My TDS internet review
TDS operates in rural and suburban areas throughout the U.S. Although it has a much smaller coverage area than most nationwide providers, most states have at least a handful of areas where TDS offers service.
Much like its coverage area, TDS’s plans are a bit sporadic, with fiber and cable available in different regions. Not all plans are available in all regions, so it’s important to know which options you have at your address and how they compare to other providers in the area.
Pros
No router fee
Price-for-life options
30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
Limited availability
One-time router handling fee
Whole-home Wi-Fi fee (optional)
In this review:
Plans and pricing | My favorite plan | Deals | Data caps | Fees | Installation, equipment, and contracts | Customer ratings | TDS vs. the competition | Final call | FAQ | Methodology
In this review:
Compare TDS internet plans and pricing
2-year pricing
Package | Price* | Speed |
---|---|---|
1 Gig Fiber Internet | $49.99/mo. for 24 mos. | 948Mbps |
2 Gig Fiber Internet | $69.99/mo. for 24 mos. | 2,230Mbps |
5 Gig Fiber Internet | $99.99/mo. for 24 mos. | 5,620Mbps |
8 Gig Fiber Internet | $199.99/mo. for 24 mos. | 8,300Mbps |
Data as of 08/08/2025. Availability and speed may vary by location, and prices are subject to change. See disclaimers.
Price-for-life pricing
Package | Price* | Speed |
---|---|---|
1 Gig Fiber Internet | $69.99/mo. for life | 948Mbps |
2 Gig Fiber Internet | $89.99/mo. for life | 2,230Mbps |
5 Gig Fiber Internet | $119.99/mo. for life | 5,620Mbps |
8 Gig Fiber Internet | $219.99/mo. for life | 8,300Mbps |
Data as of 08/08/2025. Availability and speed may vary by location, and prices are subject to change. See disclaimers.
TDS internet: My favorite plan
1 Gig Fiber Internet is my top pick. It gives more than enough speed for the average household which makes it great for those with a lot of devices on their home networks.
Although fiber plans aren’t available throughout TDS’ entire coverage area, the provider has been working over the last few years to expand its fiber network to reach 1.2 million locations, according to Fierce Telecom.
What speeds are best for you?
TDS offers a range of fiber plans from 1,000Mbps to 8,000Mbps that can go toe-to-toe with some of the fastest internet plans in the country.
The best plans TDS has to offer are its fiber plans, which not only offer high download speeds, but equally fast upload speeds and high overall reliability. Although there is some overlap between its fiber and cable networks, its fiber footprint doesn’t fill its entire coverage area. If TDS Fiber is available in your area, I highly recommend it.
TDS internet: Data caps
TDS fiber internet does not have data caps. You can surf, play games online, and download as many cat videos as you want without limits and overage fees.
Best deals on TDS internet right now
- Get 45% off with the TDS Whole Home Wi-Fi Security Pack, which includes TDS Whole Home Wi-Fi, TDS Internet Security, and Remote PC Support.
TDS internet: Fees
In addition to the monthly cost of your plan, you might have additional fees, such as the optional whole-home Wi-Fi setup. Contact your TDS agent for more details.
Are you a current TDS customer?
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TDS internet: Installation, equipment, and contracts
Free installation is available to all new customers. Professional installation is included.
If the home already has fiber or cable internet, customers receive a self-install kit instead. TDS charges a one-time fee of $49.95 if a technician must come out to finish the installation.
TDS equipment
TDS gives customers the choice of renting equipment from the provider or simply purchasing your own. Purchasing your own router definitely gives you more options, especially if you’re opting for one of TDS’ ultrafast fiber plans. It can also be a great way to save money if you opt for a plan with lower top speeds.
On the other hand, renting your equipment from TDS is a straightforward option that can make things a lot easier if you must call for technical assistance.
All TDS internet plans include a Wi-Fi router. Plans faster than 1 Gig will include Wi-Fi 7 equipment. Customers also have the option to upgrade their equipment to mesh whole-home Wi-Fi starting at $2.95/mo.
TDS internet contracts
TDS residential internet customers are not tied into contracts, and can cancel service at any time. Furthermore, TDS offers new customers a 30-Day Money Back Guarantee.
See what other TDS customers are saying
We love data. The more information we can learn about customer experience, the more confident we can be in our recommendations. If you’re an TDS customer, we’d love to have you fill out our Customer Review form and let us know about your experience with TDS and check out what others have said, too.
TDS internet versus the competition
Provider | Starting price | Speed range | Customer rating* |
---|---|---|---|
TDS Telecom | $49.99/mo.† | 1,000–8,000Mbps | N/A |
EarthLink | $39.95/mo.‡ | 18–5,000Mbps | 4.0/5 |
Kinetic | $24.99/mo.§ w/ Auto Pay | 50–2,000Mbps | 3.5/5 |
Data effective 06/26/2025. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. See disclaimers.
*According to our annual customer satisfaction survey.
TDS can definitely stand up to many of the other nationwide providers in terms of speed but, again, there’s a lot of variation from area to area. If you have access to TDS Fiber, it might be the clear winner, while in DSL-only areas, it may not be a viable option at all.
Like many of the other plucky telecom underdogs, TDS is expanding at breakneck speed and focusing most of its efforts on fiber, so even if TDS isn’t the best choice for your household at the moment, it’s worth remembering the name, as its offerings in your area may have changed by the next time you’re looking to upgrade your home internet.
Is TDS internet available where you live?
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Final call: Is TDS internet right for you?
TDS provides fast and reliable fiber options in many underserved areas, providing benefits on par with those found in much more urban areas. If TDS has fiber options in your area, we highly suggest comparing them to the plans offered by bigger national brands.
The cable and DSL plans offered by TDS definitely can’t compete with other providers’ fiber options, but in more rural areas, they still might be worth checking out.
Shop TDS Internet for TDS TelecomFAQ about TDS internet
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What does TDS stand for?
Methodology
Our HighSpeedInternet.com editorial team bases our analyses on customer input from our annual customer satisfaction survey, results from our speed test tool, and proprietary internet provider data on speeds and pricing. To strengthen our research, we look closely at provider contracts to get hard-to-find information on price hikes, data caps, and extra fees, and we keep tabs on the latest news reports and online reviews. When applicable, we also rely on our personal experiences testing these services.
Disclaimers
TDS plans
* Date effective 6/25. All-In Internet Pricing: Customers who use TDS Wi-Fi equipment will be charged a one-time $19.95 handling fee. Price includes standard Wi-Fi equipment only; available to new Internet customers and existing customers adding qualifying Internet services. If you disconnect, suspend, or downgrade service(s), you may lose this offer.
Comparisons
† TDS
- All-In Internet Pricing: Customers who use TDS Wi-Fi equipment will be charged a one-time $19.95 handling fee. Price includes standard Wi-Fi equipment only; available to new Internet customers and existing customers adding qualifying Internet services. If you disconnect, suspend, or downgrade service(s), you may lose this offer.
‡ EarthLink
- with a 12 month contract. Actual speeds may vary depending on the distance, line-quality, phone service provider, and number of devices used concurrently. All speeds not available in all areas. DSL and Fiber Plans require a 12 month contract and may have a cancellation fee to be determined upon cancellation.
§ Kinetic
- With $5 Auto Pay for each month the customer is enrolled in AutoPay throughout the life of the customer. Available to new and existing customers. Promotional period pricing ending after 12 months.
- With $5 Auto Pay for each month the customer is enrolled in AutoPay. Limited-time, non-transferable offer for residential customers that may not be combined with other promotions. Credit restrictions may apply. Subject to availability.
- With $5 Auto Pay for each month the customer is enrolled in AutoPay. Limited-time, non-transferable offer for residential customers that may not be combined with other promotions. Credit restrictions may apply. Subject to availability, price duration for 24 months.
Kinetic Broadband Label available at: https://www.windstream.com/support/labels/