Best Internet Providers in Joplin, Missouri
Our Experts
What is the best internet provider in Joplin?
The best internet service provider for most households in Joplin is Sparklight. This ISP offers some of the widest coverage across the city, making it available for most Joplin residents. Wisper Internet and Mediacom are also solid choices for home internet, depending on what’s available at your address.
We've also found the lowest prices and fastest speeds to help make your broadband shopping easier. The cheapest price for internet in the Joplin area is $35 per month, which both Mediacom and Sparklight offer. Mediacom's base plan only hits 100 megabits per second, while Sparklight's reaches 300Mbps. Sparklight and Mediacom also tie for the fastest plan, each offering a gigabit of speed for $65 and $55, respectively.
Our methodology
CNET considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service in Joplin 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 Joplin. 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 Joplin, Missouri
Sparklight
Best internet provider in Joplin, MO
Our take - Most Joplin households are served by this ISP thanks to its wide coverage map. Plus, Sparklight offers multiple bundling packages to save on your internet and television bill.
Mediacom
Fastest internet in Joplin, MO
Our take - Although Sparklight and Mediacom go head-to-head for the fastest plan in Joplin, Mediacom takes the gold. Sparklight offers speeds up to 940Mbps, whereas Mediacom offers 1,000Mbps for $10 cheaper.
Wisper Internet
Best fixed wireless internet in Joplin, MO
Our take - While select Missouri cities are eligible for this provider’s fiber service, Joplin can only access Wisper’s fixed wireless network.
Joplin internet providers compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
AT&T Home Internet Read full review | DSL | $55 | 20-100Mbps | None | 1.5TB on some plans | None | 7.4 |
|
Mediacom Read full review | Cable | $35-$70 | 100-1,000Mbps | $14 modem | 350-3,000GB | None | 6.4 |
|
Rise Broadband Read full review | Fixed wireless | $45-$55 | 25-50Mbps downloads, 4-5 Mbps uploads | $10 modem; $5-$15 router (optional) | None | Required for some plans | 6.2 |
|
Sparklight Read full review | Cable | $35-$110 | 100-940Mbps | $13 (optional) | 5TB soft cap | None | 6.9 |
|
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | Fixed wireless | $50 ($30 for eligible Go5G Plus and Magenta Max mobile customers) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Total Highspeed | Fixed wireless | $55-$225 | 2-10Mbps | $7.50 | None | Required for some plans | N/A |
| Wifinity | Fixed wireless | $40-$100 | 1-25Mbps | $7 (optional) | None | None | N/A |
| Wisper Internet | Fixed wireless | $75-$145 | 25Mbps-400Mbps download | None | None | None | N/A |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Other available internet providers in Joplin
- AT&T Home Internet: WhileAT&T offers some of the best fiber plans in the country, Joplin can only access the provider's DSL network. Speeds can reach as high as 100Mbps, but some addresses we checked got only as high as 1.5Mbps. Its flat-rate pricing of $55 per month makes it an enticing choice if you can get speeds closer to that 100Mbps mark.
- Rise Broadband: Best for rural and underpopulated areas, Rise Broadband is a great alternative for home internet when other ISPs aren't available. Download speeds only go up to 50Mbps, and you'll see a stiff price increase after the first year.
- Satellite internet: No matter where you are in the country, satellite internet will always be an option, but it's probably not the best one. With high prices, two-year contract commitments and slow speeds, providers like HughesNet and Viasat likely won't be your first choice for broadband. Starlink is more appealing due to unlimited data and no contracts, but a steep upfront cost of nearly $600 might make you pause.
- T-Mobile Home Internet: 77% of Joplin addresses will be able to access T-Mobile Home Internet. So why didn't it make the cut? Although T-Mobile Home Internet costs only $50 per month (or $30 if you're an eligible mobile user), it only offers up to 245Mbps compared to Wisper's 400Mbps. Consider it a top pick for fixed wireless internet if Wisper isn't available.
- Total Highspeed Internet: This local ISP offers multiple plans, ranging from $55 to $225 or higher. Speeds only reach 10Mbps, so you'll get faster service for a lower cost if you choose a different provider.
- US Cellular: Although prices and service details aren't listed on its website, US Cellular is another provider that offers internet and mobile bundling options. It's available to 89% of households in the area, and its website states that plans start at $50 per month.
- Wifinity: Offering six residential internet packages, Wifinity's pricing starts at $40 monthly for service. Wifinity is the city's slowest ISP, with speeds as low as 1Mbps, so it's only worth considering if your address isn't serviceable for any other providers.
Cheap internet options in Joplin
The average starting price for internet in Joplin is around $48, but there are a few options under that price if you’re looking to pay the least amount of money each month on home broadband. Sparklight Freedom Connect 300 and Mediacom Prime Internet 100 cost $35 monthly, but eligible mobile customers can access T-Mobile Home Internet for only $30 per month.
Most providers we've mentioned also participate in the FCC's Affordable Connectivity Program, which gives eligible low-income households a $30 monthly discount (or up to $75 for households on tribal lands) for high-speed internet. You can use the ACP toward any internet plan -- not just the cheapest ones -- from participating providers.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Joplin?
| Provider | Starting monthly price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Mediacom Prime Internet 100 Read full review | $35 | 100Mbps | $14 |
|
Sparklight Freedom Connect 300 Read full review | $35 | 300Mbps | $13 (optional) |
| Wifinity Essentials | $40 | 1Mbps | $7 (optional) |
|
Rise Broadband 50Mbps Read full review | $45 | 50Mbps | $10 modem; $5-$15 router (optional) |
|
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | $50 ($30 for eligible mobile customers) | 245Mbps | None |
|
AT&T Home Internet Read full review | $55 | 100Mbps | None |
| Wisper 25 | $75 | 25Mbps | None |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Joplin
The best internet deals and top promotions in Joplin depend on what discounts are available during that time period. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Joplin internet providers, such as Sparklight, Mediacom and Rise Broadband, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many providers, including Wisper Internet, Wifinity, AT&T and T-Mobile, run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promotions, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
Photo by Tomofbluesprings/Getty Images
How fast is Joplin broadband?
Among the 50 states, Missouri ranks 24th for the fastest broadband speeds, with a median download speed of 194Mbps. The city of Joplin beats the state’s median mark, with a download speed of just under 209Mbps. If you want the fastest speed possible in the area, check out Mediacom and Sparklight. Both ISPs offer roughly a gigabit of speed, costing between $55-$65 per month.
Fastest internet plans in Joplin
| Provider | Starting monthly price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mediacom 1 Gig Read full review | $55 | 1,000Mbps | 50Mbps | 3,000GB | Cable |
|
Sparklight Freedom Connect Gig Read full review | $65 | 940Mbps | 50Mbps | 5TB soft cap | 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 Federal Communications Commission. 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 and 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 Joplin
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 database of pricing, availability and speed information 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 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, 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.
What’s the final word on internet providers in Joplin?
While Joplin isn’t the fastest town in the US for broadband, residents can choose from several providers within city limits. Sparklight or Mediacom will be your best bet for home internet since they offer the cheapest and fastest plans in the area. Since Sparklight is more widely available in Joplin, so that should be your top contender for residential internet.
Internet providers in Joplin FAQs
Who is the cheapest internet provider in Joplin?
For $35 per month, Mediacom and Sparklight offer speeds up to 100Mbps and 300Mbps, respectively. T-Mobile Home Internet also offers one of the cheapest plans in the area if you’re an eligible mobile customer.
Which internet provider in Joplin offers the fastest plan?
Mediacom and Sparklight both offer gigabit plans, varying in price. A speed of 1,000Mbps is the fastest service you’ll find in Joplin.
Is fiber internet available in Joplin?
Unfortunately, fiber internet isn’t available in Joplin just yet. The fastest broadband type for Joplin residents will be a cable connection.
What internet provider has the best coverage in Joplin?
The best coverage in Joplin comes from Sparklight, which offers services to over 99% of the city.
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