What is the best internet provider in Modesto, CA?
AT&T Fiber is the best internet service provider in Modesto, offering fast speeds and customer-friendly terms. It’s the only internet option in the city with symmetrical upload and download speeds – perfect for anyone working remotely or gaming online.
If you are looking for the lowest price, Xfinity is the cheapest internet provider in Modesto, plans start at just $20 per month. That said, after a year or two (or both), rates will increase significantly for all plans. Spectrum is another cable provider worth considering, but you’ll also have to contend with steep price increases in the second or third year.
For households that don’t need too fast speeds, there are two other options worth considering: T-Mobile Home Internet and Verizon 5G Home Internet. Both are mid-range in price and speed, but you can save by bundling with qualifying cell phone plans.
CNET recommends Modesto’s best internet services 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 service levels, 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, the 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 Modesto. 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 apply, 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 Modesto, CA
300-5,000 Mbps
$55-$250 per month
What we think – If you can get it, fiber optic internet is usually your best option for getting online, and AT&T Fiber is widely available in Modesto. It was named the best fiber provider in the country by CNET due to its fast speeds, customer-friendly terms, and reasonable prices. AT&T Fiber also earned the highest-rated ISP rating from JD Power and the U.S. Customer Satisfaction Index.
300-5,000 Mbps
$55-$250 per month
75-2,000 Mbps
$20-$120 per month
What we think – Xfinity has some of the lowest starting prices in the country, and they recently increased speeds without increasing rates. You can get 150Mbps speeds for just $20 per month, which is a great value. But there’s a problem (or two). You’ll need a one-year contract to get that price, with prices rising to $35 in the second year and $57 in the third. The rest of Xfinity’s plans will be completed within the first two years.
75-2,000 Mbps
$20-$120 per month
fixed wireless
72-245 Mbps
$60 per month
What we think – Another great option for homes that don’t need a lot of speed is wireless internet. In Modesto, your best options are T-Mobile Home Internet and Verizon 5G Home Internet. We’re giving T-Mobile the edge here because it has wider availability, but both offer similar plans and speeds, and you can save by bundling qualifying phone plans.
fixed wireless
72-245 Mbps
$60 per month
Modesto Internet Providers Comparison
| provider | Internet technology | monthly price range | speed range | Monthly equipment cost | data cap | contract | CNET Review Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ayela Technology | fixed wireless | $39-$109 | 3-120Mbps | None (no router provided) | 100GB-4.86TB | not any | not applicable |
|
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 | $5 (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 5G Home Internet |
fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers) | 100-1,000Mbps | not any | not any | not any | 7.2 |
|
unlimited |
cable | $20-$70 | 150-1,200Mbps | $15 (included in most plans) | 1.2TB (unlimited on most plans) | Elective | 7 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What are the cheapest internet plans in Modesto?
| provider | starting price | Maximum download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Xfinity connection |
20 dollars | 150Mbps | $15 (optional) |
|
Xfinity connects more |
$25 | 300Mbps | not any |
| Ayela Technology | $39 | 3Mbps | None (no router provided) |
| Ayela Technology | $49 | 15Mbps | None (no router provided) |
|
Spectrum Internet |
50 U.S. dollars | 300Mbps | $5 (optional) |
|
Verizon 5G Home Internet |
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 100Mbps | not any |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to Find Internet Deals and Promotions in Modesto
Modesto’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.
Modesto internet providers like AT&T Fiber, Xfinity and Verizon 5G Home Internet may offer lower introductory prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time. However, others including Spectrum and T-Mobile Home Internet 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 Modesto
| 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 |
|
Xfinity Gigabit Extra |
$70 | 1,200Mbps | 35Mbps | 1.2TB | cable |
|
AT&T Internet 1000 |
$80 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | not any | fiber |
|
Frontier Fiber 1G |
$60 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | not any | fiber |
|
Spectrum Internet Performance |
$80 | 1,000Mbps | 35Mbps | not any | cable |
|
Xfinity Gigabit |
$65 | 1,000Mbps | 20Mbps | 1.2TB | 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 a person with enough bandwidth to meet the needs of modern remote working, video streaming, and online gaming.
- 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two people to participate in high-bandwidth activities such as video conferencing, streaming, and online gaming simultaneously.
- 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more people to engage in high-bandwidth activities simultaneously.
CNET How to choose the best internet provider in Modesto
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 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.
Modesto Internet Provider FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Modesto?
AT&T Fiber is the best internet service provider in Modesto, offering the fastest speeds and lowest prices in the city. It is also the only fiber provider in the city, meaning it is the only one with symmetrical upload and download speeds.
Is there fiber optic internet in Modesto?
Yes, 22% of Modesto homes 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 Modesto?
Xfinity is Modesto’s cheapest internet provider, offering plans starting at $20 per month.
Which internet provider in Modesto offers the fastest plans?
AT&T Fiber offers the fastest Internet plans in Modesto, with upload and download speeds up to 5,000Mbps.