Tampa is a top relocation destination — and for good reason. The city has a lot to like, from its sandy beaches to championship-winning sports teams. Home internet options in Tampa aren’t half bad, either.
CNET considers speed, customer service, pricing and overall value to recommend the best internet providers in a city. After evaluating the available ISPs in Tampa, CNET’s pick for the best internet provider overall goes to Frontier Fiber. However, it’s not Tampa’s only ISP, so you’ll want to explore all available internet options in your area before deciding on the best provider for your needs.
Best internet service providers in Tampa
In my opinion, Frontier Fiber delivers the best mix of speed and value, but Spectrum or a wireless ISP like Verizon 5G Home Internet may make more sense for your home. I’ve listed what I consider to be the best internet providers in Tampa, along with plan and pricing details to help you decide which ISP is right for you. All prices listed on this page reflect available discounts for setting up paperless billing. If you decide not to go with automatic monthly payments, your price will be higher.
Note: The prices, speeds and features detailed in the article text may differ from those listed in the product detail cards, which represent providers’ national offerings. Your particular internet service options — including prices and speeds — depend on your address and may differ from those detailed here.
Price range $40 – $155 per month Speed range 500 – 5,000Mbps Connection Fiber Key Info Unlimited data, no contracts, no equipment fee
Fiber internet is easy to recommend. It’s fast, reliable and, though it’s not always the go-to for cheap internet, it typically presents the best overall value. Frontier Fiber is a perfect example of the benefits of fiber internet service.
Availability: Frontier Fiber is available to around 70% of Tampa households, according to the Federal Communications Commission. Service can be found throughout the city and many surrounding areas, but those in the Sulfur Springs, Tampa Heights and West Tampa neighborhoods are most likely to be serviceable for Frontier Fiber.
Plans and pricing: You’ll have up to four options with Frontier Fiber, three of which come with max speeds of 1,000Mbps (1 gigabit) or higher. The fast speeds are tempting, but I consider the lowest Frontier Fiber plan one of the best internet deals on the market, with symmetrical speeds up to 500Mbps from $50 to $60 per month.
Service details: Frontier Fiber is very much “what you see is what you pay.” There are no equipment rental fees, data caps or contracts. Opting for Whole-Home Wi-Fi, which includes up to two mesh Wi-Fi devices, will add $10 to your monthly bill.
Price range $30- $70 per month Speed range 100 – 1,000Mbps Connection Cable Key Info Unlimited data, simple pricing, no contracts, modem included, free access to nationwide Wi-Fi hotspots
One of the few advantages cable internet has over fiber is bundling options. The coaxial cables that deliver cable TV service are also ideal for home internet. So, if you want to bundle internet and TV together, Spectrum will be your best bet in Tampa.
Availability: Spectrum’s cable network covers around 90% of households in Tampa. Many serviceability gaps are around public spaces such as Raymond James Stadium, the USF campus and Tampa International Airport. There are select residential areas throughout Tampa, particularly in Tampa Heights and Ybor City, that may be unserviceable for Spectrum Internet.
Plans and pricing: Spectrum offers two standalone internet plans in Tampa: download speeds of 500Mbps starting at $50 per month and gig service (up to 940Mbps) starting at $70 per month. That’s on par with Frontier Fiber, but upload speeds are much slower, 35Mbps max.
If you just need internet and both providers are available at your address, I’d recommend Frontier Fiber over Spectrum. On the other hand, Spectrum is the way to go if you want to bundle. The cable provider’s cheapest bundle includes speeds up to 500Mbps and around 75 streaming TV channels starting at $75 a month.
For those who prefer a more traditional cable TV package, Spectrum Internet plus the Select TV package, with up to 150 channels, starts at $110 per month. For $10 more per month, you can upgrade to the TV Select Plus package and get your regional sports networks for coverage of Lightning and Rays games, among other local sports.
Service details: Spectrum Internet comes with unlimited data and requires no contract. Renting a Wi-Fi router will add just $5 to your monthly bill.
If you add TV service, expect a few more fees, including a broadcast fee, higher equipment rental costs and a regional sports fee with the TV Select Plus package.
Price range $50 – $70 per month (50% off for eligible 5G mobile customers) Speed range 85 – 1,000Mbps Connection Fixed wireless Key Info Unlimited data, no contracts, free equipment, 50% discount for qualifying Verizon mobile customers
Wireless internet does a decent job of filling in the spots around Tampa where cable or fiber connections have yet to reach. Your address may be serviceable for multiple wireless internet options, but Verizon is arguably the best. Even if your address is serviceable for Frontier or Spectrum, you may find Verizon’s low-cost, low-hassle 5G home internet service to be a better fit for your home.
Availability: Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband network is available throughout most of Tampa, excluding parts of Ybor City and select areas just southeast of the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway. Though the network covers much of the city, home internet may not be available at your address, even if you can get 5G on your phone.
Plans and pricing: Verizon offers two 5G home internet plans: Verizon 5G Home, starting at $50 per month for speeds in the 85 to 300Mbps range and Verizon 5G Home Plus, which starts at $70 per month for speeds somewhere between 300 and 1,000Mbps. Available speeds will vary by address.
Depending on the speeds you can get, Verizon 5G Home Internet is a decent deal on its own, but it could be even better if you also have Verizon as your mobile provider. Verizon offers a monthly discount off home internet to qualifying mobile customers, meaning you could get high-speed internet in Tampa from just $35 to $45 per month.
Service details: There are no equipment fees, data caps or contracts with Verizon 5G Home Internet.
The providers listed above aren’t the only ones to serve Tampa, but they are the ones I would recommend most. Here’s a quick comparison of the practical internet options you may come across in the Tampa area.
Tampa internet provider details at a glance
Show more (1 item)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Top Tampa ISP honorable mentions
EarthLink: A name nearly as old as home internet itself, EarthLink now offers service by piggybacking off of the networks of other providers and municipalities. As a result, you’re likely to pay a bit more for service compared to other providers. Pricing and speeds vary widely by location, but all plans come with a one-year contract.
Rapid Systems: Local fixed wireless provider Rapid Systems is a decent choice for internet in rural central Florida, but pricing is high and speeds are low in the Tampa Bay area. You’ll want to check out other internet options at your address before opting for Rapid Systems, as residential pricing in Hillsborough County starts at $79 per month for max speeds of 10Mbps.
T-Mobile Home Internet: With speeds of 72-245Mbps starting at $50 per month ($30 for qualifying Magenta Max customers), T-Mobile rivals Verizon regarding 5G home internet. Though T-Mobile doesn’t have the same speed potential, it does boast greater coverage than Verizon, making it an excellent choice for home internet in suburban and rural areas outside of Tampa.
WideOpenWest: You won’t find WideOpenWest, aka WOW, in Tampa, but it is available in much of the Tampa Bay area, including Clearwater, East Lake, Oldsmar and St. Petersburg. The cable internet provider is a great choice for low-cost, high-speed internet, with service starting at $20 per month for speeds up to 100Mbps.
Satellite internet: HughesNet, Viasat and possibly even Starlink are available in Tampa, but there are plenty of other cheaper, faster options in the area to avoid having to settle for satellite internet.
How much is internet in Tampa?
The cost for internet in Tampa depends on the provider and plan you choose. The cheapest internet plans in Tampa will run you $50 per month plus taxes and fees, unless you qualify for a discount with Verizon or T-Mobile.
