Best Internet Providers in Springfield, Missouri
Our Experts
What is the best internet provider in Springfield?
AT&T Fiber is the best internet service provider in Springfield. It has fast, symmetrical speeds, straightforward pricing and the best customer satisfaction scores in the industry. Its top-tier plans are on the expensive side, but most people don’t need more speed than its cheapest plan provides.
Mediacom has the cheapest internet in Springfield, but several caveats come with that low price. You’ll pay fees for installation and equipment, and each plan comes with a data cap. Mediacom’s prices also increase in the second, third and sometimes fourth year. If you don’t want to worry about headaches like these, T-Mobile Home Internet is a nice alternative. Its speeds are slower, but there are no hidden fees, and your price will never increase.
Our methodology
CNET considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service in Springfield across many 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 Springfield. 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 Springfield, Missouri
AT&T Fiber
Best internet provider in Springfield, MO
Our take - AT&T Fiber is arguably the best internet provider nationwide, and if it’s available at your address in Springfield, it’s an easy choice. It’s the only provider in the area that uses a fiber connection, which means you get the same upload and download speeds -- crucial for anyone who works from home or games online. AT&T Fiber also has a great reputation for customer service: it earned the top score of any ISP in the American Customer Satisfaction Index’s most recent survey. That said, AT&T’s fiber service is only available to about one in five Springfield households. Most people have access only to AT&T’s DSL service, which we wouldn’t recommend.
Mediacom
Cheapest internet in Springfield, MO
Our take - At first glance, Mediacom seems like an incredible deal -- plans start at just $35 a month for 100Mbps -- but Mediacom hits you with just about every fee you can imagine. You’ll pay $14 monthly for the modem, up to $120 for installation and activation, and prices increase after the first and second year. Mediacom also imposes a monthly data cap between 350 and 1,000GB. (The average US household uses 534GB of data each month.) But aside from AT&T Fiber, it’s the only other wired internet option widely available in Springfield.
T-Mobile Home Internet
Best fixed wireless internet in Springfield, MO
Our take - If you don’t want to worry about data caps or price hikes, T-Mobile’s wireless internet offers a refreshingly simple alternative to ISPs like Mediacom. Everything is included in its $50 monthly price, and it won’t go up for as long as you stay a customer. Its speeds aren’t quite as fast as AT&T’s or Mediacom’s -- T-Mobile averages between 72 and 245Mbps download speeds -- but that’s enough for smaller households. T-Mobile also received the highest customer satisfaction score of any non-fiber ISP from the ACSI -- 73/100 compared to Mediacom’s 65/100.
Springfield 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-$250 | 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 |
| Brightspeed | Fiber | $59-$79 | 200-940Mbps | None | None | None | N/A |
|
Mediacom Read full review | Cable | $35-$55 | 100-1,000Mbps | $14 | 350-3,000GB | None | 6.4 |
|
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | Fixed wireless | $50 ($30 with eligible mobile plans) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Springfield?
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Mediacom Internet 100 Read full review | $35 | 100Mbps | $14 |
|
Mediacom Internet 300 Read full review | $50 | 300Mbps | $14 |
|
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | $50 ($30 with eligible mobile plans) | 245Mbps | None |
|
AT&T Internet 300 Read full review | $55 | 300Mbps | None |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Springfield
The best internet deals and top promotions in Springfield depend on the discounts available during that period. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Springfield internet providers, such as Mediacom, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, however, including AT&T Fiber, Brightspeed and T-Mobile Home Internet, 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 Springfield
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
AT&T Internet 5000 Read full review | $250 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
AT&T Internet 2000 Read full review | $150 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
AT&T Internet 1000 Read full review | $80 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
Mediacom Internet 1 GIG Read full review | $65 | 1,000Mbps | 50Mbps | 3,000GB | 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 Springfield
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 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, 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 take into account 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 Springfield FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Springfield, MO?
AT&T Fiber is the best internet service provider in Springfield. It has symmetrical upload and download speeds, reasonable prices and unlimited data. Unlike many providers, AT&T Fiber doesn’t automatically increase your prices after a year or two, either.
Is fiber internet available in Springfield, MO?
Yes, fiber internet is available to 20% of Springfield residents, according to FCC data. AT&T is the primary provider offering fiber internet in the area, but Brightspeed also has a small fiber footprint.
Who is the cheapest internet provider in Springfield, MO?
Mediacom is the cheapest internet provider in Springfield, with plans starting at $35 per month for 100Mbps speeds. That said, prices increase after a year, and equipment rental adds another $14 to your monthly bill.
Which internet provider in Springfield offers the fastest plan?
AT&T Fiber offers the fastest plan in Springfield, with download and upload speeds up to 5,000Mbps.
Home Internet Guides
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