Internet Providers in Santa Barbara, California
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Home Internet in Santa Barbara, CA
-
1. AT&T 
Speeds Up To225 Mbps
Connection: 5G InternetAvailability: 11% -
2. Cox
Speeds Up To2 Gbps
Connection: CableAvailability: 92.4%Santa Barbara speed tests confirm high speeds for Cox -
3. EarthLink
Download Speeds:500 Mbps - 2 Gbps
Connection: FiberAvailability: 45.2% -
4. Frontier
Download Speeds:200 Mbps - 5 Gbps*
Connection: DSL, FiberAvailability: 48.2%Santa Barbara speed tests confirm high speeds for Frontier -
5. Viasat
Speeds Up To150 Mbps
Connection: SatelliteAvailability: 100% -
6. Hughesnet
Speeds Up To100 Mbps
Connection: SatelliteAvailability: 100% -
Starlink
Download Speeds:50 - 220 Mbps
Connection: SatelliteAvailability: 100% -
Verizon
Speeds Up To50 Mbps
Connection: 5G InternetAvailability: 21.6% -
Always ON
Download Speeds:25 - 150 Mbps
Connection: Fixed WirelessAvailability: 15.6%
Compare Top Providers in Your Area
Home Internet Summary in Santa Barbara, CA
Cox ranks as the top internet provider in Santa Barbara, California. This cable provider offers speeds up to 2 Gbps for a starting price of $50 per month. Covering 92.40% of the city, Cox provides broad access and substantial value, ideal for households with multiple users, gamers, and HD streamers. With its wide coverage and high-speed options, Cox proves to be an excellent choice for diverse internet needs.
Viasat Internet also serves Santa Barbara with 100% city coverage through its satellite connection. While its maximum download speed of 150 Mbps doesn't match Cox, Viasat ensures connectivity in every area, including remote locations. The service starts at $99.99 per month, higher than Cox, but guarantees reliability where wired connections fall short. Viasat stands out for those who need consistent coverage across the entire city, making it a strong alternative.
Best Internet Providers in Santa Barbara, CA
Cox Elite Gamer and Frontier Fiber are the top internet providers in Santa Barbara, with Cox being the best of the two. Its Gigablast cable connection with Elite Gamer service offers download speeds up to 2 Gbps through their Panoramic Wifi system, which is more than enough speed to handle all your household internet needs. Cox also offers the least expensive internet plan in the city, with its Internet Starter 25 plan with Elite Security costing as little as $50 per month with their Panoramic Wi-Fi guarantee.
If you’re looking for a fiber internet provider, Frontier Fiber 5 Gig is a good alternative to Cox. With Fiber 5 Gig speeds delivered through their Frontier Fiber Gateway with Total Home Wi-Fi and prices starting at $64.99 per month with MyFrontier app access, Frontier is a great internet provider in Santa Barbara.
If Frontier and Cox aren’t available at your address, or you’re looking for an alternative to traditional internet providers, T-Mobile 5G Home Internet with their Gateway device is a viable option that uses 5G technology to speed up the wireless home internet experience. Customers can expect Internet Freedom speeds between 33 and 182 Mbps through their 5G Gateway for a flat rate of $50 per month (with AutoPay and Magenta MAX bundle discounts).
What’s a Good Internet Speed?
| Internet Speed | Appropriate For | Providers in your Area offering this Speed | Availability in your Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Mbps |
|
|
15.65% |
| 100 Mbps |
|
|
100% |
| 1000 Mbps (1 Gbps) |
|
|
92.43% |
Learn more about internet speeds:
Internet Availability in Santa Barbara, CA
Santa Barbara residents have access to a few wired internet providers: Cox, EarthLink, and Frontier. Depending on where you live in the city, these providers offer various connection types with their plans.
First up in availability is Cox, which covers 92.4% of Santa Barbara. Known for its cable service, Cox has the strongest presence in Alta Mesa and East Mesa. In most cases, you’ll have access to Cox given its widespread coverage, but the rare patches of unavailability are at Harding Elementary School and the business plaza along West Gutierrez Street and State Street.
EarthLink is another wired internet provider in Santa Barbara that offers 45.2% coverage. If you live within its coverage zone and prefer fiber over cable internet, EarthLink is your best option. If you don’t have access to EarthLink, Frontier is an alternative fiber internet provider, covering 48.2% of the city. Frontier is noticeably absent in the central neighborhoods between El Camino Real and Garden Street. However, it has coverage on the west and east sides of the city.
Cox and Frontier overlap with their coverage in Alta Mesa, West Mesa, and East Alta Mesa. If you want to stick with Frontier but don’t live within its fiber availability, you can opt for its DSL service, which has almost the same coverage as Cox. It isn’t, however, available in Turtle Pond or in the neighborhood between East Canon Perdido Street and E De La Guerra Street, which is east of Santa Barbara High School.
Internet Provider Store Locations in Santa Barbara, CA
Provider Connection Types in Santa Barbara, CA
| Connection Type | About this Connection Type | Availability in Santa Barbara, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Satellite |
|
100% |
| DSL |
|
2.36% |
| Cable |
|
98.22999999999999% |
| Fiber |
|
33.42% |
List of Internet Providers in Santa Barbara, CA
Internet Providers in Santa Barbara, CA
| Provider | Plans Starting At | Speeds Up To | Connections | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Internet Air | $60/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan | 225 Mbps *Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | 5G Internet | |
| Cox | $50/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan | 2 Gbps *Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | Cable | |
| EarthLink Fiber | $59.95/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan | 5 Gbps *Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | Fiber | |
| Frontier | $29.99/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan | 200 Mbps *Not all internet speeds available in all areas. Real-world speeds are impacted by multiple factors and average speeds may be lower than advertised speeds. | DSL, Fiber | |
| Viasat Internet | $99.99/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan | 150 Mbps *Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | Satellite | |
| Hughesnet | $49.99/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan | 100 Mbps *Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | Satellite | |
| Starlink | $120/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan | 220 Mbps *Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | Satellite | |
| Verizon | $50/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan | 50 Mbps *Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | 5G Internet | |
| Always ON | $60/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan | 25 Mbps *Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | Fixed Wireless |
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