Does the Queen City reign when it comes to broadband? Most Cincinnati homes can get multigigabit speeds despite limited providers serving the area.
What is the best internet provider in Cincinnati?
Residents of Cincinnati have limited options when it comes to broadband. Most of the city has access to just two wired internet providers, Spectrum and Altafiber (previously known as Cincinnati Bell). Other options, like 5G home internet from T-Mobile and Verizon and satellite internet providers, also serve select households. Out of those choices, CNET’s pick for the best internet service provider in Cincinnati is Altafiber, based on its speed and pricing.
The cheapest provider in Cincinnati is between Altafiber and Spectrum, offering base plans for $40 per month. However, Altafiber offers 400-megabit-per-second connectivity compared to Spectrum’s 300Mbps. Altafiber is also the fastest ISP in this Ohio city, offering 2 gigabits for $100 monthly. Ultimately, affordability and speed will come down to what’s available at your address.
Our methodology
CNET considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service in Cincinnati across several categories. Our evaluation includes referencing a proprietary database built over years of reviewing internet services. We validate that against provider information by spot-checking local addresses for service availability. We also do a close read of providers’ terms and conditions and, when needed, will call ISPs to verify the details.
Despite our efforts to find the most recent and accurate information, our process has some limitations you should know about. Pricing and speed data are variable: Certain addresses may qualify for different service tiers, and monthly costs may vary, even within a city. The best way to identify your particular options is to plug your address into a provider’s website.
Also, the prices, speed and other information listed above and in the provider cards below may differ from what we found in our research. The cards display the full range of a provider’s pricing and speed across the US, according to our database of plan information provided directly by ISPs. At the same time, the text is specific to what’s available in Cincinnati. The prices referenced within this article’s text come from our research and include applicable discounts for setting up monthly automatic payments, a standard industry offering. Discounts and promotions might also be available for signing a term contract or bundling multiple services.
To learn more about how we review internet providers, visit our full methodology page.Best internet in Cincinnati, OhioSpectrum
Our take – One of the country’s most widely available internet providers, Charter Communications’ Spectrum Internet is the other primary broadband option for residents of Cincinnati.Altafiber
Our take – This ISP, formerly known as Cincinnati Bell, has earned praise from Cincinnati residents for its reliability and speed.
