Best Internet Providers in Georgia
Our Experts
- 2013 Media Award Winner Issued by Press Club Long Island
Metaphorically speaking, Georgians, what internet service provider will allow you to use the web the way some of your state’s drivers use its roads (that is, very fast in the left lane)?
What’s the best internet overall in Georgia?
It’ll depend on where you live, but for those who have access to it, AT&T Fiber is CNET’s pick for the best internet service provider in Georgia. It will be your best bet due to its speed, reliability and pricing. AT&T Fiber is fairly limited within the state, and worse yet, there are only a handful of ISP options even within Georgia’s urban areas -- mainly Xfinity, Spectrum and Google Fiber. AT&T also offers copper-based internet in Georgia, but we don’t recommend it.
In rural areas, there are even fewer choices, mainly boiling down to Kinetic by Windstream, Mediacom and Sparklight, depending on the area. Statewide, 5G home internet from both T-Mobile and Verizon is available based on individual addresses, as well as satellite internet from Hughesnet, Viasat and SpaceX, whose Starlink satellite internet service is available in certain pockets of the Peach State.
Our methodology
CNET considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service in Georgia 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 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 Georgia. 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 options in Georgia
AT&T Fiber
Best internet provider in Georgia
Our take - For those Georgians who have the option, AT&T’s fiber internet comes highly recommended due to its speed, value and reliability. Too bad it’s only available to about a third of the state’s households.
Xfinity
Best cable internet provider in Georgia
Our take - Xfinity, Comcast's internet service, is available in many of the same places as AT&T's fiber service in Georgia, and our recommendation tips toward the latter. If AT&T Fiber is not an option for you, or you want a cheaper internet plan, Xfinity is a solid choice.
T-Mobile Home Internet
Broadest 5G coverage in Georgia
Our take - 5G home internet offerings from both T-Mobile and Verizon are available in Georgia, but where the former outshines its competitor is its reach: T-Mobile’s internet service is available to about 92% of the state’s households, according to the FCC, while Verizon’s reach is limited to 14%.
Kinetic by Windstream
Best fiber internet in Georgia
Our take - Kinetic by Windstream provides fiber, cable and DSL-based internet in many parts of Georgia that the larger players don’t service.
Google Fiber
Best gigabit internet in Atlanta
Our take - Google Fiber doesn't have a big footprint in Georgia, but if you're within its coverage area, you can get a lot of speed for a fair price.
Rural internet options in Georgia
| Provider | Connection type | Price range | Speed range | Data cap | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hargray | Copper/cable/fiber | $45-$115 | 200-1,000Mbps | No | Fort Valley, Warner Robbins, Hawkinsville, Reidsville, Pooler, Statesboro |
|
Hughesnet Read full review | Satellite | $50-$80 | 50-100Mbps | 100-200GB | Entire state |
| Kinetic by Windstream | Copper/cable/fiber | $40-$300 | 15-8,000Mbps | No | North, Central, South |
|
Mediacom Read full review | Cable/fixed wireless | $20-$130 | 100-1,000Mbps | 200-6,000GB | Atlanta area, southwest, Savannah area |
|
Starlink Read full review | Satellite | $120 | 40 to 220Mbps | 1TB | Various spots across state |
|
Viasat Read full review | Satellite | $100 | 25-150Mbps | 850GB | Entire state outside Atlanta area |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data
Internet access in rural Georgia isn't too hard to come by. Various ISPs, including Hargray, Kinetic by Windstream and Mediacom, provide wired connections in various parts of the state. Still, it’s worthwhile to compare these providers to the 5G home internet options from T-Mobile and Verizon, which have availability throughout Georgia. If your options are still severely limited, there are three choices for satellite internet, although Viasat and Starlink have limitations within the state.
Internet breakdown by city in Georgia
It’s hard to cover the broadband options of an entire state and give individual cities the attention they deserve. That’s why we also compile lists of the best internet providers in cities across the US, including those in Georgia. We tackle details such as internet connection types, maximum speeds and cheapest providers. Check back later if you don’t find the location you’re looking for below. We’re working to add more cities every week.
- Best internet providers in Albany
- Best internet providers in Atlanta
- Best internet providers in Douglasville
- Best internet providers in Gainesville
- Best internet providers in Lawrenceville
- Best internet providers in Macon
- Best internet providers in Marietta
- Best internet providers in Roswell
- Best internet providers in Savannah
- Best internet providers in Stone Mountain
- Best internet providers in Valdosta
- Best internet providers in Warner Robins
Georgia internet details at a glance
No surprise, but Georgia’s cities fare much better in terms of ISP choices than the rest of the state. Still, only 36% of Georgians have access to fiber-based internet. Everyone in the Peach State can get online at decent speeds, even if it’s through a rural or satellite carrier.
Likely due to the availability of fiber internet from AT&T, Google and Kinetic by Windstream, median download speeds in Georgia sit at about 187Mbps, according to Ookla, positioning the state at 29th among the 50 states and Washington, DC, in terms of download speeds. Interestingly, Ookla doesn't hail one of the fiber providers as the fastest in Georgia. That distinction goes to Spectrum, with median download speeds of about 243Mbps. On the city side, in Ookla’s rankings of the 100 most populous US cities, Atlanta fared poorly, coming in at the bottom at 100th place, with median download speeds of about 94Mbps. Google Fiber is the fastest carrier there, with median speeds of approximately 300Mbps.
Internet pricing in Georgia
What you’ll pay for internet in Georgia will come down to where you live and what providers service your area, but a good expectation for the monthly cost of connecting online in the Peach State is about $40. The cheapest plans available are Xfinity’s 75Mbps plan for $30 per month, the 200Mbps plan for $35 a month, and Mediacom’s 100Mbps plan for the starting price of $20 monthly.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Georgia
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it's impractical to personally test every internet service provider in a given city. So what's our approach? For starters, we tap into a proprietary pricing, availability and speed database that draws from our own historical ISP data, partner data and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
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 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, although 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.
The future of broadband in Georgia
Georgia is set to receive $1.3 billion in federal funds from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program, the Georgia Recorderreports. BEAD aims to “build thousands of miles of fiber-optic cables and provide a $30 monthly discount on internet bills for economically disadvantaged families.” This is the latest funding the state received to expand internet access. Earlier this year, Governor Brian Kemp announced $234 million in funding to improve connectivity for 28 Georgia counties. Smaller projects are already taking shape. Conexon Connect, an ISP formed by the rural fiber-optic network design and construction management company, announced plans to expand fiber access in Grady County using federal funds. Windstream has also announced plans to expand access in Georgia's southern and northern parts.
Internet providers in Georgia FAQs
Does Georgia have good internet?
It’ll depend on where you live, but most Georgians have fair to good internet access, with about 89% of households able to connect with speeds of at least 100Mbps, according to the FCC. Still, Georgia sits 31st out of the 50 states and the District of Columbia regarding median download speeds. At the same time, Atlanta placed a pitiful 99th place among the 100 most populous cities for median broadband speeds. Options are limited outside of Georgia’s big cities, but 5G home internet and satellite internet are options for those lacking access to wired connections.
Is there fiber internet in Georgia?
Yes, but only 36% of Georgia households have access to this option. As you might expect, fiber is more prevalent in the Peach State’s cities, primarily Atlanta, which can get online through AT&T Fiber and Google Fiber. Even folks in more rural parts of the state can access fiber internet, thanks to Kinetic by Windstream.
Is AT&T or Xfinity better for connecting to the internet in Georgia?
Aside from satellite internet or T-Mobile's 5G home internet service (which is not available to every address), the most prevalent ISPs in Georgia are AT&T and Xfinity. If you have a choice between these two large players, which should you choose? If AT&T Fiber is available, that's the clear winner. If it isn't, we recommend you read CNET's breakdown of AT&T vs. Xfinity to get the lowdown on some nuances between the two.
Home Internet Guides
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