Best Internet Providers in Pasadena, California
Our Experts
What is the best internet provider in Pasadena, California?
AT&T Fiber is the best internet provider in Pasadena. It’s the only provider in the city that offers fiber internet, which means it’s the only one that has symmetrical upload and download speeds -- essential for remote workers and gamers. The only downside is availability: around one in five Pasadena residents have access to AT&T Fiber.
Almost everyone can get Spectrum’s cable internet plans, and they have the cheapest starting prices in the area at $50 per month. But prices increase by $35 per month after a year or two, and Spectrum has below average customer satisfaction scores. Another option is wireless internet from T-Mobile, which provides download speeds up to 245Mbps for $60 per month (or less if you have an T-Mobile cellphone plan).
Our methodology
CNET considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service in Pasadena across a number of 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 tiers of service, 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, while the text is specific to what’s available in Pasadena. 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 be available as well, 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 Pasadena, California
AT&T Fiber
Best internet in Pasadena, California
Our take - When it’s available in your city, AT&T Fiber is almost always your best choice. It’s the only fiber provider in Pasadena, which means you’ll get the same upload and download speeds -- perfect for activities like online gaming and video calls. AT&T also has the highest customer satisfaction scores of any ISP in surveys from J.D. Power and the American Customer Satisfaction Index. The only downside? Only 16% of Pasadena residents have access to it right now.
Spectrum
Cheapest internet in Pasadena, California
Our take - Spectrum is the default internet option for most Pasadena residents. Spectrum’s plans are pretty affordable and you’ll get fast download speeds for the price. Like all cable internet providers, upload speeds are extremely slow. Spectrum also increases prices by $35 per month after one or two years. All of that adds up to below average customer satisfaction scores and comments on the Pasadena sub-reddit that aren’t suitable for children.
T-Mobile Home Internet
Best fixed wireless internet in Pasadena, California
Our take - If you can’t get AT&T Fiber and don’t want to deal with Spectrum’s price increases, wireless internet is a good alternative -- especially for households that don’t need a ton of speed. Verizon and T-Mobile both offer good options in Pasadena. We gave the edge to T-Mobile because it’s available to twice as many homes. You can save money with both providers by bundling with an eligible cellphone plan.
Pasadena 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 Internet Read full review | DSL | $55 | Up to 140Mbps | None | 1.5TB on some plans | None | 7.4 |
|
Spectrum Read full review | Cable | $50-$80 | 300-1,000Mbps | $7 (optional) | None | None | 7.2 |
|
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | Fixed wireless | $60 ($40-$50 with mobile plans) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
|
Verizon LTE Home Internet Read full review | Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers) | 50Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Pasadena?
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Spectrum Internet Read full review | $50 | 300Mbps | $7 (optional) |
|
Verizon LTE Home Internet Read full review | $50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 50Mbps | None |
|
AT&T Fiber 300 Read full review | $55 | 300Mbps | None |
|
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | $60 ($40 with eligible mobile plans) | 245Mbps | None |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Pasadena
The best internet deals and top promotions in Pasadena depend on what discounts are available during a given time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Pasadena internet providers, such as Spectrum and Verizon, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, however, including T-Mobile Home Internet and AT&T Fiber, run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
Fastest internet plans in Pasadena
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
AT&T Internet 5000 Read full review | $225 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
AT&T Internet 2000 Read full review | $125 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
AT&T Internet 1000 Read full review | $80 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
Spectrum Internet Gig Read full review | $80 | 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, 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 Pasadena
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 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.
Internet providers in Pasadena FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Pasadena?
AT&T Fiber is the best internet service provider in Pasadena. It has the fastest speeds by far -- with symmetrical upload and download speeds -- and equipment is included in the monthly price. Unfortunately, it’s only available to 16% of Pasadena residents.
Is fiber internet available in Pasadena?
Yes, fiber internet is available to 16% of Pasadena residents, according to FCC data. AT&T Fiber is the only fiber provider in the city.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Pasadena?
Spectrum is the cheapest internet provider in Pasadena. Its lowest plan costs $50 per month, but increases to $85 after one year.
Which internet provider in Pasadena offers the fastest plan?
AT&T Fiber offers the fastest plan in Pasadena, with symmetrical upload and download speeds up to 5,000Mbps.
Home Internet Guides
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