Best Internet Providers in Lakeland, Florida
Our Experts
What is the best internet provider in Lakeland?
Spectrum is the best internet service provider for most households in Lakeland, Florida. With wide coverage, simple service details and reasonable prices -- at least for the first year, Spectrum is a great choice for home internet wherever you're located.
If Spectrum isn't an option at your address, CNET also recommends Rapid Systems and Frontier Fiber for broadband. Select households may also be serviceable for T-Mobile Home Internet, which costs $60 to $70 monthly for download speeds up to 245 megabits per second.
If you're hunting for cheap internet or the fastest speeds in Lakeland, we've also found those picks to help make your decision easier. Although Spectrum Internet offers the cheapest plan in the area ($30 per month for 100Mbps), Frontier Fiber's 500Mbps plan for $45 is more widely available. Frontier Fiber takes the gold with its 5-gigabit service for the speediest plan, costing $155 monthly. While $155 a month is not cheap, the cost per Mbps of its 5-gigabit plan is low at 3 cents per Mbps, providing great value.
Our methodology
CNET considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service in Lakeland 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 Lakeland. 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 Lakeland, Florida
Spectrum
Best internet provider in Lakeland, FL
Our take - Spectrum's wide availability in Lakeland beats out other providers; about 92% of Lakeland addresses are serviceable for Spectrum, according to Federal Communications Commission data. Ccoverage isn't the only factor that makes Spectrum a top pick. This cable ISP also offers gigabit speeds throughout the city.
Rapid Systems
Best fixed wireless in Lakeland, FL
Our take - If you live in rural Lakeland, Rapid Systems might be the best fit for you. Although this fixed wireless ISP is on the pricier side, Rapid Systems does offer the second-largest coverage in the area, meaning it's a solid alternative for residential internet.
Frontier Fiber
Fastest internet in Lakeland, FL
Our take - Frontier Fiber is Lakeland's largest fiber provider, offering the fastest internet in the area. While some customers may have to settle with Frontier's outdated DSL network, its fiber plans feature symmetrical speeds of up to 5 gigabits in select areas.
Lakeland internet providers compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Frontier Communications Read full review | DSL, Fiber | $45-$129 ($60-$140 after 12 months) | 500-5,000Mbps | None | None | None | 6.7 |
| Rapid Systems | Fixed wireless | $99-$110 | 25-100Mbps | $10 | None | None | N/A |
|
Spectrum Read full review | Cable | $30-$60 | 100-1,000Mbps | Free modem; $7 router (optional) | None | None | 7.2 |
|
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | Fixed wireless | $60-$70 ($40-$50 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 qualifying Verizon 5G mobile plans) | 50-300Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Other available internet providers in Lakeland
- CableNow: This is a locally based internet vendor that connects customers to different ISPs nearby, such as Spectrum, Verizon and Frontier. CableNow also offers direct services with security camera installations and phone services.
- EarthLink: What makes this internet provider different from other top ISPs is that it doesn't own or operate most of the networks it uses. It takes advantage of the copper and fiber networks of other providers. Customers can expect most plans to come with unlimited data and wide coverage throughout the city. Unlike other internet providers, EarthLink does not increase monthly rates after 12 months, but its initial rates tend to be a little higher.
- Satellite internet: With satellite connections like Hughesnet, Viasat and Starlink, coverage can be found almost everywhere. Typically, I would recommend satellite internet at the bottom of the list due to slower speeds and steep monthly costs. If broadband options are limited in your area, satellite might be the best bet. Starlink and Viasat customers don't have to worry about being tied down by a two-year contract, which is the case with Hughesnet. Starlink is the fastest of the three, but for standard service, you’re looking at $120 monthly and a sizable $599 charge upfront to lease equipment.
- Verizon 5G Home Internet: A 5G fixed wireless connection from Verizon might be the next best thing in the area if you want to avoid the slow speeds from satellite connections or the annual price hikes from fiber and cable providers. The caveat? Verizon 5G Home Internet is only available to approximately 25% of households in Lakeland, per the latest data from the FCC. It may not be the fastest internet connection in the city, but plans are straightforward: no data caps, contracts or equipment fees.
Cheap internet options in Lakeland
Most internet options in Lakeland start at around $45 a month for standard service. The cheapest internet plan is Spectrum's $30-a-month plan for 100Mbps. For more speed, you can bump that up for just $10 more for the 300Mbps plan. While these prices might seem promising, watch out for a price jump after the promo period ends. After 12 months, expect the rate of the 100Mbps plan to double to $85 a month. If available at your address, a fixed wireless connection might be a solid alternative. Verizon 5G Home Internet offers a $50-a-month plan for 100Mbps.
What's the cheapest internet plan in Lakeland?
| Provider | Starting monthly price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Spectrum Internet 100 Read full review | $30 | 100Mbps | Free modem; $7 router (optional) |
|
Spectrum Internet 300 Read full review | $40 | 300Mbps | Free modem; $7 router (optional) |
|
Frontier Fiber 500 Read full review | $45 ($60 after 12 months) | 500Mbps | None |
|
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | $50 ($35 with eligible mobile plan) | 100Mbps | 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 Lakeland
The best internet deals and top promotions in Lakeland depend on what discounts are available during that period. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Lakeland internet providers, such as Spectrum and Mediacom, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, such as Frontier 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.
Photo by Bo Shen/Getty Images
How fast is Lakeland broadband?
In the latest Ookla speed test data, Lakeland came in with a fixed median download speed of 320Mbps. That's much better than how Florida did overall as a state, at 273Mbps. Nearby city Tampa performed below Lakeland, coming in at just 246Mbps. Winter Haven tops out at 336Mbps.
Fastest internet plans in Lakeland
| Provider | Starting monthly price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Frontier Fiber 5 Gig Read full review | $130 ($140 after 12 months) | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
Frontier Fiber 2 Gig Read full review | $100 ($110 after 12 months) | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
Frontier Fiber 1 Gig Read full review | $65 ($80 after 12 months) | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
Spectrum Internet Gig Read full review | $60 | 1,000Mbps | 35Mbps | None | 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 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 Lakeland
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. 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.
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, 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 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 Lakeland?
Whether you're looking for the cheapest or fastest internet, it will all come down to what's available at your address. Luckily, Lakeland is home to different types of broadband options, from cable widely being serviceable throughout the city to fiber-optic connections that could get you blazing fast multi-gigabit speeds. Fixed wireless connections could also be a safe bet for your household if you want reasonable prices and speeds.
Internet providers in Lakeland FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Lakeland?
Spectrum is Lakeland's best internet service provider, thanks to its wide coverage map and simple service details. Spectrum provides cable internet coverage to 92% of Lakeland addresses, per the latest data from the FCC. Spectrum also offers speeds up to 1,000Mbps and prices starting at $30 per month.
Is fiber internet available in Lakeland?
Fiber connectivity is available to roughly 34% of Lakeland households, with Frontier Fiber taking the lead as the largest fiber provider in the area. While many customers might be stuck with Frontier's DSL packages, its fiber connection is only accessible to 29% of Lakeland households. If it's accessible to your address, some customers may see speeds of up to 5 gigabits.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Lakeland?
Spectrum Internet's $30-a-month plan is the cheapest service in Lakeland. Watch out for a price hike after the promo period ends in the second year; the starting price could double depending on your chosen plan. Another cheap internet option is Verizon 5G Home Internet, which offers a $50-a-month plan for 100Mbps, which could be reduced to $35 monthly if you also have an eligible mobile plan.
Which internet provider in Lakeland offers the fastest plan?
Frontier Fiber offers two of the fastest plans in Lakeland: 5,000Mbps for $130 and 2,000Mbps for $100. After 12 months, the monthly rate can increase by $10. All plans include equipment and unlimited data.
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