What are the best internet providers in Berkeley?
CNET recommends Sonic Telecom as Berkeley's top internet provideroffering symmetrical gigabit speeds (up to 1,000Mbps) for just $50 per month, which is a rare deal for such high performance. Despite not including the device and the price has risen by $10 after the first year, the Sonic is still the best overall choice.
For those looking for faster speeds, AT&T fiber is Berkeley's go-to option, with plans to offer symmetrical speeds up to 5,000Mbps. Unlike Sonic, AT&T includes its base priced device and offers five flexible plans starting at $55 per month.
If your priority is your priority, Xfinity will be the cheapest starting plan at 400Mbps, although the price will rise after the initial 12 months. To get a more predictable bill, T-Mobile and Verizon 5G home internet offer price locks for all plans.
Best Internet in Berkeley, California
Berkeley 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 |
| AT&T Internet Read the full review |
DSL | $60 | Up to 140Mbps | Nothing | 1.5TB some plans | Nothing | 7.4 |
| Sonic Telecom | fiber | $50 | 1,000Mbps | $5 (optional) | Nothing | Nothing | N/A. |
| 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-$55 for qualified Verizon Wireless customers) | 50-250Mbps | Nothing | Nothing | Nothing | 7.2 |
| xfinity Read the full review |
cable | $40-$70 | 400-1,300Mbps | $15 (included in most plans) | 1.2TB, unlimited in most plans | Elective | 7 |
Show more (2 items)
Shopping provider at my address
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Berkeley?
| Provider | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xfinity Connect More Read the full review |
$40 | 400Mbps | $15 (optional) |
| xfinity fast Read the full review |
$45 | 600Mbps | $15 (optional) |
| Sonic Telecom | $50 | 1,000Mbps | $5 (optional) |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
$55 ($35 for eligible mobile plans) | 318Mbps | Nothing |
| Verizon 5G home internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 for eligible mobile plans) | 85Mbps | Nothing |
Show more (1 item)
Shopping provider at my address
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Berkeley
The best internet deals and the highest promotions in Berkeley depend on the discounts available during this period. Most transactions are short-lived, but we often look for the latest quotes.
Berkeley internet providers such as Verizon may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming accessories for a limited time. Many providers, including Sonic Telecom, AT&T Fiber and T-Mobile Home Internet, run the same standard pricing throughout the year.
For a wider list of promotions, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
Berkeley's fastest internet plan
| Provider | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Internet 5000 Read the full review |
$245 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | Nothing | fiber |
| AT&T Internet 2000 Read the full review |
$145 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | Nothing | fiber |
| Xfinity Gigabit Extra Read the full review |
$75 | 1,200Mbps | 35Mbps | Nothing | cable |
| AT&T Fiber 1 Performance Speed Read the full review |
$80 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | Nothing | fiber |
| Sonic Telecom | $50 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | Nothing | fiber |
| Xfinity Gigabit Read the full review |
$50 | 1,100Mbps | 40Mbps | Nothing | cable |
| Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read the full review |
$70 ($55 with qualified mobile plan) | 250Mbps | 75Mbps | Nothing | Fixed wireless |
Show more (3 items)
Shopping provider at my address
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 Berkeley
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's not over. 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 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. (Ookla is owned by CNET and Ziff Davis, the same parent company.)
To explore our process more deeply, visit our test ISP page.
Internet provider of FAQs in Berkeley
What are the best Internet service providers in Berkeley?
Sonic Telecom is the best Internet service provider in Berkeley. It can be used in 4 of five homes in the city and offers fast upload and download speeds at a lower price than most competitors.
Does Berkeley have fiber internet?
Yes, 83% of Berkeley homes can use fiber optic internet, according to FCC data. Sonic Telecom and AT&T both provide services in the city.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Berkeley?
XFINITION is Berkeley's cheapest internet provider, with plans to speeds of 400Mbps for $40 per month. However, if you are a qualified mobile customer, home internet services from T-Mobile and Verizon can be offered for $35 per month.
Which internet provider in Berkeley offers the fastest plan?
AT&T Fiber offers the fastest internet plan in Berkeley, with upload and download speeds up to 5,000Mbps.
