Best Internet Providers in Topeka, Kansas
Our Experts
Topeka residents have several solid internet options, but AT&T Fiber is a cut above the rest. Cox and T-Mobile Home Internet are OK, but only AT&T Fiber gives you upload speeds nearly as fast as your download speeds. That’s why it earned CNET’s pick as the best internet provider in the entire country.
Our team considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service in Topeka across a variety 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.
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.
Note that the prices, speeds 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 speeds 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 Topeka. 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 committing to a contract or bundling with a cellphone plan.
To learn more about how we review internet providers, visit our full methodology page.
Top internet providers in Topeka
Topeka residents have several good options for internet in the area. Fiber connections from AT&T are available to about half of the city, while nearly everyone has access to Cox’s cable internet. According to FCC data, an impressive 99.9% of residents have access to 250Mbps download and 25Mbps upload speeds -- well above the 87% figure for the country as a whole.
AT&T Fiber
Best internet provider in Topeka, KS
Our take - AT&T Fiber is CNET’s choice for the best fiber internet provider in the entire country, so it makes sense that we’d like it in Topeka, too. Fiber internet provides “symmetrical” upload speeds that are just as fast as download speeds, and you won’t have to worry about data caps, equipment fees or contracts with AT&T. All of that translates to happy customers: AT&T earned the top ranking of any ISP from both the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power in Topeka’s region.
Cox
Broadest coverage in Topeka, KS
Our take - Cox’s cable internet plans are available virtually everywhere in Topeka. It’s a good option to have as a backup if AT&T Fiber isn’t available. Cox offers fast download speeds and reasonable introductory prices, but there are several downsides. Pricing is confusing, with a web of discounts that make it unclear what your bill will actually look like each month (and when it might change). Upload speeds are a paltry 5-35Mbps in Topeka, which could be an issue for people who do a lot of online gaming or videoconferencing. All Cox plans come with a 1.2TB data cap, too (the average household uses about half that -- 587GB per month, according to OpenVault).
T-Mobile Home Internet
Best wired internet alternative in Topeka, KS
Our take - T-Mobile Home Internet utilizes a fixed wireless connection -- data is beamed straight from cellular towers to a gateway device in your home. The speed you receive depends on your proximity to those cell towers, but 5G home internet is generally slower than fiber or cable connections, and it’s more susceptible to network congestion during peak hours. Fortunately, T-Mobile lets you try the service free for 15 days, so you have some time to see if it will work for you.
Overview of Topeka internet providers
| 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-$180 | 300-5,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
|
AT&T Internet Read full review | DSL | $55 | 768Kbps-100Mbps | None | 1.5TB | None | 7.4 |
|
Cox Read full review | Cable | $50-$110 | 100-1,000Mbps | $14 (optional) | 1.25TB | Optional | 6.2 |
|
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 other internet options are there in Topeka?
There are a few other internet providers with service in Topeka, but they all come with significant drawbacks:
- KwiKom: KwiKom offers fixed wireless internet to 19% of Topeka, but you’ll pay a lot for slower speeds. Plans start at $55 per month for download speeds of 5Mbps -- AT&T Fiber offers 300Mbps for the same price -- and go up to $105 for 50Mbps. We recommend only going with KwiKom if your other options are satellite or a slower DSL plan.
- Mercury Broadband: Mercury Broadband also offers fixed wireless internet in Topeka, but its plans are much more appealing than KwiKom’s. You can get 30Mbps for $50 a month, 75Mbps for $65 or 150Mbps for $99. That can’t compete with wired connections like AT&T Fiber and Cox, but it’s still a significant step up from satellite or DSL.
- Satellite internet: It can be accessed almost anywhere in the country, but it’s slow and expensive. HughesNet and Viasat are the traditional satellite options; both come with two-year contracts, slow speeds, low data caps and high latency. Starlink is a newer satellite provider from SpaceX that delivers faster speeds and lower latency, but service is currently unavailable in Topeka. (Starlink says it “expects to expand service” to the area in 2023.)
Pricing info on Topeka home internet service
Internet prices in Topeka are on the high side. No plans are available for less than $50 per month (unless you bundle T-Mobile Home Internet with an eligible cellphone plan). On average, the starting price for internet in Topeka is $52 per month -- higher than Tulsa ($49) but lower than Kansas City ($53) and Wichita ($54).
Cheapest internet plans in Topeka
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cox Read full review | $50 | 100Mbps | None | None |
|
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | $50 ($30 with eligible mobile plans) | 245Mbps | None | None |
| Mercury Broadband | $50 | 30Mbps | None | None |
|
AT&T Fiber Read full review | $55 | 300Mbps | None | None |
| KwiKom | $55 | 5Mbps | None | None |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data
How fast is Topeka broadband?
According to FCC data, 45% of Topeka residents have access to gig speeds -- over 1,000Mbps download -- and 99.9% can get at least 250Mbps. That’s well above the national average of 33% for gig speeds and 87% for 250Mbps. In Topeka, AT&T Fiber and Cox offer gig speed plans, with AT&T going up to 5,000Mbps in some parts of the city.
Fastest internet plans in Topeka
| Provider | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Starting price | Data cap | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
AT&T Fiber Read full review | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | $180 | None | None |
|
AT&T Fiber Read full review | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | $110 | None | None |
|
Cox 1 Gig Read full review | 1,000Mbps | 35Mbps | $100 ($110 with no contract) | 1.25TB | Optional |
|
AT&T Fiber Read full review | 940Mbps | 880Mbps | $80 | None | None |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data
What’s the final word on internet providers in Topeka?
There’s a clear No. 1 when it comes to internet in Topeka: AT&T Fiber offers the best combination of fast speeds and affordable prices. If you can’t get AT&T Fiber at your address, Cox and T-Mobile Home Internet are both worthy backups, but they both come with some significant drawbacks. Cox has complicated pricing and data caps on most plans, while T-Mobile’s speeds are more unpredictable and could slow down during peak hours.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Topeka
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.
This guide leverages an in-house artificial intelligence tool called RAMP, which is trained on our own writing and uses our database to generate content about specific internet service providers that our writers can use in determining and presenting our picks for a given guide. Check CNET’s AI policy for more information about how our teams use (and don’t use) AI tools.
Because our database is not exhaustive, we go to the FCC’s website to check the primary data for ourselves and make sure we’re considering every ISP that provides service in an area. Plans and prices also vary by location, so we input local addresses on provider websites to find the specific options available to 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 our pre-publication fact-check.
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, you can visit our How we test ISPs page.
Topeka internet FAQs
Which is the best internet service provider in Topeka?
The best internet service provider in Topeka is AT&T Fiber. With symmetrical speeds up to 5,000Mbps, reasonable prices and high customer satisfaction scores, it offers the best value in the area. Cox offers download speeds up to 1,000Mbps, but upload speeds are much lower and prices increase after a year on some plans. T-Mobile Home Internet is another good option, with speeds up to 245Mbps and no contracts or hidden fees.
Is fiber internet available in Topeka?
Yes, fiber internet is available in Topeka. AT&T offers fiber internet with speeds up to 5,000Mbps, no equipment fees and unlimited data.
Who is the cheapest internet provider in Topeka?
The cheapest internet providers in Topeka are Cox and T-Mobile. Both have starting prices at $50 per month. Cox gets you download speeds up to 100Mbps, while T-Mobile goes up to 245Mbps.
Which internet provider in Topeka offers the fastest plan?
The internet provider in Topeka that offers the fastest plan is AT&T Fiber, with download and upload speeds of up to 5,000 Mbps. This plan costs $180 per month and comes with free equipment and unlimited data.
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