Internet Service Providers in
Chicago, IL
Providers in Chicago, IL
Why should you trust us?
We maintain a comprehensive database of up-to-date information about thousands of internet providers, giving us a granular view of the prices of internet plans, advertised speeds, data caps, contract requirements, and the latest deals. Our proprietary data is organized by zip code, allowing us to offer a detailed snapshot of available internet options from Honolulu to Bar Harbor and everywhere in between.
Our team takes its editorial independence seriously as we determine the order for listing internet providers and highlight the best services on these pages. We make a commission if you click an affiliate link, and our brand partners work with us to ensure the accuracy of our data. But they do not see or approve these pages before they are published. Learn more about Reviews.org on our About Us page.
Best internet providers in Chicago, IL
Xfinity Internet: Fast speeds and widely available
Xfinity Internet: Fast speeds and widely available
If there’s one thing you can rely on for Xfinity internet, it's getting fast download speeds basically anywhere in Chicago. Most Windy City residents can get Xfinity speeds ranging from 75Mbps to 800Mbps. You can get even faster data speeds if you happen to live in an area of Chicago with fiber internet, but it’s more likely you’ll max out at 800Mbps with a cable internet connection. For most people, anything close to 800Mbps is more than enough for any household of streamers and gamers.
You can save some money on your internet and cell phone bill if you sign up for an Xfinity cell phone plan along with your internet plan. Xfinity Mobile offers
Best Xfinity internet plan for most people: Xfinity Fast, 400Mbps for $55/mo.
We recommend the Xfinity Fast plan for most folk living in Chicago. This plan hits that sweet spot of providing enough internet speed for just about any household of four or less people.
AT&T Internet: Best fiber internet
AT&T Internet pros and cons
We recommend taking a “fiber or bust” approach with AT&T internet. In other words, if you have fiber internet in your area, you should choose AT&T. But if you don’t we recommend looking elsewhere—to a cable or 5G home internet provider. AT&T offers up some of the best fiber internet plans in the country, and it’s available in parts of Chicago.
Here’s why you should be excited for AT&T fiber: These plans are affordable but also very fast. Your download and upload speeds can range from 1,000Mbps to a mind-boggling 5,000Mbps, depending upon what plan you choose. You don’t need to worry about data caps or contracts either.
Best AT&T internet plan for most people: AT&T Internet 1000, 1,000Mbps for $80/mo.]
AT&T Internet 1000 gets you gigabit internet speeds for a reasonable price. You shouldn’t have any issues at all sharing a fast internet connection with a house full of streamers or gamers.
Google Fiber Webpass
Google Fiber Webpass pros and cons
You can get gigabit speeds for as low as $63 a month with this unique service from Google Fiber, which uses an antenna to dispatch a fixed wireless connection to apartment buildings and multi-family dwellings. The plan beats out the pricing from AT&T’s gigabit fiber plan, and you don’t need to pay for installation fees, annual contracts, expiring promo pricing, or data overage charges. You just need to live with the fact that you can’t get any data speeds over 1,000Mbps.
Best Google Fiber Webpass plan for most people: $63 home internet—1,000Mbps for $63/mo.]
We recommend sticking with the gigabit internet plan from Google Fiber Webpass. It’s one of the cheapest rates you can get for a gigabit internet plan in the city, and there are no annoying extra fees to inflate your bill.
Cheapest internet providers in Chicago, IL
The cheapest internet providers get you a reliable connection at an affordable price. You may have to settle for slower speeds, but you can also find promos and discounts. Hot tip: Look for providers with unlimited data and no extra fees to save even further.
Most reliable internet plans in Chicago, IL
A reliable internet connection means you get a stable connection and consistent speeds day in, day out, without the worry of sudden slowdowns or outages. You also get top-rated customer service and technical support in case things do go awry. Fiber is the most reliable internet you can get, so we recommend that if it’s available.
Test your internet speed
Is your home internet fast enough to meet your daily Wi-Fi needs? The best way to find out is by running a speed test, which gives you a snapshot of how much bandwidth you’re getting from your internet provider. Run the test over a hardwired ethernet connection for the most accurate results, and try taking the test at different times throughout the day to measure possible fluctuations in your download speed, upload speed, and latency.
If you have trouble getting things done online with the speed-test results you’re getting, consider upgrading to a faster plan or switching internet providers.
Connecting to a server ...
![](https://www.reviews.org/app/themes/coolwhip-child/assets/images/speed-test/site-logo-powered-by.png)
How much speed do you need?
Take a look below at what you can do with different speeds commonly offered by internet service providers (ISPs). You can read more about the average user’s speed needs in our internet speed guide.
To get these numbers, we used the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) broadband speed guide, our streaming internet speed guide, and our Zoom internet speed guide.
Internet connection options in Chicago, IL
Renowned for its reliability, fiber can reach download and upload speeds up to 10,000Mbps. While it isn’t available everywhere, it’s the best internet you can get.
Cable is bread-and-butter internet—widely available, often affordable, and very fast, delivering download speeds that range anywhere from 25Mbps to 1,200Mbps
DSL maxes out at 100Mbps, but many DSL customers get much slower speeds than that. DSL is becoming obsolete, but it’s still a solid option in rural areas.
Satellite is available practically everywhere, even in the most remote parts of the country. It’s costly and comes with strict data limits and slow speeds, so use it as a last resort.
Internet in Chicago, IL at a glance
Internet provider averages in
Chicago, IL
Average download speed
121 Mbps
Average upload speed
34 Mbps
Average latency time
20.45 ms
Average cost of internet
$53/mo
Number of internet providers
27
Internet availability faster than
100 Mbps
The number of households in each region that have access to 100 Mbps internet.
Chicago
99%
Illinois
99%
U.S.A.
92%
Chicago Internet Value Score
We came up with this score by dividing the average cost of each provider in Chicago, IL with the average speeds they offered.
National average: $0.63
Find internet providers in cities near Chicago, IL
Browse all cities in Illinois
T-Mobile Home Internet
*w/ Auto Pay. Regulatory fees included in monthly price for qualified accounts. See full terms.
AT&T
*Above pricing is after $10/mo Autopay & Paperless bill discount with a debit card or bank account; if using a credit card, then price is $5/mo more.
†AutoPay and paperless billing required. Monthly State Cost Recovery Charge in TX, OH, NV applies. . Service subj. to Internet Terms of Service at att.com/internet-terms. Offers may be modified, or discontinued, at any time without notice. Other conditions may apply to all offers. Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds may vary. For more info, go to www.att.com/speed101.
‡Above pricing is after $10/mo Autopay & Paperless bill discount with a debit card or bank account; if using a credit card, then price is $5/mo more.
^Above pricing is after $10/mo Autopay & Paperless bill discount with a debit card or bank account; if using a credit card, then price is $5/mo more.
°Above pricing is after $10/mo Autopay & Paperless bill discount with a debit card or bank account; if using a credit card, then price is $5/mo more.
**Above pricing is after $10/mo Autopay & Paperless bill discount with a debit card or bank account; if using a credit card, then price is $5/mo more.
Earthlink
*with a 12 month contract.
†with a 12 month contract. Actual speeds may vary depending on the distance, line-quality, phone service provider, and number of devices used concurrently. All speeds not available in all areas
‡with a 12 month contract.
^with a 12 month contract. Actual speeds may vary depending on the distance, line-quality, phone service provider, and number of devices used concurrently. All speeds not available in all areas
°with a 12 month contract. Actual speeds may vary depending on the distance, line-quality, phone service provider, and number of devices used concurrently. All speeds not available in all areas
**with a 12 month contract. Actual speeds may vary depending on the distance, line-quality, phone service provider, and number of devices used concurrently. All speeds not available in all areas
††with a 12 month contract.
‡‡with a 12 month contract.
^^with a 12 month contract.
°°with a 12 month contract. Actual speeds may vary depending on the distance, line-quality, phone service provider, and number of devices used concurrently. All speeds not available in all areas
***with a 12 month contract. Actual speeds may vary depending on the distance, line-quality, phone service provider, and number of devices used concurrently. All speeds not available in all areas
†††with a 12 month contract.
‡‡‡with a 12 month contract.
^^^with a 12 month contract.
Viasat
*Prices vary upon location. Offer available to new qualifying customers. One-time standard installation fee may be due at checkout. Minimum 24-month service term required. Equipment lease fee is $14.99/mo. Taxes apply. Speeds are “up to,” will vary and are not guaranteed. Service is not available in all areas. Offer may be changed or withdrawn at any time.
†Prices, speeds and availability vary by location. Prices are subject to change. No annual contract or installation fees are required. Monthly equipment lease fees and taxes may apply.
‡Prices vary upon location. Offer available to new qualifying customers. One-time standard installation fee may be due at checkout. Minimum 24-month service term required. Equipment lease fee is $14.99/mo. Taxes apply. Speeds are “up to,” will vary and are not guaranteed. Service is not available in all areas. Offer may be changed or withdrawn at any time.
^Prices vary upon location. Offer available to new qualifying customers. One-time standard installation fee may be due at checkout. Minimum 24-month service term required. Equipment lease fee is $14.99/mo. Taxes apply. Speeds are “up to,” will vary and are not guaranteed. Service is not available in all areas. Offer may be changed or withdrawn at any time.