Best Internet Providers in Greensboro, North Carolina – CNET

What is the best internet provider in Greensboro?

Greensboro residents may have access to multiple home internet options, but AT&T Fiber stands out as the best ISP in Greensboro for its local fiber coverage, fast plans and high customer satisfaction. AT&T Fiber also offers the fastest internet plan in Greensboro, up to 5,000 megabits per second, and free equipment rental, a perk not available from all internet providers in the area.

Lumos Fiber shares fiber coverage with AT&T in Greensboro and has the cheapest plan of any major provider in the area, starting at $40 per month for speeds up to 500Mbps. 

If fiber internet is unavailable at your address, Spectrum is your best bet for wired internet with coverage spanning 92% of Greensboro, according to the FCC. As CNET’s top pick for cable internet, it’s not a bad option to consider, especially if you’re interested in bundling internet and TV.

Aside from fiber internet and cable service from Spectrum, fixed wireless internet from Verizon 5G Home Internet and T-Mobile Home Internet is easy to recommend for internet in Greensboro. Both providers include free equipment, unlimited data and no contracts with plans starting at $50 per month, plus an added discount for qualifying mobile customers.

Our methodology

Speed range

300 – 5,000 Mbps

Price range

$55 – $250 per month

Our take – AT&T Fiber is about as customer-friendly as it gets with multiple plan options, stable pricing, unlimited data and free equipment. New customers can also take advantage of bonus offers such as free gift cards or contract buyouts when signing up.

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Check with AT&T

Connection

Fiber Show more details

Speed range

100 – 1,000 Mbps

Price range

$30- $90 per month

Our take – Spectrum doesn’t quite match the speed and value potential of Greensboro’s fiber internet providers, but it does have the advantage of widespread availability throughout the city. Like AT&T Fiber and Lumos Fiber, service comes with unlimited data and no contract requirements.

. . .

Check with Spectrum

Connection

Cable Show more details

Speed range

200 – 2,000 Mbps

Price range

$40 – $100 per month

Our take – Fiber-optic is preferred for its fast, symmetrical speeds and superior reliability, but it’s uncommon for it to also be the cheapest source of home internet. Lumos Fiber, with speeds up to 500Mbps starting at $40 per month, offers the cheapest internet plan in Greensboro.

Speed range

200 – 2,000 Mbps

Price range

$40 – $100 per month

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Connection

Fixed wireless

Speed range

85 – 1,000 Mbps

Price range

$50 – $70 per month

Greensboro internet providers compared

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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

What’s the cheapest internet plan in Greensboro?

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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Greensboro

The best internet deals and the top promotions in Greensboro depend on what discounts are available during that time period. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers. 

Greensboro internet providers such as Lumos Fiber may offer lower introductory pricing for a limited time. Many, however, including AT&T Fiber and Spectrum run the same standard pricing year-round. 

For a more extensive list of deals, check out our guide on the best internet deals.

Fastest internet plans in Greensboro

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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 simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming. 
  • 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.

How CNET chose the best internet providers in Greensboro

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 consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. 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:

  1. Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
  2. Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
  3. 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 it comes to 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 also take into account 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.

Internet providers in Greensboro FAQs

What is the best internet service provider in Greensboro?

Yes. Approximately 55% of Greensboro households are wired for fiber internet, according to the FCC. Serviceability is greatest in the Westridge Heights, Clinton Hills and Beechcroft communities, though fiber connections are available in random neighborhoods throughout the city. AT&T Fiber is the largest fiber provider in Greensboro, but local provider Lumos Fiber also contributes to the city’s fiber coverage.

Who is the cheapest internet provider in Greensboro?

AT&T Fiber has the fastest internet plan in Greensboro with symmetrical speeds up to 5,000Mbps starting at $250 per month. Lumos Fiber also offers a 5,000Mbps plan in select areas, but availability is limited. The provider’s 2,000Mbps plan is more readily available and comes at a cheaper monthly price than AT&T Fiber at $100 per month compared with $150 with AT&T.

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