What is the best internet provider in Stockton, CA?
AT&T Fiber is the best internet service provider in Stockton, delivering fast, symmetrical speeds at an affordable price. It has the highest customer satisfaction scores of any national ISP, and unlike many other providers, your price doesn’t automatically increase after the promotional period ends.
although Xfinity has the cheapest internet plans in Stockton, your bill will increase significantly after a year or two. Xfinity’s plans don’t require a contract, so you can always switch before the markup kicks in (or try negotiating with customer service), but we’re not crazy about this extra step.
T-Mobile and Verizon offer wireless internet in Stockton, and while prices don’t automatically increase, their plans don’t reach the same top speeds as Xfinity and are more susceptible to network congestion. Still, they’re great for small families, and you can save money by bundling them with a T-Mobile or Verizon cell phone plan.
CNET recommends the best internet services in Stockton 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, 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 Stockton. 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 Stockton, CA
300-5,000 Mbps
$55-$250 per month
What we think – AT&T Fiber is hard to beat. It has Stockton’s fastest speeds yet and is the only provider to offer symmetrical upload and download speeds – perfect for households that do a lot of online gaming or video conferencing. Unlike many ISPs, its prices don’t increase significantly after a year or two. One drawback is availability: FCC data shows that only 23% of Stockton residents currently have access to AT&T Fiber.
300-5,000 Mbps
$55-$250 per month
150-6,000 Mbps
$20-$300 per month
What we think – Xfinity plans start at $20 per month, which is $30 per month cheaper than any other internet option in Stockton. Cable providers have also recently increased speeds, so you can get 150Mbps download speeds for the same price – a great deal. But the price rises to $35 in the second year and to $57 in the third year. Not all of Xfinity’s plans will see such severe price increases, but it’s worth digging into the fine print before making a commitment. (Xfinity doesn’t require a contract, so you can cancel before rates go up.)
150-6,000 Mbps
$20-$300 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 worry about Xfinity’s price hikes, wireless internet is a solid option – especially if you don’t need a lot of bandwidth. T-Mobile and Verizon both offer wireless internet in Stockton, but T-Mobile’s service covers more of the city. If you’re a cell phone customer with either provider, you can save big by bundling a home internet plan.
fixed wireless
72-245 Mbps
$60 per month
Stockton 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 |
|
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) | 100-300Mbps | not any | not any | not any | 7.2 |
|
unlimited |
cable | $20-$70 | 150-1,200Mbps | $15 (included with 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 Stockton?
Buy suppliers at my address
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to Find Internet Deals and Promotions in Stockton
Stockton’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.
Stockton’s internet providers, such as Xfinity and Verizon 5G Home Internet, may offer lower introductory prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time. However, others, including AT&T Fiber, use the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of deals, check out our guide to the best internet deals.
The fastest internet plans in Stockton
| 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 | not any | cable |
|
AT&T Internet 1000 |
$80 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | not any | fiber |
|
Xfinity Gigabit |
$65 | 1,000Mbps | 20Mbps | 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 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 Stockton
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, using our own historical ISP data, provider sites, 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.
Stockton Internet Provider FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Stockton?
AT&T Fiber is Stockton’s best internet service provider, offering the fastest speeds, unlimited data, and easy pricing. AT&T is also the only fiber provider in the city, meaning it’s the only one offering symmetrical upload and download speeds.
Is there fiber optic internet in Stockton?
Yes, 23% of Stockton 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 Stockton?
Xfinity is Stockton’s cheapest internet provider, offering plans starting at $20 per month.
Which internet provider in Stockton offers the fastest plans?
AT&T Fiber offers the fastest internet plans in Stockton, with upload and download speeds up to 5,000Mbps.