What is the best internet provider in Chapel Hill?
CNET Recommended AT&T fiber As the best overall provider for people living in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Although there are other providers with larger coverage in the region, AT&T fiber offers a variety of plans for a variety of needs, ranging from 300Mbps to 5,000Mbps, all at a range of prices. There is also no set price increase, and AT&T fiber is well rated in terms of customer satisfaction.
For residents looking for a decent internet package tied to TV, we recommend spectrum. If you bundle both your TV and the internet, you can get up to $20 per month for internet interest rate discounts. That's not a bad thing. Spectrum is also widely available, even more important than AT&T fiber, so if you can't get one Internet service provider, at least you can get another.
If you seek high speeds and are willing to splash cash, there are also Google Fiber. For $150 a month, you will be able to get 8,000Mbps, which is the speed for businesses and busy families. Worth investing in, especially if you work remotely.
Last but not least, anyone looking for the best fixed wireless internet in Chapel Hill should consider T-Mobile Home Internet. It may not have the fastest speed, but it isn't expensive either, and if bundled with some mobile plans you can get an ISP for a pretty decent price.
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Internet Provider Comparison
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment cost | Data cap | contract | CNET Comment Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T fiber Read the full review |
fiber | $55- $245 | 300-5,000Mbps | Nothing | Nothing | Nothing | 7.4 |
| Google Fiber Read the full review |
fiber | $70-$150 | 1,000-8,000Mbps | Nothing | Nothing | Nothing | 7.5 |
| spectrum Read the full review |
cable | $30-$70 | 100-1,000Mbps | $10 (optional) | Nothing | Nothing | 7.2 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$55 with qualified mobile plans) | 87-415Mbps | Nothing | Nothing | Nothing | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G home internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 with qualified mobile plans) | 50-250Mbps | Nothing | Nothing | Nothing | 7.2 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Chapel Hill?
| plan | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum Internet Read the full review |
$30 | 100Mbps | $10 (optional) |
| Spectrum Internet Read the full review |
$40 | 500Mbps | $10 (optional) |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 for eligible mobile plans) | 318Mbps | Nothing |
| Verizon 5G home internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 for eligible mobile plans) | 85Mbps | Nothing |
| AT&T fiber 300 Read the full review |
$55 | 300Mbps | Nothing |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Chapel Hill’s fastest internet plan
| plan | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Fiber 8 show Read the full review |
$150 | 8,000Mbps | 8,000Mbps | Nothing | fiber |
| AT&T Internet 5000 Read the full review |
$245 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | Nothing | fiber |
| Google Fiber 5 performances Read the full review |
$125 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | Nothing | fiber |
| AT&T Internet 2000 Read the full review |
$145 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | Nothing | fiber |
| Google Fiber 3 show Read the full review |
$100 | 3,000Mbps | 3,000Mbps | Nothing | fiber |
| AT&T Internet 1000 Read the full review |
$80 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | Nothing | fiber |
| Google Fiber Performance Read the full review |
$70 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | Nothing | fiber |
| Spectrum Internet Performance Read the full review |
$70 | 1,000Mbps | 35Mbps | Nothing | cable |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is good internet speed?
Most Internet connectivity programs can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you are looking for an internet plan that can accommodate video conferencing, streaming videos or games, you will get better experience and have a stronger connection. According to the FCC, this is an overview of the minimum download speeds recommended for various applications. Note that these are just guides, internet speed, services and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.
For more information, see our guide on how much internet speed you really need.
- 0 to 5Mbps allows you to solve the basics: browse the internet, send and receive emails and stream low-quality video.
- 5 to 40Mbps provides you with higher quality video streaming and video conferencing.
- 40 to 100Mbps should provide a user with enough bandwidth to meet the needs of modern remote office, video streaming and online gaming.
- 100 to 500Mbps allows one to perform high bandwidth activities for two users simultaneously, such as video conferencing, streaming and online gaming.
- 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high bandwidth activities simultaneously.
How CNET Chooses the Best Internet Provider in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
There are numerous and regional Internet service providers. Unlike the latest smartphones, laptops, routers, or kitchen tools, it is impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What is our method? We begin by looking at pricing, availability and speed information, leveraging our own historical ISP data, provider sites, and information from the FCC.Gov FCC.
It doesn't end: We visit the FCC's website to check our data and make sure we consider all ISPs that provide services in a certain area. We also enter a local address on the provider's website to find specific options for residents. We look at resources including the U.S. Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power to evaluate how satisfied ISP services have with customers. ISP plans and prices change frequently; all information provided is accurate as of the time of publication.
Once this local information is obtained, we ask three main questions:
- Can providers access reasonable and fast internet speeds?
- Do customers get decent value for the money they pay?
- Are customers satisfied with their service?
The answers to these questions are usually layered and complex, but the three we recommend are closest to the provider of “yes”. When choosing the cheapest internet service, we look for the lowest monthly plan, although we also consider issues such as price increase, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively simple. We view upload and download speeds on ads and consider actual speed data from sources such as Ookla and FCC reports. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET.)
To explore our process more deeply, visit our test ISP page.
Internet providers in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Chapel Hill?
AT&T Fiber will be the best internet provider for most homes in Chapel Hill. The AT&T Fiber program has a five-speed range of from 300 to 5,000Mbps, and plans to meet low- and high-demand home internet usage. The entry-level plan is priced below Google fiber (albeit slower), and unlike Spectrum, AT&T fiber has no set price increase.
Is fiber internet available in Chapel Hill?
According to the latest FCC data, about 60% of Chapel Hill residential addresses are available for fiber internet. AT&T fiber and Google Fiber are the best choices for Chapel Hill fiber Internet.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Chapel Hill?
Spectrum offers the lowest internet starting price for the 100Mbps Chapel Hill internet. Choosing to rent a device will add $10 to your monthly bill, and an internet rate of $30 a year later.
Which internet provider in Chapel Hill offers the fastest plan?
Google Fiber offers the fastest internet plan in Chapel Hill, with symmetric upload and download speeds up to 8,000Mbps, starting at $150 per month. The AT&T fiber has a speed layer of 5,000Mbps, but the higher speeds of Google Fiber are priced at as high as $150, while the AT&T costs $245.
