Best Internet Providers in San Francisco, California
Our Experts
- 10 years product testing experience with the CNET Home team
What is the best internet provider in San Francisco?
Sonic is the best internet service provider for most households in San Francisco, California. In addition to offering flat-rate pricing, its fiber-optic network delivers symmetrical speeds on all plans.However, Sonic isn’t completely available across the city, so AT&T Fiber, Verizon 5G Home Internet and Xfinity are also solid picks, depending on which ISP is available at your location.
We've also found the area's lowest-priced plans and fastest speeds. Xfinity and Astound Broadband tie for the cheapest internet service in San Francisco, both offering base plans for $20 per month. However, Astound offers better value -- especially since SF residents can currently choose any speed between 300 megabits per second and 1,500Mbps, and pay only $20 under Astound's network.
If you're hunting for the speediest plan, the fastest available internet speed in San Francisco is 10,000Mbps, which Sonic offers for $50 per month. AT&T Fiber also offers multi-gigabit plans in the Bay Area, but speeds max out at 5,000Mbps.
Our methodology
CNET considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service in San Francisco 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 San Francisco. 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. Discounts and promotions might also be available for signing a term contract or bundling multiple services.
To learn more about how we review internet providers, visit our full methodology page.
Best internet in San Francisco, California
Sonic
Best internet provider in San Francisco, CA
Our take - Based in Santa Rosa, Sonic is the largest independent ISP in Northern California. Most customers get their connection via DSL infrastructure, but the company has also been working to expand a fiber footprint throughout the area.
Xfinity
Broadest coverage in San Francisco, CA
Our take - Unless you live at the bottom of the Bay, the odds are extremely high that your home is wired for cable internet from Comcast's Xfinity home broadband service.
AT&T Fiber
Best fiber internet in San Francisco, CA
Our take - AT&T offers home internet services in 22 states, including California. It's a likely option at most Bay Area addresses, but service is split between homes wired for AT&T Fiber, which is excellent, and homes wired for AT&T Internet, a DSL hybrid service that's ordinary at best.
Verizon 5G Home Internet
Best fixed wireless in San Francisco, CA
Our take - Getting your home online through a wireless 5G connection is still a relatively new option. Verizon and T-Mobile are racing to bring as many households into their coverage maps as possible.
San Francisco internet providers compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Astound Broadband Read full review | Cable | $20-$65 | 300-1,500Mbps | None | None | None | 7 |
|
AT&T Home Internet Read full review | DSL hybrid | $55 | 20-100Mbps | None | 1.5TB on some plans | None | 7.4 |
|
AT&T Fiber Read full review | Fiber | $55-$225 | 300-5,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
|
Google Fiber Webpass Read full review | Fiber | $63-$70 | 1,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.5 |
| Raw Bandwidth Communications | DSL | $30-$95 | 3-100Mbps | None | None | 1 year | N/A |
| Sonic | DSL/fiber | $50 | 5-10,000Mbps | $10 (optional) | None | None | N/A |
|
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-$70 | 150-1,200Mbps | $15 gateway rental (optional) | 1.2TB on some plans | 1 year on some plans | 7 |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Other available internet providers in San Francisco
Astound Broadband: Also known as Wave, Astound Broadband is a cable internet option available throughout San Francisco. Download speeds start at 300Mbps and top out at 1,500Mbps, and SF residents can currently pick any speed for only $20 per month. While Astound offers outstanding values at first glance, all plans offer upload speeds no higher than 50Mbps, which doesn't match fiber internet standards.
Etheric Networks: Boasting one of the US's largest fixed wireless coverage maps, with service covering the entire Bay Area and stretching as far south as Salinas, Etheric Networks offers residential internet service through a wireless connection to the company's hardwired infrastructure. You'll need to schedule a free site survey at your home to see if Etheric is even an option at your address, and while the company doesn't post its prices online, a 2021 Etheric blog post explaining why the service costs more than Comcast gives a good indication that it skews on the expensive side.
Google Fiber Webpass: None of the Bay Area metros are Google Fiber cities -- for that, you'll need to head south to Orange County. However, San Francisco and Oakland are home to scores of buildings equipped with Google Fiber Webpass. This fixed wireless service uses antennas to send a high-speed signal to multi-dwelling buildings like apartment complexes. Speeds up to a gigabit are possible at some addresses for a flat rate of $70 per month or $63 for a yearly plan.
Monkeybrains: Monkeybrains is a local provider of fixed wireless internet services operating in San Francisco since 1998. When you sign up, the company will install an antenna on the roof of your building and run an Ethernet cable into your home -- plug in a router, and voila, internet access. Your speeds will depend on the strength of the signal at your address, and you shouldn't expect anything blazing fast, but at a flat rate of $35 per month, Monkeybrains might be worth a call if nothing else is available.
Raw Bandwidth Communications: Raw Bandwidth utilizes a mix of internet technologies to get businesses and residential addresses online and even offers private line service with up to gigabit speeds. Residential service is available in much of San Francisco and surrounding areas, but most homes in that coverage map will have to settle for DSL or even dial-up service, making this an outdated option for Bay Area residents. Speeds won't get any faster than 100Mbps under the best circumstances and will likely be much lower. Still, with no data caps and no prescheduled price increases, Raw Bandwidth might be a good fit for homes requiring basic connectivity for checking email and light browsing.
Satellite internet: Satellite internet from Hughesnet or Viasat is available pretty much anywhere. Still, you shouldn't expect fast speeds, low latency or value -- satellite internet often comes with steep equipment costs, tight data caps and long-term service contracts. Starlink, the satellite internet service from SpaceX and Elon Musk, is your third option. It doesn't offer the same universal availability as Hughesnet or Viasat and costs $120 to $500 per month, plus $599 upfront for the equipment.
T-Mobile Home Internet: For $60 per month, T-Mobile can connect eligible addresses to the internet over the same wireless airwaves used for mobile connections, including 5G airwaves. The service offers better overall availability than Verizon since it leans on 4G/LTE airwaves as well, but that also means that average speeds are slower, with downloads ranging from 72 to 245Mbps and uploads ranging from 15 to 31Mbps. There are no data caps or contracts with T-Mobile, so it's an appealing option for rural customers in the coverage map without access to faster fiber or cable plans.
Cheap internet options in San Francisco
If you're trying to keep your internet bill as low as possible, you won't need to spend much more than $50 per month with any of San Francisco's top providers. With Xfinity, available just about everywhere, the cheapest plan available nets you download speeds of up to 150Mbps and upload speeds of up to 10Mbps for just $20 per month during the promo period. Astound Broadband also offers any of its tiers for $20 per month, granting you download speeds up to 1,500Mbps.
What's the cheapest internet plan in San Francisco?
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Astound 1500 Read full review | $20 | 1,500Mbps | None |
|
Xfinity Connect Read full review | $20 | 150Mbps | $15 (optional) |
|
Xfinity Connect More Read full review | $25 | 300Mbps | None |
| Raw Bandwidth Communications | $30 | 3Mbps | None |
| Sonic | $50 | 10,000Mbps | $10 (optional) |
|
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | $50 ($35 with eligible mobile plan) | 300Mbps | None |
|
AT&T Home Internet Read full review | $55 | 100Mbps | None |
|
AT&T Fiber 300 Read full review | $55 | 300Mbps | 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 San Francisco
The best internet deals and top promotions in San Francisco depend on what discounts are available during a given time. Most deals are short lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
San Francisco internet providers, such as Sonic, Xfinity and Astound Broadband, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, 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 San Francisco broadband?
Although multiple fiber and cable providers cover the Bay Area, San Francisco's internet speeds are relatively slow. The city ranks 72nd on Ookla's list of the cities in the US with the fastest internet speeds and clocks a median download speed of 215Mbps.
If you're looking for more speed than the SF average, you have many options and ISPs to choose from. The fastest connection in San Francisco is offered by Sonic, delivering speeds up to 10Gbps in select areas for $50 per month. If you're unable to get Sonic at your address, AT&T Fiber, Xfinity and Astound Broadband also offer gigabit and multi-gigabit plans.
Fastest internet plans in San Francisco
| Plan | Starting price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data caps | Internet technology |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonic | $50 | 10,000Mbps | 10,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
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 |
|
Astound 1500 Read full review | $20 | 1,500Mbps | 50Mbps | None | Cable |
|
Xfinity Gigabit Extra Read full review | $70 | 1,200Mbps | 35Mbps | None | Cable |
|
Astound 1000 Read full review | $20 | 1,000Mbps | 50Mbps | None | Cable |
|
AT&T Fiber 1000 Read full review | $80 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read full review | $70 ($45 with eligible mobile plan) | 1,000Mbps | 75Mbps | None | Fixed wireless |
|
Xfinity Gigabit Read full review | $65 | 1,000Mbps | 20Mbps | 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.
- 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 like videoconferencing, streaming and gaming.
For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in San Francisco
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 use 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 answers to those questions are often layered and complex, the providers who 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.
What's the final word on internet providers in San Francisco?
If your home is wired for fiber, you're in good shape. Along with fast speeds, fiber internet offers some of the best value in broadband, with costs per Mbps that typically fall well below what you'll get with cable, fixed wireless, DSL or satellite. Service from Sonic costs a flat $50 per month and nets you whatever the best possible speeds are at your address, making it a tremendous value for homes with wiring capable of hitting 10Gbps. Meanwhile, AT&T is more flexible with its fiber service, allowing users to pay less for lower speeds. If fiber isn't available at your address, sticking with a cable provider like Xfinity or Astound Broadband is your next best option.
Internet providers in San Francisco FAQ
Does San Francisco have fiber internet?
Yes. AT&T is the largest fiber internet provider in the area, with a fiber footprint covering more than a million locations. That includes multi-gig speeds of up to 5Gbps, which AT&T says are available at roughly one-third of fiber-eligible addresses in the area. Sonic offers fiber internet service at select locations in San Francisco too. Similar to AT&T, the majority of that company's coverage map consists of slower DSL connections.
How fast are internet plans in San Francisco?
The San Francisco Bay Area boasts a fairly wide range of internet providers, including fiber plans from AT&T and Sonic, cable plans from Comcast Xfinity and Astound Broadband, and fixed wireless service over 5G and 4G/LTE airwaves from Verizon and T-Mobile. Speeds vary by provider, plan and, in some cases, by address, but most homes will have access to gigabit-or-better speeds from one provider or another. At some addresses, AT&T Fiber multi-gig speeds as high as 5 gigabits per second may be an option, and Sonic claims to offer fiber speeds of up to 10Gbps, but speeds like those aren't available everywhere yet.
Is Google Fiber available in San Francisco?
No. Google doesn't offer fiber internet service anywhere in the Bay Area. However, the company offers its Google Fiber Webpass service at select San Francisco and Oakland locations. Instead of a direct fiber connection, Webpass buildings use a special antenna to receive a high-speed internet signal over the air, with speeds up to a gigabit available in some instances.
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