What is the best internet provider in Carlsbad, CA?
Spectrum is the best internet service provider in Carlsbad. This is the only wired connection available to most homes in the city. Spectrum’s plans offer great value for the first year or two, but prices increase significantly after that.
Only about one in 10 households in the city has access to it, but AT&T Fiber is Carlsbad’s fastest internet provider. It is the only fiber provider in the region, with upload and download speeds of up to 5,000Mbps. AT&T also has the highest customer satisfaction scores of any provider in the United States.
Wireless internet is another great option in the area, especially for smaller homes that don’t need super fast speeds. Verizon and T-Mobile offer 5G home internet service in Carlsbad, and if you’re a cellphone customer with either, you can save big on home internet.
CNET recommends Carlsbad’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 U.S., while the text is specific to what’s available in Carlsbad. 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 Carlsbad, CA
300-1,000 Mbps
$50-$80 per month
What we think – Spectrum will be the default choice for most people in Carlsbad. It’s the only widely available wired connection (cable or fiber) and has the cheapest starting price in the city. But after a year or two, all plans will add $30 to $35 per month. That’s the main reason why Spectrum has below-average customer satisfaction scores in the JD Power and U.S. Customer Satisfaction Indexes.
300-1,000 Mbps
$50-$80 per month
300-5,000 Mbps
$55-$250 per month
What we think – If you’re one of the lucky few who can get AT&T Fiber in Carlsbad, it’s an easy choice. It’s the only fiber provider in the city, which means it’s the only one with symmetrical upload and download speeds – perfect for online gaming and video conferencing. AT&T Fiber is also very reasonably priced, with no additional equipment fees.
300-5,000 Mbps
$55-$250 per month
fixed wireless
72-245 Mbps
$60 per month
What we think – If you can’t get AT&T Fiber and don’t want to deal with Spectrum’s price increase, wireless internet is your best backup option. T-Mobile and Verizon both offer 5G home internet service in Carlsbad. If you have one of these cell phone plans, you can save money by bundling it with your home internet. Speeds won’t be as fast as Spectrum or AT&T Fiber, but they’ll be enough for basic activities like streaming video and scrolling social media.
fixed wireless
72-245 Mbps
$60 per month
Carlsbad 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 | $30-$80 | 100-1,000Mbps | $7 (optional) | not any | not any | 7.2 |
|
Starlink |
satellite | $120 | 25-220Mbps | $599 upfront | not any | not any | 6.5 |
|
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) | 50-300Mbps | 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 Carlsbad?
| provider | starting price | Maximum download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Spectrum Internet 100 |
$30 | 100Mbps | $7 (optional) |
|
Spectrum Internet |
50 U.S. dollars | 300Mbps | $7 (optional) |
|
Verizon 5G Home Internet |
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 100Mbps | 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 Carlsbad Internet Deals and Promotions
Carlsbad’s best internet deals and top promotions depend on the discounts available during a specific time. Most deals are short-lived, but we’re often on the lookout for the latest deals.
Carlsbad internet providers, such as Spectrum 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.
Fastest Internet Plans in Carlsbad
| 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 Carlsbad
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.
Carlsbad Internet Provider FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Carlsbad?
Spectrum is Carlsbad’s best internet service provider, offering the cheapest starting prices and the widest coverage in the city.
Is there fiber optic internet in Carlsbad?
Yes, 12% of Carlsbad 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 Carlsbad?
Spectrum is Carlsbad’s cheapest internet provider, offering plans starting at $30 per month.
Which internet provider in Carlsbad offers the fastest plans?
AT&T Fiber offers Carlsbad’s fastest internet plans, with upload and download speeds up to 5,000Mbps.