Best Internet Providers in Miami, Florida
Sun, surf, beaches, sports, nightlife and art. There are a million reasons to go out in Miami, but sometimes you'll be kicking back at home, gaming or working remotely. You need a strong, reliable internet connection to maximize your indoor time.
The widest-reaching internet service providers in Miami are AT&T, Xfinity and Breezeline. Some apartment and condo buildings are signed up with specific providers, so you may not have much choice regarding the internet. AT&T Fiber is our pick for the best ISP in Miami, thanks to fast speeds and availability. Verizon and T-Mobile offer fixed wireless in the area as an alternative to fiber, cable or DSL.
That noted, our team considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service in Miami in a variety of categories. Breezeline's cable service is the cheapest internet option, offering a modest 100 megabits per second connection for $20 per month -- though it increases to $80 after the first year, at which point there are faster alternatives available at a lower price. Hotwire Communications offers the fastest available internet speed in Miami, with a 10-gigabit fiber connection available at eligible residential locations.
Cue up your favorite Pitbull song, and check out Miami's best internet service providers.
Best internet providers in the Magic City
Miami is like a patchwork quilt when it comes to ISPs. Your condo, apartment or house address might have a super-fast fiber option from AT&T or Hotwire Communications, or you might have cable from Xfinity or Breezeline. Maybe you've got a strong location (and a well-placed window) for fixed wireless from Google Fiber Webpass, T-Mobile or Verizon. If you're moving into a new building, check if the HOA agreement includes the internet. What this means is that the best ISP for you is highly dependent on location and availability.
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.
AT&T Fiber
Best internet provider in Miami, FL
Our take - AT&T Fiber's super-fast speed options nudge it to the top of our recommendation list. Keep in mind AT&T also has a slower DSL service that may cover areas where fiber isn't an option. Fiber offers zippy downloads and fast uploads, so it's preferable to DSL for anyone who places a lot of demand on their internet connection.
Xfinity
Best cable internet provider in Miami, FL
Our take - Much of Miami is covered by Comcast's cable service, Xfinity. Xfinity's wide variety of plans can be a little confusing to navigate, so take your time to compare details like speed, contracts and equipment costs, which can vary from plan to plan.
Verizon 5G Home Internet
Best fixed wireless internet in Miami, FL
Our take - Verizon and T-Mobile run neck-and-neck in the 5G home internet supremacy race. As with most ISP options around Miami, location is a big deal. If Verizon is available at your address, you may want to take it for a test to see if you can get adequate internet speeds. Compare with T-Mobile Home Internet. One may provide a stronger connection at your place than the other.
Internet providers in Miami overview
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Fiber | Fiber | $55-$180 | 300-5,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| AT&T Internet | DSL | $55 | 768Kbps-100Mbps | None | 1.5TB (no data cap for 100Mbps plan) | None | 7.4 |
| Breezeline | Cable | $20-$60 (for 12 months) | 100-1,000Mbps | $15 (optional) | None | None | N/A |
| Google Fiber Webpass | Fixed wireless | $70 | Up to 1,000Mbps | None | None | None | N/A |
| Hotwire | Fiber | Varies | Up to 10,000Mbps | Varies | None | Varies | N/A |
| T-Mobile Home Internet | Fixed wireless | $50 ($30 with eligible mobile plan) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet | Fixed wireless | $50-$70 (50% off with select mobile plans) | 85-1,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
| Xfinity | Cable | $30-$80 | 75-1,200Mbps | Varies | 1.2TB | Varies | 7 |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data
All available Miami residential internet providers
- AT&T Internet: AT&T's fiber service is its premium offering, but the company may offer DSL as an alternative in places where fiber isn't an option. Prices start at $55 per month, but remember that DSL downloads and uploads are typically much slower than fiber. Compare with cable offerings from Xfinity and Breezeline to find your best price-speed ratio.
- Breezeline: Breezeline's cable service offers some temptingly affordable plans for your first year of service. The least expensive option is a $20-per-month plan for 100Mbps, but that price is only good for 12 months, after which it jumps to over $80. Breezeline also offers a $60-per-month GigaFast plan for 1,000Mbps, which will rise to over $135 when your year is out. You can always try your luck negotiating back down to a better deal once the promo runs out.
- Google Fiber Webpass: Google's acquisition of Webpass in 2016 gave it a toehold in some markets. Webpass availability depends on whether your building is hooked up to the fixed wireless service. If it is, you can sign up for a $70-per-month 1,000Mbps plan that includes equipment. There's no contract and no data caps.
- Hotwire Communications: Not to be confused with the travel website, Hotwire Communications is a fiber provider that offers bulk services to certain residential locations. This option applies to some very specific buildings dealing with the ISP. Pricing can vary, so you'll have to check what's available for your unit. Hotwire says it offers speeds up to 10 gigabits in some locations.
- Satellite internet: Starlink, Viasat or HughesNet all offer satellite internet services, but they're not likely to be your first choice if you can access an affordable, reliable plan from another provider. However, many Floridians love to travel, so a Starlink RV plan might be in the cards if you need to stay connected on the road.
- T-Mobile Home Internet: Verizon's big rival in the 5G fixed wireless arena is T-Mobile, which has a $50-per-month plan for speeds up to 245Mbps. That's a slower top speed than Verizon offers, but location can make all the difference in the quality of your 5G internet connection. There are no data caps and no contracts, and equipment is provided. You may have to pay a $35 service charge when getting started, but look for a $50 reward card deal to offset that fee.
Miami broadband at a glance
You may have noticed a theme to this Miami ISP guide: location, location, location. The high density of apartment and condo buildings in The 305 means some places are hooked up with fiber and some aren't, so provider options are available on a case-by-case basis. Most residents will be covered by cable or DSL from the likes of Xfinity, Breezeline or AT&T Internet. Others may have access to fast fiber plans from AT&T Fiber, Google Fiber Webpass or Hotwire. And if those aren't appealing, or if you're looking to bundle phone service for a bargain, check out Verizon or T-Mobile's fixed wireless plans.
Pricing for Miami home internet service
You could pay very little (Breezeline's $20 promo deal) or a lot (AT&T Fiber's 5 gigs for $180) for home internet. The average starting price for residential internet in Miami is just under $50. Bundling phone service with a fixed wireless provider can get you connected cheaply, but some heavy internet users will be more attracted to pricier fiber plans or speedier cable offerings.
Cheap internet options in the Miami metro area
Breezeline ($20 for 100Mbps) and Xfinity ($30 for 75Mbps) offer inexpensive plans for connecting to the internet. They don't have blazing speeds, but they should be fast enough for most normal internet demands like streaming video. Low-income households should check into the federal Affordable Connectivity Program. Most eligible homes can get $30 off their internet bill, making it free or cheap to get connected.
What's the cheapest internet plan in Miami?
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breezeline | $20 (12-month promo price) | 100Mbps | $15 (skippable) | None |
| Xfinity Connect | $30 (12-month promo price) | 75Mbps | $10-$25 (skippable) | 1-year |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet | $50 (50% off with eligible mobile plan) | 300Mbps | None | None |
| T-Mobile Home Internet | $50 ($30 with eligible mobile plan) | 245Mbps | None | None |
| AT&T Fiber | $55 | 300Mbps | None | None |
| AT&T Internet | $55 | 100Mbps | None | None |
| Google Fiber Webpass | $70 | 1,000Mbps | None | None |
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.
- 0 - 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics -- browsing the internet, sending and receiving email, streaming low-quality video.
- 5 - 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
- 40 -100Mbps should give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
- 100 - 500Mbps allows one to two users to engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming simultaneously.
- 500 - 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming simultaneously.
Fastest internet providers in Miami
Ookla (of Speedtest.net fame) tracks internet speeds for the 100 most populous US cities. Miami doesn't have the greatest showing. It sits in 84th place with a median download speed of just over 162Mbps and a median upload speed of just over 31Mbps. However, some residents can tap into a fiber firehose with AT&T's 5-gigabit option or Hotwire's ability to deliver up to 10 gigabits, provided your residence is hooked up for it.
Your most likely bet for blazing-fast fiber will be with AT&T and its top-of-the-line 5,000Mbps plan. If Hotwire is an option, you could get impressive speeds of up to 10,000Mbps. Hotwire says that in unique situations, it may be able to provide up to 100,000Mbps service to individual residences. Yes, you read that right: 100 gigabits. If that makes your heart flutter, look for a Hotwire hookup for your next move to or within Miami. Multi-gigabit fiber can make sense for households with multiple heavy internet users or gamers. Otherwise, look to Google Fiber Webpass, Breezeline or Xfinity for plans in the 1,000Mbps range.
What are the fastest internet plans in Miami?
| Provider | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Starting price | Data cap | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hotwire | 10,000Mbps | 10,000Mbps | Varies | None | Varies |
| AT&T Fiber 5000 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | $180 | None | None |
| AT&T Fiber 2000 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | $110 | None | None |
| Xfinity Gigabit Extra | 1,200Mbps | 35Mbps | $80-$90 | 1.2TB | Varies |
| Xfinity Gigabit | 1,000Mbops | 35Mbps | $75-$85 | 1.2TB | Varies |
| AT&T Fiber 1000 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | $80 | None | None |
| Google Fiber Webpass | 1,000Mbps | 1,000 Mbps | $70 | None | None |
| Breezeline GigaFast | 1,000Mbps | 50Mbps | $60 | None | None |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data
What's the final word on internet providers in Miami?
It might feel a little overwhelming with fiber, cable, DSL and fixed wireless scattered all over Miami. How do you find the best ISP for you? It all starts with your address. Your building may be hooked up with one or more service providers already. Want fiber? Check with AT&T or Hotwire. Otherwise, plug your details into Xfinity or Breezeline's availability checkers. Still not where you want to be? Check with Verizon or T-Mobile for a fixed wireless alternative.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Miami
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.
When it comes to selecting the cheapest internet service -- the criteria are relatively simple. We look for the service package with the lowest monthly fee, though we also take into consideration promotional rates and price per megabit.
As for choosing the fastest internet service, we look at provider throughput. Most often, that means a fiber-optic service. That said, fiber availability may be limited to a smaller percentage of addresses.
To explore our process in more depth, visit our page explaining how we test ISPs.
Internet providers in Miami FAQs
Who is the cheapest internet provider in Miami?
Multiple Miami ISPs offer internet within the $20-$30 range. Breezeline's one-year deal of $20 for the 100Mbps plan is about as cheap as it gets. The Xfinity Connect plan will run you $30 for 75Mbps. T-Mobile and Verizon offer bargains on fixed wireless if you bundle it with an eligible phone plan. Also, check if you're eligible for assistance through the Affordable Connectivity Program.
Which internet provider in Miami offers the fastest plan?
Hotwire Communications gallops to the lead in fastest internet plans in Miami by providing residential speeds of up to 10,000Mbps, but you have to be in a building the company services. AT&T's 5,000Mbps fiber plan is more widely available, though it comes at a monthly cost of $180.
What is the best internet connection type for Miami?
A fiber-optic connection, capable of download speeds up to 10 gigabits in locations that Hotwire services in Miami, is the gold standard. That noted, fiber availability may be limited to a small percentage of households in the area. Otherwise, a cable internet connection is your best bet. Cable internet can't match fiber's speed or reliability, but it's far more accessible and available to most households in Miami.
Is fiber internet available in Miami?
Yes. Several fiber providers are servicing the greater Miami area, with AT&T Fiber having the widest reach. AT&T plans range from $55 for 300Mbps service to $180 for 5,000Mbps. That top speed tier is only available at certain addresses. If you want to balance budget and speed, check into a midlevel AT&T plan like 1,000Mbps for $80 per month. Depending on your location, you may also be able to sign up with Hotwire Communications.
Is AT&T or Xfinity better in Miami?
AT&T and Xfinity are two of the most widely available ISPs in Miami. AT&T uses both fiber and DSL technology, while Xfinity uses cable. Picking a winner isn't necessarily simple. AT&T Fiber delivers blazing speeds, but the top tiers have high price tags. Xfinity slims in with a budget option at just $30 per month, but the speed won't blow you away. For each ISP, consider shopping around in the midtier ranges for a good combination of price and speed. The decision as to which one to go with might come down to availability and whether you need the fast upload speeds of fiber. Get a more detailed analysis with our comparison of AT&T and Xfinity.
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