What is the best internet provider in Cleveland?
Regardless of where you live in Cleveland, there is a wide range of internet options available. However, CNET recommends Spectrum as the best overall internet provider in Cleveland, Ohio. This is mainly due to its plan variety — suitable regardless of whether you live alone or have a full household — as well as its widespread availability. It also doesn’t hurt that out of many internet providers in the area, Spectrum offers decent and reasonable pricing.
However, if you’re living in an area where fiber is available and you’d prefer to have fiber, then you should consider investing in AT&T Fiber instead. Not only does it come with incredible speeds of up to 5,000Mbps, but it’s ultimately the fastest provider. However, be careful not to mix up AT&T Fiber and AT&T Air Internet, which offers slower speeds overall.
If you’re not sold on Spectrum or AT&T, then don’t fret. You have other options. Both Verizon and T-Mobile Home offer 5G home internet, and if you already have a mobile plan with either provider, then there’s a good chance you could be eligible to get your internet at a lower price of $35 a month. There are also other alternatives like Satellite internet from HughesNet, Viasat and Starlink. If you’re still after something cheaper, then Spectrum’s entry-level plan at $30 a month for 100Mbps might be the ISP for you.
Best internet providers in Cleveland, Ohio
Internet providers in Cleveland overview
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Read full review |
DSL/fiber | $55-$245 | 10-5,000Mbps | None | 1.5TB for plans under 100Mbps | None | 7.4 |
| HughesNet Read full review |
Satellite | $50-$95 | 50-100Mbps | $15 or $300 one-time purchase | 100-200GB | 2 years | 5.7 |
| Spectrum Read full review |
Cable | $30-$70 | 100-1,000Mbps | Free modem; $10 router rental (optional) | None | None | 7.2 |
| Starlink Read full review |
Satellite | $120 | 25-220Mbps download, 5-20Mbps upload | $349 one-time purchase (or $2,500 for Priority) | Unlimited; 1-6TB (Priority) | None | N/A |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$55 with eligible mobile plans) | 87-415Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed Wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$55 with qualifying Verizon 5G mobile plans) | 50-250Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
| Viasat Read full review |
Satellite | $100 | 150Mbps | $15 or $300 one-time purchase | 40-300GB | 2 years | 6.1 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data
All available Cleveland residential internet providers
Some Cleveland residents may be fortunate enough to have a few choices when it comes to their ISP. If you find yourself in this situation, we recommend fiber internet if it’s available for its speed and stability. For those who live in parts of the city without access to the options mentioned above, here are the other choices:
- HughesNet: Hopefully, if you’re in Cleveland or its surrounding suburbs, you won’t need satellite internet. It’s only available at speeds of 50Mbps, with prices starting at $50 with a two-year contract and equipment fees.
- Starlink: Cleveland is among the cities with access to SpaceX’s satellite internet, but like the other satellite internet options, we don’t recommend it for city dwellers. First of all, it’s pricey, with a $349 starting price for equipment, and speeds won’t match most wired connections.
- T-Mobile Home Internet: Cleveland residents also have access to 5G internet from T-Mobile, which is available for $50 to $70 monthly and offers speeds up to 415Mbps.
- Viasat: Viasat’s monthly prices start at $100 and go up to $150, with speeds ranging going up to 150Mbps.
Pricing info on Cleveland home internet service
Much like other cities in Ohio, Cleveland residents can expect to pay an average starting monthly price of $51 for home internet. The cheapest plan belongs to Spectrum’s $30-a-month plan for download speeds of 100Mbps.
Cheap internet options in the Cleveland metro area
If you want the most affordable internet in Cleveland, Spectrum has you covered. Although it’s not available for every address, this provider offers 100Mbps internet starting at $30 a month in most areas, and some areas can even get Spectrum’s 500Mbps plan for $30 instead of $50 a month. Other options include AT&T Fiber, which costs just $5 more a month.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Cleveland?
| Provider/Plan | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum Internet Advantage Read full review |
$30 | 100Mbps | Free modem; $10 router rental (optional) | None |
| Spectrum Internet Read full review |
$50 ($30 in some areas) | 500Mbps | Free modem; $10 router rental (optional) | None |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 318Mbps | None | None |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 250Mbps | None | None |
| AT&T Fiber 300 Read full review |
$55 | 300Mbps | None | None |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data
What’s the state of broadband in Cleveland?
Median download speeds sit around 300Mbps in Cleveland, and options are available from Spectrum and AT&T that exceed that. Plans that offer speeds around a gig are available to certain addresses from AT&T and Spectrum.
Fastest internet providers in Cleveland
Multi-gigabit plans from AT&T Fiber may be available in select areas of Cleveland, but availability is extremely limited. For most residents, the fastest plans tap out around a gig and are available from Spectrum and AT&T Fiber.
What are the fastest internet plans in Cleveland?
| Provider/Plan | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Starting price | Data cap | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Fiber 5000 Read full review |
5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | $245 | None | None |
| AT&T Fiber 2000 Read full review |
2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | $145 | None | None |
| Spectrum Internet Gig Read full review |
1,000Mbps | 35Mbps | $70 | None | None |
| AT&T Fiber 1000 Read full review |
1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | $80 | None | None |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data
What’s the final word on internet providers in Cleveland?
Cleveland’s internet options can be fairly confusing, because the same ISP will charge different prices based on address. Most providers hope you don’t notice, thinking you’ll be stuck with whatever options they give you. But the advent of 5G home internet service means that consumers now have some additional options, even if that just means additional leverage to better negotiate with your ISP. One thing is for sure, though: if you have access to fiber internet, we recommend going with that.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Cleveland
Internet service 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’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
But it doesn’t end there. We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we’re considering every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. To evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service, we look at sources including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of the time of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
- Are customers happy with their service?
The answer to those questions is often layered and complex, but the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When it comes to selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and also take into account real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
To explore our process in more depth, visit our How We Test ISPs page.
Internet providers in Cleveland FAQs
Which is the best internet service provider in Cleveland?
Typically, AT&T’s fiber internet would get the nod in any city if it’s available. But its service is spotty in Cleveland, leaving many people being presented only with the company’s slow and pricey Internet Air service. We recommend Spectrum as the best ISP for most Cleveland residents.
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Is fiber internet available in Cleveland?
Yes. Fiber internet is available in Forest City from AT&T. However, you’ll have to roll the dice and plug in your address with the ISP to see if it’s available to you.
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Who is the cheapest internet provider in Cleveland?
Spectrum offers the cheapest plans in Cleveland. The most affordable plan starts at $50 with speeds up to 500Mbps. Some areas might also be eligible for the 100Mbps plan that costs $30 a month. Then there’s AT&T Fiber for $55 a month that gets you speeds up to 300Mbps.
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Should I choose between Spectrum or AT&T?
If you have the choice between these two ISPs, we recommend going with AT&T’s fiber option if it’s available. If not, go with Spectrum’s reliable cable plans over AT&T’s Internet Air service. Check out CNET’s guide to AT&T vs. Spectrum to get further details.
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