Best Internet Providers in Cleveland, Ohio

What is the best internet provider in Cleveland?

CNET recommends Spectrum as the best overall internet provider in Cleveland, Ohio. The reasoning for this is because of its overall widespread availability, with a variety of plans that are suitable for those who live alone or for those who have a full household that's in desperate need of speeds. Spectrum also has a great and reasonable pricing to consider, with its 1,000Mbps plan costing just $70 per month.

Yet while there is a wide range of internet options available, you should be aware that there are some limitations depending on where you live. For example, if you want fiber internet then you should invest in AT&T Fiber. It boasts speeds of up to 5,000 Mbps, but fiber internet in Cleveland is generally scarce. If you're not living in the catch area, then you won't be able to take advantage of what AT&T Fiber has on offer. Though be warned: Don't mistake AT&T Fiber with AT&T Air Internet, especially as the latter offers much slower speeds.

Of course, if you've found yourself uninterested in either Spectrum or AT&T, you have other options. Verizon and T-Mobile Home offer 5G home internet, and if you have a mobile plan with them, you may be eligible for internet for $35-$40 per month. You can also consider satellite providers like HughesNet, Viasat, and Starlink. Lastly, if you're looking for a more affordable option, Spectrum offers an entry-level plan for $30 per month with speeds of 100 Mbps.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data

All available Cleveland residential internet providers

Some Cleveland residents may be fortunate enough to have a few choices when it comes to their ISP. If you find yourself in this situation, we recommend fiber internet if it’s available for its speed and stability. For those who live in parts of the city without access to the options mentioned above, here are the other choices:

• HughesNet: Hopefully, if you’re in Cleveland or its surrounding suburbs, you won’t need satellite internet. It’s available at speeds of 100Mbps, with prices starting at $40 with a one-year contract and equipment fees.
• Starlink: Cleveland is among the cities with access to SpaceX’s satellite internet, but like the other satellite internet options, we don’t recommend it for city dwellers. First of all, it’s pricey, with a $349 starting price for equipment, and speeds won’t match most wired connections.
• T-Mobile Home Internet: Cleveland residents also have access to 5G internet from T-Mobile, which is available for $50 to $70 monthly and offers speeds up to 415Mbps.
• Viasat: Viasat’s monthly prices start at $100 and go up to $150, with speeds ranging going up to 150Mbps.

Pricing info on Cleveland home internet service

Much like other cities in Ohio, Cleveland residents can expect to pay an average starting monthly price of $51 for home internet. The cheapest plan belongs to Spectrum's $30-a-month plan for download speeds of 100Mbps.

Cheap internet options in the Cleveland metro area

If you want the most affordable internet in Cleveland, Spectrum has you covered. Although it’s not available for every address, this provider offers 100Mbps internet starting at $30 a month in most areas, and some areas can even get Spectrum's 500Mbps plan for $30 instead of $50 a month. Other options include AT&T Fiber, which costs just $5 more a month.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data

What’s the state of broadband in Cleveland?

Median download speeds sit around 300Mbps in Cleveland, and options are available from Spectrum and AT&T that exceed that. Plans that offer speeds around a gig are available to certain addresses from AT&T and Spectrum.

Fastest internet providers in Cleveland

Multi-gigabit plans from AT&T Fiber may be available in select areas of Cleveland, but availability is extremely limited. For most residents, the fastest plans tap out around a gig and are available from Spectrum and AT&T Fiber.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data

What’s the final word on internet providers in Cleveland?

Cleveland’s internet options can be fairly confusing, because the same ISP will charge different prices based on address. Most providers hope you don’t notice, thinking you’ll be stuck with whatever options they give you. But the advent of 5G home internet service means that consumers now have some additional options, even if that just means additional leverage to better negotiate with your ISP. One thing is for sure, though: If you have access to fiber internet, we recommend going with that.

How CNET chose the best internet providers in Cleveland

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’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.

But it doesn’t end there. We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we’re considering every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. To evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service, we look at sources including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of the time of publication.

Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:

• Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
• Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
• Are customers happy with their service?

The answer to those questions is often layered and complex, but the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When it comes to selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We examine advertised upload and download speeds, and also consider real-world speed data from sources such as Ookla and FCC reports. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)

To explore our process in more depth, visit our How We Test ISPs page.

Internet providers in Cleveland FAQs