Best Internet Providers in Atlanta, Georgia
What is the best internet provider in Atlanta?
AT&T Fiber is CNET's pick for Atlanta's top internet providerfor its reliability and ultrafast speeds. However, the service might not be accessible to everyone. If AT&T isn't available in your area, Google Fiber and Xfinity are excellent alternatives. For homes with fewer connected devices, wireless options such as T-Mobile Home Internet , Verizon 5G Home Internet and Yomura Air are also popular choices citywide.
To help you decide, we've highlighted the most affordable plans and fastest speeds in Atlanta. T-Mobile and Verizon offer the best budget-friendly options with prices starting at $50 a month. And for those seeking extreme speeds, AT&T Fiber provides a lightning-fast 5,000Mbps plan for $245 a month, making it the go-to choice for ultrahigh-speed internet.
Our methodology
CNET considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service in Atlanta across several categories. Our evaluation includes referencing a proprietary database built over years of reviewing internet services. We validate that against provider information by spot-checking local addresses for service availability. We also do a close read of providers' terms and conditions and, when needed, will call ISPs to verify the details.
Despite our efforts to find the most recent and accurate information, our process has some limitations you should know about. Pricing and speed data are variable: Certain addresses may qualify for different service tiers and monthly costs may vary, even within a city. The best way to identify your particular options is to plug your address into a provider's website.
Also, the prices, speed and other information listed above and in the provider cards below may differ from what we found in our research. The cards display the full range of a provider's pricing and speed across the US, according to our database of plan information provided directly by ISPs. At the same time, the text is specific to what's available in Atlanta. The prices referenced within this article's text come from our research and include applicable discounts for setting up automatic payments each month -- a standard industry offering. Other discounts and promotions might also be available for things like signing a term contract or bundling with multiple services.
Visit our full methodology page to understand how we review internet providers.
AT&T Fiber
Nine times out of 10, I'd choose a 100% fiber-optic connection over any other type of internet . AT&T is the largest fiber internet provider in Atlanta so there are automatic bonus points there. If you can only get AT&T's slower service -- called AT&T Internet Air -- you're better off moving to another option.
Availability: According to recent Federal Communication Commission data , fiber internet, largely provided by AT&T, is available to roughly 58% of Atlanta households. You'll find the greatest AT&T Fiber coverage just outside the city center, in neighborhoods like Peoplestown, Westview, Midtown and the Lenox Park area.
Plans and pricing: AT&T Fiber offers five plan options in Atlanta. 300Mbps , 500Mbps and gigabit speed tiers are the most common, but 2Gbps and 5Gbps plans are also available in select areas. Pricing ranges from $55 for the entry-level plan offering 300Mbps speeds. Next up is the 500Mbps plan for $65 monthly. The 1000Mbps plan offers the best bang for your buck for $65 monthly. If you need the fastest speeds, you can get the 2000Mbps or 5000Mbps plans for $145 and $245 monthly.
Fees and service details:All AT&T Fiber plans come with equipment and unlimited data included at no extra cost and are contract-free with no standard price increase after 12 months.
AT&T
Xfinity
Wherever you are in Atlanta, Xfinity will be your best bet for a cheap, basic connection. Xfinity's cheapest plan starts at just $40 per month but be prepared for less than impressive maximum download speeds of 400Mbps. Faster speed tiers are available, up to 1300Mbps.
Availability: Xfinity is available throughout the Atlanta metro area, from Canton to Peachtree City and Douglasville to Winder, so service is easy to find if you're moving to the area (and easy to transfer if you're moving across town).
Plans and pricing: Xfinity has a variety of plans ranging from 300Mbps to 2,000Mbps, all of which are competitively priced. There's also a decent prepaid internet option if you want a basic connection without the hassles of credit checks, contracts and ongoing equipment fees, or need temporary internet to stay connected between moves . Xfinity's entry-level 300Mbps plan is priced at $55, 500Mbps at $60, 1,000Mbps at $65 and 2,000Mbps at $85. All plans come with a five-year price guarantee.
Fees and service details:Renting your Wi-Fi equipment from Xfinity will add $25 to your monthly bill, although most plans include your equipment at no extra cost -- at least for the first 12 months. Also, keep in mind that all standard plans come with a 1.2TB monthly data cap and a fee of up to $100 for going over. You can, however, get an xFi Gateway for $25 monthly to unlock unlimited data.
Xfinity
Verizon 5G Home Internet
When streaming came along, many of us cut the traditional TV cord and never looked back. Wireless services, like that of Verizon 5G Home Internet , are showing it's possible to do that with your internet connection as well.
Availability: Verizon's 5G nationwide coverage spans most of the Atlanta area, but there are some spots -- such as pockets of the Brookwood Hills, Cabbagetown and Marietta Street Artery neighborhoods -- that may still rely on Verizon's 4G LTE network.
Plans and pricing: If your Atlanta address is serviceable for Verizon 5G home internet, you'll have three plan options. Verizon 5G Home starts at $50 per month with autopay for speeds up to 85Mbps. Verizon 5G Home Plus gives you speeds up to 100Mbps for $60 monthly with autopay. Finally, the 5G Home Ultimate plan gives speeds up to 250Mbps for $75 a month. Verizon mobile customers can get a $15 discount on Verizon 5G home internet, bringing the price down to $35, $45 or $60 per month, depending on your plan.
Fees and service details:Verizon 5G Home Internet has no additional equipment costs, no data caps and no contract requirements.
Verizon
Google Fiber
There's arguably no better choice for gigabit internet in Atlanta than Google Fiber . Although AT&T and Xfinity also offer gig plans, Google Fiber's pricing and service terms make it the go-to for gig speeds in Atlanta.
Availability: As with any fiber-optic service, availability can be an issue. Serviceability is scarce in the heart of Atlanta. Still, surrounding areas, particularly to the north and east, such as Old Fourth Ward, Midtown and Buckhead, will see the best Google Fiber availability.
Plans and pricing: With just two high-end plan options, Google Fiber has positioned itself as a premium internet provider in the Atlanta area. Google Fiber's gig plan starts at $70 per month but for $30 more you can upgrade to the 2-gig plan with max download speeds of 2,000Mbps and upload speeds of up to 1,000Mbps. Unfortunately, Google's ultra high-speed 5 gigabit and 8 gigabit plans aren't yet available in Atlanta.
Fees and service details: Wi-Fi equipment and unlimited data are included at no extra cost, and no contract is required.
Google Fiber
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Other available internet providers in Atlanta
There aren't a lot of other options for internet in Atlanta aside from the providers highlighted above. These providers might be worth considering:
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T-Mobile Home Internet : 5G home internet service from T-Mobile is available throughout about half of Atlanta, but no one neighborhood has exceptionally better coverage than another. Service starts at $50 per month for speeds ranging from 87Mbps to 415Mbps. Equipment and unlimited data are included and no contracts are required.
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Satellite internet : Hughesnet and Viasat are available throughout the US, including all over Atlanta, but given the other available internet options, you'll want to stay away from the high pricing, high latency and low speeds that come with satellite internet.
Cheap internet options in Atlanta
Unless you go with Xfinity, expect starting prices for internet in Atlanta to be at or above $50 per month. While more low-priced internet options would be ideal, the cost of internet in Atlanta is not bad, considering the speeds you get. Google Fiber's entry plan, for example, starts at $70 per month but comes with speeds up to 1,000Mbps. That's a cost per Mbps of 7 cents, which is lower than you'll find with plans from many providers.
If you're looking for cheap internet, I'd recommend Xfinity for their 5-year price guarantee. For more stable and relatively low internet pricing, consider AT&T Fiber, which offers speeds of up to 300Mbps starting at $55 per month, with no set price increase after 12 months.
What's the cheapest internet plan in Atlanta?
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Atlanta
The best internet deals and the top promotions in Atlanta depend on what discounts are available during that time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Atlanta internet providers, such as Xfinity, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, including AT&T Fiber, Verizon and Google Fiber, run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals .
Jose-Fuste RAGA/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
How fast is Atlanta broadband?
Thanks to Yomura, AT&T and Google Fiber, Atlanta residents have access to some of the fastest max internet speeds nationwide. Google Fiber has offered gig and 2-gig services in the Atlanta area for a while now, and AT&T raised the bar with 2Gbps and 5Gbps plans available in select areas in addition to its single gig service. Neither of those providers can beat Yomura's fiber service, offering 10 gigabits for $999 per month.
Fastest internet plans in Atlanta
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Internet providers in popular cities near Atlanta
See all results for internet providers in Georgia .
What's a good internet speed?
Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you're looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you'll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here's an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC . Note that these are only guidelines and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.
For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need .
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0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics: browsing the internet, sending and receiving email and streaming low-quality video.
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5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
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40 to 100Mbps should give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
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100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming.
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500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Atlanta
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone , laptop , router or kitchen tool , it's impractical to personally test every internet service provider in a given city. What's our approach? For starters, we tap into a proprietary database of pricing, availability and speed information that draws from our own historical ISP data, partner data and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
It doesn't end there: We go to the FCC's website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP's service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
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Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
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Do customers get decent value for what they're paying?
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Are customers happy with their service?
While the answers to those questions are often layered and complex, the providers that come closest to "yes" on all three are the ones we recommend. When 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 consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports . (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.
What's the final word on internet providers in Atlanta?
The best Atlanta internet provider for your home depends on what you're looking for and what's available in your area . I'm partial to the fast, symmetrical speeds and reliable connection of fiber internet service , like what you get with AT&T Fiber. The cheap internet pricing that often comes with cable internet providers like Xfinity is tempting, especially considering the added savings of bundling internet and TV .
Internet providers in Atlanta FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Atlanta?
AT&T Fiber is the best internet service provider in Atlanta, offering fast, symmetrical upload and download speeds, unlimited data and straightforward pricing.
Is fiber internet available in Atlanta?
Yes. Fiber internet is available to roughly 58% of households in the Atlanta area. AT&T is the largest fiber provider, serving over half of Atlanta homes. Google Fiber is the second largest fiber provider in the area but is available to only around 18.5% of households.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Atlanta?
T-Mobile and Verizon are the cheapest internet providers in Atlanta, offering plans that start at just $50 per month and can be discounted to $35 with a mobile plan for 415Mbps and 85Mbps speeds, respectively.
Which internet provider in Atlanta offers the fastest plan?
AT&T Fiber offers the fastest internet plan in Atlanta, with upload and download speeds up to 5,000Mbps.
Is Xfinity or AT&T internet better?
The better provider will come down to which type of AT&T internet service you can get at your home. If AT&T Fiber is available, the speeds, reliability and overall value will likely be better with AT&T versus Xfinity. If your address is eligible only for AT&T's Internet Air, Xfinity will be the better choice for faster speed options and greater value. Check out our AT&T versus Xfinity comparison for more.
Is Cox available in Atlanta?
Although Cox Communications is headquartered in Atlanta, Cox's home internet service is unavailable to Atlanta residents. There's no significant Cox coverage in Georgia outside of the Macon area. Xfinity is the primary cable internet provider in the Atlanta area.
