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Best Internet Providers in Richardson, Texas
What is the best internet provider in Richardson?
Whether you’re looking to upgrade from your current internet provider or signing up for the first time, CNET has everything you need to know. As of right now, AT&T Fiber is the best internet provider overall for most households in Richardson. With symmetrical speeds and no data caps or monthly equipment costs, it’s a great choice for home internet in the city. The prices start at $55 and go up to $245 a month for the 5-gig plan. If AT&T Fiber isn’t available at your address, Spectrum and T-Mobile are solid picks that also offer unlimited data.
If you’re hunting for the lowest monthly cost in Richardson, Astound Broadband offers a 300 megabits per second connection for $20 a month. Astound’s coverage is sparse in the area so Spectrum’s 100Mbps for $30 a month may be the cheapest option for most residents. And for those in need of speed, the fastest available internet speed in the city is 5,000Mbps, which is offered by AT&T Fiber for $245 a month. If that is more speed than you need, consider the 1-gig and 2-gig options by the same provider.
Best internet in Richardson, Texas
Richardson internet providers compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astound Broadband Read full review |
Cable | $20-$55 | 300-1,500Mbps | None | None | None | 7 |
| AT&T Fiber Read full review |
Fiber | $55-$245 | 300-5,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Rise Broadband Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $55 | 25-50Mbps | $10 modem; $5-$15 router (optional) | 250GB or unlimited | Required for some plans | 6.2 |
| Spectrum Read full review |
Cable | $30-$70 | 100-1,000Mbps | Free modem; $10 router (optional) | None | None | 7.2 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$55 with eligible mobile plans) | 87-415Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 with eligible mobile plans) | 50-250Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Other available internet providers in Richardson
- Astound Broadband: Although Astound Broadband isn’t available to most Richardson residents, some households might be able to access service near Dallas, Frisco or McKinney. Astound offers speeds up to 1,500Mbps for only $55, so it’s worth checking to see if it’s an option for you.
- Frontier: If you live closer to Garland or Plano, you’ll probably be serviceable for Frontier Communications. Frontier has great pricing with one of the highest speeds offered in Richardson.
- Rise Broadband: This fixed wireless internet provider offers plans starting at $55 per month for speeds up to 50Mbps. Rise Broadband is available in areas near Garland and Plano.
- Satellite internet: Of course, satellite internet from Hughesnet, Viasat or Starlink is an option wherever you live. But it shouldn’t be your first pick — with high prices and slow speeds, there are cheaper and faster options available.
- Verizon 5G Home Internet: Available to about 34% of Richardson households, Verizon 5G Home Internet can reach speeds up to 250Mbps. You can choose between two plans: $50 per month for 50Mbps to 85Mbps and $70 per month for 85Mbps to 250Mbps. Neither plan requires a contract or monthly equipment fees; data is unlimited.
Cheap internet options in Richardson
Astound Broadband offers 300Mbps for $20 a month for those searching for the cheapest option possible. Yet many residents in the area won’t be serviceable for Astound Broadband, according to the FCC’s coverage map. A more widely accessible option for cheap broadband is Spectrum’s Advantage plan, which offers download speeds of 100Mbps for only $30 a month.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Richardson?
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Richardson
The best internet deals and the top promotions in Richardson depend on what discounts are available during that time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Richardson internet providers, such as Spectrum and Astound Broadband, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, including AT&T and Verizon, run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
Photo by Alan D Wainstein/Getty Images
How fast is Richardson broadband?
Recent Ookla speed test data ranks Texas as the 15th fastest state for broadband, with a median download speed of 224Mbps. For Richardson, Ookla reports that the city’s median download speed is around 318Mbps, surpassing the state average and the nearby city of Dallas’ median speed of 143Mbps. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
If you’re searching for blazing-fast plans in Richardson, you have a few providers. AT&T Fiber offers speeds up to 5Gbps, which is pretty fast for home internet. AT&T’s speediest plan will cost you $245 a month. Spectrum offers 1 gig of speed for $70 monthly if you can only access a cable connection.
Fastest internet plans in Richardson
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Fiber 5 Gig Read full review |
$245 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| AT&T Fiber 2 Gig Read full review |
$145 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Astound Broadband 1.5 Gig Read full review |
$55 | 1,500Mbps | 50Mbps | None | Cable |
| AT&T Fiber 1 Gig Read full review |
$80 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Spectrum Internet Gig Read full review |
$70 | 1,000Mbps | 35Mbps | None | Cable |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s a good internet speed?
Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here’s an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.
For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.
- 0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics: browsing the internet, sending and receiving email and streaming low-quality video.
- 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
- 40 to 100Mbps should give one person sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
- 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two people to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming.
- 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more people to engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming all at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Richardson
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen toolit’s impractical to personally test every internet service provider in a given city. What’s our approach? For starters, we tap into a proprietary pricing, availability and speed database that draws from our own historical ISP data, partner data and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
It doesn’t end there: We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
- Are customers happy with their service?
The answer to those questions is often layered and complex, but the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
What’s the final word on internet providers in Richardson?
Although you might have to go with whatever provider is available at your household, there are still plenty of speedy plans and affordable options in Richardson. AT&T Fiber ranks as the top choice for residents due to its symmetrical download and upload speeds and simple service details. If you want to bundle your TV service and internet, Spectrum is the best option in town. For smaller households, T-Mobile Home Internet is also a solid choice in the area and might fit your home internet needs better.
Internet providers in Richardson FAQs
What is the cheapest internet provider in Richardson?
Astound Broadband offers the cheapest internet plan in the area: $20 per month for 300Mbps of speed. Availability is sparse for those living directly in Richardson, so you might have to choose Spectrum’s 100Mbps plan for $30 monthly instead.
Which internet provider in Richardson offers the fastest plan?
AT&T Fiber offers a 5 gig plan, the fastest speed Richardson residents can get. It is $245 monthly with no data caps, contracts or equipment fees.
Is fiber internet available in Richardson?
Yes. AT&T Fiber is the best internet provider in Richardson.
What internet provider has the best coverage in Richardson?
Spectrum has the best coverage for home internet in Richardson, offering services to 83% of households. AT&T is a close second, providing broadband to 64% of Richardson residents.
