What are the best internet providers in La Crosse?
In part, due to its wide availability, fast speeds, and low, easy-to-understand pricing, Spectrum is the best internet service provider in La Crosse, WI. Spectrum, the area’s largest cable internet provider, has the largest wired internet coverage in La Crosse and offers many competitively priced plans, including unlimited data, free modem rental, and no contracts.
Spectrum is a great all-around internet provider, but it doesn’t hold the title of being the cheapest or fastest ISP in La Crosse. Fiber optic provider TDS has the cheapest internet plans starting at $30 per month with speeds up to 300 Mbit/s and the fastest plans with speeds up to 8,000 Mbps or 8 Gbit/s.
However, the use of TDS is limited in lacrosse. If you’re looking for fiber optic internet, Brightspeed is likely your choice, but the service doesn’t have as many low-cost, high-speed plan options as his TDS.
Other possible broadband options in La Crosse include Mediacom and T-Mobile Home Internet. Mediacom’s cable Internet service, while cheaper, doesn’t come close to Spectrum’s availability and overall value. T-Mobile Home Internet’s fixed wireless internet, on the other hand, is worth considering due to its easy setup, free equipment, unlimited data, and no contract requirements.
CNET recommends the best internet services in La Crosse across several categories, considering speed, pricing, customer service, and overall value. Our evaluations include reference to a proprietary database built over many years of reviewing Internet services. Verify against provider information by spot-checking local addresses for service availability. He also carefully reads the provider’s terms and conditions, and if necessary, he calls the ISP to find out more.
While we strive to find the most up-to-date and accurate information, there are some limitations to our process that you should be aware of. Price and speed data is subject to change. Certain addresses may have different tiers of service, and monthly costs may vary even within the same city. The best way to identify a particular option is to enter the address on the provider’s website.
In addition, the prices, speeds, and other information listed on the provider cards above and below may differ from what our research reveals. The card shows you the full range of rates and speeds from providers across the United States, based on a database of plan information provided directly by your ISP, but the text is specific to what’s available in La Crosse. The prices referenced within the body of this article are based on our research and include discounts for setting up automatic monthly payments, an industry standard service. Other discounts and promotions may also be available, such as signing up for a fixed term contract or bundling multiple services.
For more information on how we vet internet providers, please see our full methodology page.
Best Internet in La Crosse, Wisconsin
100～1,000 Mbps
$30～$90 per month
Our view – Spectrum keeps things simple with transparent pricing, unlimited data, no contracts, and low optional equipment fees. Speeds of 300, 500, and 1,000Mbps are available throughout the La Crosse area.
100～1,000 Mbps
$30～$90 per month
10 – 940 Mbps
$50 – $79 per month
Our view – Brightspeed’s fiber internet service is available to approximately one-third of La Crosse households. Only one plan is available. It’s a gig service that starts at $59 per month with up to 940Mbps, but it’s good value and comes with unlimited data.
10 – 940 Mbps
$50 – $79 per month
fixed wireless
72～245 Mbps
$60 per month
Our view – Although it’s not the fastest (speeds typically range from 72 to 245Mbps), the low hassle and stable price tag make T-Mobile Home Internet an option worth considering. Qualifying customers also have Mobile His Bundle discounts that give them $10 or $20 off their home internet bill.
fixed wireless
72～245 Mbps
$60 per month
300 – 8,000 Mbps
$30 – $295 per month
Our view – Availability is limited to northern La Crosse, but if your address supports TDS, you’ll have access to the fastest speeds in the area. TDS offers multiple high speed options ranging from 300 to 8,000Mbps. The plans come with symmetrical upload and download speeds, which is a unique benefit of fiber internet.
300 – 8,000 Mbps
$30 – $295 per month
La Crosse, WI Internet Provider Comparison
| provider | internet technology | Monthly price range | speed range | Monthly equipment costs | data limit | contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| bright speed | DSL, fiber | $50-$59 | 20-100Mbps DSL, up to 940Mbps fiber | $15 | none | none | Not applicable |
| bug tassel | fixed wireless | $40-$85 | 5-50Mbps | Indeterminate | none | none | Not applicable |
| media com | cable | $35-$70 | 100～1,000Mbps | $14 | 350-3,000GB | none | 6.4 |
| spectrum | cable | $40-$60 | 300～1,000Mbps | $7 (optional) | none | none | 7.2 |
| TDS | fiber | $30-$295 | 300-8,000Mbps | $12 (optional) | none | none | Not applicable |
| T-Mobile Home Internet | fixed wireless | $60 ($40 on eligible mobile plans) | 72-245Mbps | none | none | none | 7.4 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is the cheapest internet plan in La Crosse?
| plan | starting price | maximum download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| TDS Extreme 300 | $30 | 300Mbps | $12 (optional) |
| Mediacom Prime Internet 100 | $35 | 100Mbps | $14 |
| spectrum internet | $40 | 100Mbps | $5 (optional) |
| spectrum internet ultra | $50 | 500Mbps | $7 (optional) |
| bright speed internet | $50 | 100Mbps | $15 |
| bright speed fiber | $59 | 940Mbps | $15 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet | $60 ($40-$50 on eligible mobile plans) | 245Mbps | none |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet sales and promotions on lacrosse
The best internet deals and top promotions for lacrosse depend on the discounts available during a particular period. Most sales have a short shelf life, but we check frequently for the latest offers.
La Crosse internet providers like Spectrum and T-Mobile Home Internet may offer lower introductory prices or gift cards for a limited time. Other services, such as Brightspeed and TDS, have the same standard pricing throughout the year.
For a more extensive list of promotions, check out our guide to the best internet deals.
Fastest Internet Plans in La Crosse
| plan | starting price | maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | data limit | connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TDS 8 giga | $295 | 8,000Mbps | 8,000Mbps | none | fiber |
| TDS 5 giga | $225 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | none | fiber |
| TDS 2 giga | $165 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | none | fiber |
| Mediacom Prime Internet 1 Gig | $55 | 1,000Mbps | 50Mbps | 3TB | cable |
| spectrum internet gig | $60 | 1,000Mbps | 35Mbps | none | cable |
| bright speed fiber | $59 | 940Mbps | 940Mbps | none | fiber |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is a good internet speed?
Most internet connectivity plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for an internet plan that supports video conferencing, streaming video, and gaming, you’ll enjoy a better experience with a more robust connection. According to the FCC, here’s a summary of recommended minimum download speeds for various applications: Please note that these are just guidelines and internet speed, service and performance will vary depending on connection type, provider and address.
For more information, see our guide to the internet speed you actually need.
- At 0-5Mbps, you can tackle basic tasks like browsing the Internet, sending and receiving emails, and streaming low-quality videos.
- 5-40Mbps allows for higher quality video streaming and video conferencing.
- 40-100Mbps provides a single user with enough bandwidth to meet the demands of modern work-from-home, video streaming, and online gaming.
- 100-500Mbps allows one or two users to simultaneously participate in high-bandwidth activities such as video conferencing, streaming, and online gaming.
- 500-1,000Mbps allows three or more users to participate in high-bandwidth activities simultaneously.
How CNET chooses the best internet providers in La Crosse
There are many Internet service providers and they vary by region. Unlike modern smartphones, laptops, routers, and kitchen tools, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a particular city. So what is our approach? First, we research pricing, availability, and speed information using our own historical ISP data, provider sites, and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC.gov).
But that’s not the end. We went to the FCC’s website and checked the data to ensure we considered all ISPs serving the area. Also, enter your local address on the provider’s website to find specific options for residents. Consult sources such as the US Customer Satisfaction Index and his JD Power to rate how satisfied customers are with their ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices may change frequently. All information provided is accurate at the time of publication.
Once you have this localized information, ask three main questions:
- Does your provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Are customers getting value for their money?
- Are your customers satisfied with your service?
The answers to these questions are often layered and complex, but the provider that comes closest to a “yes” to all three is recommended. When choosing the cheapest internet service, look for the plan with the lowest monthly fee, although you also consider factors such as markups, equipment fees, and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively easy. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider actual speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.
To find out more about our process, please visit our How We Test ISPs page.
Frequently Asked Questions about Internet Providers in La Crosse, Wisconsin
Who is the best internet service provider in La Crosse?
Spectrum is the best internet service provider in La Crosse due to its wide geographic area, variety of high-speed plans, low pricing, and customer-friendly service terms. Spectrum is available in more than 90% of La Crosse homes and offers competitively priced plans that include unlimited data, no contract, and free modem rental.
Is fiber internet available in La Crosse?
According to the FCC, about 35% of La Crosse households, or about 9,200 homes, have access to fiber-optic internet. Serviceability is best in the communities of Bluffside and Washburn, but availability is also high in areas to the north near Onalaska. Brightspeed is La Crosse’s largest fiber internet provider, but TDS has a smaller fiber presence in the city.
What is the cheapest internet provider in La Crosse?
TDS offers the cheapest internet plans in La Crosse, starting at $30 per month with speeds up to 300Mbps. However, availability is limited, so La Crosse residents may have better luck purchasing cheaper internet from Mediacom or Spectrum. Mediacom has a lower starting monthly price of $35 compared to Spectrum’s $40, but Spectrum has lower equipment fees (optional) and faster speeds for the price.
Which internet provider offers the fastest plans in La Crosse?
TDS offers the fastest internet service in La Crosse with speed tiers of 2,000, 5,000, and 8,000Mbps. Other LaCrosse high-speed providers such as Brightspeed, Mediacom, and Spectrum offer maximum speeds of around 1,000Mbps.
