Best Internet Providers in Nashville, Tennessee
Our Experts
What is the best internet provider in Nashville?
Nashville has a host of internet service providers competing for your attention with plans to fit your budget and connection needs. AT&T Fiber is CNET's choice for the best internet provider in Nashville, with a wide coverage area and faster speeds than a banjo roll. But if a low price is your top priority, T-Mobile and Verizon offer competitive fixed wireless, especially when you bundle cellular phone and internet service.
Xfinity's cable service is the cheapest option, offering a 75-megabit-per-second connection for $20 per month for the first two years. AT&T Fiber offers the fastest available internet speeds in Nashville, with a 5-gigabit fiber connection available at eligible residential locations.
Our methodology
CNET considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service in Nashville 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 Nashville. 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. Other discounts and promotions might also be available for things like signing a term contract or bundling with multiple services.
To learn more about how we review internet providers, visit our full methodology page.
Best internet in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2024
AT&T Fiber
Best internet provider in Nashville, TN
Our take - Speed. Reliability. Fiber is the Cadillac of residential internet. Regarding Nashville, that makes AT&T Fiber the equivalent of a long, lean Cadillac convertible with steer horns on the front. AT&T's wide variety of plan options and speeds up to 5,000 megabits per second -- 5 gigabits -- vault it to the top in our evaluations.
T-Mobile Home Internet
Best fixed wireless internet in Nashville, TN
Our take - T-Mobile and Verizon are in a tight battle for 5G home internet supremacy. T-Mobile takes a slight edge over Verizon 5G Home Internet in our rankings, but the best fixed wireless ISP for you will depend on availability at your address and which service you use for your phone.
Xfinity
Best cable internet provider in Nashville, TN
Our take - When it comes to the sheer variety of plans, Xfinity brings it. Whether you're a budget buyer or someone needing speed, you'll find a plan that fits. This comes with the caveat that you'll want to scrutinize the plan details and keep an eye out for contract requirements, possible equipment fees and introductory pricing that may change later. You may need to renegotiate to get back to a lower price.
Nashville internet providers compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
AT&T Fiber Read full review | Fiber | $55-$225 | 300-5,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
|
AT&T Home Internet Read full review | DSL | $55 | 10-100Mbps | None | 1.5TB | None | 7.4 |
|
Google Fiber Read full review | Fiber | $70-$100 | 1,000-2,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
|
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | Fixed wireless | $60 ($40 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) | 50-1,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
|
Xfinity Read full review | Cable | $20-$100 | 75-2,000Mbps | $15 (optional) | 1.2TB on some plans | 1-2 years on some plans | 7 |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Other available internet providers in Nashville
- Google Fiber:Google Fiber is expanding its presence across Nashville, but availability remains limited. Residents of neighborhoods like Edgehill, Melrose and West End may be in luck, and Google just recently arrived in Smyrna in 2023. Customers can sign up for speeds as high as 2,000Mbps (for $100 per month), but Google doesn't yet offer its fastest 5-gigabit plan in Nashville.
- Satellite internet: If you're covered by fiber, cable or fixed wireless, those are likely your first choices for getting connected. But if you're in a remote area around Nashville and don't have a good ISP option, look into satellite internet service from Starlink, Viasat or Hughesnet.
- Verizon 5G Home Internet: Verizon's coverage map shows most of Nashville is blanketed by its 5G Ultra Wideband service that delivers speeds of up to 300Mbps, but your real-world speed will vary. It's a tough competitor for T-Mobile Home Internet. If you're a Verizon phone customer, you can bundle your services and get your 5G internet for as low as $35 per month with autopay and select mobile plans. That's quite a bargain if you're in a strong service area.
Cheap internet options in Nashville
Nashville can be an affordable place to get hooked up to home internet. The average starting price for the city's ISPs works out to $51, but Xfinity offers up some bargains and T-Mobile or Verizon customers with select plans can add 5G home internet (where available) for discounted rates.
Most of the 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 Nashville?
| Provider | Starting monthly price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Xfinity Connect Read full review | $20 | 75Mbps | $15 (optional) |
|
Xfinity Connect More Read full review | $35 | 300Mbps | None |
|
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | $50 ($35 with eligible mobile plan) | 300Mbps | None |
|
AT&T Fiber 300 Read full review | $55 | 300Mbps | None |
|
AT&T Home Internet Read full review | $55 | 100Mbps | None |
|
Google Fiber Read full review | $70 | 1,000Mbps | 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 Nashville
The best internet deals and top promotions in Nashville depend on what discounts are available during a given period. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Nashville internet providers, such as Xfinity, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, however, including AT&T 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.
How fast is Nashville broadband?
Ookla, the provider of the Speedtest.net service, places Nashville at number 47 in its ranking of internet speeds for the 100 most populous US cities. The Music City weighs in with a median download speed of about 233Mbps and a median upload speed of over 65Mbps.
AT&T Fiber reigns as the fastest internet provider in Nashville by a long shot. Its $225-per-month 5-gigabit plan is your fastest residential option, so long as it's available at your address. Google Fiber's $100 2-gigabit plan is the next closest competitor. Google has rolled out 5-gig plans in other markets, but those speeds have yet to reach Nashville.
Fastest internet plans in Nashville
| Provider | Max upload speed | Starting price | Max download speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
AT&T Fiber 5000 Read full review | $225 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
AT&T Fiber 2000 Read full review | $125 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
Google Fiber 2 Gig Read full review | $100 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
Xfinity Gigabit X2 Read full review | $100 | 2,000Mbps | 200Mbps | None | Cable |
|
Xfinity Gigabit Extra Read full review | $85 | 1,200Mbps | 35Mbps | 1.2TB | Cable |
|
Xfinity Gigabit Read full review | $80 | 1,000Mbps | 35Mbps | 1.2TB | Cable |
|
AT&T Fiber 1000 Read full review | $80 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
Google Fiber 1 Gig Read full review | $70 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
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, 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 Nashville
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 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 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 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 it comes to 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 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 Nashville internet providers?
Nashville is well covered by ISPs with options ranging from fast fiber to convenient cable to no-fuss 5G. AT&T Fiber and Google Fiber deliver the goods regarding sheer speed, but availability may be limited. Xfinity covers most of the area but with slower max speeds and a data cap (which you can pay to get around). T-Mobile and Verizon offer 5G home internet, which is easy to set up but may not be open to new customers in some areas. This means you're likely to find a Nashville ISP that will work for your location, budget and needs.
Internet providers in Nashville FAQs
Which is the cheapest internet provider in Nashville?
There are several ways to get low-cost internet in Nashville. With eligible phone plans, T-Mobile or Verizon mobile customers can get deep discounts on 5G internet. Xfinity's cable internet plans dip as low as $20 per month, but keep an eye out for introductory deals for new customers.
Which internet provider in Nashville offers the fastest plan?
There's one clear winner when it comes to speedy internet, and that's AT&T Fiber. It's fast, hitting speeds up to 5 gigabits, but it comes at a monthly price of $225. That may be overkill for many people, but it can make sense for gamers or households with multiple people putting a lot of demand on the internet.
Is fiber internet available in Nashville?
AT&T Fiber and Google Fiber both service the Nashville area. Which one you go with may depend on availability at your address. AT&T offers the fastest -- and most expensive -- plan with a 5-gigabit option for $225. The two providers offer 2-gigabit plans between $100 and $125, putting them in close contention at that lower (but still plenty fast) speed tier.
Is AT&T or Xfinity better?
AT&T and Xfinity have a wide reach across Nashville, but they offer different types of home internet. AT&T's fiber options reach speeds up to 5,000Mbps, and uploads are as fast as downloads. Xfinity tops out at 2,000Mbps but uploads max out at 200Mbps. If upload speeds concern you, fiber is a smart choice. If you're on a budget or fiber isn't available at your address, look into Xfinity's wide range of plans and tempting introductory deals. Check out CNET's AT&T versus Xfinity page to see how the two service providers compare.
What is the best internet connection type for Nashville?
A fiber-optic connection -- like AT&T Fiber's, capable of multi-gigabit download speeds -- is the gold standard. That said, 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 Nashville.
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