Xfinity: Best cable internet for most Detroiters
Pros
Wide availability
Impressive plan variety
Reliably fast download speeds
Cons
Automatic price hikes
Not unlimited
Motor City residents have the luxury of choice when it comes to internet service providers, but we think that Detroiters will be most satisfied with Xfinity home internet. Xfinity offers a host of cable internet plans to suit the needs of virtually any household, from the most casual users to the very-online.
Xfinity made our list of the 5 Best Cable Internet Providers for good reason. The company offers Detroiters a slick variety of plans ranging from $20–$85 per month for 75–1,200Mbps speeds. To get the best rates and perks (like free installation and WiFi equipment) you may need to sign a 1–2 year contract and keep in mind that your monthly bill will probably increase after that period.
The best part is that Xfinity’s network spans the entire 313: from Greektown to Palmer Park, Hamtramck to Corktown, Islandview to Rosedale, and everything in between. That means residents of Downtown, Midtown, New Center, North End, Northeast, Central East, Lower East, Northwest, Central West, and Southwest Detroit all have access to the best overall internet plans in town.
Best Xfinity internet plan for most people in Detroit: Fast 400 Mbps plan for $55/mo.
The 400 Mbps plan has plenty of speed for modern-day streamers, gamers, professionals, and cat-video addicts (like us). We think that $55 per month is a fair price to pay for that, especially considering Xfinity has a reputation for actually delivering on its advertised speeds.
Xfinity’s competitive prices do come with a caveat: Data caps. A 1.2TB per month allowance should be plenty of data for the average household, but keep it in mind if you ever decide to download every episode of Grey’s Anatomy in HD.
AT&T Fiber: Fastest internet provider in Detroit
AT&T Fiber internet pros and cons
Pros
Ultrafast fiber speeds
No contracts or data caps
No price hikes
Cons
Not available everywhere
Installation fee
Motown doesn’t have a lot of competition when it comes to fiber-optic internet providers. Earthlink and Zentro (formerly SNIP) offer fiber connections in limited areas, but those companies might find it hard to compete with a behemoth like AT&T. The company offers fiber plans from 300–1,000Mbps for just $55–$80 per month.
We ranked AT&T as one of our 6 Best Fiber Internet Providers because it delivers lightning-fast speeds at competitive prices. It also doesn’t hurt that these plans come without data caps, equipment fees, contracts, or price hikes. If speed is a priority, we recommend Detroiters check out AT&T Fiber first.
AT&T’s fiber-optic network reaches far and wide in The Renaissance City, with large concentrations in North/Central West neighborhoods, like Grandmont, Redford, Brightmoor, University district, Core City, and Hubbard Richard. It also covers Midtown and Downtown in areas like the Cass Corridor and Woodbridge, with another large concentration in the Lower East neighborhoods of Rivertown and the Jefferson Corridor.
Best AT&T internet plan for most people: AT&T Internet 1000 plan with up to 1,000Mbps for $80/mo.
It might seem steep at first glance, but keep in mind that AT&T Fiber users get the best type of connection available for $80 a month. Fiber-optic technology allows for symmetrical speeds, meaning users can upload as fast as they download. Fast internet means a happy family, even when the kids need to upload homework while mom and dad are playing Fortnight. Again.
AT&T also offers DSL internet in Detroit, but we would recommend choosing a fiber or cable internet plan over DSL whenever possible.
Verizon 5G Home Internet: Best wireless internet in Detroit
Verizon 5G Home Internet pros and cons
Pros
Fast 5G speeds
Easy setup
3-year price guarantee
Free equipment
Cons
Not available everywhere
More expensive without a phone service bundle
No matter where you live in Hockeytown, you can rest easy knowing that you can catch the next Red Wings game streaming on 5G. In fact, Detroiters have two excellent options for 5G home internet service: Verizon and T-Mobile. Both made our list of the Best Fixed Wireless Internet Providers.
T-Mobile’s 5G network encompasses two thirds of D Town, while Verizon 5G covers the remaining third. The coverage areas overlap a bit, but most Detroiters will only have access to one or the other. If we had to pick, we’d go with Verizon for its faster speeds and lower prices. The company offers three plans ranging from 300–1,000Mbps for $50–$90 per month.
Verizon 5G home internet is a fixed wireless connection that runs on the same cellular towers that support its mobile phone network. This is why most urban centers that have a high density of cell phones also have great 5G home internet coverage. Just be aware that these companies have a limited number of “spots”, so you may need to wait in line to become their next home internet customer.
Best Verizon 5G Home Internet plan for most people: 500 Mbps plan for $45–$70/mo.
When Verizon 5G customers bundle internet with mobile phone service, the prices get very low. But Verizon’s 500Mbps plan is a good deal regardless. The real kicker is that Verizon 5G home internet plans come with no data caps, no taxes or fees, free installation, and free wireless equipment rental. We’re struggling to see a downside here.
WOW! Internet: Best budget internet provider in Detroit
WOW! Internet pros and cons
Pros
Affordable prices
Unlimited data
No contracts or fees
Cons
Limited availability
If you’re looking for cheap internet in the City of Straights, look no further than WOW! Internet (aka WideOpenWest). It might not come with a whole lot of bells and whistles, but it’s hard to beat $30 for 300Mbps. Those who qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program can get this for an even better price (meaning free).
WOW! cable internet service is similar to Xfinity, and it actually surpasses it in some ways. For instance, WOW! does away with annoying data caps and won’t increase your rates after a promotional period. Its plans range from 300–1,200Mbps for a reasonable $30–$95 per month, and all come with free equipment and installation.
The downside is that WOW! is confined to the edges of Detroit. Service is widely available in places like Dearborn, Osborn, North End, EastPointe, Warren, Lincoln Park, Livonia, and Farmington. But if you live in the Financial District, Eastern Market, the Villages, Mexicantown, or anywhere else near the urban center, you may need to find another provider.
Best WOW! Internet plan for bargain hunters: Fast Internet 300 plan with up to 300Mbps for $30/mo.
At the end of the day, what really earns WOW! its exclamation point is price. We think an honest $30 per month is a steal for 300Mbps, especially in an industry where hidden fees and price hikes seem to be the norm. Remember that 300Mbps is still a lot of internet! Even highly connected families with lots of online devices can get by with that kind of speed.