Best Internet Providers in Los Angeles, California

AT&T Fiber is the optimal choice for internet service in Los Angeles, providing coverage up to 79% of the city, with super-fast download speeds and competitive features such as no mandatory contracts or equipment fees. This unique blend of performance and reliability makes it the premier choice for most Los Angeles residents seeking fiber optic internet (fiber).

For those seeking economical internet solutions, Frontier offers an attractive fiber optic plan starting from $30 per month, with symmetrical speeds up to 200 Mbps, making it an excellent deal if available in your area. Additionally, Sonic Telecom stands out as a strong option, providing the highest internet speeds in Los Angeles, potentially reaching 10,000 Mbps, at a competitive price starting from $50 per month.

Understanding Internet Connection Types

Before choosing a service provider, it's important to understand the fundamental differences between available internet technologies, as the connection type directly impacts speed, reliability, and cost.

• Fiber Optic Internet (Fiber): Considered the gold standard for internet connectivity. It uses glass fiber cables to transmit data as light pulses, allowing for symmetrical, super-fast upload and download speeds that are the highest available. It boasts high reliability and is less affected by external conditions.
• Cable Internet (Cable): Uses the same coaxial cable infrastructure used for television broadcasting. It offers high speeds and good reliability, but performance can be affected during peak hours due to bandwidth sharing with other users in the same area.
• Fixed Wireless Internet: This type relies on transmitting radio signals over the air from a nearby tower to a receiver installed in your home. It's a good solution for areas difficult to reach with cables, but its speed and reliability can be affected by factors like weather and physical obstructions.
• DSL Internet: Uses traditional copper telephone lines to provide connectivity. Its speeds are lower compared to other types, and performance largely depends on how far your home is from the service provider's central office. For more details on connection types, you can visit this guide.

Comparison of Internet Service Providers in Los Angeles:

• AT&T Fiber: Fiber optic service with prices ranging from $55 to $245 per month, speeds from 300 to 5,000 Mbps. No equipment costs, data caps, or contracts.
• Cox Communications: Cable service with prices from $30 to $100 per month, and speeds from 300 to 2,000 Mbps, with optional equipment fees of $15 and a data cap of 1.25 TB.
• Sonic: Fiber optic service with prices between $50 and $60 per month, and speeds up to 10,000 Mbps, with optional equipment fees of $5.
• Spectrum: Cable service with prices from $30 to $70 per month, and speeds between 100 and 1,000 Mbps, with a free modem and a router for $10.
• Starry Internet: Fixed wireless service with prices between $30 and $85 per month, and speeds between 100 and 1,000 Mbps, with no equipment costs, data caps, or contracts.
• T-Mobile Home Internet: Fixed wireless service with prices between $50 and $70 per month (reduced to $35-55 for eligible mobile customers), with speeds ranging from 87 to 415 Mbps, no equipment costs, data caps, or contracts.
• Verizon 5G Home Internet: Fixed wireless service with prices between $50 and $70 per month (reduced to $35-60 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers), with speeds ranging from 50 to 250 Mbps.
• Frontier: Fiber optic service with prices between $30 and $110 per month, and speeds between 200 and 7,000 Mbps, with no equipment costs, data caps, or contracts.

Other Internet Service Providers Available in Los Angeles:

• Cox Communications: Its coverage is limited in the greater Los Angeles area, concentrated in the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
• Sonic Telecom: Primarily offers service in the Bay Area, but is available in a few neighborhoods in Los Angeles, such as Beverly Hills, Glendale, Inglewood, Pasadena, and West Hollywood.
• T-Mobile 5G Home Internet: Uses its 5G and 4G LTE networks to provide fixed wireless home internet service.
• Verizon 5G Home Internet: Another option for fixed wireless home internet service.
• Frontier: Offers a wide range of plans, speeds, and prices in Los Angeles, but it's important to note the increased costs after the first year.

Cheap Internet Options in Los Angeles:

The average starting price for internet service in Los Angeles is about $42 per month. Many cheaper options are available below this average, such as Starry 100, which costs $30 per month and offers speeds up to 100 Mbps.

Fastest Internet Plans in Los Angeles:

Sonic tops the list of fastest internet providers in the city, but fiber optic plans from AT&T and Frontier are also excellent choices. Los Angeles ranks 78th among the 100 fastest cities in the United States for internet speed, due to a wider prevalence of cable and DSL connections than fiber optic connections.

What is a Good Internet Speed?

Most internet plans can handle basic tasks. However, for a better experience when video conferencing, streaming video, or gaming, you'll need a stronger connection. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recommends the following minimum download speeds for various applications:

• 0 to 5 Mbps: Web browsing, sending and receiving emails, and low-quality video streaming.
• 5 to 40 Mbps: High-quality video streaming and video conferencing.
• 40 to 100 Mbps: Sufficient bandwidth for a single user to meet remote work, video streaming, and online gaming requirements.
• 100 to 500 Mbps: Allows one or two users to participate in high-bandwidth activities simultaneously, such as video conferencing, streaming, and gaming.
• 500 to 1,000 Mbps: Allows three or more users to participate in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.

How CNET Chose the Best Internet Providers in Los Angeles:

CNET bases its selection of the best internet service providers on researching pricing, availability, and speed information, in addition to reviewing its historical data on internet providers, provider websites, and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission. CNET also evaluates customer satisfaction with internet provider service through sources such as the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power.