Best Internet Providers in Chicago, Illinois
Our Experts
- 10 years product testing experience with the CNET Home team
What is the best internet provider in Chicago?
AT&T Fiber is the best internet service provider for most households in Chicago due to its symmetrical speeds and simple pricing. However, AT&T Fiber won't be available at all Chicago addresses, so we recommend checking out Rise Broadband, Verizon 5G Home Internet and Xfinity for residential broadband.
We've also found the lowest prices and the fastest speeds for Chicagoans. Xfinity and Astound Broadband tie for the cheapest service in the Windy City, both offering base plans for $20. However, Astound is a better deal, offering download speeds of up to 300 megabits per second versus Xfinity's 150Mbps.
For those with a need for speed, the fastest available internet speed you'll find in the area is offered by AT&T Fiber. For $225 per month, customers can get up to 5,000Mbps of download speed with no data caps or required contracts.
Our methodology
CNET considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service in Chicago 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. At the same time, the text is specific to what's available in Chicago. 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. Discounts and promotions might also be available for signing a term contract or bundling multiple services.
To learn more about how we review internet providers, visit our full methodology page.
Best internet in Chicago, Illinois
AT&T Fiber
Best internet provider in Chicago, IL
Our take - AT&T's fiber internet service is one of the best deals in home internet these days -- but the bad news is that most Chicago-area addresses will only be serviceable for one of AT&T's much slower DSL plans, which also come with data caps. With speeds no faster than 18Mbps in some neighborhoods, those DSL plans aren't worth your time if other alternatives are an option, but it's worth looking to see if AT&T's fiber offerings are available at your address.
Rise Broadband
Best rural internet provider in Chicago, IL
Our take - Rise Broadband might not be in the conversation if you live within city limits. Still, it presents much better options for suburban and rural areas outside the city than satellite internet service.
Verizon 5G Home Internet
Best fixed wireless internet in Chicago, IL
Our take - 5G home internet plans are pretty tempting, promising reasonably fast speeds, straightforward pricing, no data caps or contracts, and plenty of perks and discounts, especially if you're already paying the provider for phone service.
Xfinity
Broadest coverage in Chicago, IL
Our take - Comcast's Xfinity internet service is the nation's largest cable provider and offers services across much of Chicago and its surrounding suburbs.
Chicago internet providers compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Wans | Fixed wireless | $50-$100 | 3-15Mbps | $9 router (optional) | None | None | N/A |
|
Astound Broadband Read full review | Cable | $20-$55 | 300-1,500Mbps | None | None | None | 7 |
|
AT&T Home Internet Read full review | DSL hybrid | $55 | 10-100Mbps | None | 1.5TB | None | 7.4 |
|
AT&T Fiber Read full review | Fiber | $55-$225 | 300-5,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
|
Google Fiber Webpass Read full review | Fixed wireless | $63-$70 | 1,000Mbps | None | None | 1 year for cheaper cost | 7.5 |
|
Rise Broadband Read full review | Fixed wireless | $45-$55 | 25-50Mbp | $10 modem; $5-$15 router (optional) | None | None, but required for some promotions | 6.2 |
|
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | Fixed wireless | $60 ($40 for eligible Go5G Plus and Magenta Max mobile customers) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
|
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 with eligible Verizon 5G mobile plans) | 50-1,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
|
Xfinity Read full review | Cable | $20-$100 | 150-2,000Mbps | $15 (optional) | 1.2TB on some plans | 1-2 years on some plans | 7 |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Other available internet providers in Chicago
Air Wans: Air Wans is a folksy fixed wireless provider servicing the rural areas of Illinois and Indiana surrounding Chicago. Pricing ranges from $50 to $100 per month with no contracts, data caps, throttling, or price increases after the first year. The rub is that Air Wans speeds are some of the slowest you'll find, ranging from just 3 to 15Mbps with the downloads and uploads aggregated together.
Astound Broadband: Astound boasts strong pricing during the first two years of service. However, monthly rates on all four of the plans offered to Chicagoans can shoot up by well over $100 after the introductory period, and you can expect to pay additional fees on top of that, including an arbitrary monthly network access fee of $7 that isn't included in your base rate.
Google Fiber Webpass: Some buildings throughout the greater Chicago area are wired for Google Fiber Webpass, which uses a fixed wireless antenna to offer high-speed connections to the internet. Gigabit speeds are possible via Webpass, but actual speeds depend on the specific address in question. The service costs $63 per month for a yearly plan or $70 per month for a month-to-month plan with no commitment. You can search for serviceable buildings on Google's Webpass map.
Satellite internet: A satellite internet connection uses a receiver dish mounted outside your home to connect with satellites orbiting overhead to get you online. You'll find service available from Hughesnet, Viasat and perhaps Starlink. But in most cases, the prices are too high, the speeds too slow and the data caps too restrictive compared to other Chicago internet options. It's really only worth considering if you lack other alternatives, and for most of Chicago, that won't be the case.
T-Mobile Home Internet: Like Verizon, T-Mobile now offers cellular home internet service in hundreds of cities nationwide, including Chicago. You'll simply plug in a cellular modem that gets its signals not from wires in the wall, but over the 5G and LTE airwaves, like your phone. T-Mobile offers just one plan at $60 per month, and speeds will range from 72 to 245Mbps in most homes with a strong enough signal to sign up. There are no data caps or contracts to worry about, and your price won't arbitrarily rise after 12 months, either.
Cheap internet options in Chicago
You won't need to pay more than $20 per month if you're looking for the most affordable internet plan at your Chicago address. The Connect plan from Xfinity is a decent consolation available almost everywhere, with download speeds of 150Mbps and upload speeds of 10Mbps for $20 per month. But in the Chicago area overall, the Astound Broadband 300Mbps plan for $20 is a better value among cheaper plans.
What's the cheapest internet plan in Chicago?
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Astound Broadband 300 Read full review | $20 | 300Mbps | None |
|
Xfinity Connect Read full review | $20 | 150Mbps | $15 (optional) |
|
Astound Broadband 600 Read full review | $35 | 600Mbps | None |
|
Xfinity Connect More Read full review | $35 | 300Mbps | None |
|
Rise Broadband 50Mbps Read full review | $45 | 50Mbps | $5-$15 (optional) |
| Air Wans Basic | $50 | 3Mbps | $9 router (optional) |
|
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | $50 ($35 with eligible mobile plan) | 300Mbps | None |
|
AT&T Internet Read full review | $55 | 100Mbps | None |
|
AT&T Fiber 300 Read full review | $55 | 300Mbps | None |
|
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | $60 ($40 with eligible mobile plan) | 245Mbps | None |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Chicago
The best internet deals and top promotions in Chicago depend on what discounts are available during a given time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Chicago internet providers, such as Xfinity and Rise Broadband, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, however, including AT&T and Verizon, run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
How fast is Chicago broadband?
Ookla speed test data put the Windy City in the bottom 10 among the nation's top 100 most populous cities (at an inglorious 95th position). How slow? It chalks up a median download speed of approximately 135Mbps, over 100Mbps behind a top-five city like North Las Vegas. However, Chicagoans still have plenty of ways to get high-speed internet in their homes.
Your fastest option for getting online in Chicago is to go with a fiber provider, but service isn't available everywhere. AT&T is your best bet, with its fastest plan for Chicago ringing in with download and upload speeds of 5,000Mbps at a hefty flat monthly rate of $225. At almost all Chicago addresses, a cable plan with download speeds of up to 2,000Mbps and upload speeds of 200Mbps will be your fastest plan. It's fairly well-priced at $100 per month with no data cap or contract.
Fastest internet plans in Chicago
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
AT&T Fiber 5000 Read full review | $225 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
AT&T Fiber 2000 Read full review | $125 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
Xfinity Gigabit X2 Read full review | $100 | 2,000Mbps | 200Mbps | None | Cable |
|
Astound Broadband 1500 Read full review | $55 | 1,500Mbps | 50Mbps | None | Cable |
|
Xfinity Gigabit Extra Read full review | $85 | 1,200Mbps | 35Mbps | 1.2TB | Cable |
|
Astound Broadband 1000 Read full review | $45 | 1,000Mbps | 20Mbps | None | Cable |
|
AT&T Fiber 1000 Read full review | $80 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read full review | $70 ($45 with eligible mobile plan) | 1,000Mbps | 50Mbps | None | Fixed wireless |
|
Xfinity Gigabit Read full review | $80 | 1,000Mbps | 20Mbps | 1.2TB | Cable |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Internet providers in popular cities near Chicago
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See all results for internet providers in Illinois.
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 gaming.
- 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities all at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Chicago
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 FCC.gov.
But it doesn’t end there. We use 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 that 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 also 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.
What's the final word on internet providers in Chicago?
The Windy City has a lot of options when it comes to home internet, including both speedy and more affordable service. If you can get your hands on fiber connectivity, like AT&T Fiber, that will be your best choice. However, cable companies like Xfinity and Astound Broadband have wider coverage for Chicagoans, so you might have to go with those providers instead.
Internet providers in Chicago FAQs
How much is internet per month in Chicago?
Prices will vary depending on your provider and select plan, but most entry-level internet plans in Chicago range from $20 to $60 per month. Faster plans will cost more, with gigabit service from AT&T costing $80-$225 per month in Chicago. Some providers enforce a price increase after your first year -- Xfinity's fastest Chicago plan nets you download speeds of 2Gbps and costs $100 per month for the first year, then $120-$130 per month after that.
Can I get fiber internet in Chicago?
It depends on your address. AT&T offers fiber service in Chicago, but its footprint currently covers "hundreds of thousands" of residents in a city of 2.71 million. That means the odds are somewhat low that you'll find it available at your address. Smaller regional providers like Zentro Internet also offer fiber service at select addresses, but only to a scattering of buildings throughout the city.
Does Chicago have Google Fiber?
Chicago isn't a Google Fiber city, so you won't find fiber internet plans from Google in the area. However, the company offers its Google Fiber Webpass service in Chicago: It's a high-speed fixed wireless internet service available only in select buildings equipped with antennas capable of receiving the signal. Gigabit speeds are possible at some locations with Webpass, and the service costs $70 or $63 per month with a one-year contract. You can find serviceable addresses listed on the Google Webpass site.
What are the disadvantages of cable internet?
Though cable internet can offer fast, gigabit-level download speeds over the same wiring traditionally used to deliver television signals, it offers upload speeds that are much slower and typically limited to the double digits, at best. That can limit device performance whenever you send lots of data to the web (video calls and large uploads might be slower than you'd like). Cable is also slightly more susceptible to network slowdowns during peak usage than fiber connections.
Home Internet Guides
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- See what exact plans are available at your home
