Internet Service Providers in
Durham, NC
Compare the top internet providers in Durham, NC.
Providers in Durham, NC
Editor's Choice
Speeds up to 8,000 Mbps
Pricing
69% coverage in Durham, NC
Very Reliable
No cancellation fee
No required contract
Very Reliable
No cancellation fee
No required contract
4 plans
Speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
Pricing
55% coverage in Durham, NC
Very Reliable
No cancellation fee
No required contract
Very Reliable
No cancellation fee
No required contract
4 plans
Speeds up to 5,000 Mbps
Pricing
64% coverage in Durham, NC
Very Reliable
No cancellation fee
No required contract
Very Reliable
No cancellation fee
No required contract
7 plans
4 plans
Speeds up to 5,000 Mbps
Pricing
99% coverage in Durham, NC
Very Reliable
No cancellation fee
No required contract
Very Reliable
No cancellation fee
No required contract
7 plans
Speeds up to 300 Mbps
Pricing
99% coverage in Durham, NC
Very Reliable
No cancellation fee
No required contract
Very Reliable
No cancellation fee
No required contract
10 Plans
2 Bundles
10 plans + 2 bundles
3 plans
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Best internet providers in Durham, NC
Work for a tech company in the Startup Company of the South? Studying medicine at Duke? Or just trying to order shrimp and grits over DoorDash? You need internet access for all that, so try one of Durham's three top Wi-Fi options. Google Fiber is the speediest service in town, delivering symmetrical bandwidth up to 8Gbps for a fair price. Cable provider Spectrum Internet includes unlimited data and other perks if you want to stretch your dollar. Or if you'd like something more low-key, try simple, affordable, easy-to-setup T-Mobile 5G Home Internet.
Who actually has the best internet in Durham?
The top critically acclaimed internet in Durham is AT&T Fiber, which netted the highest score of any internet service provider in the ACSI 2024 survey. It’s also one of the top internet providers in our guide to the best internet providers.
What internet provider has the biggest coverage area in Durham?
Spectrum Internet has the biggest area of coverage in Bull City, occupying 93% of the city. Not only is Spectrum widely available, but it also comes with plenty of perks, such as a free modem and antivirus protection.
Satellite providers Starlink, Viasat, and Hughesnet technically have wider coverage than Spectrum, covering the entire city, but most residents are much better off with a lower-priced and faster cable or fiber plan.
Google Fiber: Fastest option
If you want fast fiber and furious fiber, you’re in luck. The elusive Google Fiber and its 8Gbps maximum speeds are available in Durham.
Google Fiber is found only at certain addresses. Plans also vary depending on where you live; the fastest options aren’t available for all homes. But that’s okay because Google Fiber’s 1Gbps plan is the perfect pick. It costs $70 per month and gives you enough bandwidth to cover pretty much anything you throw at it. Starting prices are a bit higher than what you get from Spectrum, but Google Fiber beats out the cable service on dollar value thanks to its much faster speeds.
You can’t get fiber without a fiber line, so prepare for some yard digging. But hey, the installation is free.
Spectrum: Most perks included
If you want to maximize your internet subscription, consider signing up for Spectrum home internet.
Spectrum’s cable service includes free antivirus software, a modem/router gateway, and a 12-month Unlimited Mobile line on qualifying plans. You have to pay $5 a month to activate the Wi-Fi, but you can partially offset the cost by signing up for Spectrum’s autopay, which nets you a discount.
Spectrum prices start low, but users experience price hikes after 12 months. While the price hikes are modest compared to some, your service area determines the exact amount.
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet: Solid starter option
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet is a good option for a straightforward starter experience. The wireless, 5G network-based setup is painless. And while there aren’t many plans to choose from, there’s also a small price range, and it’s a good one: $50 to $70 a month.
T-Mobile 5G Internet has no data caps, so feel free to stream Bull Durham repeatedly while Alexa reads you a recipe for homemade biscuits. There are no contracts either, so if you find the 245Mbps max download speed isn’t enough, you can easily cancel your service and switch to something else without forking over cancellation fees.
Shops in Durham, North Carolina, housed in converted tobacco warehouses.
Is Fios Internet good in Durham, NC?
Verizon Fios isn’t available in Durham, although Verizon 5G Home Internet is. If you have your heart set on fiber, Google Fiber or AT&T Fiber should be able to scratch that itch.
How fast is the internet in Durham?
Internet in Durham goes up to 8,000Mbps—that’s about 20 times the speed most residences need. You’d be better off with one of the 300Mbps, 500Mbps, or 1,000Mbps plans readily available from Durham internet providers like Spectrum, AT&T Fiber, or Google Fiber.
Is Spectrum available in Durham, NC?
Yes, Spectrum is available in Durham. In fact, it covers more of Durham than any other internet service, apart from satellite internet providers.
Cheapest internet providers in Durham, NC
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.
Provider | Price starting at | Connection Type | Learn More |
| $25 | Cable | View Plans | |
| $29.99 | DSL + Fiber | View Plans | |
| $30 | 5G Home | View Plans |
Fastest internet plans and providers in Durham, NC
The fastest internet providers can get you gigabit or even multi-gigabit speeds. Not everyone needs a 1,000Mbps connection or faster, but it’s worth the investment if you’re a power user or live in a large household.
Provider | Max Download Speed | Connection Type | Learn More |
| 10000 Mbps | Fiber | View Plans | |
| 8000 Mbps | Fiber | View Plans | |
| 5000 Mbps | DSL + Fiber | View Plans |
Most reliable internet plans in Durham, NC
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.
Provider | Reliability rating | Connection Type | Learn More |
 4.26 | Fiber | View Plans | |
 3.92 | 5G Home | View Plans | |
 3.8 | Fiber | View Plans |
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 ...
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 Durham, NC
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 Durham, NC at a glance
Internet provider averages in
Durham, NC
Durham, NC
Average download speed
175 Mbps
Average upload speed
59 Mbps
Average latency time
24.54 ms
Average cost of internet
$91/mo
Number of internet providers
22
Internet availability faster than
100 Mbps
100 Mbps
The number of households in each region that have access to 100 Mbps internet.
Durham
99%
North Carolina
96%
U.S.A.
92%
Durham Internet Value Score
We came up with this score by dividing the average cost of each provider in Durham, NC with the average speeds they offered.
$0.52 per Mbps
National average: $0.63
Find internet providers in cities near Durham, NC
Browse all cities in North Carolina
Google Fiber
*Plus taxes and fees. Upload/download speed and device streaming claims are based on maximum wired speeds. Actual Internet speeds are not guaranteed and may vary based on factors such as hardware and software limitations, latency, packet loss, etc.
†Plus taxes and fees. Upload/download speed and device streaming claims are based on maximum wired speeds. Actual Internet speeds are not guaranteed and may vary based on factors such as hardware and software limitations, latency, packet loss, etc.
‡Available in select markets only. Plus taxes and fees. Upload/download speed and device streaming claims are based on maximum wired speeds. Actual Internet speeds are not guaranteed and may vary based on factors such as hardware and software limitations, latency, packet loss, etc.
^Available in select markets only. Plus taxes and fees. Upload/download speed and device streaming claims are based on maximum wired speeds. Actual Internet speeds are not guaranteed and may vary based on factors such as hardware and software limitations, latency, packet loss, etc.
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.
†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. Pricing includes Equipment Fee. Up to $99 install fee may apply, plus tax where applicable.
‡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.
T-Mobile Home Internet
*w/ Auto Pay. Regulatory fees included in monthly price for qualified accounts. See full terms.
Frontier
*w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Max wired speed 200/200 Mbps. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary. One-time charges apply.
†w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Max wired speed 500/500 Mbps. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary. One-time charges apply.
‡w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Max wired speed 1000/1000 Mbps. Location dependent. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary. One-time charges apply.
^w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill per month for 24 mos. One-time charge on disconnect applies.
°w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Max wired speed 2000/2000 Mbps. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary. One-time charges apply.
**w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Max wired speed 5000/5000. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary. One-time charges apply.
††w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Max wired speed 7000/7000. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary. One-time charges apply.
Verizon Home Internet
*w/ Auto Pay and select 5G mobile plans. Consumer data usage is subject to the usage restrictions set forth in Verizon's terms of service; visit: https://www.verizon.com/support/customer-agreement/ for more information about 5G Home and LTE Home Internet or https://www.verizon.com/about/terms-conditions/verizon-customer-agreement for Fios internet.
†w/ Auto Pay and select 5G mobile plans. Consumer data usage is subject to the usage restrictions set forth in Verizon's terms of service; visit: https://www.verizon.com/support/customer-agreement/ for more information about 5G Home and LTE Home Internet or https://www.verizon.com/about/terms-conditions/verizon-customer-agreement for Fios internet.
‡Price per month with Auto Pay & without select 5G mobile plans.Consumer data usage is subject to the usage restrictions set forth in Verizon's terms of service; visit: https://www.verizon.com/support/customer-agreement/ for more information about 5G Home and LTE Home Internet or https://www.verizon.com/about/terms-conditions/verizon-customer-agreement for Fios internet.
^w/ Auto Pay. Consumer data usage is subject to the usage restrictions set forth in Verizon's terms of service; visit: https://www.verizon.com/support/customer-agreement/ for more information about 5G Home and LTE Home Internet or https://www.verizon.com/about/terms-conditions/verizon-customer-agreement for Fios internet.
°Price per month with Auto Pay & without select 5G mobile plans. Consumer data usage is subject to the usage restrictions set forth in Verizon's terms of service; visit: https://www.verizon.com/support/customer-agreement/ for more information about 5G Home and LTE Home Internet or https://www.verizon.com/about/terms-conditions/verizon-customer-agreement for Fios internet.
**Price per month with Auto Pay & without select 5G mobile plans. Consumer data usage is subject to the usage restrictions set forth in Verizon's terms of service; visit: https://www.verizon.com/support/customer-agreement/ for more information about 5G Home and LTE Home Internet or https://www.verizon.com/about/terms-conditions/verizon-customer-agreement for Fios internet.
††w/ Auto Pay. Consumer data usage is subject to the usage restrictions set forth in Verizon's terms of service; visit: https://www.verizon.com/support/customer-agreement/ for more information about 5G Home and LTE Home Internet or https://www.verizon.com/about/terms-conditions/verizon-customer-agreement for Fios internet.
‡‡Price per month with Auto Pay & without select 5G mobile plans. Consumer data usage is subject to the usage restrictions set forth in Verizon's terms of service; visit: https://www.verizon.com/support/customer-agreement/ for more information about 5G Home and LTE Home Internet or https://www.verizon.com/about/terms-conditions/verizon-customer-agreement for Fios internet.
^^Price per month with Auto Pay & without select 5G mobile plans. Consumer data usage is subject to the usage restrictions set forth in Verizon's terms of service; visit: https://www.verizon.com/support/customer-agreement/ for more information about 5G Home and LTE Home Internet or https://www.verizon.com/about/terms-conditions/verizon-customer-agreement for Fios internet.
°°Price per month with Auto Pay & without select 5G mobile plans.Consumer data usage is subject to the usage restrictions set forth in Verizon's terms of service; visit: https://www.verizon.com/support/customer-agreement/ for more information about 5G Home and LTE Home Internet or https://www.verizon.com/about/terms-conditions/verizon-customer-agreement for Fios internet.
Hughesnet
*Offer for 12 months. Service plans require a 24-month commitment. Equipment Lease or Purchase fees extra. Service plans require a 24-month commitment. Equipment Lease or Purchase fees extra.
†Offer for 12 months. Service plans require a 24-month commitment. Equipment Lease or Purchase fees extra. Service plans require a 24-month commitment. Equipment Lease or Purchase fees extra.
‡Offer for 12 months. Service plans require a 24-month commitment. Equipment Lease or Purchase fees extra. Service plans require a 24-month commitment. Equipment Lease or Purchase fees extra.
