Best Internet Providers in Modesto, California

What is the best internet provider in Modesto, California?AT&T Fiber is CNET’s pick for the best internet service provider in Modesto. It offers customer-friendly policies paired with impressive speeds. According to Ookla’s latest data, median internet speeds in Modesto hover around 320Mbps, and AT&T Fiber deserves some credit for that. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) As the city’s only fiber provider, AT&T Fiber stands out by delivering symmetrical upload and download speeds — perfect if you work from home or like online gaming.

Looking for the most affordable plans? Xfinity is the cheapest internet provider in Modesto, with plans starting at just $20 monthly for 150Mbps service. Just keep in mind these are promotional rates that will jump significantly after the first year or two (or both). Spectrum is another cable internet alternative worth looking into, though it also comes with hefty price hikes in the second or third year.

If your household doesn’t need blazing speeds, T-Mobile Home Internet and Verizon 5G Home Internet are worth considering. Both offer middle-ground pricing and performance, with additional savings when bundled with qualifying cellphone plans.

Best internet in Modesto, CaliforniaModesto internet providers compared ProviderInternet technologyMonthly price rangeSpeed rangeMonthly equipment costsData capContractCNET review score Ayera Technologies Fixed wireless$39-$1093-120MbpsNone (router not provided)100GB-4.86TBNoneN/A AT&T Fiber
Read full review Fiber$55-$245300-5,000MbpsNoneNoneNone7.4 AT&T Internet
Read full review DSL$60Up to 140MbpsNone1.5TB on some plansNone7.4 Spectrum
Read full review Cable$30-$70100-1,000Mbps$10 (optional)NoneNone7.2 T-Mobile Home Internet
Read full review Fixed wireless$50-$70 ($35-$55 with mobile plans)87-415MbpsNoneNoneNone7.4 Verizon 5G Home Internet
Read full review Fixed wireless$50-$70 ($35-$45 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers)100-1,000MbpsNoneNoneNone7.2 Xfinity
Read full review Cable$20-$75150-1,200Mbps$15 (included in most plans)1.2TB (unlimited in most plans)Optional7 Show more (2 items)

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

What’s the cheapest internet plan in Modesto? ProviderStarting priceMax download speedMonthly equipment fee Xfinity Connect
Read full review $20150Mbps$15 (optional) Xfinity Connect More
Read full review $25300MbpsNone Spectrum Internet
Read full review $30100Mbps$10 (optional)Ayera Technologies $393MbpsNone (router not provided)Ayera Technologies $4915MbpsNone (router not provided) T-Mobile Rely Home Internet
Read full review $50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans)318MbpsNone Verizon 5G Home Internet
Read full review $50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans)100MbpsNone Spectrum Internet
Read full review $50500Mbps$10 (optional) Show more (3 items)

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

adamkaz/Getty ImagesHow to find internet deals and promotions in ModestoThe best internet deals and top promotions in Modesto depend on what discounts are available during a given time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers. 

How many members of your household use the internet?

Modesto internet providers, such as AT&T Fiber, Xfinity and Verizon 5G Home Internet, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, however, including Spectrum and T-Mobile Home Internet, run the same standard pricing year-round.  

For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.

Fastest internet plans in Modesto Show more (1 item)

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

What’s a good internet speed?Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here’s an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines — and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.

For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.

0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics — browsing the internet, sending and receiving email, streaming low-quality video.5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.40 to 100Mbps should give one person sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming. 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two people to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and gaming. 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more people to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.How CNET chose the best internet providers in ModestoInternet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.

But it doesn’t end there. We use the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication.

Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:

Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?Are customers happy with their service?While the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, though we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.

To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.

Modesto internet provider FAQs
What’s the best internet service provider in Modesto?

AT&T Fiber is the best internet service provider in Modesto, offering the fastest speeds in the city and some of the lowest prices. It’s also the only fiber provider in the city, which means it’s the only one that has symmetrical upload and download speeds.

Is fiber internet available in Modesto?

Yes, fiber internet is available to 21% of Modesto households, according to FCC data. AT&T Fiber is the only fiber provider in the city. 

What’s the cheapest internet provider in Modesto?

Xfinity is Modesto’s cheapest internet provider, offering plans starting at just $20 a month.

Which internet provider in Modesto offers the fastest plan?

AT&T Fiber offers the fastest internet plan in Modesto, with upload and download speeds up to 5,000Mbps. 

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