Internet providers in Cincinnati, OH

How much speed do you need?

Take a quick quiz to decide what speeds are best for your household

Discover the speed you need

Wanna know more? Check out these internet resources.

CenturyLink vs. Spectrum

If you want a national provider, you’ll need to choose between CenturyLink and Spectrum. Find out which is right for you.

Cable vs. Fiber: Which Internet Type Is Right for You?

Both fiber and cable internet are common types of broadband internet, but which connection is right for you?

The Fastest Internet Providers 2020

Internet speeds across the country vary depending on where you live and which plan you get. We break down the fastest ones.

“I have the Fioptics through Cincinnati Bell and it works good. The price package is awesome.”

–Colleen N

“Service is generally very good, but pricing is unfair, being a long term customer of many years I feel I should be getting better pricing”

–Abe W

“The speed is sufficient. I do find that my wi-fi signal gets dropped from time to time which is not good if I am doing work for my online classes.”

—Amy S.

Summary of Cincinnati internet providers

Provider	Type	Download speeds up to	User rating	Order online
T-Mobile Home Internet	5G Home	245 Mbps	4.0/5	View Plans for T-Mobile Home Internet
Spectrum	Cable	1000 Mbps (wireless speeds may vary)	3.5/5	View Plans for Spectrum CTAM Plans
Verizon Home Internet	5G Home	300 Mbps	4/5	View Plans for Verizon Home Internet
Mediacom	Cable	1000 Mbps	3.5/5	View Plans for Mediacom CTAM Plans
Hughesnet	Satellite	100 Mbps	3/5	View Plans for Hughesnet
Viasat	Satellite	150 Mbps	3/5	View Plans for Viasat
Starlink	Satellite	220 Mbps	4.0/5	View Plans for Starlink
ispMint	5G Home	5 Mbps	4.5/5	View Plans for ispMint
altafiber	Fiber	1000 Mbps	3.0/5	View Plans for altafiber
PowerNet Global	Fixed Wireless	100 Mbps	N/A	View Plans for PowerNet Global

Availability and speeds displayed are not guaranteed and are subject to change.

Technology Type

DSL:

DSL provides internet service via phone cables and is up to ten times faster than dial-up service.

Cable:

Cable provides internet speeds faster than DSL through the same cables used for cable TV.

Satellite:

Satellite internet is widely available, but offers slower speeds due to a far-traveling signal.

Fiber:

Fiber relies on glass strands to relay digital code and is much faster than both DSL and cable.

What is the best internet provider in Cincinnati?

Spectrum - No data capsCTAM Plans
Verizon Home Internet - Fast upload and download speeds
Mediacom - Good for multiple usersCTAM Plans
Hughesnet - Perfect for rural areas
Viasat - Widely available
altafiber - Net neutral network

Spectrum CTAM Plans is the best option for home internet in Cincinnati, offering speeds up to 1,000 Mbps as well as a variety of more affordable plans. Spectrum provides high-speed cable service with plenty of bandwidth for things like work, school, or just watching Netflix.

CenturyLink offers DSL at slower speeds but more affordable prices. Mediacom CTAM Plansis another good option for cable internet service in Cincinnati with fast speeds and reasonable prices from a big provider with a slightly smaller national footprint than Spectrum.

There are also local internet providers like Cincinnati Bell, which offers fiber plans with speeds up to 1,000 Mbps.

If none of these providers serve your area, you can also consider satellite internet. Although it’s far from the fastest option, both Viasat and Hughesnet are available everywhere and have speeds ranging from 50 Mbps to 150 Mbps.

Highest-rated internet providers in Cincinnati

The highest-rated internet provider in Cincinnati in our annual customer satisfaction survey this year was T-Mobile, which came out ahead of the larger nationwide providers.

Among the larger nationwide internet providers, EarthLink once again took the highest ranked position. Spectrum CTAM Plans came in third place and Mediacom CTAM Plans took seventh place. CenturyLink came in eighth place overall, just behind Mediacom.

In addition to these providers, Cincinnati is also home to local internet providers like Cincinnati Bell, which offers fiber plans with speeds up to 1,000 Mbps.

Fastest internet service providers in Cincinnati

Spectrum CTAM Plans and are the fastest internet providers in Cincinnati, both offering download speeds of 1,000 Mbps. For content creators and those who work from home, Cincinnati Bell’s fiber connection has the added bonus of symmetrical upload speeds. This means that you get the same gigabit speeds sending information as you get when downloading information.

Provider	Price	Speed	Rating	View on Provider Site
altafiber	$39.99–$69.99/mo.*	Up to 1,000 Mbps	N/A	View Cincinnati Bell Plans
Spectrum CTAM Plans	$49.99–$89.99/mo.^†	Up to 1,000 Mbps	3.6/5.0	View Spectrum Plans

Data effective as of 6/29/2022. Prices and availability vary by region and are subject to change.

*for 12–36 months.

^†Limited time offer; subject to change; valid to qualified residential customers who have not subscribed to any services within the previous 30 days and who have no outstanding obligation to Charter. Spectrum Internet® Gig promotion price is $89.99/mo; standard rates apply after yr. 1. Taxes, fees and surcharges extra and subject to change during and after the promotional period; installation/network activation, equipment and additional services are extra.

Looking for an easy way to test and track your internet speed anywhere?

Download our free, easy-to-use speed test app for quick and reliable results.

Cheapest internet service providers in Cincinnati

The cheapest internet service in Cincinnati is Mediacom CTAM Plans, which comes in at under $20 per month. altafiber comes in second at $39.99. While it may be twice the price of Mediacom’s budget plan, Cincinnati Bell’s cheapest option is more than twice as fast, so it’s important to consider value along with overall cost.

Provider	Price	Speed	Rating	View on Provider Site
Mediacom CTAM Plans	$19.99–$59.99/mo.*	Up to 100 Mbps	3.6/5.0	View Mediacom Plans
altafiber	$39.99–$69.99/mo.^†	Up to 1,000 Mbps	N/A	View Cincinnati Bell Plans

Data effective as of 6/29/2022. Prices and availability vary by region and are subject to change.

*For the first 12 months. Plus, activation, installation, and monthly modem rental fees.

^†for 12–36 months.

Internet Deals and Promotions in Cincinnati, OH

Provider	Available Deal	View on Provider’s Site
	Get $100 for you and a friend when you refer them to CenturyLink. Plus, get a $10 donation to your choice of charity. Get free installation when you sign up for a fiber internet plan with 940Mbps speeds.	Get the Deal
CTAM Plans	Get a three-year price lock when you sign up for a 500Mbps internet plan and bundle with two unlimited plus mobile lines and a TV plan.	Get the Deal
	Get a gift card worth up to $200 when you sign up for Earthlink fiber internet.	Get the Deal
	Get a free 40-inch smart TV when you sign up for T-Mobile Home Internet by Jan. 15, 2025. Get a free Blink smart security package when you switch to T-Mobile Home Internet. Get Netflix Standard with ads included with most Go5G plans.	Get the Deal
CTAM Plans	Get a whole-home mesh Wi-Fi system plus an internet security system included for free for one year.	Get the Deal
	Save up to $25 every month in your first year of service. Get free professional installation, including Wi-Fi setup and device connection.	Get the Deal
	Get free professional installation (with credit qualification) when you sign up for a qualifying home internet plan.	Get the Deal

Fiber internet in Cincinnati

Cincinnati currently has only one option for fiber internet—Cincinnati Bell. Besides being local, this small fiber network manages to cover nearly the entire city, making it a very appealing choice. Fiber connections are important because they provide not only lightning-fast download speeds, but also equally fast upload speeds. Upload speed is important for livestreaming, video chat, and many other online activities. Fiber is also reliable, which means fewer outages to worry about.

Cincinnati residential internet coverage

Residential internet coverage in the Over-the-Rhine district varies by provider. Of the major providers in Cincinnati, only two cover the entire area: Spectrum CTAM Plans and Cincinnati Bell. This includes both the downtown area near the Krohn Conservatory and Cincinnati Art Museum and outlying suburbs, from Westwood and Mount Airy to Madisonville, Oakley, and Pleasant Ridge, and on down along the Ohio River by Mount Adams and East End.

CenturyLink doesn’t offer coverage in downtown Cincinnati, but it does bring service to some northern neighborhoods like North Avondale near Xavier University, clear up near Lake Erie by Winton Place, and past Columbus and approaching Akron in College Hills.

Viasat and Hughesnet are both available nationwide, so they cover the entire Cincinnati area and even out to the most rural areas and towns, like Yellow Springs, Granville, and Sugarcreek.

Internet providers in Cincinnati, OH

What’s a good internet speed?

How much speed do you need?