What is the best internet provider in Tampa, Florida?
Among all the fantastic things Tampa offers, including beautiful sunsets, waterfront real estate, and rich culture, it has some fantastic internet options. Based on reviews of customer service, pricing, and overall return on your investment, Border Fiber is the best overall internet provider in Tampa.
However, if Frontier Fiber is not available at your address, there are many other internet service provider options It’s worth checking out. Verizon 5G Home Internet and T-Mobile Home Internet They can be great budget options if you’re already a wireless customer from either provider, as they offer discounts on Internet services when you bundle them. Spectrum also offers solid coverage and competitive pricing in the Tampa area.
Best Internet Service Providers in Tampa
I think Frontier Fiber offers the best speed and value, but Spectrum or wireless options like Verizon 5G Home Internet It could also suit your needs. I’ve listed the top Internet providers in Tampa, including their plans and prices, to help you choose the right ISP. Please note that prices reflect discounts for paperless billing; Choosing not to enroll will result in higher fees.
Note: Prices, speeds and features mentioned in the article may differ from those shown on product detail cards, which reflect national offerings from providers. The Internet service options available to you, including prices and speeds, will depend on your specific address and may vary from what is detailed here.
All Home Internet Providers Available in Tampa
The providers mentioned above are not the only ones serving Tampa, but they are the ones I would recommend the most. Here’s a quick comparison of the convenient Internet options available in the Tampa area.
Tampa Internet Provider Details at a Glance
| Supplier | Prices | Download speed range (Mbps) | Equipment cost | CNET Review Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ground link Read full review |
$65-$190 | 500-5000 | $13 | 6.3 |
| Border Fiber Read full review |
$30-$300 | 200-7000 | None | 6.3 |
| Spectrum Read full review |
$50-$70 | 500-1000 | $10 | 7.2 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
$50-$70 ($30-50 with eligible mobile plan) | 72-245 | None | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
$50-$70 ($35-$45 with eligible mobile plan) | 50-250 | None | 7.2 |
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Purchasing suppliers at my address
Source: CNET analysis of supplier data.
Honorable Mentions of Tampa’s Best ISPs
Ground link: EarthLink, a name almost as old as home Internet itself, now offers services by leveraging the networks of other providers and municipalities. As a result, you will likely pay a little more for the service compared to other providers. Prices and speeds vary widely by location, but all plans come with a one-year contract.
Fast systems: Local fixed wireless service provider Rapid Systems is a decent option for Internet in rural Central Florida, but prices are high and speeds low in the Tampa Bay area. You’ll want to check out other internet options at your address before opting for Rapid Systems, as residential prices in Hillsborough County start at $79 per month for maximum speeds of 10 Mbps.
T-Mobile Home Internet: With speeds of 72-245 Mbps starting at $50 per month ($30 for qualifying Magenta Max customers), T-Mobile rivals Verizon for 5G Home Internet. Although T-Mobile doesn’t have the same speed potential, it has greater coverage than Verizon, making it a great option for home Internet in suburban and rural areas outside of Tampa.
WideOpenWest: You won’t find WideOpenWest, also known as WOW, in Tampa, but it is available in much of the Tampa Bay area, including Clearwater, East Lake, Oldsmar and St. Petersburg. The cable Internet provider is a great option for low-cost, high-speed Internet, with service starting at $25 per month for speeds up to 100Mbps.
satellite internet: HughesNet, Viasat and possibly even Star Link are available in Tampa, but there are plenty of other cheaper and faster options in the area to avoid having to settle for satellite Internet.
How much does Internet cost in Tampa?
The cost of Internet in Tampa depends on the provider and plan you choose. The cheapest internet plans in Tampa will cost you $50 per month plus taxes and fees, unless you qualify for a discount with Verizon or T-Mobile.
The cheapest internet plans in Tampa
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Purchasing suppliers at my address
Source: CNET analysis of supplier data.
Internet Options for Low Income Households in Tampa
At $50 per month, the financial barrier for home Internet service in Tampa is a little higher than in other parts of Florida. As such, you may want to look into more affordable internet services.
Spectrum offers a discounted internet plan designed to help keep those living in low-income households connected. The Spectrum Internet Assist plan comes with download speeds of up to 50 Mbps starting at $25 per month.
Frontier does not have a special plan for low-income people like Spectrum does.
How fast is Internet in Tampa?
According to the most recent Ookla speed test data (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis), the state of Florida ranked third in Fourth quarter of 2023 for the fastest median download speeds in the US, around 238 Mbps. Tampa came in slightly slower than the state, ranking 50th overall among US cities with an average download speed of 232Mbps.
Spectrum recorded the fastest average speed in Tampa at 267 Mbps.
Many factors can affect speed tests, such as Wi-Fi usage and the maximum speeds of an Internet plan, but Tampa speed test results are impressive and a good indicator of the speeds you could experience with Spectrum and Frontier.
The slowest plan available from both providers (excluding Spectrum’s Internet Assist) comes with download speeds of up to 500 Mbps. Both providers offer faster plans, while EarthLink offers speeds of up to 5000 Mbps in select areas.
Fastest Internet Plans in Tampa
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Purchasing suppliers at my address
Source: CNET analysis of supplier data.
How CNET chose the best Internet providers in Tampa
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the last smartphone, laptop, router either kitchen toolIt’s not practical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What is our approach? We begin by researching pricing, availability, and speed information based on our own historical ISP data, carrier sites, and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
It doesn’t end there: we visited the FCC website to check our data and make sure we’re considering all ISPs serving an area. We also enter local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. To assess how satisfied customers are with an ISP’s service, we analyzed sources including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; All information provided is accurate at the time of publication.
Once we have this information located, we ask ourselves three main questions:
- Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast Internet speeds?
- Are customers getting decent value for what they pay?
- Are customers satisfied with your service?
The answer to those questions is often complex and layered, but the providers that come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend.
To explore our process in more depth, visit our page at how we test ISPs.
Home Internet FAQs in Tampa
Is the Internet in Tampa good?
Recent speed test data from Ookla shows that Tampa recorded average download speeds of 298 Mbps in Q4 2023, ranking 50th among major US cities. Frontier Fiber is likely the largest contributor to high speeds, as it advertises a maximum download speed of 500 Mbps at its lowest speed tier.
However, Spectrum does not cover the entire Tampa area. When wired service is not available, a wireless broadband connection from Verizon 5G Home Internet or T-Mobile Home Internet, with speeds of 50 to 250 Mbps and 72 to 245 Mbps, respectively, may be available to help maintain connected to Tampa residents.
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How can I get free Wi-Fi in Tampa?
