Where are the best internet providers in Santa Clara?
CNET recommends Xfinity as the No. 1 internet service provider for most households in Santa Clara. Xfinity is the most widely used ISP in Santa Clara, aside from satellite providers like Hughesnet, Viasat, and Starlink, and offers some of the lowest home internet rates in the area. AT&T Fiber, T-Mobile Home Internet, and Ridge Wireless are also available at most addresses, but it ultimately depends on what’s available at your location.
Xfinity also beats its competitors by offering the cheapest service in Santa Clara. For just $20 per month, customers can reach download speeds of up to 75 megabits per second. Or, if you need even more speeds, Xfinity’s 200Mbps plan costs just $5 per month and includes equipment rental.
Looking for the fastest connection in Santa Clara? AT&T Fiber offers 5 Gigabit symmetrical download and upload speeds for $225 per month. AT&T Fiber and Xfinity are also tied for the second-fastest plans in the area, both offering 2,000Mbps for $125 and $120, respectively.
CNET recommends the best internet service in Santa Clara 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 displays the full range of prices and speeds from providers across the United States, according to a database of plan information provided directly by your ISP. At the same time, the text is specific to what is available in Santa Clara. 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. Discounts and promotions may also be available when you sign a term contract or bundle multiple services.
For more information on how we vet internet providers, please see our full methodology page.
Best Internet in Santa Clara, California in 2024
75 – 2,000 Mbps
$20 – $120 per month
Our view – The Federal Communications Commission reports that Xfinity coverage covers more than 97% of addresses in Santa Clara. The cable giant offers multiple plans with download speeds ranging from 75Mbps up to 2,000Mbps on its network. Some plans may include a 1.2TB data cap or equipment fees, but all plans except the lowest plan do not require a contract.
75 – 2,000 Mbps
$20 – $120 per month
300 – 5,000 Mbps
$55 – $250 per month
Our view – Unfortunately, less than 13% of Santa Clara residents have access to fiber internet. However, if your address is available on his AT&T Fiber, move this provider to the top of your list. AT&T Fiber offers five plans for customers to choose from: 300Mbps, 500Mbps, 1,000Mbps, 2,000Mbps, and 5,000Mbps. All plans come with equipment, unlimited data, and no annual contract.
300 – 5,000 Mbps
$55 – $250 per month
fixed wireless
72～245 Mbps
$60 per month
Our view – T-Mobile Home Internet keeps home broadband simple and affordable. This fixed wireless ISP costs $60 per month for speeds up to 245Mbps, but eligible mobile customers can save $20 per month on the service. Plus, T-Mobile Home Internet comes with unlimited data and devices, so you don’t have to worry about introductory prices.
fixed wireless
72～245 Mbps
$60 per month
Santa Clara 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 |
| ridge wireless | fixed wireless | $100-$150 | 20~100Mbps | Indeterminate | none | none | Not applicable |
| sail internet | fixed wireless | $55 | 200Mbps | none | none | none | Not applicable |
| 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 |
| Xfinity | cable | $20-$120 | 75-2,000Mbps | $15 – $25 (optional) | 1.2TB on some plans | 1 year for some plans | 7 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Santa Clara?
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet sales and promotions in Santa Clara
The best internet deals and top promotions in Santa Clara depend on the discounts available during the period. Most sales have a short shelf life, but we check frequently for the latest offers.
Santa Clara internet providers like T-Mobile and Xfinity may offer lower introductory prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time. However, other companies like AT&T and Verizon apply the same standard rate throughout the year.
For a more extensive list of promotions, check out our guide to the best internet deals.
Renelyn Cunanan Din/Getty Images
Fastest Internet Plans in Santa Clara
| provider | Monthly starting price | maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | data limit | connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Fiber 5000 | $225 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | none | fiber |
| AT&T Fiber 2000 | $125 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | none | fiber |
| Xfinity Gigabit X2 | $120 | 2,000Mbps | 200Mbps | 1.2TB | cable |
| Xfinity Gigabit Extra | $70 | 1,200Mbps | 35Mbps | none | cable |
| AT&T Fiber 1000 | $80 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | none | fiber |
| Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet | $70 ($45 on eligible mobile plans) | 1,000Mbps | 75Mbps | none | fixed wireless |
| xfinity gigabit | $65 | 1,000Mbps | 20Mbps | none | cable |
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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 gaming.
- 500-1,000Mbps allows three or more users to participate in high-bandwidth activities simultaneously.
How CNET chooses the best internet providers in Santa Clara
There are many Internet service providers and they vary by region. Unlike the latest smartphones, laptops, routers, and kitchen tools, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a particular city. So what is our approach? We start by researching pricing, availability, and speed information using our own historical ISP data, provider sites, and mapping information from FCC.gov.
But that’s not the end. We use his FCC’s website to check the data to ensure we account for all ISPs serving a given region. 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, taking into account price hikes, equipment costs, contract details, etc. 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.
Santa Clara Internet Provider Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the best internet service provider in Santa Clara?
Although Xfinity’s service details vary by location, CNET recommends Xfinity as a top internet provider in Santa Clara due to its wide availability and low prices.
Is fiber internet available in Santa Clara?
Yes, but we are out of stock. According to the FCC, less than 13% of addresses in Santa Clara have access to fiber internet, and AT&T Fiber is the area’s largest fiber provider.
Where is the cheapest internet provider in Santa Clara?
Xfinity offers the two cheapest plans in Santa Clara. 75 Mbps for $20 and 200 Mbps for $25.
Which internet provider offers the fastest plans in Santa Clara?
AT&T Fiber’s 5 Gigabit plan is the fastest speed offered in Santa Clara and costs $225 per month.
