What is the best internet provider in Durham?
CNET recommends AT&T Fiber as the best internet provider in Durham due to its fiber availability, plan variety and high customer satisfaction. The ultra-fast plans at reasonable prices make it an obvious choice. However, Google Fiber is a close second and offers even faster plans going up to 8000 megabits per second. That said, not everyone needs such high speeds.
Frontier Fiber is another excellent choice for internet in Durham, especially for those who want a fast, affordable internet plan. Frontier Fiber internet starts at $30 a month — the cheapest price for internet in Durham — and comes with symmetrical speeds up to 200Mbps. Spectrum and Verizon 5G Home Internet are also top choices for cheap internet, especially the latter if you qualify for the provider’s mobile bundle discount.
With multiple internet providers serving the Durham area, the best one for your home will come down to what’s available in your area and what you need. You’ll find details of the area’s top providers below to help you decide.
Best internet in Durham, North Carolina
Durham internet providers compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Read full review |
DSL, fiber | $55 DSL, $55-$245 fiber | 10-100Mbps DSL, 300-5,000Mbps fiber | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Frontier Fiber Read full review |
Fiber | $30-$130 | 200-5,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
| Google Fiber Read full review |
Fiber | $70-$150 | 1,000-8,000 | None | None | None | 7.5 |
| Spectrum Read full review |
Cable | $50-$70 | 500-1,000Mbps | Free modem, $10 router rental (optional) | None | None | 7.2 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50 ($40 with eligible mobile plans) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers) | 50-1,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
Show more (2 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Durham?
| Plan | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frontier Fiber 200 Read full review |
$30 | 200Mbps | None |
| Spectrum Internet Read full review |
$50 | 500Mbps | Free modem, $10 router rental (optional) |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 50-300Mbps | None |
| AT&T Fiber 300 Read full review |
$55 | 300Mbps | None |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
$50 ($40 with eligible mobile plans) | 72-245Mbps | None |
Show more (1 item)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Durham
The best internet deals and top promotions in Durham depend on the discounts available during that period. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Durham internet providers, such as AT&T Fiber, may offer gift cards or other signup bonuses for a limited time. Many, however, including Frontier, Google Fiber and Spectrum, run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
Fastest internet plans in Durham
| Plan | Starting price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Fiber 8 Gig Read full review |
$150 | 8,000Mbps | 8,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Frontier Fiber 5 Gig Read full review |
$130 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| AT&T Internet 5000 Read full review |
$245 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Spectrum Internet Gig Read full review |
$70 | 1,000Mbps | 35Mbps | None | Cable |
| Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read full review |
$70 ($45 with eligible mobile plans) | 85-1,000Mbps | 50-75Mbps | None | Fixed wireless |
Show more (1 item)
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 Durham
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:
- 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 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 Durham FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Durham?
Durham is home to multiple high-quality internet service providers, but AT&T Fiber is arguably the best, having the largest fiber network in the area and a lower starting price than Google Fiber. AT&T Fiber also received higher customer satisfaction ratings than other Durham ISPs, including Google Fiber and Frontier Fiber.
Is fiber internet available in Durham?
Fiber internet is available to just over half of Durham households, according to the FCC. Fiber coverage is greatest in the New Hope Valley, Waterford and Keene communities, though service is available in select neighborhoods throughout Durham.
AT&T is the largest fiber internet provider in Durham, but fiber internet may also be available from Google Fiber or Frontier Fiber, depending on where you live.
Who is the cheapest internet provider in Durham?
Frontier Fiber has the lowest monthly rate for home internet in Durham with service starting at $30 a month for symmetrical speeds up to 200Mbps.
Which internet provider in Durham offers the fastest plan?
Google Fiber offers the fastest internet plan in Durham with symmetrical upload and download speeds up to 8,000Mbps. Google Fiber also offers a 5,000Mbps plan, as does AT&T Fiber and Frontier Fiber, though Google Fiber’s is cheaper than AT&T and Frontier, starting at $125 per month versus $245 (AT&T) and $130 (Frontier).