What is the best internet provider in Santa Clara?
CNET recommends Xfinity as the number one Internet service provider for most Santa Clara households. Xfinity is the most widely used ISP in Santa Clara (besides satellite providers like Hughesnet, Viasat, and Starlink) and offers some of the lowest home internet rates in the area. AT&T Fiber, T-Mobile Home Internet, and Ridge Wireless are also available at most addresses, but it depends on what service is available in your location.
Xfinity also beats the competition by offering the cheapest service in Santa Clara. For just $20 per month, customers can achieve download speeds of up to 75 megabits per second. Or, if you need higher speeds, Xfinity’s 200Mbps plan costs just $5 more per month and includes equipment rental.
Are you looking for the fastest connection in Santa Clara? AT&T Fiber offers 5 GB matched download and upload speeds for $225 per month. AT&T Fiber and Xfinity are also tied for the second-fastest plans in the area, both offering 2,000Mbps speeds for $125 and $120 respectively.
CNET recommends Santa Clara’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, these cards show the full range of pricing and speeds from providers across the United States. At the same time, this text is specific to what is available in Santa Clara. 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. Discounts and promotions may also be available for signing a fixed-term contract or bundling multiple services.
To learn more about how we review internet providers, visit our full methodology page.
The Best Internet in Santa Clara, CA 2024
75-2,000 Mbps
$20-$120 per month
What we think – Xfinity’s coverage is unmatched in Santa Clara, with the FCC reporting that it serves more than 97% of addresses. The cable TV giant offers a variety of packages under its network with download speeds ranging from 75Mbps to 2,000Mbps. Some plans may include a 1.2TB data cap and device fees, but all but the lowest tier are contract-free.
75-2,000 Mbps
$20-$120 per month
300-5,000 Mbps
$55-$250 per month
What we think – Unfortunately, less than 13% of Santa Clara residents have access to fiber optic internet. But if your address is served by AT&T Fiber, move this provider to the top of the list. AT&T Fiber offers five plans for customers to choose from: 300Mbps, 500Mbps, 1,000Mbps, 2,000Mbps and 5,000Mbps. All plans come with devices, unlimited data and no annual contracts.
300-5,000 Mbps
$55-$250 per month
fixed wireless
72-245 Mbps
$60 per month
What we think – T-Mobile Home Internet makes home broadband simple and affordable. This fixed wireless ISP costs $60 per month for speeds up to 245Mbps, but qualifying mobile customers can save $20 per month on service. Plus, T-Mobile Home Internet comes with unlimited data and devices, so you don’t have to worry about introductory pricing.
fixed wireless
72-245 Mbps
$60 per month
Santa Clara Internet Providers Comparison
| provider | Internet technology | monthly price range | speed range | Monthly equipment cost | data cap | contract | CNET Review Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Home Internet | DSL hybrid | $55 | 10-100Mbps | not any | 1.5TB | not any | 7.4 |
| AT&T Fiber | fiber | $55-$225 | 300-5,000Mbps | not any | not any | not any | 7.4 |
| Ridge Wireless | fixed wireless | $100-$150 | 20-100Mbps | different | not any | not any | not applicable |
| Sailing the Internet | fixed wireless | $55 | 200Mbps | not any | not any | not any | not applicable |
| T-Mobile Home Internet | fixed wireless | $60 ($40 for eligible Go5G Plus and Magenta Max mobile customers) | 72-245Mbps | not any | not any | not any | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet | fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 with eligible Verizon 5G mobile plans) | 50-1,000Mbps | not any | not any | not any | 7.2 |
| unlimited | cable | $20-$120 | 75-2,000Mbps | $15-$25 (optional) | 1.2TB on some plans | 1 year for some plans | 7 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What are the cheapest internet plans in Santa Clara?
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to Find Santa Clara Internet Deals and Promotions
The best internet deals and top promotions in Santa Clara depend on the discounts available during the period. Most offers are short-lived, but we’re often on the lookout for the latest deals.
Santa Clara internet providers, such as T-Mobile and Xfinity, may offer lower introductory prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time. However, other companies, such as AT&T and Verizon, use the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of deals, check out our guide to the best internet deals.
Renelyn Cunanan-Ding/Getty Images
Fastest Internet Plans in Santa Clara
| provider | Starting monthly price | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | data cap | Connection Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Fiber 5000 | $225 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | not any | fiber |
| AT&T Fiber 2000 | $125 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | not any | fiber |
| Xfinity Gigabit X2 | $120 | 2,000Mbps | 200Mbps | 1.2TB | cable |
| Xfinity Gigabit Extra | $70 | 1,200Mbps | 35Mbps | not any | cable |
| AT&T Fiber 1000 | $80 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | not any | fiber |
| Verizon 5G Home + Internet | $70 ($45 with eligible mobile plans) | 1,000Mbps | 75Mbps | not any | fixed wireless |
| 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 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 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 Santa Clara
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, using our own historical ISP data, provider websites, and map information from FCC.gov.
But it didn’t end there. We use the FCC’s website to check our data and make sure we account for every ISP that provides service in an 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.
Santa Clara Internet Providers FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Santa Clara?
Although Xfinity’s service details vary by location, CNET recommends it as the top internet provider in Santa Clara due to its wide availability and low prices.
Is there fiber optic internet in Santa Clara?
Yes, but supply is low. According to FCC data, less than 13% of addresses in Santa Clara have fiber internet access, and AT&T Fiber is the largest fiber provider in the area.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Santa Clara?
Xfinity offers the two cheapest plans in Santa Clara: 75Mbps for $20 and 200Mbps for $25.
Which internet provider in Santa Clara offers the fastest plans?
AT&T Fiber’s 5G plan has the fastest speeds available in Santa Clara and costs $225 per month.