Best Internet Providers in Tampa, Florida

Stunning sunsets, waterfront actual property, various tradition, thriving financial system — all of those are the elements that make Tampa. Nevertheless, good web could make or break your expertise within the metropolis. That stated, the most effective total web supplier by our requirements is Frontier Fiber, based mostly on customer support, pricing and total worth. But when it is not accessible at your tackle, there are different web service supplier choices price testing earlier than committing.

Finest web service suppliers in Tampa

In my view, Frontier Fiber delivers the most effective mixture of velocity and worth, however Spectrum or a wi-fi ISP like Verizon 5G Dwelling Web might make extra sense to your dwelling. I’ve listed what I contemplate to be the most effective web suppliers in Tampa, together with plan and pricing particulars that will help you resolve which ISP is best for you. All costs listed on this web page replicate accessible reductions for organising paperless billing. In case you resolve to not go along with computerized month-to-month funds, your value will probably be increased.

Be aware: The costs, speeds and options detailed within the article textual content might differ from these listed within the product element playing cards, which signify suppliers’ nationwide choices. Your specific web service choices — together with costs and speeds — rely in your tackle and should differ from these detailed right here.

All accessible Tampa dwelling web suppliers

The suppliers listed above aren’t the one ones to serve Tampa, however they’re those I’d advocate most. Right here’s a fast comparability of the sensible web choices chances are you’ll come throughout within the Tampa space.

Supply: CNET evaluation of supplier knowledge.

High Tampa ISP honorable mentions

EarthLink: A reputation practically as outdated as dwelling web itself, EarthLink now presents service by piggybacking off of the networks of different suppliers and municipalities. In consequence, you’re prone to pay a bit extra for service in comparison with different suppliers. Pricing and speeds differ broadly by location, however all plans include a one-year contract.

Speedy Programs: Native fastened wi-fi supplier Speedy Programs is an honest alternative for web in rural central Florida, however pricing is excessive and speeds are low within the Tampa Bay space. You’ll need to take a look at different web choices at your tackle earlier than choosing Speedy Programs, as residential pricing in Hillsborough County begins at $79 per 30 days for max speeds of 10Mbps.

T-Cell Dwelling Web: With speeds of 72-245Mbps beginning at $50 per 30 days ($30 for qualifying Magenta Max clients), T-Cell rivals Verizon relating to 5G dwelling web. Although T-Cell doesn’t have the identical velocity potential, it does boast larger protection than Verizon, making it a wonderful alternative for dwelling web in suburban and rural areas exterior of Tampa.

WideOpenWest: You gained’t discover WideOpenWest, aka WOW, in Tampa, however it’s accessible in a lot of the Tampa Bay space, together with Clearwater, East Lake, Oldsmar and St. Petersburg. The cable web supplier is a good alternative for low-cost, high-speed web, with service beginning at $20 per 30 days for speeds as much as 100Mbps.

Satellite tv for pc web: HughesNet, Viasat and probably even Starlink can be found in Tampa, however there are many different cheaper, sooner choices within the space to keep away from having to accept satellite tv for pc web.

How a lot is web in Tampa?

The price for web in Tampa relies on the supplier and plan you select. The most affordable web plans in Tampa will run you $50 per 30 days plus taxes and costs, until you qualify for a reduction with Verizon or T-Cell.

Supply: CNET evaluation of supplier knowledge.

Web choices for low-income households in Tampa

At $50 per 30 days, the monetary barrier for dwelling web service in Tampa is a bit increased than different elements of Florida. As such, chances are you’ll need to search extra reasonably priced web companies.

Begin by checking to see for those who’re eligible for the Reasonably priced Connectivity Program. The federal program grants qualifying households $30 per 30 days to use in direction of dwelling web service. View CNET’s information to the Reasonably priced Connectivity Program to study extra, together with the way to apply.

Moreover, Spectrum presents a reduced web plan designed to assist hold these in low-income households linked. The Spectrum Web Help plan comes with obtain speeds as much as 50Mbps beginning at $25 per 30 days. 

Frontier doesn’t have a particular low-income plan like Spectrum does.

How briskly is web in Tampa?

In line with the latest Ookla velocity take a look at knowledge, the state of Florida ranked No. 1 in Q2 2023 for quickest median obtain speeds within the US at round 232Mbps. Tampa, although it got here in barely slower than the state, ranked forty eighth total amongst US cities with a median obtain velocity of 220Mbps.

Spectrum clocked the quickest median velocity in Tampa at 258Mbps. The supplier additionally ranked first total amongst all main suppliers nationwide with a median obtain velocity of 243Mbps.

There are a lot of elements that may have an effect on velocity checks, reminiscent of utilizing Wi-Fi and an web plan’s max speeds, however Tampa’s velocity take a look at outcomes are spectacular and a great indicator of the speeds you may expertise with Spectrum and Frontier. 

The slowest accessible plan from each suppliers (excluding Spectrum’s Web Help) comes with obtain speeds of as much as 500Mbps. Quicker plans can be found from each suppliers, whereas EarthLink presents speeds as much as 2,000Mbps in choose areas and speeds as much as 1,000Mbps could also be accessible from Verizon 5G Dwelling Web.

Supply: CNET evaluation of supplier knowledge.

How CNET selected the most effective web suppliers in Tampa

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

Nevertheless it does not finish there. We go to the FCC’s web site to verify our knowledge and guarantee we’re contemplating each ISP that gives service in an space. We additionally enter native addresses on supplier web sites to seek out particular choices for residents. To guage how completely happy clients are with an ISP’s service, we have a look at sources together with the American Buyer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Energy. ISP plans and costs are topic to frequent adjustments; all info offered is correct as of the time of publication. 

As soon as we’ve this localized info, we ask three foremost questions: 

• Does the supplier provide entry to fairly quick web speeds? 
• Do clients get first rate worth for what they’re paying? 
• Are clients proud of their service? 

Whereas the reply to these questions is usually layered and sophisticated, the suppliers who come closest to “sure” on all three are those we advocate. 

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

Tampa dwelling web FAQs