Best Internet Providers in Salinas, California
Our Experts
What is the best internet provider in Salinas, California?
AT&T Fiber is the best internet service provider in Salinas. It’s the only fiber provider in the city, which means it’s the only one with symmetrical upload and download speeds -- ideal for online gamers and remote workers. The only downside is availability: FCC data shows that just 1 in 5 homes in the city have access to AT&T Fiber.
If you’re looking for the lowest prices, Xfinity is the cheapest internet provider in Salinas. Prices start at an unbelievably low $20 a month, but that’s slightly misleading -- prices increase significantly after a year or two on all plans. Wireless internet from T-Mobile and Verizon is also available in parts of Salinas, but they don’t offer the same top speeds as Xfinity or AT&T Fiber, and they’re more prone to network congestion.
Our methodology
CNET considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service in Salinas 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, while the text is specific to what's available in Salinas. 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.
To learn more about how we review internet providers, visit our full methodology page.
Best internet in Salinas, California
AT&T Fiber
Best internet provider in Salinas, CA
Our take - This is an easy choice if you live in the 19% of Salinas that can access AT&T Fiber. Fiber internet is the gold standard for internet connections, and AT&T Fiber was CNET’s pick for the best fiber internet provider nationwide. Unlike many other providers, prices don’t automatically increase after a promotional period ends, and AT&T Fiber doesn’t include fees for equipment or installation.
Xfinity
Cheapest internet in Salinas, CA
Our take - With coverage throughout most of Salinas, Xfinity is a good backup option if you can’t get AT&T Fiber. Prices start at just $20 a month, and while they increase on every plan after a year or two, Xfinity still has above-average customer satisfaction scores from both J.D. Power and the American Customer Satisfaction Index.
Verizon 5G Home Internet
Best fixed wireless internet in Salinas, CA
Our take - Another decent option in Salinas is wireless internet. T-Mobile and Verizon both have 5G coverage in the city, and their home internet plans provide plenty of speed for households that don’t do a lot of bandwidth-intensive activities like online gaming. You can also take advantage of significant discounts when you bundle them with an eligible cellphone plan.
Salinas internet providers compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
AT&T Fiber Read full review | Fiber | $55-$80 | 300-1,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
|
AT&T Internet Read full review | DSL | $55 | Up to 140Mbps | None | 1.5TB on some plans | None | 7.4 |
|
Starlink Read full review | Satellite | $120 | 25-220Mbps | $599 upfront | None | None | 6.5 |
|
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | Fixed wireless | $60 ($40-$50 with mobile plans) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
|
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers) | 100-300Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
|
Xfinity Read full review | Cable | $20-$70 | 150-1,200Mbps | $15 (included in most plans) | 1.2TB (unlimited on most plans) | Optional | 7 |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What's the cheapest internet plan in Salinas?
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Xfinity Connect Read full review | $20 | 150Mbps | $15 (optional) |
|
Xfinity Connect More Read full review | $35 | 300Mbps | None |
|
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | $50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 100Mbps | None |
|
Xfinity Fast Read full review | $50 | 500Mbps | None |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Salinas
The best internet deals and top promotions in Salinas depend on what discounts are available during a given time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Salinas internet providers, such as Xfinity and Verizon 5G Home Internet, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, however, including AT&T Fiber, 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 Salinas
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Xfinity Gigabit Extra Read full review | $65 | 1,200Mbps | 35Mbps | None | Cable |
|
AT&T Internet 1000 Read full review | $80 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
Xfinity Gigabit Read full review | $70 | 1,000Mbps | 20Mbps | None | Cable |
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, streaming low-quality video.
- 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
- 40 to 100Mbps should give one person sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
- 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two people to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming.
- 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more people to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Salinas
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information, drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
But 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 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?
- Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
- Are customers happy with their service?
While the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, 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, though 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.
Internet providers in Salinas FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Salinas?
AT&T Fiber is the best internet service provider in Salinas, offering symmetrical upload and download speeds, free equipment and unlimited data.
Is fiber internet available in Salinas?
Yes, fiber internet is available to 19% of Salinas households, according to FCC data. AT&T Fiber is the only fiber provider in the city.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Salinas?
Xfinity is the cheapest internet provider in Salinas, offering plans starting at just $20 monthly.
Which internet provider in Salinas offers the fastest plan?
Xfinity offers the fastest internet plan in Salinas, with download speeds up to 1,200Mbps.
Home Internet Guides
- Sometimes a provider is available in your Zip code, but not at your exact address
- See what exact plans are available at your home
