Best Internet Providers in Hawaii

What is the best internet provider in Hawaii?

CNET's pick for the best internet provider in Hawaii is Spectrum .The provider offers gig speeds and is available throughout much of Hawaii, from the Big Island to Kauai. Spectrum offers multiple speed options for a variety of budgets, unlimited data and a free modem, allowing those already owning a router to skip equipment fees altogether.

While Spectrum technically has fiber available in Hawaii, it's practically impossible to find. Your better bet for a fiber-optic network is Hawaiian Telecom, which offers drastically faster upload speeds than cable and is available to about half the state. If your area doesn't have wired internet service providers or you want a fixed wireless connection, T-Mobile's $50-per-month 5G home internet service is another decent broadband alternative.

If you want the fastest internet in Hawaii, Spectrum and Hawaiian Telecom tie for the fastest internet provider in Hawaii with plans up to 1,000Mbps, with no data caps or required contracts. If you're looking for the cheapest internet, Spectrum and Hawaiian Telecom offer plans starting at $30, although Hawaii Telecom will get you four times the download speeds for that price. Eligible mobile customers can access home internet from Verizon or T-Mobile for as low as $35 per month, although Verizon's 5G Home internet is only available to about 4% of the state.

Our methodology

CNET considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service in Hawaii 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 U.S., according to our database of plan information provided directly by ISPs. At the same time, the text is specific to what's available in Hawaii. 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. Discounts and promotions might also be available for signing a term contract or bundling multiple services. 

To learn more about how we review internet providers, visit our full methodology page .

Best internet in Hawaii in 2025

Spectrum

Spectrum is among our top picks for best internet providers anywhere and one of our favorite cable ISPs thanks to its simple pricing, fast speeds and favorable service terms. As a cable TV provider, Spectrum is also a great choice for bundling internet and TV .

Availability:You'll find Spectrum just about everywhere in Hawaii outside of the many forest reserves and national parks. Honolulu has the greatest serviceability but most households on Hawaii's six main inhabited islands are wired for Spectrum Internet.

Plans and pricing:Many goods and services in Hawaii are more expensive than elsewhere in the US, but Spectrum internet is as cheap in the Aloha State as anywhere. Most customers will have three plans to choose from: 100Mbps, 500Mbps or 1,000Mbps, starting at $30, $50 and $70 per month, respectively.

Fees and service details: Spectrum's internet has unlimited data and requires no contracts . Your cable modem is free but a $10 rental fee applies if you rent a Wi-Fi router from Spectrum.

Hawaiian Telcom

Spectrum is a great choice for cable but I prefer a fiber-optic connection if I can get it. Cincinnati Bell-owned Hawaiian Telcom is the primary fiber internet provider in Hawaii.

Availability:You'll find Hawaiian Telcom in many of the same places as Spectrum, but not all. Coverage is greatest on the island of Oahu and the capital city of Honolulu. Still, residents of the Big Island, Kauai, Lanai, Molokai and Maui may also be eligible for service.

Plans and pricing:Hawaiian Telcom also offers 400Mbps, 600Mbps, 800Mbps and 1 Gig, which technically maxes out at 940Mbps. Starting pricing is lower than Spectrum's on comparable speed tiers and the fiber-optic service comes with the added advantage of upload speeds up to 500Mbps. It's not quite the symmetrical upload/download speeds we see on the mainland but worlds better than Spectrum's maximum upload speed of 35Mbps.

Where fiber internet is unavailable, Hawaiian Telcom may offer DSL service. Speeds and pricing vary by location but won't come close to the speed potential of Spectrum. If your options come down to Spectrum or DSL service, I'd recommend Spectrum every time.

Fees and service details: Renting an Eero Pro 6E Galaxy Gateway router from Hawaiian Telcom will add $10 to your monthly bill. Mesh Wi-Fi extenders are available for an additional $5 per month. There are no data caps or contracts required.

T-Mobile Home Internet

T-Mobile is leading the US's 5G home internet coverage race and Hawaii is no exception. Speeds are admittedly slower than those of Spectrum or Hawaiian Telcom, but the low pricing and simple setup are worth consideration if you're outside their coverage areas.

Availability: T-Mobile Home Internet is available to 55% of Hawaiian households, according to the Federal Communications Commission . Those around the airport may have the toughest time getting T-Mobile's home internet service but other options, including Spectrum and Hawaiian Telcom, are available in the area.

Plans and pricing:T-Mobile's Rely Home Internet plan starts at $50 per month while the Amplified and All-In plans are $60 and $70 for the fastest speeds available. T-Mobile's claims a "typical download speed" of 87Mbps to 415Mbps but the FCC's data only shows speeds of 25Mbps to 100Mbps across Hawaii. Qualifying Go5G Plus and Magenta Max mobile customers can receive an additional $15 off their monthly 5G home internet bill.

Fees and service details: There are no contracts, data caps or equipment fees with T-Mobile Home Internet. 

Viasat

For the few places where cable, fiber-optic or 5G internet connections do not reach in Hawaii, there's satellite internet . Viasat is Hawaii's primary satellite provider as Hughesnet is unavailable in the Aloha State.

Availability:Viasat is available everywhere in Hawaii but you'll need a clear view of the sky to get it. 

Plans and pricing:Starting prices for Viasat internet are $100 for 6 months. There isn't much speed variety with Viasat in Hawaii (25Mbps to 150Mbps) so your monthly data allowance -- somewhere between 60GB and 500GB -- will be the main difference between plans. 

Going over your data allowance won't result in any added fees but Viasat may throttle your speeds for the remainder of the billing cycle once you've reached your data limit.

Fees and service details: Unless you want to purchase your equipment upfront for $300, go ahead and add $15 in rental fees to the monthly cost. A two-year contract is required for service.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Internet breakdown by city in Hawaii

It's hard to cover the broadband options of a state like Hawaii and give individual cities the attention they deserve. That's why we also compile lists of the best internet providers in cities across the US, including those in Hawaii. We tackle details including internet connection types, maximum speeds and cheapest providers. Check back later if you don't find the city you're looking for below. We're working to add more locations every week.

• Best internet providers in Honolulu

Cheap internet options in Hawaii

Hawaiian Telcom has the cheapest starting price for internet in Hawaii at $30 per month for speeds up to 400Mbps. Spectrum also has a $30 plan but it only offers 100Mbps, meaning that Hawaiian Telcom's upload speed is faster than Spectrum's download speed.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Hawaii

The best internet deals and top promotions in Hawaii depend on what discounts are available during that time. Most deals are short-lived but we look frequently for the latest offers. 

Hawaii internet providers, such as Spectrum and Viasat, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, including Verizon, run the same standard pricing year-round. 

For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals .

Fastest internet plans in Hawaii

The FCC reports that 100% of households in Hawaii are eligible for broadband speeds of at least 25Mbps down and 3Mbps up. The most recent Ookla speed test data ranks Hawaii's average download speeds 13th among all states (and Washington, DC) at about 226Mbps. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) Spectrum and Hawaiian Telcom will be your best bets for those speeds and higher.

Regarding speed potential and reliability, I'd prefer a fiber-optic connection like the one you get with Hawaiian Telcom over a cable one from Spectrum. Fiber internet is equipped to support much faster upload speeds and is less susceptible to speed fluctuations during peak use times.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

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 .

• 0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics: browsing the internet, sending and receiving email and streaming low-quality video.

• 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.

• 40 to 100Mbps should give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming. 

• 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming. 

• 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 Hawaii

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: 

• 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 answers to those questions are often layered and complex, but the providers who 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 .

To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.

What's the final word on internet providers in Hawaii?

Although some amenities are less accessible or affordable in Hawaii than in other parts of the U.S., broadband connectivity and pricing are as good in Hawaii as anywhere. Spectrum is the best high-speed internet source throughout much of Hawaii, but Hawaiian Telcom's fiber service could be the better value if available at your address. 

If neither offers service where you live, T-Mobile Home Internet is a decent option for low-hassle broadband. As a last resort, satellite provider Viasat is available throughout the Aloha State.

Internet providers in Hawaii FAQs

Does Hawaii have fiber internet?

Yes, fiber internet is available for about 52% of Hawaii, according to the FCC's Broadband Map . Hawaiian Telcom is the largest fiber-optic provider in Hawaii, with Spectrum's super-sparse fiber network mostly relegated to commercial and municipal buildings.

Is Spectrum or Hawaiian Telcom better?

Like many fiber versus cable versus DSL provider comparisons, the answer will come down to which connection type is available at your address. If your address is only wired for cable internet from Spectrum or DSL from Hawaiian Telcom, Spectrum will be the better choice for speeds and overall value. 

If your address is serviceable for fiber internet from Hawaiian Telcom, you'll likely find the local provider to have better pricing and speed consistency than Spectrum, especially for upload speeds if you deal with any home servers or hosting live streams.

Is Xfinity available in Hawaii?

Xfinity does not offer home internet service in Hawaii, but the provider does have hotspots in many places throughout the state. So, if you are visiting Hawaii and have Xfinity at home, you may be able to connect to Xfinity's Wi-Fi hotspot network during your stay.