Best Internet Providers in Sacramento, California

Looking for an internet provider can be tricky. 

But choosing the right internet option is an important decision. Without some research, you could end up stuck in a lengthy contract, dealing with disappointing performance or even paying too much. 

The good news is that many of those negative outcomes are taken off the table in Sacramento. The city has some spectacular fiber connections, though some are available only to a few residents. Fortunately, the best of both worlds, AT&T Fiber, is relatively available and it's fast. Chances are, if you're looking for super-fast internet in Sacramento, you can find a way to get it. And if you're in a tricky spot, there's probably an option for you, too. 

Best internet providers in Sacramento

The City of Trees may not be the California city that comes to mind when you think of technology. But it's nestled just a couple of hours away from Silicon Valley, so it's no surprise that Sacramento has plenty of connectivity options -- from fast fiber to traditional cable and even 5G at home. 

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.

7.4

SCORE

7.4/10

CNET Score

We score internet providers for speed, value and customer care. Our data sources include the FCC, J.D. Power, The American Customer Satisfaction Index and extensive in-house research.

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AT&T Fiber

Best overall among internet providers in Sacramento

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If your aim is purely for the best quality possible, our pick for the best overall ISP in Sacramento is AT&T Fiber. 

• Speed 7 / 10
• Value 7.5 / 10
• Customer Care 7.5 / 10

. . . Or call to order: Call to Learn More (866) 237-8058

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Product details

Price range $55 - $250 per month Speed range 300 - 5,000Mbps Connection Fiber Key Info Unlimited data, no contracts, equipment included

Pros and Cons

Pros

• No contracts required to receive the lowest available price
• No data caps for any fiber plans
• Valuable perks and promotional offers

Cons

• Much slower DSL plans are more prevalent than fiber options
• Data caps enforced on all non-fiber plans

While it's not offered to every single Sacramento resident, it's available to the vast majority. And although plans can be slightly more expensive than other providers, the speed and quality of AT&T's fiber connection make it well worth the price. 

Availability Downtown Sacramento has excellent access to AT&T Fiber throughout most of the city and its south side toward the airport. AT&T Fiber is also an option for much of North and West Sacramento, with gaps appearing toward the city's limits on the southwest and east sides.  

Plans and pricing AT&T offers three fiber plans in most areas, starting at $55 a month. Its Internet 300 package provides 300Mbps speed and is the cheapest at $55 monthly. Stepping up to 500Mbps will cost $65 a month, while the top-of-the-line 1,000Mbps Internet 1000 package starts at $80 monthly. Special offers include a $100 or $150 reward card for ordering online and an option to have AT&T pay your current provider's cancellation fee. 

Fees and service details Costs are calculated with a $5 credit for autopay and a paperless billing discount. AT&T may also charge a $99 installation fee when applicable. 

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7.4

SCORE

7.4/10

CNET Score

We score internet providers for speed, value and customer care. Our data sources include the FCC, J.D. Power, The American Customer Satisfaction Index and extensive in-house research.

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AT&T Internet 100

Best availability among internet providers in Sacramento

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For most, Sacramento has the luxury of a variety of internet providers. But even in the most well-covered city, some are simply searching for what's available. Fortunately, multiple providers cover nearly every home and office in the city, and AT&T's Internet 100 is one of them. 

• Speed 7 / 10
• Value 7.5 / 10
• Customer Care 7.5 / 10

. . . Or call to order: Call to Learn More (866) 237-8058

Check with AT&T

Product details

Price range $55 per month Speed range 100Mbps Connection ADSL Highlights Unlimited data, no contracts, no equipment fee

Pros and Cons

Pros

• No contracts required to receive the lowest available price
• No data caps for any fiber plans
• Valuable perks and promotional offers

Cons

• Much slower DSL plans are more prevalent than fiber options
• Data caps enforced on all non-fiber plans

Availability AT&T's standard internet service (not to be confused with its fiber) is available to nearly everyone in Sacramento. While one or two exceptions may be found, no large swaths of space in the city are closed off. 

Plans and pricing AT&T's Internet 100 plan (100Mbps) is the basic offering here, without much room for customization or faster speeds. The plan starts at $55 a month for a year before it bumps up to the regular price of $70 a month. 

Fees and service details The $55 monthly price includes autopay and paperless billing. While AT&T Internet plans below 100Mbps include overage charges, if you go beyond 1.5TB per month (at $10 for each additional 50GB per month), you get unlimited data with Internet 100. AT&T may also charge a $149 installation fee. This plan is covered by the Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides internet for low-income households. 

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7.4

SCORE

7.4/10

CNET Score

We score internet providers for speed, value and customer care. Our data sources include the FCC, J.D. Power, The American Customer Satisfaction Index and extensive in-house research.

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T-Mobile Home Internet

Best fixed wireless among internet providers in Sacramento

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Depending on location and needs, a fixed wireless option may make sense rather than a traditional wired or cable connection. In Sacramento, most have access to T-Mobile Home Internet, a solid option for those seeking a fixed wireless plan. 

• Speed 6.5 / 10
• Value 7.5 / 10
• Customer Care 8 / 10

. . . Or call to order: Call to Learn More (866) 237-8058

Check with T-Mobile

Product details

Price range $50 per month ($30 for eligible mobile customers) Speed range 72 - 245Mbps Connection Fixed wireless Key Info Unlimited data, equipment included, no contracts, no additional fees

Pros and Cons

Pros

• No contracts
• No data caps
• Simple, affordable pricing
• Aggressively competitive with its terms and perks

Cons

• Speeds may vary
• Max download speeds don't match fiber and cable
• Home internet customers deprioritized over mobile

Availability T-Mobile's solution is available to most in Sacramento, especially in residential areas. Some gaps exist, especially south toward the airport and around the Land Park neighborhood. But in general, most spots have access. 

Plans and pricing T-Mobile Home Internet only offers one plan, which costs $50 a month (with autopay), for speeds ranging from 72 to 245Mbps. 

Fees and service details That $50 monthly charge doesn't include a one-time $35 device connection charge. Also, home internet customers may be deprioritized on the network vs. mobile subscribers: The company warns that service can be "slowed, suspended, terminated, or restricted" for various uses. 

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7

SCORE

7/10

CNET Score

We score internet providers for speed, value and customer care. Our data sources include the FCC, J.D. Power, The American Customer Satisfaction Index and extensive in-house research.

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Xfinity

Best budget option among internet providers in Sacramento

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Sometimes, you just need to be able to connect. 

• Speed 7.5 / 10
• Value 6.5 / 10
• Customer Care 7 / 10

. . . Or call to order: Call to Learn More (866) 237-8058

Check with Xfinity

Product details

Price range $20 - $300 per month Speed range 75 - 6,000Mbps Connection Cable Key Info Data caps on some plans, lots of plan options, solid customer satisfaction numbers

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Good variety of plans
• Some of the fastest residential plans available
• Above average scores in almost all customer satisfaction metrics

Cons

• Data caps for some plans
• Contracts often required to get the lowest price
• Steep jump from promo price to regular rates

If you're looking for a basic internet connection that allows you to complete regular tasks without the bells and whistles of faster speeds, Xfinity's cable internet network is unbeatable in price alone. 

Availability Nearly every Sacramento resident has access to this affordable network. Xfinity covers nearly the entire city, with small pockets of unavailability to the northwest and southwest. That means that just about anyone in Sacramento can snag this budget option. 

Plans and pricing At just $20 a month, Xfinity's basic 75Mbps plan isn't the fastest, but it helps the wallet. Although those seeking speed may consider looking elsewhere, Xfinity does offer higher levels of access, including 400Mbps for $45 a month and 1200Mbps for $80 monthly. 

Fees and service details In exchange for their budget-friendly nature, Xfinity's plans come with stipulations. First, pricing assumes paperless billing and automatic payments with a bank account. The $20-a-month plan only allows four devices at a time and requires a year-long contract. Unless you pay extra for unlimited data, plans include data caps and may be subject to an increase. 

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All available Sacramento residential internet providers

They may not be the fastest, cheapest or most available, but other ISP options exist in Sacramento. If you need an option outside of the top of our list, some satellite and fixed wireless providers are around as well. Here are the other available providers beyond our best picks: 

• DigitalPath: An option for those in remote areas or with few other options, DigitalPath offers a variety of connections that depend largely on geography. In rural areas, speeds may be as low as 3Mbps. The provider also requires a contract, which is a bit more pricey than other options.  
• EarthLink: With a relatively low-speed DSL connection that costs $55 a month, EarthLink's Sacramento offerings don't fit into many plans. They're also one of our lower-rated providers and aren't available to everyone in the Sacramento area.
• Fidium: Part of the Consolidated Communications "family," Fidium is the new kid on the block. They offer blazing-fast speeds and low costs (that increase after a promotional period) but aren't available everywhere.
• HughesNet: This provider offers a satellite fix for those with very limited options (a rarity in Sacramento). Though their speeds are low, HughesNet specializes in getting internet access to people who may otherwise struggle to find it. For us, their quality is low enough to make them worth skipping.
• Viasat: Another satellite option, Viasat may be the best bet for some who want a satellite option in Sacramento. They're more viable than other satellite options with plans that run from $50 to $200 a month and a decent top speed. However, they do require a two-year contract and an equipment fee.

Sacramento broadband at a glance

Sacramento has several great options for internet, whether you have access to fiber, cable or even fixed wireless providers. With great options like AT&T Fiber, there's little need for most Sacramento residents to explore offerings from smaller companies. But as in many cities, a couple of areas need to seek other options. In those cases, fixed wireless providers such as T-Mobile are likely the best path.

Pricing info on Sacramento home internet service

With an average starting price of just about $49, the internet is available at a relatively affordable rate in Sacramento compared to other cities CNET has covered. Xfinity offers the most budget-friendly option, but six providers offer rates starting under $60 monthly.

Cheap internet options in the Sacramento metro area

With most plans at or around $50 a month, you should be able to find an affordable option for internet in Sacramento. The absolute cheapest internet options in Sacramento will cost you approximately $20 a month, assuming you're OK with Xfinity's slowest options. 

Otherwise, multiple providers offer something relatively affordable, so if you're not in the market for the fastest speeds and you don't live in the most rural areas of Sacramento, you should be able to find a good provider that doesn't break your wallet. 

And in case you may qualify, you should look into the Affordable Connectivity Program, which may be able to get you your internet for free. 

Fastest internet providers in Sacramento

The city's two largest providers are pretty fast, but one small ISP is its fastest. If you want speeds over 200Mbps, you have the option of stalwarts AT&T and Xfinity or the newer option, Fidium, and its 2Gbps speed. Satellite and cheaper options are as low as 3 or 10Mbps, while AT&T Fiber goes all the way to 5,000Mbps. 

In Sacramento, just two providers get into the realm of multi-gigabit speed. AT&T Fiber's 5,000Mbps is king, but the relatively unknown Fidium is another option, with a fast 2Gbps speed available to some Sacramento residents. For most, however, AT&T Fiber's 5,000Mbps and Xfinity's 1,200Mbps will be the top options. 

What's the final word on internet providers in Sacramento?

Internet speeds in Sacramento come down to one main factor: Is fiber available to you? 

If it is, you have some great options. AT&T and Fidium have extremely fast connections that aren't too expensive. And if you can't get either, Xfinity's gigabit plans aren't a bad option. There are also some affordable choices for those who don't care about multi-gig plans and even some options for those living in hard-to-reach areas. 

How CNET chose the best internet providers in Sacramento

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. 

To explore our process in more depth, visit our How We Test ISPs page.