What is the best internet provider in Sacramento?

A short throw from Silicon Valley, Sacramento has everything from fast fiber to 5G-based services. With plenty of options, picking out the best for your needs isn't the easiest. Whether you're a longtime local or a new resident, we found the best internet providers in Sacramento, California. According to CNET, AT&T Fiber is the best internet service provider in Sacramento. It's got wide availability, fast speeds and fair prices.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

All available Sacramento residential internet providers

They may not be the fastest, cheapest or most available, but other ISP options exist in Sacramento. If you need an option outside of the top of our list, some satellite and fixed wireless providers are around as well. Here are the other available providers beyond our best picks: 

• DigitalPath: An option for those in remote areas or with few other options, DigitalPath offers a variety of connections that depend largely on geography. In rural areas, speeds may be as low as 3Mbps. The provider also requires a contract, which is a bit more pricey than other options.
• EarthLink: With a relatively low-speed DSL connection that starts at $50 a month, EarthLink's Sacramento offerings don't fit into many plans. It's also one of our lower-rated providers and isn't available to everyone in the Sacramento area.
• Fidium: Part of Consolidated Communications, Fidium is the new kid on the block. It offers blazing-fast speeds and low costs (that increase after a promotional period) but isn't available everywhere.
• Hughesnet: This provider offers a satellite fix for those with very limited options (a rarity in Sacramento). Though its speeds are low, Hughesnet specializes in getting internet access to people who may otherwise struggle to find it. For us, its quality is low enough to make them worth skipping.
• Viasat: Another satellite option, Viasat may be a better bet if you need a satellite option in Sacramento. It's more expensive than Hughesnet at $120 a month but can reach slightly higher top speeds at 150Mbps.
• Starlink: This satellite provider offers the fastest potential speeds of any satellite ISP but is also the most expensive. You can potentially get up to 200Mbps download speeds with Starlink, but it'll cost you $120 a month and a steep upfront cost of $599 for equipment rental.

Sacramento broadband at a glance

Sacramento has several great options for internet, whether you have access to fiber, cable or even fixed wireless providers. With great options like AT&T Fiber, there's little need for most Sacramento residents to explore offerings from smaller companies. But as in many cities, a couple of areas need to seek other options. In those cases, fixed wireless providers such as T-Mobile are likely the best path.

Pricing info on Sacramento home internet service

With an average starting price of just about $49, the internet is available at a relatively affordable rate in Sacramento compared to other cities CNET has covered. Xfinity offers the most budget-friendly option, but six providers offer rates starting under $60 monthly.

Cheap internet options in the Sacramento metro area

With most plans at or around $50 a month, you should be able to find an affordable option for internet in Sacramento. The absolute cheapest internet options in Sacramento will cost you approximately $20 a month, assuming you're OK with Xfinity's slowest options. 

Otherwise, multiple providers offer something relatively affordable, so if you're not in the market for the fastest speeds and you don't live in the most rural areas of Sacramento, you should be able to find a good provider that doesn't break your wallet. 

What are the cheapest internet plans in Sacramento?

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Fastest internet providers in Sacramento

The city's two largest providers are pretty fast, but one small ISP is its fastest. If you want speeds over 200Mbps, you have the option of stalwarts AT&T and Xfinity or the newer option, Fidium, and its 2Gbps speed. Satellite and cheaper options are as low as 3 or 10Mbps.

In Sacramento, just two providers get into the realm of multi-gigabit speed. AT&T Fiber's 5,000Mbps is king when available, but the relatively unknown Fidium is another option, with a fast 2Gbps speed available to some Sacramento residents. For most, however, AT&T Fiber's 5,000Mbps and Xfinity's 1,200Mbps will be the top options. 

What are the fastest internet plans in Sacramento?

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How CNET chose the best internet providers in Sacramento

Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information, drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from FCC.gov.

It doesn’t end there: We use 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:

1. Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
2. Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
3. Are customers happy with their service?

While the answers to those questions are often layered and complex, 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 also 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 Sacramento?

Internet speeds in Sacramento come down to one main factor: Is fiber available to you? 

If it is, you have some great options. AT&T and Fidium have extremely fast connections that aren't too expensive. And if you can't get either, Xfinity's gigabit plans aren't a bad option. There are also some affordable choices for those who don't care about multi-gig plans and even some options for those living in hard-to-reach areas. 

Sacramento internet provider FAQs