What is the best internet provider in Los Angeles?
Our pick for the best ISP in LA is AT&T Fiber. With symmetrical speeds, no data caps, no term agreements and no equipment rental fee, it’s a great choice for broadband for most Los Angeles households. However, AT&T Fiber isn’t 100% accessible across the city yet, so residents might have to settle with other providers, such as Spectrum, which is more widely available.
If cheap internet service is what you’re looking for, Starry offers a no-contract 30Mbps plan for $15 monthly. AT&T Fiber and Frontier tie for the fastest internet in Los Angeles, offering a 5,000Mbps plan.
CNET considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service in Los Angeles across a number of categories. Our evaluation includes referencing a proprietary database built over years of reviewing internet services. We validate that against provider information by spot-checking local addresses for service availability. We also do a close read of providers’ terms and conditions and, when needed, will call ISPs to verify the details.
Despite our efforts to find the most recent and accurate information, our process has some limitations you should know about. Pricing and speed data are variable: Certain addresses may qualify for different tiers of service and monthly costs may vary, even within a city. The best way to identify your particular options is to plug your address into a provider’s website.
Also, the prices, speed and other information listed above and in the provider cards below may differ from what we found in our research. The cards display the full range of a provider’s pricing and speed across the US, according to our database of plan information provided directly by ISPs, while the text is specific to what’s available in Los Angeles. The prices referenced within this article’s text come from our research and include applicable discounts for setting up automatic payments each month — a standard industry offering. Other discounts and promotions might be available as well, for things like signing a term contract or bundling with multiple services.
To learn more about how we review internet providers, visit our full methodology page.
Best internet in Los Angeles
As a cable internet provider, Spectrum won’t be able to match the symmetrical speeds of a fiber ISP, but its three different speed tiers should be more than adequate for most customers.
AT&T Fiber offers excellent value. If you can get it, don’t hesitate to sign up.
Starry Internet was riding high after being named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential Companies of 2022. But by December 2022, it hit a speed bump with the New York Stock Exchange. Nevertheless, Starry strives to put the customer first by making high-speed internet affordable and hassle-free. It uses similar millimeter-wave technology as 5G to deliver high-speed broadband to customers’ homes.
Los Angeles internet providers compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | DSL/Fiber | $55-$250 | 10-5,000Mbps | None | 1.5TB for all plans under 100Mbps | None | 7.4 |
| Cox | Cable | $50-$150 | 100-2,000Mbps | $13 (optional) | 1.25TB | Not required, but needed for lowest promo rate | 6.2 |
| Frontier | DSL/Fiber | $50-$155 ($10 off on select plans) | 9-5,000Mbps | None | None | None | 6 |
| Spectrum | Cable | $20-$90 | 30-1,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
| Starry | Fixed wireless | $15-$80 | 30-1,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet | Fixed wireless | $50 ($30 for eligible mobile customers) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet | Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers) | 50-1,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Other available internet providers in Los Angeles
- Cox: Although it’s one of the country’s biggest cable internet providers, Cox has a relatively small footprint in the Los Angeles metro area. It’s solely available in the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Starting prices for plans begin at $50 per month for 100Mbps download and go up to $150 per month for its 2-gigabit option.
- Frontier: Frontier has a notable presence in the Los Angeles market. In fact, according to Ookla’s most recent data, Frontier is the area’s fastest provider on average, at approximately 272Mbps download speed. Its DSL and fiber-optic service are scattered throughout the area, including some of Beverly Hills, Long Beach, the San Fernando Valley, Santa Monica and portions of western LA. Similar to our guidance on AT&T, if Frontier’s DSL service is the only option at your address, seek other alternatives. But if Frontier Fiber is available — which has options for 500Mbps up to 5Gbps symmetrical speeds starting at $50-$155 per month — you’d be hard-pressed to find a better option.
- Race Communications: Like Cox, Race Communications has a fairly small piece of the pie in the Los Angeles market. It’s mainly situated in Marina del Rey, Playa Vista and Santa Monica. But unlike Cox, and all other providers listed here, it’s a 100% fiber-optic service. There are two plan options: $25 a month for 25Mbps, or Gig service for a very affordable $60 monthly.
- Sonic Telecom: This ISP is mainly known for offering service in the Bay Area. But Angelenos can find Sonic service in a handful of neighborhoods, including Beverly Hills, Glendale, Inglewood, Pasadena and West Hollywood. Although Sonic is known for building 100% fiber networks, much of its offering in the LA market is older DSL, and most of its fiber service in the area currently utilizes AT&T’s fiber network.
- T-Mobile Home Internet: T-Mobile’s fixed wireless home internet solution uses its 5G and 4G LTE networks to get customers online at an average download speed between 72-245Mbps. It’s appealing for its simplicity: $50 a month covers all equipment, taxes, installation fees and services. There are no data caps and no contracts required. Although it’s technically available throughout the Los Angeles metro area, you’ll need to plug in your address on the T-Mobile site to see if you’re serviceable.
- Verizon 5G Home Internet: Like T-Mobile, this is a fixed wireless home internet option. But unlike T-Mobile, Verizon leans more heavily on its Ultra Wideband 5G technology, so its average download speeds are higher, around 300Mbps. It also features an all-in price that covers taxes, installation fees and equipment, but splits the cost into two buckets: $50 a month for a two-year price-lock guarantee, or $70 a month for a three-year price-lock and additional perks.
Cheap internet options in Los Angeles
The average starting price for internet service in Los Angeles is approximately $41 per month. However, if you’re looking for the most affordable internet plans in your area, there are multiple options available that are cheaper than the average cost. The cheapest plan is Starry Connect, which costs $15 monthly and offers speed up to 30Mbps.
Nearly all of the providers listed also participate in the Affordable Connectivity Program from the Federal Communications Commission. It provides a $30 per month benefit to qualifying households to help them afford high-speed internet service. As you can see from the chart below, some providers’ cheap internet plans — like those from Cox, Race Communications and Starry — will ultimately be free when combined with the ACP credit.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Los Angeles?
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Los Angeles
The best internet deals and the top promotions in Los Angeles depend on what discounts are available during that time period. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Los Angeles internet providers such as Spectrum and Cox may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, however, including AT&T and Starry Internet, run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of deals, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
How fast is Los Angeles broadband?
Los Angeles isn’t among the top 50 fastest cities in the US. A big reason is that 100% fiber connections are not yet as prevalent as cable and DSL connections in the city. But major efforts by AT&T (making its new Internet 2000 and Internet 5000 plans more widely available) and Frontier (whose 2- and 5-gigabit plans are now available for all locations serviceable for its fiber offerings) should help boost those stats.
Fastest internet plans in Los Angeles
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Fiber 5000 | $250 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Frontier Fiber 5 Gig | $155 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| AT&T Fiber 2000 | $150 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Cox 2 Gig | $150 | 2,000Mbps | 100Mbps | 1.25TB | Cable |
| Frontier Fiber 2 Gig | $110 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Cox 1 Gig | $100 | 1,000Mbps | 35Mbps | 1.25TB | Cable |
| Frontier Fiber 1 Gig | $70 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Race Internet Gigafy Me | $60 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Starry Gigabit | $80 | 1,000Mbps | 500Mbps | None | Fixed wireless |
| Spectrum Internet Gig | $90 | 1,000Mbps | 35Mbps | None | Cable |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s a good internet speed?
Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here’s an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines — and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.
For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.
- 0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics — browsing the internet, sending and receiving email, streaming low-quality video.
- 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
- 40 to 100Mbps should give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
- 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming simultaneously.
- 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities simultaneously.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Los Angeles
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
But it doesn’t end there. We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we’re considering every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. To evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service, we look at sources including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of the time of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
- Are customers happy with their service?
While the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, though we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
What’s the final word on internet providers in Los Angeles?
Spectrum is tough to beat among Los Angeles internet providers if you’re looking for consistent service and wide availability. However, both AT&T and Frontier’s fiber plans tie for the fastest — including symmetrical download and upload speeds. Overall, change is coming over the next few years in the City of Angels, as providers like AT&T and Frontier start to move away from their older DSL lines (which are still prominent in the area) toward their growing fiber networks. Cable internet still rules in LA, but fiber is the future.
Internet providers in Los Angeles FAQs
Is fiber internet available in Los Angeles?
Yes. Although fiber internet connections are currently not as prevalent in Los Angeles as cable internet or DSL, you can find fiber internet throughout Los Angeles County. Top fiber internet providers in Los Angeles include AT&T, Frontier and Race Communications.
How much does internet service cost in Los Angeles?
Most internet providers in Los Angeles offer at least three different tiers, ranging in price from a low of $15 per month to a high of $250 monthly. Overall, the average starting cost for a provider’s cheapest plan is $41 per month. Keep in mind that some providers also charge an additional cost to rent their modem and router.
How fast are Los Angeles internet speeds?
Internet speeds in Los Angeles are somewhat bogged down by DSL networks, which major providers like AT&T and Frontier still use. Per Ookla’s second-quarter 2023 report, Los Angeles was only the 71st fastest city among the top 100 metro areas in the US.
It scored a median download speed of just over 197Mbps and a median upload speed of nearly 19Mbps. Comparing that with just some of the cities CNET has covered thus far, San Antonio and Austin were in the top 15 (with median download speeds above 240Mbps), and the country’s most populous metro area, New York, made the top 50. On the flip side, LA’s not in the bottom 10, unlike Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Minneapolis and Seattle.
Who is the cheapest internet provider in Los Angeles?
Looking only at the starting price, the cheapest internet provider in Los Angeles would be Starry, with its Starry Connect plan for $15 monthly. However, that plan’s not available to all Starry customers. Next in line for the cheapest internet provider in Los Angeles would be Race Communications and its Basic Broadband Plus plan, which is 25Mbps download and 25Mbps upload for $25 per month.