Best Cable Internet Providers of 2021

As the demand for fast, reliable online service grows — for entertainment, to work from home, to attend classes, and even to run smart appliances — more people are turning to cable internet.

“Two thirds of all households get their broadband service from cable,” says Bruce Leichtman, a broadband industry authority who leads Leichtman Research Group in Durham, New Hampshire. “In the past year, cable added 3.1 million broadband subscribers,” he says. That’s more than any other internet connection.

But is cable internet the right choice for your household? What can you expect from a cost, speed, and equipment perspective? And how does it compare to other internet connections, like DSL and fiber optic? Read on to find out.

Our Best Cable Internet Provider Rating

#1 Xfinity
#2 Spectrum
#3 Cox
#3 RCN
#5 Mediacom

What Is Cable Internet?

Cable internet uses coaxial cable to connect you to the internet. It's the same cable that delivers pictures and sound to your television. Providers of cable TV generally sell cable internet service.

Coaxial cable is made of multiple layers of copper, steel, aluminum, and plastic, and it transmits data by electromagnetic signals. Data is downloaded (received) and uploaded (sent) on frequencies different from what cable television uses, so you can still watch TV while using the internet. Some cable internet service providers (ISPs) use fiber optic cable to transmit data long distances and then use coaxial cable to connect the “last mile” to your door.

Cable internet is currently the most popular broadband connection among residential customers. In 2017, cable internet accounted for nearly 79% of fixed residential internet connections in the U.S. that were considered high-speed internet or broadband, according to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Broadband has a minimum download speed of 25 megabits per second (Mbps) and upload speed of 3 Mbps. Mbps is the measurement of how fast data travels across the cable connection. In many cases, the actual speeds of cable internet plans exceed the advertised speeds.

According to The Internet & Television Association (NCTA), residential cable broadband came into being with the launch of the cable modem in 1996. By 2012, 93% of American households had access to cable broadband, says the organization.

The Best Cable Internet Providers of 2021

We evaluated our ratings of the Best Internet Service Providers to determine the top five cable internet providers. Ratings are based on a five-point scale with five being the highest score possible. Advertised plan prices cited do not include taxes, surcharges or fees, and may be for new residential customers only.

Xfinity: Six cable internet plans are available from Xfinity, which is owned by Comcast. Prices start as low as $29.99 per month for download speeds of 15 Mbps and upload speeds of 2 Mbps. At the top of the range are plans that cost $69.99 per month for 600 Mbps download speeds and 20 Mbps upload speeds. Discounts are available for self-installation, autopay, paperless billing, and one-year service agreements. Plans are limited to 1.2 TB of data and come with free security software and access to a nationwide network of Wi-Fi hotspots. Service is available in 39 states and Washington, D.C. In our Best Internet Service rating, Xfinity placed No. 4. Read more in our review of Xfinity internet or check out the top Xfinity promo codes.

Spectrum Internet promotion price is $49.99/mo for 12 months. Wireless speeds may vary.

Spectrum: Spectrum Internet is offered by Charter Communications. The standard no-contract plan has download speeds of 100 Mbps and upload speeds of 10 Mbps. The cost is $49.99 per month for one year for new subscribers, and standard rates apply after the year is up. The fastest plan, Spectrum Internet Gig, promises download speeds of 940 Mbps and upload speeds of 35 Mbps. You get a lot of extras with Spectrum. In addition to unlimited data, you get a free modem and antivirus software, as well as access to a nationwide network of Wi-Fi hotspots. Service is available in 42 states. Read more in our review of Spectrum internet.

Cox: The largest private telecom company in the U.S., Cox has five internet service plans that use cable and fiber optic technology. Plans range from $29.99 to $99.99 per month for download speeds between 10 and 1,000 Mbps and upload speeds from 1 to 35 Mbps. These include free antivirus and malware software. The higher-priced plans come with free access to 650,000-plus Wi-Fi hot spots. Plans cap out at 1.25 TB of data. A contract is not required but may provide a discount. You can read more about its fiber optic internet plan and see which states have access to this ISP in our review of Cox internet or check out the top Cox promo codes.

RCN: RCN’s internet service uses both cable and fiber-optic technologies. It has six plans that vary by location with download speeds ranging from 10 Mbps to up to 940 Mbps and prices from $19.99 to $49.99 a month. (Upload speeds are not published.) Service is available in six major metropolitan markets: Chicago, Boston, Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. A contract is not required, and U.S.-based customer support is available 24/7. Free installation may be offered. Read more in our review of RCN internet or check out the top RCN coupon codes.

Mediacom: Mediacom offers a number of cable internet service plans. Download speeds range from 60 to 1,000 Mbps, and prices range from $19.99 to $79.99 a month. Plans start with at 60 GB of data. Service is available in 22 states. If you exceed your data cap with Mediacom, you’ll be charged $10 for every additional 50 GB increment. Customer service is available by text or phone. Read more in our review of Mediacom Internet.

Which Cable Internet Service Is Near Me?

Find the cable internet service near you by exploring our cable ISP availability map above. You also can enter your address on the FCC’s Fixed Broadband Deployment website. A third option is to plug your address into the ISP’s website to see if service is offered in your zip code.

Our Best Cable Internet Providers of 2021 offer varying degrees of coverage in the U.S. RCN is available in six major metropolitan areas: Chicago, Boston, Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. Xfinity provides service to 39 states and Washington, D.C. Spectrum operates in 42 states; Cox in 19. Mediacom is available in 22 states around the U.S.

According to the FCC, nearly 89% of the U.S. population has access to one or more cable internet providers, but only 55% of people living in rural areas can make this same claim.

If cable internet is limited where you live, consider other services like DSL, satellite, or fiber optic internet. Learn about your high-speed internet options in our Internet Providers Guide.

Check out our best local internet service providers by city.

How Fast Is Cable Internet?

Internet Speed of Cable vs DSL vs Cable vs Satellite

Cable internet is one of the fastest internet connections you can get. From 2013 to 2018, maximum speeds have quadrupled to as fast as 2 gigabits per second (Gbps), according to the NCTA.

FCC data illustrates that cable internet’s average download speed is a little faster than fiber and significantly faster than DSL and satellite internet. Some cable plans also have fast upload speeds, which means you can share large files and video chat with ease.

Subscribers generally get more than their paid-for speed. An FCC report from 2018 found 80% of cable internet subscribers experienced median download speeds that are faster than their service provider’s advertised download speed. Cable also “showed a high consistency of speed,” states the report.

The drawback: Cable uses a shared neighborhood connection. “You will likely notice a slowdown of 20 to 40 percent during peak times, usually in the evening when people are streaming content,” says Mark Lubow, a veteran cable and telecommunications expert who leads the Cloud11 consultancy in Atlanta.

Cable’s low latency, or delay, means more responsive multiplayer gaming, less buffering of video, and better sound quality for Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone calls.

How Much Is Cable Internet?

Consumers say they spend $67 a month on online services like cable internet, says Bruce Leichtman, a broadband industry authority.

Advertised plan prices do not include taxes, surcharges, and fees, which can add up. A Consumer Reports investigation found fees add $450 to the average cable customer’s bill each year. For a complete list of fees, read the section that explains your bill on your internet provider’s website.

Advertised prices may be discounted for new subscribers and require a contract. Once the promotional period ends, usually after one year, the monthly rate can increase. Bundling services and buying instead of renting equipment can reduce your monthly cable internet bill. A credit check may be required to get service.

Here's what you can expect to pay from our top-rated cable internet providers:

The six cable plans from Xfinity start as low as $29.99 per month and increase to $69.99 per month. Equipment rental starts at $14 a month. You can get discounts by signing up for paperless billing, automatic payments, and for entering a one-year service agreement. Contract termination and installation fees vary. Plans have 1 TB data caps, and fees apply if you use more data.

The standard cable internet plan from Spectrum costs $49.99 per month for 100-Mbps download speed. Prices for higher speed plans (400 Mbps and 940 Mbps) are not published. Equipment rental, installation, and contract termination fees vary. Spectrum will pay you up to $500 to buy out a contract with another internet provider if you bundle services. Data use is unlimited.

Five cable-fiber internet plans are available from Cox starting at $29.99 per month and increasing to $99.99 per month. Cox doesn’t publish equipment rental fees, while installation fees begin at $20 and contract termination fees start at $120. The data cap is 1.25 TB with overage charges if you use additional data.

The cost of plans offered by RCN varies in the six metro markets that it serves. They range from $19.99 per month for a basic plan in Philadelphia to $59.99 per month for a top-speed plan in Chicago. Equipment rental starts at $9.95 a month. Installation and early contract termination fees vary. Discounts for one free month or free installation vary by city.

Mediacom has cable internet plans ranging in price from $39.99 to $79.99 a month. Those prices will get you download speeds from 60 to 1000 Mbps. Plans start with 400 GB of data, which is a relatively high limit compared to many of the company's rivals. As with many other ISPs, equipment rental, installation, and contract termination fees vary.

What Are Cable and Internet Bundles?

Cable and internet bundles are package deals that provide a discount when you buy two or more services from the same company. It can be cheaper to buy a bundle than to pay separately for services. The more services you bundle, the more money you may save.

“The majority of cable subscribers are in a bundle,” says Bruce Leichtman, a broadband industry authority. This is true even as more people are ‘cord cutting,’ or dropping pay TV in favor of video streaming services. “That bundle still is an advantage for many people,” he says.

Common bundles combine internet, television, and home phone, called Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). Some internet providers also bundle home security and smart home services.

Bundling is a good idea if you’re actually going to use the services. There’s no point bundling cable TV if you prefer to use an antenna or to stream video, nor should you add home phone service if you use a mobile phone in place of a landline.

Bundles are convenient — you get one bill to pay each month — but usually require a one-year contract.

And bundles don’t satisfy everyone, found Consumer Reports when it asked 108,000 members for feedback on their bundled plans. “All of the companies we rated received subpar value ratings for their bundles, regardless of the median price customers were paying,” it stated.

The following are bundles offered by our best cable internet providers, as of the date of this review. Rates are approximate, vary by location, and don’t include taxes, surcharges, fees or equipment costs.

Xfinity combines internet plans with cable TV (10, 125, or 200-plus channels); home phone service; and two kinds of home security monitoring. Bundles cost $30 to $170 per month.

Spectrum bundles internet ($49.99 a month), TV ($44.99 per month for 200-plus channels), and home phone ($9.99 a month). You must enter your address on Spectrum’s website to get specific pricing.

Cox bundles internet, TV, phone, smart home, and home security services. Prices cost $84.98 to $169.99 a month. You save $10 a month by bundling smart home and security services.

RCN bundles internet with TV (Basic or Signature, which has 300-plus channels); home phone; whole-home audio powered by Sonos; and whole-home Wi-Fi. Prices range from $29.99 to $143.11 per month.

Mediacom bundles internet plans with TV and phone service. Specific deals depend on where you live.

How Do I Get Cable Internet?

What Do I Need for Cable Internet Service?

Should I Buy or Rent Equipment for Cable Internet Service?

You should buy equipment for cable internet service if you want to save money over time, buy different or better equipment than what the ISP offers, and for ease of switching providers. But technical support is limited and if equipment breaks, no longer supports your internet speed, or is no longer compatible with your provider, you have to buy new.

You should rent equipment for cable internet service if you want convenience, free technical support, and the most up-to-date, compatible technology. The company steps in if the device breaks or needs updating to accommodate a faster internet speed. Of course, you’ll spend more long term paying the monthly rental fee, which could increase. If you terminate service and don’t turn in rented equipment, you will be charged for it.

Mark Lubow, a veteran cable and telecom expert, recommends renting equipment. “Carriers often reward customer longevity with free equipment upgrades to make sure you’re getting the best experience they have to offer, although you usually need to ask for it,” he says.

How Do I Install Equipment for Cable Internet Service?

Self-installing equipment for cable internet can be an easy process if you have some technical know-how, your residence is wired for cable, and you or the previous residents had service in the recent past. Internet providers have step-by-step instructions on how to connect and activate the modem, Wi-Fi router, and your mobile devices. Some provide a self-install kit containing all the equipment, cables, and cords needed for setup.

Another bonus: Self-install is free. By comparison, we found the cost of professional installation ranges from free to $100 or more.

Professional installation is a good idea for people who have little technical experience or for complex projects involving bundled services or multiple pieces of equipment. You may need a pro if your address has never had cable service before, as you’ll need to run coaxial cable to the property and possibly in your walls, or if additional wall outlets for cable are needed. Professional installation is necessary to ensure the cable line is working properly after being inactive for one year or if you’ve experienced poor signal strength and need the line tested.

How to Get Internet Without Cable

Cable internet is widely available in most areas of the U.S. In 2019, the top cable companies had 68 million broadband subscribers, says Bruce Leichtman, a broadband industry authority. You don’t have to get cable TV in order to get cable internet. If you want both, however, you may save money by bundling these services together.

For high-speed internet access, cable is only one of several broadband technologies. Other types of broadband connections are DSL (Digital Subscriber Line), which transmits data over copper telephone lines; satellite, which transmits data wirelessly from space; and fiber, which transmits data via fiber optic cable made of super-thin strands of glass.

If cable is not available in your service area or you just don’t want cable internet, you have other options. Learn more about the different types of internet service in our Internet Providers Guide.

Cable Internet vs. DSL

For most, cable is a better choice than DSL. It has faster download and upload speeds, higher service consistency, and lower latency (delay). It supports households with multiple active internet users who simultaneously stream high-definition video, play real-time multiplayer games, and have numerous connected devices, from smartphones to home security cameras.

DSL is slower, less consistent, and has higher latency. It is best for light to moderate internet use and for households with fewer internet users who don’t use high-demand applications at the same time. Because DSL is a dedicated connection, it does not slow down during peak use times like cable internet, which uses a shared connection. DSL is also available in a higher percentage of rural areas, according to the FCC.

Cable Internet vs. Fiber

Cable and fiber internet are fast, reliable, and can handle multiple people who simultaneously use high-demand applications. But fiber internet has the edge when it comes to faster upload speeds. These are important for sending the large data files used in videoconferencing and video chatting. Fiber also has lower latency, which means real-time first-person games are more responsive and have less “ping.”

Fiber is a dedicated connection, and unlike a shared cable connection, it doesn’t slow down during peak use times. Cable, however, is more widely available than fiber internet.

Other Internet Service Providers

Other Guides from 360 Reviews

Other Products to Consider

In addition to the companies in our rating of the Best Internet Service Providers, here are some others to consider:

How U.S. News Evaluated Internet Service Providers

We explain what matters when it comes to internet service by sourcing experts and professional reviewers. Then we provide an unbiased evaluation of internet service providers. Our goal is to empower consumers with the information and tools they need to make informed decisions. More information about our 360 Reviews methodology for evaluating internet service providers is here.

†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. Spectrum Internet® promotion price is $49.99/mo; standard rates apply after yr. 1. Taxes, fees and surcharges extra and subject to change during and after the promotional period; installation/network activation, equipment and additional services are extra. General Terms: INTERNET: Speed based on wired connection and may vary by address. Wireless speeds may vary. Services subject to all applicable service terms and conditions, subject to change. Services not available in all areas. Restrictions apply.