What is the best internet provider in Pasadena, CA?
AT&T Fiber is the best internet provider in Pasadena. It’s the only provider in the city to offer fiber optic internet, which means it’s the only one with symmetrical upload and download speeds, which is crucial for remote workers and gamers. The only drawback is availability: About one in five Pasadena residents has access to AT&T Fiber.
Spectrum’s cable internet plans are available to almost everyone, and their starting prices are some of the cheapest in the area at $50 per month. But after a year or two, prices increased by $35 a month, and Spectrum’s customer satisfaction scores were below average. Another option is T-Mobile’s Wireless Internet, which offers download speeds of up to 245Mbps and costs $60 per month (less if you have a T-Mobile cell phone plan).
CNET recommends the best internet services in Pasadena across multiple categories, considering speed, pricing, customer service and overall value. Our assessment includes reference to a proprietary database built over years of reviewing Internet services. We verify this against provider information by spot-checking service availability at local addresses. We also read the provider’s terms and conditions carefully and call the ISP to verify details if needed.
While we strive to find the most up-to-date, accurate information, there are some limitations to our process that you should be aware of. Pricing and speed figures are variable: Some addresses may qualify for different levels of service, and monthly costs may vary even within the same city. The best way to determine your specific options is to plug your address into the provider’s website.
Additionally, the prices, speeds, and other information listed above and in the provider cards below may differ from what we found in our research. Based on our database of plan information provided directly by ISPs, these cards show the full range of pricing and speeds from providers across the United States, while the text is specific to what’s available in Pasadena. The prices quoted in this article are from our research and include applicable discounts for setting up automatic payments each month – which is standard industry offering. Other discounts and promotions may also be available, such as signing a fixed-term contract or bundling multiple services.
To learn more about how we review internet providers, visit our full methodology page.
Best Internet in Pasadena, CA
300-5,000 Mbps
$55-$250 per month
What we think – AT&T Fiber is almost always your best choice when the service is available in your city. It’s Pasadena’s only fiber optic provider, which means you’ll get the same upload and download speeds – perfect for activities like online gaming and video calls. AT&T also has the highest customer satisfaction score of any ISP, according to surveys by JD Power and the US Customer Satisfaction Index. The only drawback? Only 16% of Pasadena residents currently have access to it.
300-5,000 Mbps
$55-$250 per month
100-1,000 Mbps
$30-$90 per month
What we think – Spectrum is the default internet option for most Pasadena residents. Spectrum’s plans are quite affordable and you get fast download speeds for the same price. As with all cable internet providers, upload speeds are very slow. In a year or two, Spectrum will also increase the price by $35 per month. All of this adds up to a below-average customer satisfaction score and comments on the Pasadena Reddit subreddit that are not suitable for children.
100-1,000 Mbps
$30-$90 per month
fixed wireless
72-245 Mbps
$60 per month
What we think – If you don’t have access to AT&T Fiber and don’t want to deal with Spectrum’s price increase, wireless internet is a good option – especially for homes that don’t need a lot of speed. Verizon and T-Mobile both offer great options in Pasadena. We give T-Mobile the advantage because it has twice as many households. You can save on both providers by bundling qualifying cell phone plans.
fixed wireless
72-245 Mbps
$60 per month
Pasadena Internet Providers Comparison
| provider | Internet technology | monthly price range | speed range | Monthly equipment cost | data cap | contract | CNET Review Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
AT&T Fiber |
fiber | $55-$225 | 300-5,000Mbps | not any | not any | not any | 7.4 |
|
AT&T Internet |
DSL | $55 | Up to 140Mbps | not any | 1.5TB on some plans | not any | 7.4 |
|
spectrum |
cable | $50-$80 | 300-1,000Mbps | $7 (optional) | not any | not any | 7.2 |
|
T-Mobile Home Internet |
fixed wireless | $60 (Mobile plan $40-$50) | 72-245Mbps | not any | not any | not any | 7.4 |
|
Verizon LTE Home Internet |
fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers) | 50Mbps | not any | not any | not any | 7.2 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What are the cheapest internet plans in Pasadena?
| provider | starting price | Maximum download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Spectrum Internet |
50 U.S. dollars | 300Mbps | $7 (optional) |
|
Verizon LTE Home Internet |
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 50Mbps | not any |
|
AT&T Fiber 300 |
$55 | 300Mbps | not any |
|
T-Mobile Home Internet |
$60 ($40 with eligible mobile plans) | 245Mbps | not any |
Buy suppliers at my address
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to Find Pasadena Internet Deals and Promotions
Pasadena’s best internet deals and top promotions depend on the discounts available during a specific time. Most offers are short-lived, but we’re often on the lookout for the latest deals.
Pasadena internet providers, such as Spectrum and Verizon, may offer lower introductory prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time. However, other companies, including T-Mobile Home Internet and AT&T Fiber, have the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of deals, check out our guide to the best internet deals.
Fastest Internet Plans in Pasadena
| provider | starting price | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | data cap | Connection Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
AT&T Internet 5000 |
$225 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | not any | fiber |
|
AT&T Internet 2000 |
$125 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | not any | fiber |
|
AT&T Internet 1000 |
$80 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | not any | fiber |
|
Spectrum Internet Performance |
$80 | 1,000Mbps | 35Mbps | not any | cable |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is 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 video conferencing, streaming video, or gaming, you’ll get a better experience with a stronger connection. Below is an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications according to FCC regulations. Please note that these are guidelines only – Internet speeds, service and performance vary based on connection type, provider and address.
For more information, see our guide on the internet speed you really need.
- 0 to 5Mbps allows you to handle the basics—browse the Internet, send and receive email, stream low-quality video.
- 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher quality video streaming and video conferencing.
- 40 to 100Mbps should provide one user with enough bandwidth to meet the needs of modern remote working, video streaming, and online gaming.
- 100 to 500Mbps allows one or two users to participate in high-bandwidth activities such as video conferencing, streaming and online gaming simultaneously.
- 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities simultaneously.
CNET How to choose the best internet provider in Pasadena
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 specific city. So what is our approach? We first looked at pricing, availability, and speed information based on our own historical ISP data, provider websites, and map information from the Federal Communications Commission’s FCC.gov.
But it didn’t end there. We went to the FCC’s website to check our data and make sure we accounted for every ISP offering service in a certain area. We also enter local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We evaluate customer satisfaction with ISP services by looking at sources such as the US Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power. ISP plans and prices may change frequently; all information provided is accurate as of publication time.
Once we have localized information, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider offer reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Are customers getting value for money?
- Are customers satisfied with their service?
While the answers to these questions are often layered and complex, we recommend the provider that comes closest to a “yes” on these three questions. When choosing the cheapest internet service, we look for plans with the lowest monthly fees, although we also consider factors like price increases, equipment fees, and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively simple. 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.
Pasadena Internet Providers FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Pasadena?
AT&T Fiber is the best internet service provider in Pasadena. It has the fastest speeds yet – with symmetrical upload and download speeds – and the equipment is included in the monthly price. Unfortunately, only 16% of Pasadena residents have access to it.
Is there fiber optic internet in Pasadena?
Yes, 16% of Pasadena residents have access to fiber optic internet, according to FCC data. AT&T Fiber is the city’s only fiber provider.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Pasadena?
Spectrum is the cheapest internet provider in Pasadena. Its minimum plan costs $50 per month, but that increases to $85 after one year.
Which internet provider in Pasadena offers the fastest plans?
AT&T Fiber offers the fastest plans in Pasadena, with symmetrical upload and download speeds of up to 5,000Mbps.