Internet providers in Austin, TX

What is the best internet provider in Austin?

• AT&T - Great value
• Spectrum - No data caps
• CenturyLink - Low-cost options
• EarthLink - Multiple service types available
• Viasat - Widely available
• Suddenlink Communications - 30-day money back guarantee
• Frontier - No-contract plans available
• HughesNet - Perfect for rural areas

Austin, Texas, is a hub for music, culture, politics, and solid internet service. If you’re looking for ways to connect in the capital of Texas, Austin has several great choices for people shopping for internet service. AT&T and Spectrum both cover the majority of the downtown area and suburbs with solid speeds, while CenturyLink brings affordable options and fiber speeds to outlying areas.

For those who have a need for speed, AT&T offers speeds up to 1,000 Mbps. Spectrum speeds can reach up to 100 Mbps, which is still more than fast enough for almost anything you can throw at it.

Both of these providers cover basically all of the Austin area, so finding an internet plan that works for you should be easy. CenturyLink availability is more limited—mostly in the far northeastern and southern parts of town—but it’s still a good option for people who live in those areas.

Highest-rated internet providers in Austin

EarthLink is by far the highest-rated internet provider in Austin. It ranked first overall in our 2020 customer satisfaction survey. Additionally, AT&T, Spectrum, Frontier, and CenturyLink all landed in the top 50% of internet providers in our survey, with providers like AT&T ranking especially high in customer satisfaction for speed and installation and setup.

Spectrum scores well for speed and reliability, which is something you’d expect from a cable network. Cable networks are capable of reaching higher speeds than DSL, and they aren’t susceptible to weather interference.

CenturyLink tends to fall toward the middle or rear of the pack for most satisfaction categories in our 2020 survey, but it has one big advantage: its Price for Life guarantee on its service packages. This ensures that the price you agree to when signing up is the price you’ll pay for as long as you have service. That’s a refreshing alternative to unexpected price hikes after the first year of a contract, and it’s likely a big part of why CenturyLink ranks fourth overall in monthly bill satisfaction.

Fastest internet service providers in Austin

AT&T offers internet at speeds up to 1000 Mbps

EarthLink offers internet at speeds up to 1000 Mbps

Suddenlink Communications offers internet at speeds up to 1000 Mbps

Grande Communications offers internet at speeds up to 1000 Mbps

When it comes to internet speed in Austin, AT&T is the top dog. AT&T customers in Austin get access to the provider’s speedy fiber network, with speeds up to 1 gig available at a reasonable price. Spectrum also offers solid speeds (up to 100 Mbps).

CenturyLink falls quite short of the pack with only 15 Mbps available in Austin. However, if you’re on the southwest side of town—where AT&T has a coverage gap—CenturyLink may be a good bet.

If none of these providers offer the package you need, you can also consider satellite internet. Although it’s far from the fastest option, both Viasat and HughesNet cover the entire area (as well as the whole rest of the country) and have speeds ranging from 12 Mbps to 100 Mbps.

Austin residential internet coverage

AT&T in Austin

AT&T offers coverage for the entire downtown Austin area and the vast majority of suburbs. The only major gap is in the southwest area of Austin, past Restoration Ranch Airport.

Spectrum in Austin

Spectrum brings fast cable service to an even larger coverage area than AT&T. Service is available from North Austin and North Burnett all the way down to Sweetbriar. If AT&T doesn’t have a package that meets your needs, chances are good Spectrum will.

CenturyLink in Austin

CenturyLink provides service to outlying neighborhoods on the north side of town, including North Austin, North Lamar, and Windsor Hills. CenturyLink also covers the southwest area that AT&T misses, so if you live south of Ranch to Market Road, it may be a good option.