Best Internet Providers in Phoenix

Satellite internet: Hughesnet and Viasat are always options for home internet, so long as you have a clear view of the southern sky. But satellite is often a last resort for internet, and with Cox, CenturyLink, 5G internet and other choices in Phoenix, the high pricing, high latency and low data allowances of satellite internet are easy to pass on.

Cheap internet options in Phoenix

For a cheap, basic internet connection in Phoenix, consider Verizon 5G Home Internet, with plans starting at $50 monthly. Plus, if you’re a Verizon mobile customer, you’ll also want to see if you can get a discounted rate of $35 to $45 per month. You can also apply to Cox Communication for its 100Mbps ConnectAssist plan — which costs $30 per month — if you’re running your household on a tight budget.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Phoenix

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

Phoenix internet providers, such as Cox Communications, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, however, including Quantum Fiber and Verizon, run the same standard pricing year-round.

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

How fast is Phoenix broadband?

Speed test averages indicate that home internet in Phoenix is slower than the rest of Arizona and below the national average. Don’t let that discourage you; faster speeds, up to 940Mbps, are available throughout the Phoenix area.

Multi-gig speeds are slowly becoming available in Phoenix, so Cox and Quantum Fiber offer 2,000Mbps plans in the area. However, there’s a chance that availability issues may limit most residents to a single gig of speed from Quantum Fiber, Cox or Verizon 5G. While perhaps not as exciting as multi-gig service, that’s still plenty of speed for a virtually unlimited number of connected devices.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Internet providers in popular cities near Phoenix

See all results for internet providers in Arizona.

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 like 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 Phoenix

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 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 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 consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports. (Ookla is owned by Ziff Davis, the same parent company as CNET.)

To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.

What’s the final word on internet providers in Phoenix?

Quantum Fiber, Cox and Verizon 5G Home Internet are likely your best internet options in terms of speed and overall value. Quantum Fiber would be my first recommendation due to a fiber connection’s reliability and symmetrical download/upload speed capabilities, not to mention its favorable service terms. Cox is also a solid choice for cable internet, especially if you plan to bundle internet and TV, but pricing is a bit high compared to other providers, and you’ll have to deal with contracts and a data cap. As for Verizon 5G Home Internet, the value comes down to what speeds are available at your address, but the service is worth checking out if you’re looking for an alternative to CenturyLink or Cox.

Internet providers in Phoenix FAQ