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*Price after $10/mo discount (starts within 2 bills) w/ paperless billing & Autopay if enrolled w a debut card or bank account. Discount reduced to $5/mo if enrolled w/ credit card. Monthly State Cost Recovery Charge in TX, OH, NV applies
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Explore the top internet options in Chicago
Chicago internet companies offer fiber, cable, 5G and satellite connections. The most available internet service providers (ISPs) in Chicago include Astound, AT&T, T-Mobile 5G Home Internet, Verizon 5G Home Internet and Xfinity. Wi-Fi service in Chicago ranges from $20/mo. for cable internet to nearly $250/mo. for fiber speeds of up to 5 GB.
Deciding on a Chicago internet provider is easier when you have all the information you need. We sift through all the fine print to help you make the right choice. For example, the cheapest Chicago internet plans are from Xfinity and Astound, although prices jump once the introductory rate ends. AT&T offers the fastest fiber internet and no hidden fees. 5G plans with Verizon and T-Mobile are perfect for average internet usage and are an even better value when you bundle with mobile phone.
Keep reading for detailed plan breakdowns and comparisons of internet providers in Chicago, IL.
Compare top Chicago internet providers by starting price, download speed range, connection type and availability. Xfinity is the most widely available cable provider in Chicago, but T-Mobile and Verizon also have a broad coverage within the city. Satellite providers like Hughesnet, Viasat and Starlink are available to 100% of Chicago.
The following table displays the top Chicago internet providers by price range, speeds and connection types.
*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. Price may include autopay and paperless billing discounts. Speeds may vary.
♱Price after $10/mo discount with eligible Autopay & Paperless bill (w/in 2 bills). Monthly State Cost Recovery Charge in TX, OH, NV applies. One time install chrg may apply. See offer details. Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds may vary. For 5GIG, single device wired speed maximum 4.7Gbps. For more info, go to www.att.com/speed101. As of 03/20/25.
Methodology
We rated the largest internet providers in the U.S. for 2025. Each provider was rated on a scale of 1 to 5 based on over a dozen factors, including speed, cost, availability, fees, customer satisfaction, connection type and more. We also used data from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to compare the average speed offered by internet companies in the U.S. to set a baseline for what is considered a good internet speed. Additionally, we analyzed data from the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) to understand how each internet service provider (ISP) fares in customer service and perceived value.
How to choose a provider in Chicago
The number of Chicago internet providers available is similar to other major metropolitan areas. However, Chicago internet companies offer faster speeds than in many other cities. If you are searching for 1 GB or faster internet, you can shop around for the best price and plan. Since most households can do online activities like streaming, gaming and browsing without gigabit speeds, Chicago residents can be confident that nearly any plan should support their internet needs.
Use the following tips as a guide to choosing the best Chicago internet plan.
Budget: The cheapest Chicago internet deals start around $20/mo. Fast fiber-optic internet providers start around $55/mo. Before you pick the plan you want, make sure you are within your monthly budget and take into account extra fees like equipment rentals, taxes, installation charges and more. Always remember that promotional pricing is usually only good for six to 12 months, and after that, your monthly price may increase significantly.
Online use: The way you use the internet will help you determine what plan is best for you. If you live alone and like to browse social media, check email and occasionally stream videos, a plan at 100 Mbps or under may work well for you, keeping your costs low. However, if you have a larger household with gamers or you work from home, consider a fast fiber connection, but be prepared to pay nearly $100 for some of those plans.
Number of devices: The more devices you have simultaneously connected to the internet, the slower your connection will be. If you have several smart home devices along with laptops, tablets and phones, you’ll want to consider speeds around 200 to 400 Mbps.
Chicago internet provider breakdowns
Astound – Cheapest starting price
Astound is the cheapest internet provider in Chicago, starting at $20/mo. for up to 300 Mbps. Its fastest plan, at 1.5 GB, is reasonably priced at $55/mo. Astound provides a two-year price lock guarantee with no contracts, and equipment is included for free. Astound is available to nearly 90% of the eastern part of the city, including Uptown, The Loop, Old Town, Edgewater and more.
AT&T plans start at $55/mo. for up to 300 Mbps.* AT&T is available in many Chicago neighborhoods, including Garfield Ridge Avondale and Dunning. However, parts of Chicago that are not covered by AT&T’s fiber network can get AT&T Internet Air. This fixed wireless network has speeds up to 140 Mbps but still costs $55/mo., the same as AT&T 300 Mbps fiber plan.
*Price after $10/mo discount with eligible Autopay & Paperless bill (w/in 2 bills). Monthly State Cost Recovery Charge in TX, OH, NV applies. One time install chrg may apply. See offer details.Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds may vary. For 5GIG, single device wired speed maximum 4.7Gbps. For more info, go to www.att.com/speed101. As of 03/20/25.
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet – Most consistent pricing
T-Mobile provides 5G Home Internet starting at $50/mo. with speeds up to 415 Mbps. This fixed wireless connection has no data caps or equipment fees added on. You can get $15 off in discounts if you bundle your internet with a T-Mobile mobile plan. T-Mobile is available in nearly all Chicago areas, including Edgewater, Old Town and Hyde Park.
In Chicago, Verizon offers fixed wireless 5G internet options: Verizon 5G Home and 5G Home Plus. Verizon’s fixed wireless 5G home internet has speeds up to 1,000 Mbps and start at $50/mo. You can cut your monthly internet cost in half if you bundle it with a Verizon mobile phone plan. This deal can bring your 5G Home plan down to $35/mo. and the Home Plus plan to $55/mo. Verizon 5G Home has consistent coverage throughout most Chicago regions but lower availability in the Far Southeast Side.
Pros
Plans do not require contracts or have hidden fees
2–3 year price guarantee, based on plan
Cons
Internet speeds can vary based on network congestion
Xfinity is the most available cable provider in Chicago, with seven plans. The cheapest plan is $30/mo. for a download speed of up to 150 Mbps. This plan is Xfinity’s only offer with a 12-month contract. Self-install and shipping costs for the modem and router are free.
Pros
Cheap plans.
Good variety of internet options.
Bundle with TV, home phone or security.
Cons
The gateway rental is $15/mo.
Some plans have a contract with an early termination fee.
Astound provides the cheapest internet in Chicago, starting at $20/mo. for up to 300 Mbps for a cable plan. Xfinity is also a cheap internet provider, starting at $35/mo., for up to 150 Mbps of cable internet. If you want faster fiber speeds, AT&T is the next cheapest plan, starting at $55/mo. for 300 Mbps.
Plan
Price*
Download speed
Connection type
Astound
$20/mo.
Up to 300 Mbps
Cable
Xfinity
$35/mo.
Up to 150 Mbps
Cable
AT&T♱
$55/mo.
Up to 300 Mbps
Fiber
Disclaimer
*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. Price may include autopay and paperless billing discounts. Speeds may vary.
♱Price after $10/mo discount with eligible Autopay & Paperless bill (w/in 2 bills). Monthly State Cost Recovery Charge in TX, OH, NV applies. One time install chrg may apply. See offer details. Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds may vary. For more info, go to www.att.com/speed101.
Fastest internet in Chicago
Pricing for fast internet of over 1 GB is about average in Chicago, from $55 to $95 a month. Xfinity offers the fastest fiber plans available in Chicago, but fiber connections through Xfinity are only available in a few areas of Chicago. Astound is the fastest cable internet provider, and it also offers some pockets of fiber availability in certain areas of Chicago.
Astound is a good bargain for your dollar, with 1,000 Mbps priced at $35/mo. AT&T’s fastest plan at 5,000 Mbps is also the most expensive, at $245/mo. Fiber and high-speed cable plans are best for those who participate in bandwidth-heavy internet activities like gaming or who have a large household with many connected devices simultaneously.
Plan
Price*
Download speed
Connection type
Astound
$55/mo.
1,500 Mbps
Cable
AT&T♱
$70/mo.
1,000 Mbps
Fiber
Xfinity
$75/mo.
1,100 Mbps
Cable, fiber
Xfinity
$95/mo.
2,100 Mbps
Cable, fiber
AT&T♱
$245/mo.
5,000 Mbps
Fiber
Disclaimer
*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. Price may include autopay and paperless billing discounts. Speeds may vary.
♱Price after $10/mo discount with eligible Autopay & Paperless bill (w/in 2 bills). Monthly State Cost Recovery Charge in TX, OH, NV applies. One time install chrg may apply. See offer details. Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds may vary. For 5GIG, single device wired speed maximum 4.7Gbps. For more info, go to www.att.com/speed101. As of 03/20/25.
Fiber internet: Fiber is the fastest connection available in Chicago. Its symmetrical upload and download speeds ensure there is no lag during high usage required by activities like gaming. Chicago has three fiber internet providers available: Astound, AT&T and Xfinity. With 55% availability, AT&T has the most fiber coverage in Chicago. Astound and Xfinity have under 3% availability.
Cable: Astound and Xfinity offer cable internet plans with speeds between 150 and 2,100 Mbps in Chicago. Cable internet isn’t as fast as fiber, but it is reliable, and you can usually bundle TV and internet.
5G: 5G home internet is a type of fixed wireless internet and uses the nearest cell tower signal to provide your home with an internet connection. T-Mobile is available to 95% of Chicago and has 5G speeds up to 415 Mbps. Verizon home internet is available to 65% of the city.
Satellite:Satellite internet is available to most of the country, including Chicago. Hughesnet, Viasat and Starlink are the main providers. Satellite is slower and less reliable than other types of internet connections. Speeds are usually up to 100 Mbps, but Starlink can provide up to 250 Mbps.
Chicago, IL, internet FAQs
Is fiber internet available in Chicago?
Yes, fiber internet is available to about half the addresses in Chicago through Astound, AT&T and Xfinity.
How fast is internet in Chicago?
Chicago internet users have access to internet plans starting at 200 Mbps and going up to 6 GB.
How much is internet per month in Chicago?
Internet prices run from $20 to $300 a month in Chicago. The cheapest internet service in Chicago comes from Astound.
Does Spectrum serve Chicago?
No, Spectrum Internet is not available in Chicago.
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Robin Layton is an editor and writer 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. Her expertise is in home internet plans, as well as broadband and digital divide news. Robin brought 30 years of experience in journalism and marketing to her Allconnect role and strives to ensure consumers get a fair and balanced reporting of the state of broadband services to help them understand the process of purchasing an internet service provider that fits their online needs. Her credentials include a bachelor’s degree in English and Journalism from Shepherd University.
Hannah Whatley is an editor who enjoys collaborating with writers to offer readers the most relevant, accurate, and up-to-date information for their home purchases. She has previously edited for The Motley Fool, The Modest Wallet, Grammarly, JoinCake.com and SaveOnEnergy.com, gaining expertise in several industries. Hannah has a B.A. in English from Thomas Edison State University. When she isn’t editing, she enjoys studying linguistics and languages.
