Best Internet Providers in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Our Experts
What is the best internet provider in Ann Arbor, Michigan?
AT&T Fiber is the best internet service provider in Ann Arbor. It’s the only fiber provider in the area, which means it’s the only one that provides symmetrical upload and download speeds -- essential if you work remotely or game online. AT&T Fiber also has the highest customer satisfaction scores of any ISP in the country from J.D. Power and the American Customer Satisfaction Index.
If you want to pay the lowest prices possible, Xfinity is the cheapest internet provider in Ann Arbor and is available almost everywhere in the city. But that’s only true for the first year or two -- after that, Xfinity’s prices increase significantly.
Verizon 5G Home Internet is the best fixed wireless internet in Ann Arbor. Its plans top out at 300Mbps in the area, but that’s plenty of speed for most homes. You can also save extra money by bundling with an eligible Verizon cellphone plan.
Our methodology
CNET considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service in Ann Arbor 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 Ann Arbor. 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 Ann Arbor, Michigan
AT&T Fiber
Best internet provider in Ann Arbor, MI
Our take - Fiber is the gold standard for home internet, and in Ann Arbor, AT&T Fiber is the only provider that uses a fiber connection. That means you’ll get upload speeds as fast as download, which is ideal if you do a lot of videoconferencing or online gaming. AT&T Fiber is also refreshingly free of the type of hidden fees and fine print you’ll get with most providers. There are no extra charges for equipment, and AT&T doesn’t automatically raise your rates after a year or two.
Xfinity
Cheapest internet in Ann Arbor, MI
Our take - If you’re looking to pay the lowest prices possible, Xfinity charges just $20 per month for its 75Mbps plan -- the cheapest internet plan of any nationwide provider. But there is a catch. All of Xfinity’s plans increase prices significantly after one or two years. For instance, the $20 monthly plan goes up to $56 in the second year. Xfinity also comes with a 1.2TB data cap, and you’ll have to commit to a contract to get the best price on most plans.
Verizon 5G Home Internet
Best fixed wireless internet in Ann Arbor, MI
Our take - If you can’t get AT&T Fiber and don’t want to deal with Xfinity’s price increases, Verizon 5G Home Internet is a great alternative, especially for smaller homes. The wireless provider offers speeds up to 300Mbps in Ann Arbor, with no data caps or equipment fees. You can also save $15 to $25 monthly when you bundle a mobile unlimited plan with 5G Ultra Wideband.
Ann Arbor 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-$250 | 300-5,000Mbps | 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 |
| Mercury Broadband | Fixed wireless | $50-$99 | 30-210Mbps | None | None | Some plans | N/A |
|
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-$85 | 75-1,200Mbps | $15 (included in most plans) | 1.2TB | Optional | 7 |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Ann Arbor?
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Xfinity Connect Read full review | $20 | 75Mbps | $15 (optional) |
|
Xfinity Connect More Read full review | $35 | 200Mbps | None |
| Mercury Broadband | $50 | 33Mbps | None |
|
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | $50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 100Mbps | None |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Ann Arbor
The best internet deals and top promotions in Ann Arbor depend on what discounts are available during that time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Ann Arbor 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 Ann Arbor
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
AT&T Internet 5000 Read full review | $225 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
AT&T Internet 2000 Read full review | $125 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
Xfinity Gigabit Extra Read full review | $85 | 1,200Mbps | 35Mbps | 1.2TB | Cable |
|
AT&T Internet 1000 Read full review | $80 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
Xfinity Gigabit Read full review | $60 | 1,000Mbps | 20Mbps | 1.2TB | 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 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 Ann Arbor
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 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 answers to those questions are 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 Ann Arbor FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Ann Arbor?
AT&T Fiber is the best internet service provider in Ann Arbor. It’s the only fiber internet provider in the city, so you’ll get the same upload and download speeds. AT&T Fiber doesn’t automatically increase prices after a year or two, and there are no equipment fees or data caps.
Is fiber internet available in Ann Arbor?
Yes, fiber internet is available to 26% of Ann Arbor residents, according to FCC data. AT&T Fiber is the only fiber internet provider in the city.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Ann Arbor?
Xfinity is the cheapest internet provider in Ann Arbor, with prices starting at $20 per month for 75Mbps download speeds. That noted, the price increases to $56 monthly after one year.
Which internet provider in Ann Arbor offers the fastest plan?
AT&T Fiber offers the fastest internet plan in Ann Arbor, with download and upload speeds up to 5,000Mbps.
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