What is the best internet provider in Waco?
Are you looking for the best internet service provider in Waco, TX? CNET’s broadband experts looked at providers in the area to help you find the best plan for your needs. When it comes to fast and reliable Internet service in Waco, CNET’s top pick is Spectrum. It offers unlimited data and a decent price for the first year to go with fast speeds. There is also no contractual requirement. Your next best bets are Astound Broadband and Nextlink.
Astound offers one of the most affordable broadband services in Waco with a plan that starts at 300 megabits per second for just $20 per month, including equipment. Need speed? AT&T Fiber offers symmetrical speeds of up to 5 gigabits per second – the fastest plan in the industry.
Best Internet in Waco
Waco Internet Providers Compared
| Supplier | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly Equipment Costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET Review Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazing broadband Read the full review | Cable | $20 to $55 | 300-1500 Mbps | None | None | None | 7 |
| AT&T InternetAir Read the full review | Fixed wireless | $60 ($47 with qualifying wireless plan) | 75-225Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| AT&T Fiber Read the full review | Fiber | $55 to $245 | 300-5000 Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Next link | Fixed wireless | $40 to $85 | 50-500Mbps | $8 (optional) | None | 2 years | N / A |
| Spectrum Read the full review | Cable | $25 to $70 | 500-1000 Mbps | Free modem; Router rental for $10 (optional) | None | None | 7.2 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review | Fixed wireless | $50 ($30 for eligible mobile customers) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
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Source: CNET analysis of supplier data.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Waco?
| Supplier | Starting monthly price | Maximum download speed | Monthly Equipment Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surprise 300 Read the full review | $20 | 300Mbps | None |
| Spectrum Internet Support Read the full review | $25 | 50Mbps | Free modem; Router rental for $10 (optional) |
| Spectrum Internet Advantage Read the full review | $30 | 100Mbps | Free modem; Router rental for $10 (optional) |
| Surprise 600 Read the full review | $35 | 600Mbps | None |
| Next link | $40 | 50Mbps | $8 (optional) |
| Surprise 1000 Read the full review | $45 | 1000 Mbps | None |
| Next link | $45 | 100Mbps | $8 (optional) |
| Spectrum Internet Premier Read the full review | $50 | 500Mbps | Free modem; Router rental for $10 (optional) |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review | $50 ($30 with eligible mobile plan) | 245Mbps | None |
| AT&T InternetAir Read the full review | $60 ($47 with qualifying wireless plan) | 225Mbps | None |
| Surprise 1500 Read the full review | $55 | 1500 Mbps | None |
| AT&T Fiber Read the full review | $55 | 300Mbps | None |
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Source: CNET analysis of supplier data.
How to Find Internet Deals and Promotions in Waco
The best internet deals and promotions in Waco depend on the discounts available during this time. Most deals are short-term, but we frequently check for the latest deals.
Waco Internet providers, such as Nextlink and Astound Broadband, may offer lower introductory prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, including AT&T and T-Mobile, charge the same standard rates year-round.
For a more comprehensive list of promotions, our guide to the best internet deals has you covered.
Fastest Internet Plans in Waco
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Source: CNET analysis of supplier data.
What is 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 video conferencing, video streaming, or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here’s a look at the minimum recommended download speeds for various apps, according to the Federal Communications Commission. Note that these are guidelines only and Internet speed, service and performance vary depending on connection type, provider and address.
For more information, see our guide to how much internet speed you actually need.
- 0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the essentials: browsing the Internet, sending and receiving emails, streaming poor quality videos.
- 5 to 40 Mbps gives you higher quality video streaming and video conferencing.
- 40 to 100 Mbps should give a user enough bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern teleworking, video streaming, and online gaming.
- 100 to 500 Mbps allows one or two users to participate in high-bandwidth activities like video conferencing, streaming, and online gaming simultaneously.
- 500 to 1000 Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities simultaneously.
How CNET Chose the Best Internet Providers in Waco
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphones, laptops, routers or kitchen tools, it is not practical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what is our approach? We start by researching pricing, availability and speed information, drawing on our own historical ISP data, provider sites and map information. FCC.gov.
But it doesn’t stop there. We use the FCC website to verify our data and ensure we are accounting for all ISPs that provide service in an area. We also enter local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power to gauge how satisfied customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent change; All information provided is accurate at 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?
- Are customers getting decent value for what they pay?
- Are customers satisfied with their service?
While the answer to these questions is often complex and complicated, the providers who come closest to “yes” in all three areas are the ones we recommend. When it comes to selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fees, but we also consider things like price increases, equipment fees, and contracts . Choosing the fastest Internet service is relatively simple. We look at advertised upload and download speeds, as well as actual 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.
FAQs for Internet Service Providers in Waco
What is the best internet provider in Waco?
Spectrum is the best Internet provider in Waco, due to its wide coverage and simplicity of its services. Speeds range from 50 Mbps to 1,000 Mbps, and unlimited data is included in the monthly cost.
Is fiber optic internet available in Waco?
Yes. However, there are only two fiber optic providers in Waco – AT&T Fiber and Pavlov Media – and only half of the area’s homes will be able to benefit from fiber optic connectivity, according to the FCC.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Waco?
The cheapest internet provider in Waco is Astound Broadband. Its 300 Mbps plan costs just $20 per month.
Which internet provider in Waco has the fastest plan?
AT&T Fiber offers the fastest plan in Waco: 5,000 Mbps for $245. Astound Broadband takes second place with its 1.5 Gbps plan, costing $55 per month.
