What is the best internet provider in Waco?
Looking for the best internet service provider in Waco, Texas? CNET’s broadband experts have reviewed providers in the region to help you find the best plan for your needs. When it comes to fast and reliable Internet service in Waco, CNET is the top choice The spectrum. It offers unlimited data and good first-year pricing to get you up to speed. There is no contract requirement either. Your next best bets are Astound Broadband and Nextlink.
Astound offers some of the most affordable broadband in Waco with a plan starting at 300 megabits per second for just $20 per month, including equipment. Need speed? AT&T Fiber offers symmetrical speeds of up to 5 gigabits per second — the fastest plan in the area.
Best Internet in Waco
Compare Waco Internet Providers
| PROVIDER | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | contracts | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazed Broadband Read the full review |
CABLES | 20-55 dollars | 300-1500 Mbps | ANY | ANY | ANY | 7 |
| AT&T Internet Air Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $60 ($47 with an eligible wireless plan) | 75-225 Mbps | ANY | ANY | ANY | 7.4 |
| AT&T Fiber Read the full review |
Fiber | $55-$245 | 300-5000Mbps | ANY | ANY | ANY | 7.4 |
| Next link | Fixed wireless | $40-$85 | 50-500 Mbps | $8 (optional) | ANY | 2 years | N/A |
| The spectrum Read the full review |
CABLES | 25-70 dollars | 500-1000Mbps | Free modem; $10 router rental (optional) | ANY | ANY | 7.2 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50 ($30 for eligible mobile customers) | 72-245 Mbps | ANY | ANY | ANY | 7.4 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Waco?
| PROVIDER | Initial monthly price | Maximum download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Astound 300 Read the full review |
20 dollars | 300 Mbps | ANY |
| Spectrum Internet Assist Read the full review |
25 dollars | 50 Mbps | Free modem; $10 router rental (optional) |
| Internet spectrum advantage Read the full review |
30 dollars | 100 Mbps | Free modem; $10 router rental (optional) |
| Astound 600 Read the full review |
35 dollars | 600 Mbps | ANY |
| Next link | 40 dollars | 50 Mbps | $8 (optional) |
| A staggering 1,000 Read the full review |
45 dollars | 1000 Mbps | ANY |
| Next link | 45 dollars | 100 Mbps | $8 (optional) |
| Spectrum Internet Premier Read the full review |
50 dollars | 500 Mbps | Free modem; $10 router rental (optional) |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($30 with eligible mobile plan) | 245 Mbps | ANY |
| AT&T Internet Air Read the full review |
$60 ($47 with an eligible wireless plan) | 225 Mbps | ANY |
| A staggering 1,500 Read the full review |
55 dollars | 1500 Mbps | ANY |
| AT&T Fiber Read the full review |
55 dollars | 300 Mbps | ANY |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find deals and promotions online in Waco
The best internet deals and top promotions in Waco depend on the discounts available during that period. Most deals are short-lived, but we often look for the latest deals.
Waco Internet providers, such as Nextlink and Astound Broadband, may offer lower introductory prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, including AT&T and T-Mobile, have the same standard prices year-round.
For a more extensive list of promotions, our guide to the best internet deals has you covered.
Fastest Internet Plans in Waco
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is 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 video conferencing, video streaming, or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a stronger connection. Here’s a summary of the minimum recommended download speeds for various apps, according to the Federal Communications Commission. Note that these are guidelines only — 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 5 Mbps lets you handle the basics: web browsing, sending and receiving email, streaming low-quality video.
- 5 to 40 Mbps gives you the highest quality video streaming and video conferencing.
- 40 to 100 Mbps should give a user enough bandwidth to meet the demands of modern telecommunications, video streaming and online gaming.
- 100 to 500 Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities such as video conferencing, streaming, and online gaming.
- 500 to 1000 Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET picked the best Internet providers in Waco
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router, or kitchen appliance, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what is our approach? We start by researching price, availability, and speed information based on our historical ISP data, provider sites, and map information from FCC.gov.
But it doesn’t end there. We use the FCC website to check our data and make sure we account for every ISP that provides service in an area. We also enter local addresses into provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look to sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power, to gauge how satisfied customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent change; all information provided is correct at the time of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three key questions:
- Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Are customers getting good value for what they are paying?
- Are customers satisfied with their service?
While the answer to these questions is often layered and complex, the providers that come closest to saying “yes” to all three are the ones we recommend. When it comes to choosing the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also take into account things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively simple. We look at advertised upload and download speeds, and also consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
To explore our process in more depth, visit our page on how we test ISPs.
Internet Providers in Waco FAQ
What is the best internet service provider in Waco?
Spectrum is the best Internet provider in Waco, because of its wide coverage and simple service details. Speeds range from 50 Mbps to 1000 Mbps and unlimited data is included in the monthly cost.
Is fiber internet available in Waco?
yes. However, only two fiber providers exist in Waco – AT&T Fiber and Pavlov Media – and only half of the households in the area will be able to use the fiber connection, according to the FCC.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Waco?
The cheapest internet provider in Waco is Astound Broadband. Its 300 Mbps plan costs just $20 per month.
Which internet provider in Waco offers the fastest plan?
AT&T Fiber offers the fastest plan in Waco: 5,000 Mbps for $245. Astound Broadband takes second place with its 1.5 Gbps plan, which costs $55 per month.
