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#1 Recommended Plan
1. AT&T Speeds Up To5 Gbps*Ltd. avail/areas. Speeds vary, not g’td. Single devices wired speed maximum 4.7 Gbps.Connection: Fiber, IPBB, 5G InternetAvailability: 39.3%LIMITED TIME OFFERLimited Time Deal. Get up to $32 off AT&T Fiber for 12 monthsDisclaimer: “New customers only. $15 savings with 300/500Mb or $32 savings w/ 1Gig or higher plan. Ltd. avail/areas. See details. -
#1 Recommended Plan
3. Starlink Speeds Up To400 MbpsSpeeds referenced are maximum available speeds, are not guaranteed, and will be slower during times of congestion.Speeds referenced are maximum available speeds, are not guaranteed, and will be slower during times of congestion.Connection: SatelliteAvailability: 100%Why Starlink? Starlink offers a true high-speed alternative to traditional internet providers with easy self-installation and no contracts. -
5. T-Mobile Speed Range170 Mbps - 498 MbpsRely, All-In, and Amplified Internet plans can experience fast speeds with T-Mobile’s latest 5G gateway, delivering typical download speeds between 170 Mbps – 498 Mbps. 25% of our customers see speeds below and 25% see speeds above these ranges. T-Mobile Home Internet is delivered via 5G cellular network and speeds vary due to factors affecting cellular networks. See https://t-mobile.com/OpenInternet for additional details.Rely, All-In, and Amplified Internet plans can experience fast speeds with T-Mobile’s latest 5G gateway, delivering typical download speeds between 170 Mbps – 498 Mbps. 25% of our customers see speeds below and 25% see speeds above these ranges. T-Mobile Home Internet is delivered via 5G cellular network and speeds vary due to factors affecting cellular networks. See https://t-mobile.com/OpenInternet for additional details.Connection: 5G InternetAvailability: 78.6%Madison speed tests confirm high speeds for T-Mobile 5G Home Internet
Internet Providers in Madison, WI
Refine your search for better results:
Popular Madison Internet Deals
| Provider | Featured deal |
|---|---|
| AT&T | Get up to a $200 Reward Card with purchase of AT&T Fiber! Redemption req’d. |
| Spectrum | Get Spectrum Internet® with a free modem, free antivirus software and no data caps! |
| Starlink | Get fast and flexible satellite internet from Starlink for just $55 per month! |
| Viasat | Get $30 off for your first 3 months! Price shown includes promotion; Get $30/mo. off for the first 3 months. For new customers only. You must mention this offer when ordering service to receive the discount. |
| T-Mobile | Limited time. Get a $200 rebate (via virtual prepaid Mastercard) when you activate a new T-Mobile Internet line on an eligible All-In Home Internet plan! |
Madison Home Internet Providers
| Provider | Plans starting at | Speeds up to | Connections |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum | $30/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan. | 2 Gbps Speeds up to 2G in Select Markets. | Cable |
| Mint Mobile | $30/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan. | 133 Mbps - 415 Mbps Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | 5G Internet |
| AT&T | $35/mo Price is per month, plus taxes. Price after discounts: 20% off w/elig wireless svc. and $10/mo w/elig Autopay & Paperless bill. Discounts start w/in 2 bills. | 5 Gbps Ltd. avail/areas. Speeds vary, not g’td. Single devices wired speed maximum 4.7 Gbps. | Fiber, IPBB, 5G Internet |
| Verizon | $35/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan. | 300 Mbps Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | 5G Internet |
| Hughesnet | $39.99/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan. | 100 Mbps Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | Satellite |
| LiteWire | $40.95/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan. | 65 Mbps Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | Fixed Wireless |
| TDS | $49.99/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan. | 8 Gbps Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | Fiber |
| T-Mobile | $50/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan. | 170 Mbps - 498 Mbps Rely, All-In, and Amplified Internet plans can experience fast speeds with T-Mobile’s latest 5G gateway, delivering typical download speeds between 170 Mbps – 498 Mbps. 25% of our customers see speeds below and 25% see speeds above these ranges. T-Mobile Home Internet is delivered via 5G cellular network and speeds vary due to factors affecting cellular networks. See https://t-mobile.com/OpenInternet for additional details. | 5G Internet |
| UScellular | $50/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan. | 100 Mbps Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | Fixed Wireless |
| Starlink | $55/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan. | 400 Mbps Speeds referenced are maximum available speeds, are not guaranteed, and will be slower during times of congestion. | Satellite |
| XNET WiFi | $65/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan. | 2 Gbps Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | Fixed Wireless |
| UPNETWI | $67.74/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan. | 100 Mbps Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | Fixed Wireless |
| Viasat | $69.99/mo Price shown includes promotion; Get $30/mo. off for first 3 months. For new customers only. You must mention this offer when ordering service to receive the discount. | 150 Mbps Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | Satellite |
Best Internet Providers in Madison, WI
The best internet service providers in Madison are AT&T Fiber and Spectrum. Fiber providers are always going to be your best option, as they offer the most reliable service and symmetrical speeds. AT&T Fiber is the best fiber internet provider in Madison due to its wide availability and quick speeds. AT&T Fiber has a great reputation for its fast service, with speeds reaching up to 5 Gbps. AT&T Fiber plans start at $35 per month.
If you don't have a fiber provider in your neighborhood, the second-best option is cable internet. Madison's top cable provider is Spectrum, which offers download speeds up to 2 Gbps (wireless speeds may vary) and internet-only plans starting at $30 per month for 12 months. Spectrum also has good bundle options that include phone and TV starting at $30 per month.
AT&T Internet also offers an IPBB connection type in Madison (IPBB uses a mix of connection types, including DSL, at different places within its network). Other providers also offer fixed wireless and 5G connections. For an alternative to wired internet, we like T-Mobile 5G Home Internet for its cheap pricing starting at $50 per month for speeds up to 498 Mbps. That said, we don't generally recommend these options over more stable connection types like fiber and cable.
| Provider | Why they're great | Who they're great for |
|---|---|---|
| AT&T | Reliable network | Customers who need a rock-solid connection that stays stable even during the busiest evening hours will find an excellent choice in AT&T Fiber. |
| Spectrum | Cheapest provider | Spectrum is ideal for budget-conscious shoppers looking for entry-level plans that offer reliable everyday connectivity at an affordable rate. |
| T-Mobile | Straightforward pricing | Customers who hate hidden costs and want straightforward pricing with no equipment fees and taxes included will love T-Mobile 5G Home Internet. |
| Verizon | Excellent bundle savings | Current Verizon wireless customers can slash their bills and maximize their savings by combining their mobile plan with Verizon 5G Home Internet. |
| TDS | Fastest provider | TDS is a powerhouse for tech-heavy homes, offering extreme fiber speeds that easily handle large 4K streams and professional-grade uploads. |
Madison Cheapest Internet Plans
Price-conscious customers in Madison will find the lowest rates with TDS Telecom, starting at $49.99 per month. This provides solid savings over the city's top overall provider, AT&T Fiber, which asks $35 per month. For another cheap alternative, Frontier offers plans starting at $29.99 per month.
| Provider | Plan name | Price | Speeds up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum | Spectrum Internet® Advantage | $30/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan. | 100 Mbps Speeds up to 2G in Select Markets. |
| Mint Mobile | 3-month w/ Mint Phone Plan | $30/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan. | 415 Mbps Not all internet speeds available in all areas. |
| AT&T | Internet 300 | $35/mo Price is per month, plus taxes. Price after discounts: 20% off w/elig wireless svc. and $10/mo w/elig Autopay & Paperless bill. Discounts start w/in 2 bills. | 300 Mbps Ltd. avail/areas. Speeds vary, not g’td. Single devices wired speed maximum 4.7 Gbps. |
| Verizon | Verizon Home Internet Lite | $35/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan. | 25 Mbps Not all internet speeds available in all areas. |
| Viasat | Viasat Essentials | $39.99/mo Price shown includes promotion; Get $30/mo. off for first 3 months. For new customers only. You must mention this offer when ordering service to receive the discount. | 50 Mbps Not all internet speeds available in all areas. |
Fastest Internet Providers in Madison, WI
The fastest internet service provider in Madison is Frontier, with speeds up to 7 Gbps. With that said, most households will find that they can get an appropriate amount of bandwidth from any of the region's top two providers: AT&T Fiber (up to 5 Gbps) and Spectrum (up to 2 Gbps).
Fiber internet connections get more out of their speed than other types of broadband connections because they offer upload speeds that are just as fast as downloads. In Madison, AT&T Fiber has multi-gig upload speeds that match its download speeds. However, the biggest cable provider, Spectrum, only offers upload speeds up to 35 Mbps. Fiber also doesn't have the problem of traffic overload during busy periods.
Another reason to choose a fiber provider, if possible, is because data caps can restrict your internet speed and incur extra charges. Luckily the biggest cable provider, Spectrum, also offers unlimited data, but other providers in the city will likely enforce data caps.
| Provider | Speeds up to | Connection type |
|---|---|---|
| TDS | 8 Gbps Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | Fiber |
| AT&T | 5 Gbps Ltd. avail/areas. Speeds vary, not g’td. Single devices wired speed maximum 4.7 Gbps. | Fiber |
| Spectrum | 2 Gbps Speeds up to 2G in Select Markets. | Cable |
| XNET WiFi | 2 Gbps Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | Fixed Wireless |
| T-Mobile | 170 Mbps - 498 Mbps Rely, All-In, and Amplified Internet plans can experience fast speeds with T-Mobile’s latest 5G gateway, delivering typical download speeds between 170 Mbps – 498 Mbps. 25% of our customers see speeds below and 25% see speeds above these ranges. T-Mobile Home Internet is delivered via 5G cellular network and speeds vary due to factors affecting cellular networks. See https://t-mobile.com/OpenInternet for additional details. | 5G Internet |
Compare Top Providers in Your Area
- AT&T Internet vs. TDS
- AT&T Internet vs. Frontier
- AT&T Internet vs. Spectrum
- AT&T Internet vs. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet
- AT&T Internet vs. Verizon 5G Home Internet
- Hughesnet vs. Viasat Internet
- Hughesnet vs. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet
- Hughesnet vs. Verizon 5G Home Internet
- Spectrum vs. TDS
- Spectrum vs. Frontier
- Spectrum vs. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet
- Spectrum vs. Verizon 5G Home Internet
Check Your Current Speed
What's a Good Internet Speed?
| Internet speed | Appropriate for | Providers in your area offering this speed | Availability in your area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 Mbps |
|
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100% |
| 1000 Mbps (1 Gbps) |
|
|
92.7% |
Internet Availability in Madison, WI
Like most cities in the United States, Madison has a primary cable internet provider that is available just about anywhere in the city. For Madison, this provider is Spectrum, which offers plans in 92.7% of the city.
The tricky part about shopping for internet in Madison is figuring out which internet companies besides Spectrum are available in your neighborhood. There are [count-providers] providers in town, but we'd suggest narrowing your focus. Aside from Spectrum, you should be on the lookout for the city's best fiber internet provider: AT&T Fiber.
AT&T Fiber, for its part, does a bit of a better job of covering more downtown areas. You'll find AT&T Fiber coverage right downtown and in areas nearby, like First Settlement and Mansion Hill. AT&T Fiber has excellent availability in Emerson East, making it an option for customers in an area that other providers don't serve. Back across town, AT&T Fiber provides a much-needed fiber internet option in Shorewood Hills, Rocky Bluff and Wingra Park.
This makes most areas of Madison very well served by fiber internet options, though there are still a few areas where residents will find themselves choosing between the main cable provider (Spectrum) and DSL options like AT&T Internet.
| Connection type | Provider with most coverage | Madison availability | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Satellite | Hughesnet | 100% | $39.99/mo |
| Fixed Wireless | UScellular | 95% | $50/mo |
| Cable | Spectrum | 92.7% | $30/mo |
| 5G Internet | T-Mobile 5G Home Internet | 78.6% | $50/mo |
| Fiber | AT&T Fiber | 39.3% | $35/mo |
| DSL | AT&T Internet | 38.4% | $60/mo |
Madison Internet Stats
| Average internet monthly cost | Available speed ranges | Available price range | Available connection types |
|---|---|---|---|
| $71.2 | 8 Mbps - 8 Gbps | $20/mo - $199.99/mo | 5G Internet, Cable, DSL, Fiber, Fixed Wireless, Satellite |
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Fastest SpeedTDSFiber
8 Gig Fiber Internet$199.99/mo*Taxes & fees extra and subj. to change. See disclaimer for details. Restrictions apply. See offer details
Free installation | $50 Online Order Bill Credit-
Download Speeds up to 8 Gbps
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Perfect for smart homes with multiple devices
Show Details -
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Best ValueAT&T FiberFiberInternet 1000$50/mo
*Price is per month, plus taxes. Elig. wireless svc. req'd. and after AutoPay & Paperless bill discount. Ltd. avail/areas. See offer details
$200 Visa Reward Card | Save $30 per month for 12 months-
Download Speeds up to 1 Gbps
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Great for multiplayer gaming and remote work
Show Details -
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Lowest PriceSpectrumCableSpectrum Internet® Advantage$30/mo
*Taxes & fees extra and subj. to change. See disclaimer for details. Restrictions apply. See offer details
One-year price guarantee-
Download Speeds up to 100 Mbps
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Reliable Internet at a budget-friendly price
Show Details -
Internet Coverage Map and Store Locations for Madison, Wisconsin
Frequently Asked Questions About Internet in Madison, WI
Methodology
Our provider rankings rely on a rigorous, data-driven framework evaluating over 100 million rows of FCC data to bring transparency to local internet options. We track 8,000+ active plans from 2,000+ providers to cut through marketing jargon. We weigh technical factors against real-world experiences to match you with the best connections actually available at your address:
- Tested Technology: We utilize a fiber-first ranking system, prioritizing high-performance, structurally sound technologies (like fiber and cable) over slower legacy connections.
- Realistic Coverage: We filter out "ghost ISPs" with near-zero availability and actively flag providers that only cover a fraction of neighborhoods, ensuring you don't waste time on unavailable options.
- Transparent Pricing: We track base rates and downgrade providers that rely on hidden fees or sudden price hikes, exposing the true long-term cost beyond initial marketing promotions.
- Verified Speeds: We look beyond deceptive "up to" marketing claims to evaluate the actual download and upload speeds delivered, prioritizing the balanced, symmetrical performance necessary for seamless video calls and heavy streaming.
- User-Driven Personalization: We don't just look at the tech; we look at what people actually prefer. By analyzing millions of local connections, user reviews on downtime, and validated J.D. Power scores, we tailor our rankings to highlight the providers proven to satisfy users in your area.
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