Internet Service Providers in
Durham, NC
Providers in Durham, NC
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Best internet providers in Durham, NC
Google Fiber: Fastest option
Google Fiber Internet pros and cons
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 can only be 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.
You can’t get fiber without a fiber line, so be prepared for some yard digging. But hey, the installation is free.
Best Google Fiber internet plan for most people: 1 Gig, 100Mbps for $70.00/mo.
A gig is Google Fiber’s minimum, and since that’s about twice as much speed as a residence needs, you’re all set and then some. You can play high-res video games, stream in 4K (maybe even 8K), take 100-person conference calls, and set up the fanciest home security cameras you can find.
Spectrum: Most perks included
Spectrum Internet pros and cons
If you want to get the most out of your internet subscription, consider signing up for Spectrum home internet.
Spectrum’s cable service includes free antivirus software, a modem, and a 12-month Unlimited Mobile line on qualifying plans. It doesn’t offer a free router, though—if you want Wi-Fi instead of Ethernet, you need to either rent a Spectrum router or provide a compatible device. But you can partially offset the cost of the router 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.
Best Spectrum internet plan for most people: Internet Ultra, 500Mbps for $44.99/mo.
The Internet Ultra plan has more than enough megabits per second for typical internet use. You can work at home for a healthcare company by day, then stream movies and play games by night, all with minimal lag and buffering.
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet: Solid starter option
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet pros and cons
If this is your first internet rodeo and you want to start with a straightforward service, T-Mobile 5G Home Internet is a good fit. The wireless, 5G network-based setup is painless. And while there’s just one plan to choose from, there’s also only one price, and it’s a good one: $50 a month.
T-Mobile 5G Internet has no data caps, so feel free to stream Bull Durham repeatedly in 4K while Alexa reads you a recipe for homemade biscuits. And there are no contracts either, so if you find the 245Mbps max isn’t enough, you can easily cancel your no-contract service and switch to something else.
Best T-Mobile 5G Home internet plan for most people: T-Mobile 5G Home Internet, 72–245Mbps for $50.00/mo.
While a 245Mbps max speed is low compared to some other internet options, you can complete most online tasks with no problems unless you have a bigger-than-average household. Just stay away from downloading long movies from your favorite streaming service.
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.
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.
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.
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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
Average download speed
164 Mbps
Average upload speed
60 Mbps
Average latency time
26.11 ms
Average cost of internet
$86/mo
Number of internet providers
19
Internet availability faster than
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.
National average: $0.63
Find internet providers in cities near Durham, NC
Browse all cities in North Carolina
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.
Spectrum
*No contract required. Available in select areas only.
†For 12 months when bundled. Limited time offer; subject to change; valid to qualified residential customers who have not subscribed to any services within the previous 30 days and who have no outstanding obligation to Charter.
‡For 12 months when bundled. Limited time offer; subject to change; valid to qualified residential customers who have not subscribed to any services within the previous 30 days and who have no outstanding obligation to Charter.
^For 24 months when bundled. Limited time offer; subject to change; valid to qualified residential customers who have not subscribed to any services within the previous 30 days and who have no outstanding obligation to Charter.
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.
Frontier
*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 per month for 24 mos. One-time charge on disconnect applies.
‡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. 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.
Verizon Home Internet
*w/ Auto Pay and select 5G mobile plans. Available in select areas.
†w/ Auto Pay and select 5G mobile plans. Available in select areas.
‡Price per month with Auto Pay & without select 5G mobile plans. Fios plan prices include taxes & fees
^Price per month without auto pay & mobile plans. LTE Home Internet options not available in all areas. Pricings is subject to change, plan includes taxes & fees.
°w/ Auto Pay. Available in select areas.
**Price per month with Auto Pay & without select 5G mobile plans. Fios plan prices include taxes & fees
††Price per month without auto pay & mobile plans. LTE Home Internet Plus options not available in all areas. Pricings is subject to change, plan includes taxes & fees.
‡‡w/ Auto Pay. Available in select areas.
^^Price per month with Auto Pay & without select 5G mobile plans. Fios plan prices include taxes & fees
°°Available in select areas only. Price per month with Auto Pay & without select 5G mobile plans. Fios plan prices include taxes & fees
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.