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The Best Internet Providers in Austin
As America’s fastest-growing city, Austin is by no means short of internet providers. Depending on where you live in the city, more than a dozen providers may be competing for your business. We looked at all the options and found the best internet providers in Austin for their speed, reliability, price, and customer service.
The 4 Best Internet Providers in Austin
- Google Fiber – Best for Fiber Internet
- AT&T – Best for Bundling
- Spectrum – Most Affordable
- CenturyLink – Most Flexibility
The Best Austin Internet Providers: Summed Up
| Google Fiber | AT&T | Spectrum | CenturyLink | |
| Defining trait | Best for Fiber Internet | Best for Bundling | Most Affordable | Most Flexibility |
| Connection type | Fiber Optic | Fiber Optic | Cable | DSL |
| Download speeds (Mbps) | 1000 Mbps | 100 Mbps 300 Mbps 1000 Mbps | 100 Mbps 400 Mbps 940 Mbps | 10 Mbps 20 Mbps 40 Mbps 100 Mbps 940 Mbps |
| Prices starting at | $70/mo. | $50/mo. | $49.99/mo. | $49/mo. |
| Contract length | None | 12 months | 12 months | None |
| Data cap | None | Up to 1 TB/mo. | None | Up to 1 TB/mo. |
All information accurate as of 02/20/2020.
Google Fiber – Best for Fiber Internet
Austin was one of the first cities to get Google Fiber, and the arrival was much anticipated. Google now offers the cheapest fiber optic internet plan in Austin, with a 1000 Mbps plan costing just $70 per month. However, this is the only plan available, so you won’t be able to downgrade to anything cheaper through Google if you’re on a budget.
Still, Google adds plenty of value to its internet plan. The service doesn’t have any data caps or throttling, and it even comes with 1 TB of free cloud storage. There also aren’t any contracts required, so you won’t be locked in for 12 months (or longer) by signing up and can cancel at any time if you’re unhappy.
- Price: $70/mo.
- Speed and Data: 1000 Mbps
- Plans/Packages: Internet only
- Contract Options: No contracts
AT&T – Best for Bundling
If you plan to bundle your internet service with TV, a landline phone, or both, AT&T will give you the best value. Opt to add U-Verse TV with 180 channels to your plan for as little as $79.99 per month, or throw in a digital landline for a total of $99.98 per month. AT&T will waive its $99 installation fee if you sign up for one of these plans.
AT&T is also celebrated for its dedication to customer service. The provider was awarded top spot in the 2019 U.S. Internet Service Provider Satisfaction Study from J.D. Power and received perfect five-star ratings in all areas of the study. The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) also gives AT&T extremely positive ratings, ranking the provider 2nd in the United States.
- Price: $50 Mbps (all speeds up to 300 Mbps) or $70/mo.
- Speed and Data: 100 Mbps, 300 Mbps, or 1000 Mbps
- Plans/Packages: Internet only, internet + TV, internet + TV + landline
- Contract Options: 12 months
Spectrum – Most Affordable
If you’re hoping to save money on your monthly internet bill, Spectrum is the best option in Austin. Its 200 Mbps plan costs just $49.99 per month, which is double the speed that most competitors offer at the same price. However, if you’re hoping for something faster, Spectrum’s top-tier plan at 940 Mbps is priced at $109.99 per month, a significantly higher pricier than the 1000 Mbps fiber optic plans offered by Google and AT&T.
Spectrum scored well in the J.D. Power U.S. Internet Service Provider Satisfaction Study, coming in third behind AT&T and Comcast in the Southern United States. Among the areas that Spectrum scored well in are performance, reliability, and customer service.
- Price: $49.99/mo., $69.99/mo., or $109.99/mo.
- Speed and Data: 200 Mbps, 400 Mbps, or 940 Mbps
- Plans/Packages: Internet only, internet + TV, internet + TV + landline
- Contract Options: 12 months
CenturyLink – Most Flexibility
CenturyLink offers the most flexible internet plans in Austin in terms of speed, with five different options to choose from between 10 Mbps and 940 Mbps. However, all of its plans up to 100 Mbps are priced the same at $49 per month, so there isn’t necessarily an advantage to choosing a slower speed. There are no contracts on CenturyLink plans, giving you the option to cancel anytime.
One interesting feature of CenturyLink internet service is its Price for Life program. This offer protects your price as long as you retain service with the provider. Many competitors will increase prices after each 12-month contract, slowly increasing your monthly bill over time, which adds to your expenses.
- Price: $49 mo. (all speeds up to 100 Mbps) or $65/mo.
- Speed and Data: 10 Mbps, 20 Mbps, 40 Mbps, 100 Mbps, or 940 Mbps
- Plans/Packages: Internet only
- Contract Options: No contracts
How We Found the Best Internet Providers in Austin
Everyone rates internet providers differently, but we know from experience what customers look for in their service provider. Here are the key features we analyzed in our assessment:
- Coverage. Many internet providers in Austin only cover a small percentage of neighborhoods. Not only does this make it frustrating to find service, it also causes problems if you move and want to transfer service. All the providers we chose offer service in most of the Austin metropolitan area.
- Value. When comparing providers, we looked at the overall speed and reliability of the service compared to price. We’re confident that these providers will give you the most for your money in the Austin area.
- Customer Satisfaction. It’s no secret that internet providers tend to score poorly in customer satisfaction ratings. We looked at ratings from the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) and J.D. Power to find providers that scored better than industry averages.
Austin Internet FAQ
Which Austin internet providers offer fiber optic internet?
Google Fiber and AT&T both offer fiber optic internet in the Austin area.
Can I bundle TV and phone service with my internet?
Yes, AT&T and Spectrum both offer packages that combine TV, landline, or both with your internet service.
What is the top customer-rated internet provider in Austin?
AT&T was awarded the top spot in the 2019 J.D. Power U.S. Internet Service Provider Satisfaction Study.
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About the Authors
Lisa Melillo is a personal finance writer for Reviews.com. Over the past seven years, she’s covered insurance, travel, and home-related topics for a variety of online publications and businesses.
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