DSL vs. Cable Internet

Cable internet is objectively better than DSL internet, so this isn’t exactly a fair fight. You can get download speeds up to 300Mbps with cable internet, and the best-case scenario with DSL internet maxes out around 100Mbps. That being said, cable internet typically costs more than DSL, and might not even be available in your neck of the woods.

If you’re trying to decide between DSL and cable internet, allow us to save you some reading time and cut to the chase: you should choose cable internet. But for those of you who want additional context on DSL versus cable internet, we’ve got more details.

You’ll have a hard time ever surpassing 100Mbps with a DSL connection, which severely limits what you can do internet-wise in a single household. Think of it like getting a medium pizza and dividing it up for a family of 10 … everyone gets stuck with a tiny piece of pizza if everyone is going to eat. Likewise, a DSL connection can’t sustain a household of streamers, gamers, and TikTok creators (your average American teenager might be doing all three of things at the same time). Honestly, DSL internet speeds only make sense for households with one or two people inside.

Cable internet, which can go up to 500Mbps, makes a lot more sense for a modern household. You can realistically have folks streaming and gaming at the same time with a smooth connection.

As you can see from the chart above, there isn’t even that big of a difference in price between DSL and cable internet (compare Spectrum and CenturyLink on the table above, for example). You’ll end up paying at least $40 a month for DSL or cable internet, but you’ll get much faster download speeds with a cable internet connection. In some cases, like with Cox internet, you might see a higher price tag (and faster download speeds, too), but in general, the price between DSL and cable internet is pretty similar.

To help paint the picture even more, take a look at what some DSL providers are offering versus cable internet providers:

Now that you’ve got a look at some popular DSL providers, take a look at what cable providers currently offer:

To get a deeper comparison of DSL and cable providers, check out our review of Frontier vs. Spectrum Internet.

Cable internet vs. DSL: Bundle deals

If you want to get multiple services under the same umbrella and get a discount while you're at it, cable internet providers offer way more bundling deals than DSL providers.

The best bundle deals come from internet providers like Xfinity and Spectrum, both of which offer cable internet and discounted cell phone plans to go along with it.

One of the benefits of choosing either cable internet or DSL internet is that they’re available in most areas. DSL is available to over 84% of the population, whereas cable internet is available to over 88% of the population.

To find the best DSL or cable internet service in your area, plug in your ZIP code to our handy-dandy tool below.

Both DSL telephone lines and coaxial cable lines run throughout the US, but sometimes those networks don’t reach more remote locations. (Rural areas are still a mixed bag, internet-wise.) If you don’t have cable or DSL in your location, check out satellite internet.

Which internet option is better for rural areas?

If you live in a more rural area of the country without much internet access, you might not have a choice between cable and DSL internet—you're at the mercy of whatever ISPs service your neck of the woods. If you have the option for cable internet, we'd strongly recommend cable over DSL internet. If DSL internet is the only internet available, we recommend checking out some satellite internet providers.

Either internet type will require a modem to work, so you’ll need to either purchase a modem, or rent one from the ISP you land on. Generally speaking, cable modems tend to be slightly more expensive than DSL modems due to the higher speeds and capabilities associated with cable internet.

On average, cable modems costs range from $50 to $150 for a standalone device that you could purchase outright. High-performance or advanced models might fall on the higher end of this range. Additionally, some cable ISPs offer modem rental options, typically at a monthly fee of around $10 to $15, which can add up over time.

For DSL modems, the cost was generally in a similar range as cable modems, with basic models costing around $50 to $100. Like cable modems, some DSL modems can also be rented from ISPs for a monthly fee, usually around $5 to $10.

It's worth noting that purchasing your own modem can potentially save you money in the long run compared to renting from your ISP, as the rental fees can accumulate over time. Additionally, newer modems often offer better performance and compatibility with the latest technologies, so it might be worth investing a bit more upfront for a modem that can serve you well into the future.

Okay, let’s get technical.

How does cable work?

Cable internet uses a coaxial cable connection to provide high-speed internet access. These coaxial cables consist of a copper core surrounded by insulating material and shielding to prevent signal interference. Internet data is transmitted over these cables in the form of electrical signals. One significant advantage of cable internet is its relatively high speed and capacity, allowing for faster downloads, streaming, and online gaming. However, since cable connections are shared among multiple users in a neighborhood, network congestion during peak usage times can lead to reduced speeds for individual users.

How does DSL internet work?

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) internet, on the other hand, uses existing copper telephone lines to provide internet connectivity. DSL internet uses a different frequency than your telephone line, allowing both services to operate simultaneously over the same line. While DSL offers a dedicated connection and is generally more stable than cable, its speed is often lower compared to modern cable internet offerings. The actual speed you'll get with DSL depends entirely on the distance between the user's location and the provider's central office.

What internet technology is better?

You’ll typically get higher speeds with cable internet, making it better suited for bandwidth-intensive activities like HD streaming, online gaming, and large file downloads. However, cable connections are shared, which can lead to reduced speeds during peak hours. DSL, although generally slower than cable, offers a more consistent connection since it is not shared with neighboring users. It can make sense for light to moderate internet users in a small household who prioritize reliability and affordability over blazing-fast speeds, assuming there’s no better option. All things being equal, you're more likely to get a better experience with cable internet over DSL internet.

In case you're curious, the best overall choice is fiber internet. Fiber internet can reach much higher speeds than cable or DSL internet providers.

What's the difference between dial-up, DSL, cable, and fiber internet?