CNET ranks AT&T Fiber as the best internet provider for most Chicago households, offering fast symmetrical speeds and straightforward pricing. Alternatives like Xfinity and Verizon 5G Home Internet provide reliable options depending on speed and cost needs. The city's median download speed stands at 173Mbps, with fiber available to hundreds of thousands of residents.
Chicago residents have access to a variety of internet services, with AT&T Fiber standing out for its performance. It delivers speeds up to 5,000Mbps for $155 per month, featuring symmetrical upload and download rates, no data caps, and no long-term contracts. This makes it ideal for households seeking top-tier connectivity, though availability is limited to hundreds of thousands in a city of 2.71 million people.
For broader coverage, cable providers like Xfinity and Astound Broadband serve more addresses. Astound offers introductory plans that rise by $20 after two years, plus fees up to $17 monthly for network access. Xfinity's fastest plan provides 1,200Mbps downloads for $70 per month over the first five years, but upload speeds remain in the double digits, and peak-hour slowdowns can occur.
Fixed wireless options include Verizon 5G Home Internet and T-Mobile Home Internet, both starting at $50 per month with speeds from 87 to 415Mbps and no contracts or caps. Bundling with mobile service can lower costs to $35 monthly for eligible customers. Air Wans targets rural surroundings with $50 to $100 plans and combined speeds of 75 to 300Mbps.
Satellite services from Hughesnet, Viasat, and Starlink are available but generally offer high prices, slow speeds, and strict data limits, making them unsuitable for most urban users. Google does not provide GFiber in Chicago but offers Webpass fixed wireless in select buildings for $63 to $70 per month, potentially reaching gigabit speeds.
Ookla data ranks Chicago ninth among the ten largest U.S. cities for median download speeds at 173Mbps, trailing leaders like Austin. Entry-level plans across providers start at $50 monthly, balancing affordability with basic needs like browsing and streaming.