Products You May Like
Find the best internet in Charlotte, NC, by comparing prices and providers. Charlotte residents benefit from strong competition among internet providers. In fact, the city is one of the most connected in the state. Based on coverage area, Charlotte’s top internet providers include ATT, Spectrum, HughesNet and Viasat. Based on speed, top providers include ATT, Google Fiber and Spectrum.
When you return home at the end of the day, you want internet service you can count on. For many Charlotte residents, there are favorite shows to enjoy, work to complete, and homework that can’t wait.
Image: pikselstock/Shuttershock
Charlotte: A Thriving City
Charlotte, NC, is the 16th most populous city in the country. Fans flock to home games played by the NFL’s Carolina Panthers and the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets. Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy activities throughout the year at the U.S. National Whitewater Center. Racing enthusiasts also enjoy the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Residents of the Queen City enjoy quick trips to Lake Norman, the largest lake in the state. Activities abound, from fishing, water skiing, sailing to sunset cruises. Parents of young will love Carowinds, Charlotte’s sprawling amusement park.
Charlotte Internet Providers
Super-fast Gigabit internet is valuable in many ways. It can handle streaming on multiple devices at one time, and is great if you want to download HD video of any kind, including movies.
Use the chart below to find out the range of speeds each provider offers. You can also find out the cost of starting packages. This package will usually feature the lower speed listed for each provider. Keep in mind that these are often introductory rates that expire after a period of time. Introductory packages are often good for 12 months, but can be as short as three or as long as 24 months.
|
Internet Provider |
Type of Internet |
Speeds (Mbps) |
Starting Pkg – monthly |
| ATT | Fiber, DSL | 5 to 1000 | $40.00 (first 12 mos) |
| Spectrum | Cable | 30 to 940 | $44.99 (first 12 mos) |
| Windstream | Fiber, Cable, DSL | 25 to 100 | $35.00 (first 3 mos) |
| Viasat | Satellite | Up to 100 | $50.00 (first 3 mos) |
| Google Fiber | Fiber | 100 to 1000 | $50.00 (first 12 mos) |
| HughesNet | Satellite | Up to 25 | $59.99 (first 24 mos) |
| Frontier | DSL, Cable | 50 to 940 | $29.95 (first 12 mos) |
| Earthlink | Fiber, DSL | 15 to 1000 | $49.95 |
| Comporium | DSL | Up to 25 | $49.94 (first 3 mos) |
| Crown Castle Fiber (business) | Fiber | 1,000 | Custom |
| Spectrum (business) | Fiber, Cable | 200 to 1000 | $64.98 (incl phone) |
| CenturyLink (business) | Fiber | 1000 | $65.00 |
| Zayo (business) | Fiber | 1000 | Custom |
| Verizon (business) | Fiber, Cable, DSL | 3 to 1000 | $47.99 (first 12 mos) |
| Spectrum Internet Assist | Cable | 30 | $14.99 (low income) |
| MegaPath (business) | DSL, Copper | 25 to 1000 | $75.00 |
| Windstream Enterprise (business) | Fiber, DSL | 1.5 to 100 | Custom |
| APXNet (business) | Cable, DSL, Copper | 6 | Custom |
| GTT (business) | Cable, DSL, Cable | 8 | $82.52 (ave. cost) |
If you also want TV and/or telephone services, bundling these services with your internet into a single package can often save money.
When you compare services, note potential one-time fees like installation costs and equipment charges. Equipment lease costs (if any), taxes and other fees all increase monthly bills. Always confirm total monthly costs when arranging for internet service. It’s also important to consider early termination fees (if any) as well as fees for equipment that’s not returned.
Low-income residents can qualify for Spectrum Internet Assist in one of two ways. First, the household includes a Supplemental Security Income recipient. Secondly, it includes a student in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). The base rate for this 30 Mbps internet service is $14.99 per month. It is possible to add a WiFi router for an extra $5.00 per month.
Internet Availability in Charlotte
Many of Charlotte’s internet providers do not offer services at all addresses. Still, residents often have at least three or four service providers to choose from. Examples of services that cover more than half the city are ATT, Earthlink, HughesNet, Spectrum, Vaisat and Windstream.
Spectrum’s cable-based internet services cover the entire city. ATT uses a combination of fiber and DSL to cover about 97 percent of Charlotte. Viasat and HughesNet deliver 100-percent coverage through satellites usage, rather than transmission via phone lines, cable or fiber optics.
For more, check out the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The federal agency maintains data on broadband services throughout the country.
Image: fizkes/Shuttershock
Five Fastest Internet Providers in Charlotte
The fastest Charlotte internet providers are those that deliver their services using fiber, cable or hybrid DSL/fiber. ATT, EarthLink Hyperlink, Frontier, Google Fiber, and Spectrum are some examples. High-speed fiber services are blazing fast, allowing you to download an HD movie in less than a minute. Spectrum owes its 940 Mbps speed to cable-based services. ATT and Google use fiber to deliver Gigabit speed (1,000 Mbps) to certain locations.
Most of Charlotte’s providers offer some type of high-speed internet service. For most of these providers, the race is on to extend cable or fiber-based services to as many locations as possible.
You can get Spectrum’s 940 Mbps cable services for as little as $44.99 per month for the first year. ATT Fiber (1000 Mbps) is $70 per month for the first year. Google Fiber (1000 Mbps) is also priced at $70 per month. EarthLink Hyperlink (1000 Mbps) is $99.98 per month. Frontier’s 115 Mbps service is less than $50 per month for the first year. Fiber-based services often provide 100 Mbps service for less per month.
Do you live in an apartment? Newer apartment complexes are early beneficiaries of Charlotte’s Gigabit internet service. For example, in 2016 the Charlotte Agenda highlighted the efforts of both Google Fiber and ATT to wire new units with 1000 Mbps fiber.
Best Internet Deals
Use Freshome to find the best internet deals in Charlotte, NC. It is easy to locate an internet provider that has the right service for you. Get the combination of speed and price that’s ideal for your lifestyle.