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Best Internet Providers in Franklin, North Carolina

Optimum Best internet provider in Franklin, NC
Speeds from 300 - 2,000 Mbps
Prices from $40 - $120 per Month
... Or call to learn more:
Frontier Lowest fees for internet in Franklin, NC
Speeds from Varies
Prices from $50 per Month
... Or call to learn more:
Viasat Best satellite internet in Franklin, NC
Speeds from 12 - 150 Mbps
Prices from $70 - $300 per Month
... Or call to learn more:

Article updated on June 26, 2023 at 4:43 AM PDT

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Written by 
Lara Vukelich
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Lara Vukelich
Lara Vukelich is a freelance writer in San Diego, California. She writes creative content and SEO-driven copy that can be found everywhere from Huffington Post and Quiet Revolution to Expedia, Travelocity, MyMove and more. She has a master's degree in mass communication and media studies.
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We have North Carolina to thank for lots of things, not the least of which is the Krispy Kreme donut. There are also a lot of outdoor points of interest. And while you're out camping in the Outer Banks or hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains, you might want to connect to the internet for checking emails or social media.

North Carolina fares well overall when it comes to connectivity. According to the latest Ookla data, the Tarheel State ranks 10th among all US states and the District of Columbia for top internet speeds, with average download speeds of around 208 megabits per second. The high speed average is partly thanks to the Google Fiber internet service available in Charlotte and the Triangle. Unfortunately, it isn't available in Franklin. 

Though Franklin doesn't yet have fiber internet, it does have some pretty fast internet speeds from companies like Frontier and Optimum. You'll be able to find adequate speeds for streaming, gaming and working from home. The best internet service providers in Franklin may even throw in free equipment for new customers. 

Best internet providers in the Gem Capital of the World 

We've narrowed the top Franklin internet providers by internet speed, availability, quality of service and other important factors.

Note: The prices, speeds and features detailed in the article text may differ from those listed in the product detail cards, which represent providers’ national offerings. Your particular internet service options -- including prices and speeds -- depend on your address and may differ from those detailed here.

3 Internet providers
SORT BY
Product image
Connection
Cable, fiber
Speed range
300 - 2,000 Mbps
Price range
$40 - $120 per month

Optimum

Best internet provider in Franklin, NC

Our take - Optimum is our top-rated ISP in Franklin because it offers solid speeds at a reasonable price. The company has fiber internet available in other cities, but Franklin is served by Optimum's cable network.

... Or call to learn more:
Check with Optimum
Connection
Cable, fiber
Speed range
300 - 2,000 Mbps
Price range
$40 - $120 per month
Show more details
Product image
Connection
DSL
Speed range
Varies
Price range
$50 per month

Frontier

Lowest fees for internet in Franklin, NC

Our take - Frontier internet comes with a free Amazon Eero Wi-Fi router. Plus, the company offers a two-year price commitment without requiring you to enter into a contract, so you'll enjoy a $50 plan for two years with the option to leave whenever you want.

... Or call to learn more:
Check with Frontier
Connection
DSL
Speed range
Varies
Price range
$50 per month
Show more details
Product image
Connection
Satellite
Speed range
12 - 150 Mbps
Price range
$70 - $300 per month

Viasat

Best satellite internet in Franklin, NC

Our take - There are two main satellite providers in Franklin, Viasat and HughesNet, and Viasat is likely to offer faster download speeds in the area. 

... Or call to learn more:
Check with Viasat
Connection
Satellite
Speed range
12 - 150 Mbps
Price range
$70 - $300 per month
Show more details

All available Franklin residential internet providers

If you don't find our top three internet service providers in Franklin to be a good fit, there are other options. Here's a quick comparison of all top providers that may be available in the area.

Top Franklin internet providers

Provider Internet technologyMonthly price rangeSpeed rangeMonthly equipment costsData capContractCNET review score
Optimum Cable$40-$80300-940MbpsNoneNoneNone6.2
Frontier
Read full review
DSL$50 10Mbps+ (speeds vary)NoneNoneNone6.3
Viasat  Satellite$70-$30012-150Mbps$15 None24 months6.1
HughesNet
Read full review
Satellite$50-$15025Mbps$15 None24 months5.7
T-Mobile Home Internet
Read full review
Fixed wireless$50 72-245MbpsNoneNoneNone7.4
Show more (1 item)

A closer look at other Franklin ISPs

T-Mobile Home Internet: T-Mobile internet is a great low-cost internet option in Franklin with its sole plan starting at $50 per month, or $30 if you have a Go5G Plus or Magenta Max line and autopay. You can even try it out for 15 days and get your money back if it's not a good fit. Speeds range from around 33Mbps to just over 180 Mbps, but this can accommodate most people who are using the internet for searching and the occasional streaming. 

HughesNet: HughesNet has satellite internet in Franklin with plans that start at $50. Download speeds are just 25 Mbps, even at the highest price point. 

The sun rises over the Blue Ridge mountains in Franklin, NC.
Milepost430Media/Getty Images

Franklin broadband at a glance

Franklin doesn't have fiber internet as of yet, but some of the internet service providers in the area do offer fiber elsewhere. That opens up the possibility that fiber could come to Franklin eventually. As such, cable internet from Optimum will be your best bet for fast speeds in Franklin while Frontier, T-Mobile 5G Home Internet and satellite service will be your main options in surrounding rural areas.

Franklin internet pricing

Most internet plans in Franklin start at about $50 per month. If you want to increase your speed or you're in a rural area, you may need to increase your budget to get the bandwidth you require. 

Cheap internet options in the Franklin metro area

Optimum has the most affordable internet plan in Franklin, $40 per month. If you're already a T-Mobile customer, you should also check out their bundle that lowers their internet price to just $30. If you qualify for a subsidy through the federal Affordable Connectivity Program you may be able to lower your bill with any plan.

Cheapest internet plans in Franklin

Plan Starting priceMax download speedMonthly equipment feeContract
Optimum 300 $40 300MbpsNoneNone
T-Mobile Home Internet
Read full review
$50 245MbpsNoneNone
HughesNet Gen5 30GB
Read full review
$50 25Mbps$15 None
Frontier Internet
Read full review
$55 VariesNoneNone
Viasat Unlimited Bronze 12
Read full review
$70 12Mbps$15 None
Show more (1 item)

Fastest internet providers in Franklin

There aren't a lot of lightning-fast internet speed plans in Franklin, but you can find at least one plan with nearly 1,000Mbps. Fast speeds are most necessary for homes with multiple connected devices and several users all online at the same time. If you're just using your internet to do Google searches, post to Instagram and watch TV in bed (but not all at the same time), the more common 100Mbps download speed in Franklin will be ample. 

Optimum is the only Franklin internet provider with plans above 300Mbps, though T-Mobile's 5G Home Internet does have the potential for speeds up to 245Mbps. Keep your eyes peeled for news of any fiber construction or the expansion of 5G home internet.

Fastest internet plans in Franklin

Plan Max download speedMax upload speedStarting priceData capContract
Optimum Gig 940Mbps35Mbps$80 NoneNone
Optimum 500Mbps 500Mbps20Mbps$60 NoneNone
Optimum 300Mbps 300Mbps20Mbps$40 NoneNone

What's the final word on internet providers in Franklin?

The fastest option in Franklin is the Optimum Gig plan. If you want to get the most bang for your buck, the Frontier plan with a free router may be the ticket to streaming on a budget – but make sure to determine what type of speed is available at your address, since it varies throughout the area.

How CNET chose the best internet providers in Franklin

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’re considering every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. To evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP's service, we look at sources including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power. 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. 

To explore our process in more depth, visit our How We Test ISPs page.

Franklin internet FAQs

Which is the best internet service provider in Franklin?

Optimum offers the fastest service, at 1 gig, without a hefty price tag. The company's plans range in price from $40 to $80.

Show more

Is fiber internet available in Franklin?

No. As of early 2023, Franklin doesn't have fiber internet service.

Show more

Who is the cheapest internet provider in Franklin?

Verizon LTE Home Internet and T-Mobile Home Internet offer the cheapest internet plans in Franklin, for $25 and $30 per month, respectively, when you bundle with select mobile plans. Otherwise, Optimum's 300Mbps plan at $40 monthly will be your cheapest option. 

Show more
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Prefer to speak with an expert live? Call (833) 875-4492 for availability in your area.
Prefer to speak with an expert live? Call (833) 875-4492 for availability in your area.
Enter your address to view what's available near you
Why do we ask for your address?
We ask for your address to help pinpoint which providers and plans are available in your area.
Prefer to speak with an expert live? Call (833) 875-4492 for availability in your area.