Best Internet Providers in Illinois

What’s the greatest web supplier in Illinois?

AT&T Fiber is CNET’s alternative for the perfect web service supplier in Illinois. It has the perfect fiber web protection in Illinois, the most effective picks of high-speed plans that embody limitless knowledge and free tools and the best buyer satisfaction of any main supplier within the state.

However AT&T Fiber is not the state’s most cost-effective or quickest ISP. Mediacom is tops this checklist with its $15 monthly Xtream Join plan — providing obtain speeds as much as 100Mbps. Astound used to have the most cost-effective web plan in Illinois — with service beginning at $20 monthly. Xfinity even affords multi-gigabit plans, as much as 10,000Mbps, though service areas are restricted. Xfinity additionally has the perfect availability of any non-satellite supplier in Illinois. 

Xfinity and AT&T are high selections for web in Illinois. Nonetheless, the perfect web service supplier on your house will finally rely on the obtainable web suppliers in your space and what you’re in search of, whether or not that’s the most affordable service, the quickest speeds or the perfect general worth.

Greatest web in Illinois in 2024

Supply: CNET evaluation of supplier knowledge.

Different obtainable web suppliers in Illinois

• Brightspeed: After buying DSL networks from Lumen Applied sciences (CenturyLink), Brightspeed affords web within the western Illinois areas of Galesburg, Dixon and Manito. DSL service begins at $50 monthly for the quickest speeds obtainable, as much as 100Mbps.
• Frontier: DSL web is accessible all through a lot of Illinois, however the low speeds are most likely value passing on if different cable, fiber or 5G choices can be found in your space. Then again, Frontier Fiber has the speeds, service phrases and worth to rival AT&T Fiber, however the service is simply obtainable in choose areas.
• Mediacom: Cable web service from Mediacom affords obtain speeds from 100 to 1,000Mbps, beginning at $15 to $60 monthly, relying in your velocity and choices. Most plans include an information cap starting from 400GB-2TB.
• Rise Broadband: Mounted wi-fi web is a good possibility for broadband in rural areas, however with max speeds of 25 to 50Mbps beginning at $45 monthly in most areas, Rise Broadband doesn’t have the identical worth as T-Cellular Dwelling Web. 
• Sparklight: Beforehand often known as Cable One, Sparklight affords cable web service in choose components of Illinois, together with Taylorville, Hillsboro, Benton and Fairfield. Service is comparatively low-cost, from $25 to $60 monthly for speeds starting from 100 to 940Mbps.
• Spectrum: The nation’s second-largest cable web supplier doesn’t have close to the protection of Xfinity in Illinois, however these within the Mt. Vernon and larger St. Louis areas could also be eligible for service. Plans begin at $30 to $70 month-to-month for max obtain speeds of 100 to 1,000Mbps and embody limitless knowledge and a free modem.
• Verizon 5G Dwelling Web: Verizon’s wi-fi house web service boasts quicker max speeds than T-Cellular Dwelling Web, however availability is usually restricted to Chicago and the larger St. Louis space. Two plans — Dwelling, beginning at $50 monthly for speeds of fifty to 300Mbps and Dwelling Plus, $70 for 85 to 1,000Mbps — can be found and include tools rental, limitless knowledge and no contact necessities. Qualifying Verizon cellular prospects can get Dwelling and Dwelling Plus for $35 and $45 monthly, respectively.
• Satellite tv for pc web: Wired and stuck wi-fi connections cowl greater than 99% of Illinois households, in response to the FCC, so that you shouldn’t need to depend on satellite tv for pc web. If, nevertheless, no different sensible choices can be found, Hughesnet and Viasat are high selections for satellite tv for pc web, although Starlink could ship quicker speeds. 

Illinois web choices by metropolis

It’s laborious to cowl the web choices of a complete state like Illinois whereas giving particular person cities the in-depth consideration they deserve. That’s why we’ve additionally put collectively lists of the perfect web suppliers in cities throughout the US, together with these in Illinois. For those who don’t discover your hometown under, examine again later. We’re working so as to add extra on daily basis.

Low cost web choices in Illinois

Cable web suppliers Xfinity, Astound, Sparklight and Mediacom have the most affordable web plans in Illinois. Astound has the most affordable plan at $20 monthly for speeds as much as 300Mbps, Xfinity and Sparklight most cost-effective plans are first rate offers too, providing speeds as much as 150Mbps and 300Mbps for $30 and $35 monthly, respectively.

What is the most cost-effective web in Illinois?

Supply: CNET evaluation of supplier knowledge.

Find out how to discover web offers and promotions in Illinois

The most effective web offers and high promotions in Illinois rely on what reductions can be found throughout that point. Most offers are short-lived, however we glance continuously for the most recent affords. 

Illinois web suppliers, corresponding to Astound Broadband, could provide decrease introductory pricing or particular affords for a restricted time. Others, together with AT&T Fiber, Xfinity and Spectrum, run the identical normal pricing year-round. 

For a extra intensive checklist of promos, try our information on the perfect web offers. 

How briskly is Illinois broadband?

Ookla velocity take a look at knowledge from This autumn 2023 exhibits Illinois had a median obtain velocity of 187Mbps, good for thirty ninth place amongst all 50 states and Washington, DC. The speeds are decrease than the nationwide common of 267Mbps and neighboring states of Indiana (201Mbps), Kentucky (210Mbps), Missouri (208Mbps) and Wisconsin (201Mbps) however quicker than Iowa (162Mbps). (Ookla is owned by the identical mother or father firm as CNET, Ziff Davis)

Fiber web is usually the perfect supply for quick speeds and has the benefit of symmetrical (or shut) add and obtain speeds. Cable web can even pack loads of obtain velocity (Astound Broadband affords as much as 1,500Mbps, for instance) however add speeds are usually a lot slower.

Quickest web plans in Illinois

Supply: CNET evaluation of supplier knowledge.

What’s an excellent web velocity?

Most web connection plans can now deal with fundamental productiveness and communication duties. For those who’re in search of an web plan that may accommodate video conferencing, streaming video or gaming, you may have a greater expertise with a extra strong connection. Here is an outline of the advisable minimal obtain speeds for varied functions, in response to the FCC. Be aware that these are solely tips; web velocity, service and efficiency fluctuate by connection sort, supplier and handle.

For extra data, check with our information on how a lot web velocity you really want.

• 0 to 5Mbps permits you to sort out the fundamentals: searching the web, sending and receiving electronic mail and streaming low-quality video.
• 5 to 40Mbps offers you higher-quality video streaming and video conferencing.
• 40 to 100Mbps ought to give one person adequate bandwidth to fulfill the calls for of contemporary telecommuting, video streaming and on-line gaming. 
• 100 to 500Mbps permits one to 2 customers to concurrently have interaction in high-bandwidth actions like video conferencing, streaming and on-line gaming. 
• 500 to 1,000Mbps permits three or extra customers to interact in high-bandwidth actions on the identical time.

How CNET selected the perfect web suppliers in Illinois

Web service suppliers are quite a few and regional. In contrast to the most recent smartphone, laptop computer, router or kitchen instrument, it’s impractical to personally take a look at each ISP in a given metropolis. What’s our strategy? We begin by researching the pricing, availability and velocity data drawing on our personal historic ISP knowledge, the supplier websites and mapping data from the Federal Communications Fee at FCC.gov.

It doesn’t finish there: We go to the FCC’s web site to examine our knowledge and guarantee we take into account each ISP that gives service in an space. We additionally enter native addresses on supplier web sites to seek out particular choices for residents. We have a look at sources, together with the American Buyer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Energy, to judge how comfortable prospects are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and costs are topic to frequent adjustments; all data offered is correct as of publication.

As soon as we have now this localized data, we ask three important questions:

1. Does the supplier provide entry to moderately quick web speeds?
2. Do prospects get first rate worth for what they’re paying?
3. Are prospects pleased with their service?

Whereas the solutions to these questions are sometimes layered and sophisticated, the suppliers that come closest to “sure” on all three are those we suggest. When choosing the most affordable web service, we search for the plans with the bottom month-to-month payment, though we additionally think about issues like value will increase, tools charges and contracts. Selecting the quickest web service is comparatively easy. We have a look at marketed add and obtain speeds and take into account real-world velocity knowledge from sources like Ookla and FCC studies.

To discover our course of in additional depth, go to our how we take a look at ISPs web page.

What’s the ultimate phrase on web suppliers in Illinois?

Xfinity has the perfect protection of any non-satellite supplier, the most affordable web plan and the quickest web velocity tier in Illinois. The most affordable plan solely affords speeds as much as 100Mbps, and availability for Xfinity’s quickest plan (as much as 10,000Mbps) requires entry to the supplier’s fiber community, which is restricted in Illinois.

Whereas there’s an excellent probability your Illinois handle is serviceable for Xfinity, it’s value contemplating different suppliers that could be obtainable as properly to make sure you’re getting the perfect speeds and worth. 

If fiber web is accessible from suppliers corresponding to Frontier Fiber or AT&T Fiber (CNET’s choose for greatest ISP in Illinois general), it’s prone to be a greater worth, even whether it is barely dearer within the first 12 months or two. In any other case, look to cable suppliers corresponding to Astound, Mediacom, Sparklight and Spectrum, or fastened wi-fi service from T-Cellular Dwelling Web and Verizon 5G Dwelling Web for quick, dependable house web in Illinois.

Web suppliers in Illinois FAQs