Best internet providers in San Diego
Compare San Diego internet providers
San Diego internet users can pick from fiber, satellite, cable, fixed wireless and DSL internet connections. Speeds range from 12 to 1,000 Mbps, and prices start under $50/mo. Google, Spectrum, AT&T and Cox are the fastest providers available in San Diego.
| Provider | Starting price* | Speed range | Internet type | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cox | $49.99/mo. | Up to 1000 Mbps | Cable, fiber optic | 50% |
| AT&T | $55.00/mo. | 300 – 1000 Mbps | Fiber optic | 81% |
| Google Fiber | $70.00/mo. | 100 – 1000 Mbps | Fiber optic | 10% |
| EarthLink | $54.95/mo. | 100 – 1000 Mbps | DSL, fiber optic | 25% |
| T-Mobile 5G Home Internet | $50.00/mo. | Up to 245 Mbps | Fixed wireless/5G | 63% |
| Spectrum | $49.99/mo. | 300 – 1,000 Mbps | Cable | 45% |
| Hughesnet | $49.99/mo. | 50 – 100 Mbps | Satellite | 100% |
| Viasat | $64.99/mo. | 12 – 100 Mbps | Satellite | 100% |
*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. Speeds may vary. As of 03/15/24.
What speed do you need?
Before you pick the internet plan you may be locked into for at least 12 months, consider what speed you need. For a small household of one to two users, a plan from 75 to 100 Mbps plan will allow you to stream on one device at a time, check emails, shop and browse social media.
A family of four or five can be seamlessly online with a 200 to 400 Mbps plan, with the ability to stream or game on multiple devices. Intermediate plans like these are often within $10/mo. or even cheaper than some of the advertised “cheapest” plans, so check plan speed before you buy. You may be able to afford the faster speed plan.
If you live in a connected smart home with four or more heavy internet users, you’ll most likely need a 500 Mbps plan or more. Gamers and work-from-home users in a large household should consider at least 800 Mbps.
Allconnect’s pick for best ISP: AT&T
If speed isn’t a concern and you’re more interested in cheap internet San Diego, we’d recommend taking a look at AT&T’s 300 plan. Even though it’s slightly higher than the cheapest plans by Spectrum and Cox, you’ll get much more speed for just a few dollars extra per month. AT&T’s monthly equipment costs are also slightly cheaper than Cox.
Cheapest internet plans in San Diego
Don’t forget to double-check the fine print on your plan since it might require you to pay more for equipment rentals or installation. Also, be sure that you understand the terms of your contract because cheap internet rates are sometimes only valid for the first few months or year of your agreement.
| Provider | Price* | Speed | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cox | $49.99/mo. | Up to 100 Mbps | Cable, fiber |
| Spectrum | $49.00/mo. | Up to 300 Mbps | Cable, fiber |
| T-Mobile 5G Home Internet | $50.00/mo. | Up to 245 Mbps | Fixed wireless/5G |
*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. As of 03/15/24.
Fastest internet plans in San Diego
These ISPs offer some of the fastest plans in San Diego but remember that speeds vary based on location. Prices range from $80-$100/mo. Fiber plans are your best bet for fast internet. Smart homes with five or more heavy internet users or small businesses can benefit from the symmetrical download and upload speeds, but be careful not to buy more speed than you really need. A solid, fast speed is around 400 to 500 Mbps and can handle three to four people working, gaming and learning from home simultaneously, without you needing to bump up to a gig plan and the higher price that brings.
*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. Speeds may vary. As of 03/15/24.
San Diego internet provider breakdowns
Allconnect Rating
4.47 / 5
AT&T: Best internet provider overall
There are many reasons to choose AT&T as your Wi-Fi San Diego provider. Not only does it provide cost-effective plans with high speeds (starting at $55/mo. for 300 Mbps), but its service is typically consistent and reliable. For these reasons, it’s easy to understand why AT&T is our best ISP in San Diego, CA.
Why San Diego loves AT&T
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Reliable network with good customer support.
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Generous sign-up bonuses and incentives.
Things to consider
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Need to sign up for autopay for cheapest prices.
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Promotional pricing expires after first 12 months.
Allconnect Rating
3.61 / 5
Cox: Cheapest plans
Cox is one of the most well-known internet providers in San Diego. Its plans cater to a variety of budgets and internet users, with speeds up to 1000 Mbps. Based on our research, we think that Cox offers the best cheap internet service San Diego CA, with plans from $49.99/mo.
Why San Diego loves Cox
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Affordable plan options
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Fast internet speeds
Things to consider
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Plan prices increase after the first year
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Prices don’t include equipment rentals
EarthLink: Fastest speeds
With DSL and fiber options, EarthLink is a popular internet provider in San Diego and many other parts of the country. Depending on which type of connection is available in your area, you can find plans ranging from 12-1000 Mbps and starting at $54.95/mo. With high speeds and no data caps, it’s no wonder EarthLink is our preferred fast internet provider in San Diego.
Why San Diego loves EarthLink
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Unlimited data and no throttling
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High-speed fiber plans (in some areas)
Things to consider
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12-month contract required
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Equipment and installation fees not included
Google Fiber: Best customer service
San Diego is one of a handful cities where Google Fiber is currently available (though it’s limited to certain buildings). If your property is set up for it, Google Fiber is certainly an option worth considering, given its competitive pricing ($63/mo.) and high-speed plans (up to 1000 Mbps). On top of that, Google Fiber offers 24/7 support, which is why it earned our pick for the best customer service.
Why San Diego loves Google Fiber
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Cost-effective plans with fast speeds.
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Easy to install and manage.
Things to consider
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Higher prices for month-to-month plans.
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Not compatible with cable TV.
Our methodology
We evaluate broadband providers in four categories: affordability, performance, value and customer satisfaction. Each category contains multiple sub-factors, all of which are weighted differently to impact the provider’s overall score.
For each sub-factor, we score all providers on a continuous scale of one to five, relative to the industry as a whole. Because the average download speed in America is currently 180 Mbps, for example, we assigned all plans with download speeds between 100 and 299 Mbps a score between three and four. Xfinity’s 200 Mbps plan received a 3.50 score for download speed, while Spectrum’s 400 Mbps plan got a 4.16.
We only considered standardized data points in our scoring system. More abstract data like consistency of service and brand reputation is still part of our analysis, but we opted to let our writers address them in the context of each review.
Compare internet near San Diego
Check out internet provider availability in other cities around San Diego, California.
San Diego internet service availability by zip code
Overview of internet access in San Diego
If you’re looking for high-speed internet options, San Diego is a fantastic place to be.
San Diego residents enjoy fast internet speeds from several providers. 97% of San Diego customers have internet speeds of up to 250 Mbps. More than 27% have speeds of 1000 Mbps. The average speed is 161.8 Mbps in San Diego.
Internet availability by connection type
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Cable – 97%
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DSL – 96%
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Fiber optic – 31%
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Download speeds 250 Mbps or higher
San Diego – 98%
California – 93%
U.S. – 87%
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Download speeds 1,000 Mbps or higher
San Diego – 32%
California – 22%
U.S. – 23%
Source: FCC
San Diego internet provider store locations
San Diego internet FAQs
Yes, nearly 30% of San Diego has access to fiber internet.
Spectrum and Cox will run you about $50/mo., but at $55/mo., AT&T is the better deal due to the speeds it can provide.
AT&T is available to nearly 87% of San Diego households.
San Diego residents can get up to 1,000 Mbps in internet speed.
Allconnect: Let us compare providers for you
Why should you choose Allconnect? We’re the #1 broadband marketplace in the U.S, meaning you can trust us to search, compare and order internet and TV service for your home.
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Written by:
Robin LaytonEditor, Broadband Content
Robin Layton is an editor for the broadband marketplace Allconnect. She built her internet industry expertise writing and editing for four years on the site, as well as on Allconnect’s sister site MYMOVE.com. …
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