What is the best internet provider in Cincinnati?

We consider Altafiber’s fiber internet plans to be the best option for internet in Cincinnati.

What is the fastest internet provider in Cincinnati?

With speeds up to 1 Gbps, Spectrum is the fastest broadband internet provider in Cincinnati.

What is the cheapest internet provider in Cincinnati?

The lowest available price from a major internet provider in Cincinnati is $49.95, which is the cheapest way to get Viasat Internet.

Internet Providers in Cincinnati, Ohio

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Best Internet Providers in Cincinnati, OH

The best of Cincinnati’s internet providers is altafiber, for its excellent reputation and quick high-speed fiber internet connection. In fact, when we surveyed our local review data, we found altafiber customers were happy with the service for its quick speeds up to 2 Gbps, Fioptics+ streaming service, and minimum two-year price lock on plan prices. While customers didn’t love the required $39.99 activation fee on all altafiber internet plans, we love that altafiber offers a military discount of $5 off per life — something you don’t see that often with ISPs anymore.

If you don’t need the symmetrical 2 Gbps download and upload speeds of altafiber’s fiber internet connection, then you should consider Cincinnati’s cable internet provider, Spectrum. Spectrum’s cable connections can reach speeds up to 1 Gbps (wireless speeds may vary), and its plans start at just $50 per month for 12 months. Spectrum also offers packages with other services, including TV with 160+ channels, home phone, and mobile phone, starting at $30 per month for 12 months.

Altafiber and Spectrum aren’t Cincinnati’s only internet service providers — actually, a total of 12 companies serve Cincinnati. However, they’re the two that we most recommend. Wireless alternatives may be tempting (especially exciting newcomers like Starlink satellite internet and T-Mobile 5G Home Internet), but the fact of the matter is that fiber and cable internet are the top two connection types available. That said, if you really want to go with a wireless internet provider, we recommend T-Mobile 5G Home Internet for its affordable and budget-friendly pricing starting at $60 per month.

As a new customer, you can find special deals from internet providers each month. Spectrum frequently runs promotions that vary often as the company phases them in and out, but it’s currently offering Advanced WiFi when you purchase the Spectrum Internet Gig plan. In Cincinnati, you can also get a $300 Virtual Prepaid Mastercard when you sign up for select T-Mobile 5G Home Internet plans. Of course, these deals and promotions change quickly, so it’s essential to jump on them before they expire.

Spectrum - Fastest Provider
Spectrum - Cheapest Provider
Viasat - Widely Available
Viasat - Great for Rural Areas
T-Mobile - Offers 5G Home Internet
Spectrum - Great Value

Fastest Internet Providers in Cincinnati, OH

Spectrum is the fastest provider in Cincinnati, with speeds up to 2 Gbps.

Cincinnati has a couple of speedy broadband providers. The fastest of them is altafiber, which offers speeds up to 2 Gbps. Fiber internet speeds mean more than internet speeds on other connection types. When altafiber says it offers up to 2 Gbps on its fiber network, that number refers to download speeds and upload speeds. With symmetrical speeds on a fiber internet connection, your home can stream and game on multiple devices without interruption, which cannot be said for other connection types.

With other connection types, like cable, DSL, and 5G home internet, speed claims only refer to download speeds. So, when Spectrum says it has speeds up to 1 Gbps (wireless speeds may vary), it only covers its download speeds. In fact, Spectrum’s upload speeds only reach 50 Mbps, which is much less than you may expect, especially if you tap into one of Spectrum’s faster plans, such as the Spectrum Internet® Gig plan.

To be fair, download speed is by far the most important factor when considering internet provider speeds in Cincinnati. However, upload speeds can matter for things like hosting a livestream or playing online video games. If these activities don’t apply to you, you’ll be more than happy with Spectrum’s internet plan options.

What’s a Good Internet Speed?

Internet Speed	Appropriate For	Providers in your Area offering this Speed	Availability in your Area
25 Mbps	Email Web browsing Light streaming Smaller households	Agile Networks	7.000000000000001%
100 Mbps	Streaming Video chat Online gaming Larger households	AT&T Viasat T-Mobile EarthLink Hughesnet XNET WiFi Starlink	100%
1000 Mbps (1 Gbps)	Heavy streaming (4K video multiple devices etc.) Video chat Lag-free gaming Large households	Spectrum Verizon altafiber	94.43%

Learn more about internet speeds:

Internet Availability in Cincinnati, OH

Choosing an internet plan always involves a question of geography: Which providers are available where you live? Happily, Cincinnati residents have some pretty good options that are also pretty consistent.

Take Altafiber, for example. Like most modern fiber networks, Altafiber doesn’t offer a ton of residential service in the immediate downtown areas. Coverage is a little block to block in Queensgate, Downtown Cincinnati, and the West End; however, you’re still reasonably likely to be able to sign up for a plan in residential zones of those neighborhoods.

Beyond those areas, however, Altafiber’s coverage is remarkable. You’ll find Altafiber in areas north of downtown, all the way up past Route 75 and Spring Grove in neighborhoods like College Hill, Winton Hills, and Bond Hill. Head west from the heart of town to Evanston, Hyde Park, and Mt. Lookout, and you’ll find the same wide availability. And west of 75 and Mill Creek, it’s the same story yet again: You can get Altafiber in Westwood, Western Hills, and just about anywhere else.

As for cable, Cincinnati residents can expect to be offered service by Spectrum. Just like Altafiber, Spectrum is available virtually everywhere in town. The only spots not included in its footprint — which covers 94.4% of Cincinnati — are places like park land, railroad tracks, and empty lots. If you live in Cincy, you can expect to be able to choose between Spectrum and Altafiber.

Provider Connection Types in Cincinnati, OH

Connection Type	About this Connection Type	Availability in Cincinnati, OH
Satellite	Available even in very rural areas Typically has high latency (lag)	100%
DSL	Typically about 100 Mbps Slower than Cable or Fiber	9.790000000000001%
Cable	Typically 250 Mbps - 1 Gbps Widely available A good choice for most users	95.44%
Fiber	Typically 1 Gbps or faster Upload speeds match download speeds	86.53%