offer access to reasonably high internet speeds?
- Do customers get a good price for what they pay?
- Are customers satisfied with their service?
Although the answers to these questions are often layered and complex, we recommend the providers who come closest to ‘yes’ to all three questions.
Visit our page on how we test ISPs to explore our process in more depth.
Frequently Asked Questions About Concord Internet Providers
Is the internet good in Concord?
According to recent speed test data from Ookla, average download speeds in Concord are faster than state and national averages. Additionally, starting prices for home internet are lower than in many surrounding areas, including Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.
Kinetic and Spectrum may be the best options for cheap, high-speed internet in Concord, as both offer maximum download speeds of 500 Mbps starting at $40 per month.
Does Concord have fiber optic internet?
Yes. Fiber optic internet is available to approximately 74% of Concord homes. Kinetic by Windstream is the largest fiber provider in Concord, although Google Fiber also has a growing fiber presence in the area.
Is AT&T internet available in Concord?
Yes, but only for less than 5% of homes, according to the FCC. AT&T fiber coverage from neighboring Mecklenburg County extends somewhat into Cabarrus County, just north of Concord Mills, but is otherwise unavailable in Concord.
Is kinetic or spectrum better?
The better provider will depend on the connection type available. Kinetic’s fiber optic internet service will be the better value, although the cost may be slightly higher depending on the plan you choose and whether you rent your router. On the other hand, Spectrum delivers higher maximum speeds and more value compared to Kinetic’s DSL service. For a more in-depth comparison, see my analysis of Spectrum vs. Kinetic.
