Internet providers in Raleigh, North Carolina

Where do you need service?

6 providers
  • Spectrum Internet

    Spectrum
    Plans starting at
    $30

    /mo.*

    for 12 mos.
    Speeds up to
    2000 mbps
    Connection type
    Cable
    Customer rating
    Available in Raleigh
    98%

    *2 Gbps speed available in select markets

  • AT&T Internet

    AT&T
    Plans starting at
    $45

    /mo.*

    for 12 mos.
    Speeds up to
    5000 mbps
    Connection type
    Fiber
    Customer rating
    Available in Raleigh
    76%

    *Price after $10/mo AutoPay & Paperless bill discount. (Starts w/in 2 bills). Monthly State Cost Recovery Charge applies in NV, OH, TX. One time install fee may apply. Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds may vary. For more info, go to www.att.com/speed101.

  • Starlink Internet

    Starlink
    Plans starting at
    $50

    /mo.*

    for 12 mos.
    Speeds up to
    400 mbps
    Connection type
    Satellite
    Customer rating
    Available in Raleigh
    100%

    *Users on Residential 100 Mbps and Residential 200 Mbps will be limited to download speeds of 100 Mbps and 200 Mbps respectively. Residential 100 Mbps and Residential 200 Mbps plans are only available in select areas. Residential Max users will experience maximum available speeds and top Residential network priority.

  • T-Mobile Internet

    T-Mobile
    Plans starting at
    $50

    /mo.

    for 12 mos.
    Speeds up to
    498 mbps
    Connection type
    Wireless
    Customer rating
    Available in Raleigh
    93%
  • Spectrum Internet

    Spectrum
    Plans starting at
    $30

    /mo.*

    for 12 mos.
    Speeds up to
    2000 mbps
    Connection type
    Cable
    Customer rating
    Available in Raleigh
    98%

    *2 Gbps speed available in select markets

  • Brightspeed Internet

    Brightspeed
    Plans starting at
    $65

    /mo.*

    for 12 mos.
    Speeds up to
    100 mbps
    Connection type
    Copper
    Customer rating
    Available in Raleigh
    2%

    *Limited time offer. Limited availability/areas. Taxes and fees extra. Autopay required. Pricing Subject to change.

  • Verizon 5G Internet

    Verizon 5G
    Plans starting at
    $50

    /mo.*

    for 12 mos.
    Speeds up to
    1000 mbps
    Connection type
    Wireless
    Customer rating
    Available in Raleigh
    76%

    *with a mobile unlimited plan that includes 5G Ultra Wideband. With Auto Pay + Paperless billing.

1-6 of 6 providers shown

Key takeaways

  • Starlink is the most widely available satellite internet provider in Raleigh, NC, covering 100% of the city
  • Cable internet from Spectrum is accessible to 98% of homes
  • Spectrum is the cheapest internet provider in Raleigh, NC
  • Google Fiber is the fastest internet provider in Raleigh, NC

Internet in Raleigh

Raleigh has nearly half a million residents, and nearly all can access internet speeds up to 250 Mbps. About half can get speeds up to 1,000 Mbps. The capital of North Carolina is home to North Carolina State University and a dozen other colleges and universities. A mix of technology and old-fashioned Southern charm, the area attracts almost 20 million people annually who enjoy the greenways, trails, barbecue restaurants and food halls. Households within Raleigh are, on average, getting download speeds of 214 Mbps and upload speeds of 95 Mbps. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) assigns internet requirements into light, moderate and high-use categories.

Our online speed guide can help you decide which internet speed is best for your household.

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Best internet provider in Raleigh, NC

Allconnect's choice for the best internet provider in Raleigh is Verizon 5G Home, with their wireless plans covering 76% of the city. Verizon 5G Home internet plans start at $50.00/mo. with speeds up to 1,000 Mbps.

To make that choice, we look at the affordability, performance, value and customer satisfaction of internet service providers (ISPs). View our full methodology here.

Best Internet Choice

Plans starting at

$50

00/mo.*

Speeds up to

1,000

Mbps

Best Internet Choice

Cheap internet in Raleigh

Most internet service providers offer cheap internet plans between $20–$30, for the lowest tier of speed, usually up to 75–100 Mbps. These plans are fast enough for light use in a small household.

Spectrum has the cheapest internet plans in Raleigh, starting at 100 Mbps for $30.00/mo.

AT&T also has an affordable internet plan offering 100 Mbps for $45.00/mo.

Keep in mind that for just $5 or $10 extra a month, the second-to-cheapest plan offered by an ISP is sometimes the better deal, often providing more speed for your dollar.

Cheapest plans

Cheapest Option

Plans starting at

$30.00 /mo.

Speeds up to

100 Mbps

Cheapest Option

Overview

Spectrum has the cheapest internet plans in Raleigh, starting at 100 Mbps for $30.00/mo.

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Low equipment fees – Spectrum charges $5/mo. for router rental and provides a free modem. Other providers usually charge $10-15/mo. for the equipment
  • No data caps – Spectrum does not have data caps, so you can binge-watch any streaming show you’d like
  • No contracts – Spectrum doesn’t require contracts so you aren’t tied to a plan that may no longer work for you

Cons

  • Slower upload speeds – Spectrum’s upload speeds of 10 to 35 Mbps are lower when compared to other providers
Low Price

Plans starting at

$45.00 /mo.

Speeds up to

100 Mbps

Low Price

Overview

AT&T also has an affordable internet plan offering 100 Mbps for $45.00/mo.

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • No equipment fees – You won’t have to worry about extra monthly equipment fees with AT&T
  • No contracts – AT&T has no contracts, so you won’t be hit with early termination fees if you decide to cancel your service
  • Unlimited data – AT&T lets you use as much data as you want, so there are no overage charges

Cons

  • DSL plans have rate hikes – If you’re a DSL customer, your monthly internet price will go up in year two
  • No bundle discounts – You can’t get any discounts if you bundle AT&T services

Fastest internet in Raleigh

The speed you need depends on what you use the internet for. If high-speed internet is necessary for your household to game, work and learn, you'll be happy to know that Google Fiber and AT&T offer the fastest internet in Raleigh.

Google Fiber has fiber internet speeds starting at $150.00/mo. for up to 8,000 Mbps while AT&T offers plans up to 5,000 Mbps for their fiber internet.

Fastest plans

Fastest Option

Plans starting at

$150.00 /mo.

Speeds up to

8,000 Mbps

Fastest Option

Overview

Google Fiber provides the fastest internet in Raleigh, NC, offering speeds up to 8,000 Mbps and covering 60% of the city.

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Reliably fast speeds: Google Fiber has symmetrical speeds, meaning you get up to 1,000 Mbps in download and upload speeds
  • Affordable prices: At $70 to $100/mo., Google Fiber’s two plans are competitively priced
  • Freedom to roam the internet: Google Fiber doesn’t have contracts or data caps

Cons

  • Limited availability: Google Fiber is available in parts of 16 states
  • Limited options: Just two plans to choose from and both are very fast and could be too much for a small household
  • Expensive set-up cost: The one-time $300 fee is a bit steep
High Speed

Plans starting at

$245.00 /mo.

Speeds up to

5,000 Mbps

High Speed

Overview

AT&T also delivers fast speeds of up to 5,000 Mbps in 76% of the area.

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • No equipment fees – You won’t have to worry about extra monthly equipment fees with AT&T
  • No contracts – AT&T has no contracts, so you won’t be hit with early termination fees if you decide to cancel your service
  • Unlimited data – AT&T lets you use as much data as you want, so there are no overage charges

Cons

  • DSL plans have rate hikes – If you’re a DSL customer, your monthly internet price will go up in year two
  • No bundle discounts – You can’t get any discounts if you bundle AT&T services

Provider coverage map for Raleigh

Looking for internet service in Raleigh? Check out this map to see the availability of internet providers in your area.

is available at % of homes in Raleigh, NC.

View plans

Most available internet providers in Raleigh

The most available ISPs in Raleigh is Starlink, which serves 100% of the area, with plans starting at $50.00/mo.

Spectrum covers 98% of Raleigh, with plans beginning at $30.00/mo.

Satellite and 5G home internet are available in nearly 99% of the country, so if cable or fiber internet isn't available at your Raleigh address, you probably can connect to another internet type.

Most available plans

Most Available Option

Plans starting at

$50.00 /mo.

Speeds up to

100 Mbps

Most Available Option

Overview

Starlink is the most available satellite provider, covering 100% of the city.

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • No required contract
  • Easy install
  • Near-global coverage
  • Resilient to weather
  • >99.9% uptime
  • Great for rural locations
  • Unlimited Data
  • 30-Day Trial

Cons

  • Potential slower speeds during peak hours
  • Obstruction sensitivity
  • Requires recalibration when moving router
High Availability

Plans starting at

$30.00 /mo.

Speeds up to

100 Mbps

High Availability

Overview

Cable internet from Spectrum is accessible to 98% of homes.

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Low equipment fees – Spectrum charges $5/mo. for router rental and provides a free modem. Other providers usually charge $10-15/mo. for the equipment
  • No data caps – Spectrum does not have data caps, so you can binge-watch any streaming show you’d like
  • No contracts – Spectrum doesn’t require contracts so you aren’t tied to a plan that may no longer work for you

Cons

  • Slower upload speeds – Spectrum’s upload speeds of 10 to 35 Mbps are lower when compared to other providers

Raleigh internet FAQs

What's the cheapest internet provider in Raleigh?

Spectrum offers the cheapest internet plan in Raleigh with plans starting at $30.00/mo. for 100 Mbps. AT&T also offers cheap plans starting at $45.00/mo. for 100 Mbps.

At $0.02 per Mbps the 8 Gig plan from Google Fiber gives you the most value for your dollar.

The fastest internet provider in Raleigh is Google Fiber. It has Fiber internet plans with speeds up to 8,000 Mbps. AT&T also has fast Fiber plans up to 5,000 Mbps.

In most cases, your initial cost of buying a modem and router pays for itself within a year. Rental equipment fees from internet providers are usually around $10/mo. and you can buy combination modem/routers (gateways) for under $100. If you want to avoid a monthly fee from your ISP, buying your router is the way to go. If you need support for your equipment, rent it from your ISP and you’ll have access to technical support. See our full guide on whether you should rent or buy internet equipment.

Once you have compared and chosen an internet provider, you often have the choice to install your internet yourself or have the ISP send a tech to your address. If you install it yourself, the ISP will provide you with a step-by-step guide to connect their equipment to yours and set up your Wi-Fi access. If you choose professional installation, all you’ll have to do is schedule an appointment with your ISP and they’ll take care of everything.

When choosing an internet service provider, it’s important to consider technology types. Fiber internet is the fastest and most reliable internet technology type since it provides symmetrical download and upload speeds, but it’s not the most widely available type of internet. We recommend fiber if it’s available at your address, but if not, you have other options.

Cable internet is a common internet type and the best alternative to fiber internet. It offers fast, reliable speeds and is more widely available than fiber. Satellite internet is a great choice if you live in a rural area and other internet technologies aren’t an option.

5G internet, or fixed wireless internet, is another internet technology type to consider. 5G home internet isn’t always as fast as cable or fiber plans, but some providers like T-Mobile are expanding rapidly to offer 5G home internet service to most of the country and can reach speeds up to 245 Mbps.