What is the best internet provider in Cincinnati?

With multiple internet providers to choose from in Cincinnati, finding the right one and plan for your needs can be tricky. To help you narrow down your search, our CNET experts researched and evaluated the ISPs in the city to find the best options. Most Cincinnati residents have just two providers to choose from: Spectrum and Altafiber. Some households may also have access to 5G home internet from T-Mobile, Verizon or AT&T Internet Air. After our testing, we found Altafiber is the best internet provider in Cincinnati, thanks to its combination of fast speeds and reasonable pricing.

If you're on a budget, Spectrum offers the cheapest plans, starting at $50 for 500Mbps. However, Altafiber delivers the fastest speeds, offering a 2-gigabit plan for $100 per month. But ultimately, your decision will depend on which providers and plans are available at your address.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Other available internet providers in Cincinnati

• Hughesnet: If you're in Cincinnati or its immediate suburbs, you probably don't need satellite internet. It's only available at speeds of 50-100Mbps, with prices starting at $50 with a two-year contract and equipment fees.
• Starlink: With prices starting at $120 a month and a hefty equipment fee of $349, Starlink outpaces some top fiber and cable internet providers. This satellite provider's obvious appeal is its accessibility for rural residents, low latency and unlimited data. Plus, Starlink's new internet option, Starlink Mini, lets you take your internet connection on the go.
• T-Mobile Home Internet: Cincinnati residents can access 5G internet from Verizon and T-Mobile. T-Mobile's home internet service costs $50 to $70 monthly and offers speeds up to 245Mbps.
• Viasat: Another major satellite internet company, Viasat's monthly prices start at $130, and speeds can reach up to 150Mbps, depending on the plan.

Cheap internet options in Cincinnati

Not including the pricey satellite internet options, Cincinnati residents can expect to pay between $35 to $50 for internet service. The most affordable plans in the city come from Altafiber ($35 per month), which offers 100Mbps.

What's the cheapest internet plan in Cincinnati?

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Cincinnati

The best internet deals and top promotions in Cincinnati depend on what discounts are available during that time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers. 

Cincinnati internet providers, such as Altafiber and Verizon, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Some, however, including T-Mobile Home Internet and AT&T Internet Air, run the same standard pricing year-round. 

For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals. 

How fast is Cincinnati broadband?

With limited options, it’s no surprise that Cincinnati’s median download speeds are low compared with other American cities and even those in Ohio. The Queen City places 90th on Ookla's list of internet speeds in the nation’s 100 most populous cities, with median download speeds of about 183 megabits per second and upload speeds of about 29Mbps. Not bad, but not great. Thankfully, high-speed internet options are available in the city. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)

Need fast download speeds? Look at Altafiber's 2,000Mbps plan, available at certain addresses, for $100 per month. If you don't have access to that plan, Altafiber also offers 1,000Mbps for $70 monthly, and Spectrum's 1,000Mbps plan costs $70.

Fastest internet plans in Cincinnati

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.

• 0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics: browsing the internet, sending and receiving email, streaming low-quality video.
• 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
• 40 to 100Mbps should give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming. 
• 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming. 
• 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.

For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.

How CNET chose the best internet providers in Cincinnati

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. So 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 the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.

But 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:

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 that 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, though 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 Cincinnati?

For most Cincinnati residents, the choice of ISP will come down to either Altafiber or Spectrum. However, some city residents can access 5G internet from T-Mobile and Verizon. Prices start around $50, and higher speeds are available for those willing to pay up to $100 monthly.

Internet providers in Cincinnati FAQ