What are the best internet providers in Riverside?
Spectrum is the internet service provider of choice for most homes in Riverside, California. In addition to Spectrum’s broad network, the cable giant offers reasonable costs, speeds and service details to more than 90% of households, according to Federal Communications Commission data. If you’re looking for fiber or fixed wireless connectivity, CNET recommends AT&T Fiber or T-Mobile Home Internet for residential internet. Ultimately, the best internet provider will depend on what’s available in your location.
We’ve also found the lowest prices and fastest service in Riverside to make your broadband shopping easier. Frontier Fiber offers the cheapest plan, with symmetrical speeds up to 500 Mbit/s for just $45 per month. Or, if Frontier’s service isn’t available at your address, Spectrum’s $50 300Mbps plan is an affordable next-best option. If you want the fastest plans in Riverside, check out AT&T Fiber and Frontier Fiber, which offer 5 Gigabit plans in the area.
CNET recommends the best internet service in Riverside 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. Based on a database of plan information provided directly by your ISP, the card displays the full range of prices and speeds from providers across the United States. At the same time, the text is specific to what is available at Riverside. 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 Riverside in 2024
100～1,000 Mbps
$30～$90 per month
Our view – Spectrum sits at the top of Riverside’s largest network, and its pricing and service details are highly competitive. Spectrum has his three plans that customers can choose from. 300Mbps is $50, 700Mbps is $70, and 1,000Mbps is $80. All of these plans come with unlimited data, a free modem, and no contract required.
100～1,000 Mbps
$30～$90 per month
300 – 5,000 Mbps
$55 – $250 per month
Our view – AT&T serves more than 74% of Riverside addresses, and that number includes the provider’s fiber and DSL networks. That means you could be stuck with AT&T Home Internet instead of faster AT&T Fiber. However, if you have access to AT&T Fiber, its symmetrical speeds, unlimited data, and super-fast connections are worth considering.
300 – 5,000 Mbps
$55 – $250 per month
fixed wireless
72～245 Mbps
$60 per month
Our view – T-Mobile Home Internet may not be the fastest or cheapest provider in Riverside, but its all-inclusive pricing makes it an attractive choice for broadband. This fixed wireless ISP costs $60 per month ($40 for eligible mobile customers) and offers speeds up to 245Mbps. Plus, it includes unlimited data and equipment with no annual contract.
fixed wireless
72～245 Mbps
$60 per month
Riverside internet provider comparison
| provider | internet technology | Monthly price range | speed range | Monthly equipment costs | data limit | contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
AT&T Home Internet |
DSL hybrid | $55 | 10~100Mbps | none | 1.5TB | none | 7.4 |
|
AT&T Fiber |
fiber | $55-$225 | 300-5,000Mbps | none | none | none | 7.4 |
|
frontier communications |
DSL, fiber | $45-$155 | 500～5,000Mbps | none | none | none | 6.3 |
|
spectrum |
cable | $50-$80 | 300～1,000Mbps | Free modem. $5 router (optional) | none | none | 7.2 |
|
T-Mobile Home Internet |
fixed wireless | $60 ($40 for eligible Go5G Plus and Magenta Max mobile customers) | 72-245Mbps | none | none | none | 7.4 |
|
Verizon 5G Home Internet |
fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-45 on eligible Verizon 5G mobile plans) | 50～1,000Mbps | none | none | none | 7.2 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What are the cheapest internet plans in Riverside?
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet sales and promotions in Riverside
The best internet deals and top promotions in Riverside depend on the discounts available during the period. Most sales have a short shelf life, but we check frequently for the latest offers.
Riverside Internet providers, such as Spectrum, may offer lower introductory prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time. However, other companies like AT&T, Frontier, and Verizon apply the same standard rates throughout the year.
For a more extensive list of promotions, check out our guide to the best internet deals.
Fastest Internet Plans in Riverside
| provider | starting price | maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | data limit | connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
AT&T Fiber 5000 |
$225 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | none | fiber |
|
frontier fiber 5 giga |
$155 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | none | fiber |
|
AT&T Fiber 2000 |
$125 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | none | fiber |
|
frontier fiber 2 gig |
100 dollars | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | none | fiber |
|
AT&T Fiber 1000 |
$80 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | none | fiber |
|
Frontier fiber 1 giga |
$60 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | none | fiber |
|
spectrum internet gig |
$80 | 1,000Mbps | 35Mbps | none | cable |
|
Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet |
$70 ($45 on eligible mobile plans) | 1,000Mbps | 75Mbps | none | fixed wireless |
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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 Riverside
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 given city. So what is our approach? We start by researching pricing, availability, and speed information using our own historical ISP data, provider sites, and FCC.gov mapping information.
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 also 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.
Riverside Internet Provider Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the best internet service provider in Riverside?
Spectrum is the best internet provider in Riverside thanks to its superior service capabilities in the area. Spectrum also offers prices as low as $50 per month and speeds up to 1,000Mbps.
Is fiber internet available in Riverside?
yes. Fiber-optic connections are available through AT&T Fiber and Frontier Fiber, and some homes may also have fiber-optic internet from Southern California Telephone Company.
Where is the cheapest internet provider in Riverside?
The cheapest plan in Riverside is offered through Frontier Fiber, which costs $45 per month for speeds up to 500Mbps.
Which internet provider offers the fastest plans in Riverside?
AT&T Fiber and Frontier Fiber offer the fastest service in Riverside. Both providers offer 5 gigabit speeds, but AT&T’s plan costs $225, while Frontier’s plan costs $125.
