The cable provider is widely available in Austin and offers unlimited data plans without contract requirements, making it our top pick. However, Spectrum isn’t available through the entirety of ATX. If you’re outside of Spectrum’s coverage area, T-Mobile Home Internet and Google Fiber are also solid options.
If you want the lowest price and fastest plan in Austin, we’ve got you covered. The cheapest plan in the city comes from Astound Broadband, at just $20 per month for speeds up to 300Mbps with no monthly equipment fees or contract. If you want the fastest internet plan available in the city, Google Fiber has an 8,000Mbps plan for $150 monthly. If Google Fiber doesn’t offer service at your address, AT&T Fiber, Frontier, and Astound Broadband also offer multigigabit plans.
Comparing Austin Internet Providers
You’ll find some of the most competitive starting rates in Austin from this cable internet provider. Astound’s cheapest plan is $20 per month for 300Mbps download speeds. Astound’s 1.5-giga plan is also the cheapest in town, starting at $55 per month. What’s the catch? Customers can expect a pretty steep hike.
According to Astound’s rate card (PDF), your rate can go up after your introductory period ($20 to $90 per month for a 300Mbps plan). Granted, you’re not under a contract, so you can negotiate a better deal or choose another provider. But you should be aware of that incremental hike.
If I had to name a runner-up for the best fiber internet provider for ATX, AT&T would be in that spot. It has more availability in the Austin metro area than Google Fiber, and its fiber plans offer a greater variety of options — from 300Mbps to several multi-gigabit plans, including one that goes as high as 5,000Mbps.
Not all Austin residents are eligible for service with AT&T Fiber. Many still have to deal with AT&T Internet Air service, a fixed wireless product with download speeds that max out at around 225Mbps.
This regional provider won’t be found within city limits, but its LTE fixed wireless service serves rural customers in the outskirts of the Austin metro area, including Bastrop, Cedar Creek, Dale and Lytton Springs to the south and southeast, and McDade and Paige to the west of the city. You’ll have to fill out an online form to see plans and pricing, but its website advertises a $100 plan for 300GB of data per month.
If you’re within Austin city limits, Frontier isn’t for you. Its mix of DSL and fiber-optic service is a prime option for residents of Georgetown to the north and Dripping Springs and Kyle to the south of the city. Check the site to see if Frontier Fiber is available at your address. Featuring symmetrical plans of 500Mbps, gigabit, or multi-gig speeds, the company’s fiber service is an attractive option, with prices ranging from $45 to $130 per month.
Many in the Austin area may know the name Suddenlink, but parent company Altice USA changed its name in 2022. So, the recently renamed Optimum service is thinly scattered across the metro area — mostly around the Austin Recreation Center and near Barton Creek Wilderness Park — but is more concentrated north of ATX in Pluggerville. This cable ISP boasts competitive introductory rates and decent signing up perks, including Visa gift cards and bundling discounts with unlimited mobile plans.
This VTX-1 wireless provider has limited coverage within Austin. Coverage can be seen in south-central Texas, with service available in some cities on the outskirts of the Austin metro area, including Bastrop, Cedar Creek, Dale, Elgin, Lockhart, Mustang Ridge, and Uhland. Speeds and prices will vary based on location, but customers can expect unlimited data with their plans.