Best Internet Providers in Missouri
Our Experts
What is the best internet provider in Missouri?
I don't live in Missouri, but if I did, I'd eat barbecue all the time, make room for the Cards in my MLB fandom, and sign up for AT&T Fiber if it's available. AT&T Fiber, CNET's pick for the best internet service provider in Missouri, has stable, competitive pricing on the best selection of high-speed plans of any major ISP in Missouri.
But AT&T Fiber isn’t available everywhere, of course. Spectrum, Google Fiber, T-Mobile, Kinetic or other ISPs may be your best option for internet in Missouri, depending on what’s available in your area.
Our methodology
CNET considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service in Missouri 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 Missouri. 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 providers in Missouri
AT&T Fiber
Best internet provider in Missouri
Our take - A fiber internet connection will be preferable to any other internet connection type almost every time. The speed potential -- both upload and download -- plus the reliability and overall value are unmatched. If you’re looking for fiber internet in Missouri, AT&T will be your best option.
Kinetic by Windstream
Best wired rural internet in Missouri
Our take - Wireless home internet services, specifically those using 5G technology, bring promising broadband improvements to rural areas. Still, I’d recommend a traditional wired connection when available, like the one you get with Kinetic by Windstream.
Spectrum
Best cable internet provider in Missouri
Our take - Cable internet is a close second to fiber in terms of speed and value. It also has the advantage of being available to many more households. In Missouri, for example, cable internet is available to over 70% of households, whereas only around 38% are serviceable for fiber. Spectrum is the largest cable internet provider in Missouri.
T-Mobile Home Internet
Best 5G home internet in Missouri
Our take - If you can’t get a wired connection from Kinetic or another provider, 5G home internet from T-Mobile may be the next best option. It may even be a better choice for rural internet than Kinetic, depending on what kind of speeds and reliability you can get at your address.
Hughesnet
Best satellite internet in Missouri
Our take - Kinetic and T-Mobile are Missouri's top rural internet options, but they're not available everywhere. Look to satellite internet, like that from Hughesnet, to fill those broadband gaps. Hughesnet isn't your only satellite internet option but it will likely be the cheapest.
All Missouri residential internet providers
The providers featured above aren’t the only ISPs you may encounter in Missouri. Here’s a closer look at all major internet providers in Missouri and how they compare.
Top Missouri internet providers compared
| Provider | Monthly price range | Download speed range (Mbps) | Connection type | Monthly data cap | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
AT&T Fiber Read full review | $55-$180 | 300-5,000 | Fiber | None | None |
|
AT&T Internet Read full review | $55 | 10-100 | Copper-based (DSL) | 1.5TB | None |
|
EarthLink Read full review | $55-$190 | 12-5,000 | DSL, fiber | None | 1 year |
|
Google Fiber Read full review | $70-$125 | 1,000-5,000 | Fiber | None | None |
|
Hughesnet Read full review | $50-$80 | 15-100 | Satellite | 100-200GB | 2 years |
| Kinetic | $30-67 | Up to 50Mbps DSL, 200-940 fiber | DSL, fiber | None | None |
|
Mediacom Read full review | $20-$60 | 100-940 | Cable | 200GB-6TB | None |
|
Optimum Read full review | $40-$80 | 300-940 | Cable | None | None |
|
Sparklight Read full review | $39-$115 | 300-940 | Cable | 700GB-Unlimited | None |
|
Spectrum Read full review | $50-$90 | 300-940 | Cable | None | None |
|
Starlink Read full review | $90-$1,500 | 100-250 | Satellite | 1TB | None |
|
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | $60 ($40 for qualifying Magenta Max customers) | 72-245 | 5G | None | None |
| US Cellular | $30-$60 | Varies | 4G LTE, 5G | None | 3 years |
|
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | $50-$70 ($35-$45 for qualifying Verizon Mobile customers) | 50-1,000 | 5G | None | None |
|
Viasat Read full review | $70-$300 | 12-100 | Satellite | 40-300GB | 2 years |
|
Xfinity Read full review | $40-$80 | 75-1,200 | Cable | 1.2TB-Unlimited | 1 year (optional) |
Missouri internet provider honorable mentions
These providers may be available in your area but lack the speed, competitive pricing or statewide availability to be included with the best ISPs in Missouri. Click any of the links below for more details about the provider.
- AT&T Internet
- EarthLink
- Google Fiber
- Mediacom
- Optimum
- Sparklight
- Starlink
- Verizon 5G Home Internet
- Viasat
- Xfinity
Missouri broadband at a glance
Every household in Missouri has access to broadband speeds -- that’s 25Mbps down and 3Mbps up -- according to the FCC. However, when you consider wired connections (read: not satellite or cellular service), only around 82% of Missouri households are serviceable for broadband speeds or higher.
Cable internet -- from providers such as Mediacom, Sparklight, Spectrum, Xfinity and others -- makes up the majority of wired broadband coverage in Missouri. Copper-based, or DSL internet, is available to roughly two-thirds of homes, though only about half can get broadband speeds or higher.
As for fiber internet, around 38% of Missouri households are wired for service, though the high availability in densely populated areas such as Kansas City, St. Louis and Springfield may skew the statewide average.
Internet breakdown by city in Missouri
It’s hard to cover the broadband options of an entire state and give individual areas the attention they deserve. That’s why we also compile lists of the best internet providers in cities across the US, including those in Missouri. We tackle details such as internet connection types, max speeds, cheapest providers and more. Check back later if you don’t find the city you’re looking for below. We’re working to add more locations every week.
- Best internet providers in Independence
- Best internet providers in Kansas City
- Best internet providers in Springfield
- Best internet providers in St. Louis
Missouri internet pricing details
A few internet providers in Missouri -- such as Kinetic, Mediacom, Optimum and Xfinity -- offer plans with introductory rates below $50. Verizon 5G Home and T-Mobile Home Internet may also be available for under $50 if you qualify for the discount.
Opting for the cheapest plan often means sacrificing speed, but not always. For $40 to $55 per month, you can get download speeds up to 300Mbps from Optimum, AT&T Fiber, Spectrum or others. Upgrading to the next speed tier will likely only add $20 or so to your monthly bill, and gig service is available for $67 to $90 depending on the available providers in your area.
Internet plans for low-income households in Missouri
The Affordable Connectivity Program is available to all qualifying Missouri households and grants up to $30 per month to apply towards home internet service. Those on tribal lands can receive up to $75 per month. Here’s how to apply.
Along with the ACP credit, select internet providers in Missouri offer discounted internet plans specifically for low-income households. When applied with the ACP credit, such plans may be available for zero net cost. Additionally, these plans often come with free equipment and no contract requirements.
Internet plans for low-income households in Missouri
| Plan | Starting price | Max download speed | Equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access from AT&T | $30 | 100Mbps | None |
|
Optimum Advantage Internet Read full review | $15 | 50Mbps | None |
|
Spectrum Internet Assist Read full review | $18 | 30 | None |
|
Xfinity Internet Essentials Read full review | $10-$30 | 50-100 | None |
How fast is Missouri broadband?
Recent Ookla speed test data places Missouri 34th among US states, with a median download speed of around 169Mbps. Google Fiber recorded the fastest average speeds in the state at around 272Mbps, but the provider is unfortunately only available in Kansas City.
At 169Mbps, Missouri’s median download speeds fell below the national average of 203Mbps, but that doesn’t necessarily indicate that internet in Missouri is slow. In fact, Spectrum, the leading cable internet provider in Missouri, had the fastest median download speeds of any major provider at 235Mbps. Download speeds of 250Mbps or higher are available to more than 83% of Missouri households, according to the FCC, so if you want faster-than-average speeds, chances are they are available from Spectrum or other high-speed providers in your area.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Missouri
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.
But 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, though 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.
Recap of Missouri internet providers
When shopping for internet in Missouri, particularly in Kansas City, St. Louis or Springfield, I’d start by checking to see if AT&T Fiber is available. If not, Spectrum -- the provider with the fastest median download speeds nationwide -- would definitely be my next choice.
As for rural areas in Missouri, Kinetic and T-Mobile Home Internet are top options for broadband speeds and unlimited data. If those providers aren’t available, look to Hughesnet for internet in the absence of wired or 5G connections.
Other providers, including Google Fiber, Mediacom, Optimum, Sparklight and Xfinity, may be available depending on where you live (or are moving to) in Missouri. These providers, and really any ISP that offers service at your address, are worth considering. It’s important to explore all of your available internet options when choosing the best ISP and plan for your home.
Internet in Missouri FAQs
Is internet in Missouri any good?
Ookla speed test data ranks Missouri as the 34th fastest state in median download speeds at 169Mbps and slightly higher (31st) with median upload speeds at around 22Mbps. Though these speeds are below the national average, many Missouri residents -- around 82% of households -- have access to high-speed internet plans with advertised speeds of 300Mbps and higher from providers such as AT&T, Mediacom, Optimum, Spectrum, Xfinity and others.
Does Missouri have fiber internet?
According to the most recent FCC data, fiber internet is available to around 38% of Missouri households. However, like other states, fiber availability in Missouri is largely restricted to urban or suburban areas. Columbia, Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield and other metropolitan areas in Missouri have the greatest serviceability for fiber internet.
How do I get rural internet in Missouri?
Satellite internet is always an option in rural areas, but you’ll want to check to see if cheaper, faster and overall better internet connections are available before resorting to satellite.
Kinetic’s DSL service is a popular choice for rural Missouri households, as is T-Mobile Home Internet. Both services have the potential to offer faster speeds than satellite internet and come with the bonus of unlimited data and significantly lower latency.
If T-Mobile Home Internet or wired connections like you get with Kinetic are unavailable, I’d recommend satellite internet from Hughesnet for rural areas in Missouri. Pricing is cheaper than rival satellite provider Viasat, and service is much more readily available than Starlink.
Home Internet Guides
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