What is the best internet provider in Evansville?

AT&T Fiber is CNET's pick for the best internet service provider overall for many households in Evansville because of availability, straightforward plans and fast, symmetrical speeds. AT&T Fiber isn't available everywhere in Evansville, so Spectrum and Astound are also solid picks, depending on what's available in your area. 

If you’re hunting for the lowest prices or fastest speeds, we’ve also found those top options. The cheapest internet in Evansville is Astound Broadband’s 300Mbps plan for $20 per month, although extra fees are involved. AT&T Fiber’s 5,000Mbps plan is the fastest available internet speed, though some AT&T Fiber neighborhoods max out at 1,000Mbps. 

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Other available internet providers in Evansville

• AT&T Internet: AT&T Fiber’s network doesn’t reach everywhere in Evansville, so you might come across AT&T Internet instead. This legacy DSL service is likely to be very slow, even as slow as just 5Mbps for some addresses. It costs $60 per month, and most plans have a 1.5TB data cap. Look to other home internet options before signing up for DSL. 
• Mainstream Fiber Networks: Regional ISP Mainstream Fiber Networks focuses on rural and underserved areas. You’ll find it in some rural spots in Evansville. Plans start at $35 per month for 150Mbps and go up to $89 per month for a gig. A router is included. You may come across service coverage and infrastructure charges that add an extra $8 to your bill. The ISP has a standard three-year contract.
• River City Wireless: A local fixed wireless ISP located next door in Newburgh, River City Wireless aims to reach rural homes in the area. Plans start at $60 per month for 10Mbps and top out at $100 per month for 100Mbps, with no data caps.
• Satellite internet: Evansville has several fixed wireless options that may reach your rural home. Also, look for Spectrum Fiber or Mainstream Fiber Networks. If none of those ISPs work out, check out Starlink, Viasat or Hughesnet for satellite internet. It’s not cheap, and speeds may be variable, but satellite can get you online when other options fail.
• Verizon 5G Home Internet: Compare with T-Mobile Home Internet. Verizon’s service also has two plans. Expect speeds up to 50Mbps with the 5G Home plan for $50 per month or $70 per month depending on the extras you choose. Bundle with a phone plan to drop your monthly home internet price as low as $35. There are no data caps, contracts or equipment fees.
• Watch Communications: Fixed wireless ISP Watch Communications specializes in servicing rural homes that have few other options. Prices start at $60 per month for 10Mbps download speeds. Top speeds will vary with location, but some addresses in rural Evansville may be able to get 100Mbps for $120 per month. Look into wired options like cable or fiber first.

Cheap internet options in Evansville

Astound leads the way when it comes to cheap internet in Evansville. Its 300Mbps plan has an introductory price of just $20 per month, though you also need to consider the $16 in additional monthly fees and the cost of either renting ($15 per month) or buying a router. Most ISPs have monthly plans starting around $50, including Spectrum’s 300Mbps plan. You may find a better offer from Spectrum in places with strong competition from other ISPs. If you’re in a low-income household, check for eligibility for the federal Lifeline program and Spectrum’s Internet Assist option.

What’s the cheapest internet plan in Evansville?

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Evansville

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

Evansville internet providers, such as Spectrum and Astound Broadband, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, including AT&T Fiber and T-Mobile Home Internet, tend to 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 Evansville broadband?

With two cable providers and AT&T Fiber covering most of the town, Evansville has some solid options for fast internet. A recent Ookla speed test report showed the city had a 300Mbps median fixed internet download speed, with AT&T Fiber delivering the fastest speeds. AT&T Fiber offers the fastest plan in town with its 5,000Mbps option, though some neighborhoods top out at 1,000Mbps. Astound offers a 1,200Mbps top speed, while Spectrum goes up to 1,000Mbps. Ookla reported the Indiana average to be around 239Mbps, so Evansville has a speed advantage compared to the state overall. If fast home internet is important to you, look for fiber so you can enjoy equally fast uploads.

Fastest internet plans in Evansville

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 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.

How CNET chose the best internet providers in Evansville

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? 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, 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 Evansville?

Evansville is the rare city where there’s a considerable amount of ISP competition, especially when it comes to having two rival cable providers. Spectrum and Astound have the town covered in cable, but AT&T Fiber offers faster top speeds and uploads, making it a smart choice for home internet if available at your address. Bargain hunters can look to Astound and its low introductory rates. Both Spectrum and Astound will raise your rates eventually, but you can try negotiating a better price when that happens. With ISP options and no contracts from the big providers, you can try out different services to find the best price and performance for your home.

Internet providers in Evansville FAQs