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ISPs and rural internet
The best internet for rural areas includes 5G fixed wireless and satellite internet. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 46 million people, or 13.8% of American citizens, live in rural communities. However, despite the many households that need high-speed internet in rural areas, fewer options are available. Many internet service providers (ISPs) simply decide the cost of increased infrastructure to deliver internet to rural areas isn’t worth it.
Still, home Wi-Fi is vital for everyday activities such as communicating, working or attending school remotely, and streaming your favorite shows. Fortunately, residents outside metropolitan areas still have choices. Read on to learn about the best options for rural internet.
T-Mobile is our top pick for rural internet. Its 5G network is larger than any other fixed wireless provider’s, and it can offer download speeds of up to 415 Mbps. Pricing is also more competitive than satellite providers, and you won’t have to deal with contracts or data caps.
*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.
*When bundled with a qualifying mobile plan.
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.
Rural internet breakdowns
Hughesnet – Best cheap satellite
Pros
Lowest starting price of any satellite internet service.
Low-latency top-tier Fusion plan.
Cons
No download speeds above 100 Mbps.
Data caps and early termination fees.
Overall score: 2.4 out of 5.
Hughesnet is available virtually anywhere and is one of the top cheap internet options in rural areas. Hughesnet’s two standard satellite plans have speeds up to 50 Mbps, but its top plan reaches 100 Mbps with low latency. Prices increase by $50 after the first year of the two-year contract. Plans feature data caps of up to 200 GB, and you’ll pay an early termination fee (ETF) if you cancel before your contract ends.
Offers up to 250 Mbps, faster than Hughesnet/Viasat.
No contracts or data caps.
Cons
Equipment costs are $599 upfront.
Plan fees are expensive.
Overall score: 3.2 out of 5.
Starlink is a newer satellite company that has already expanded its network to include nearly the entire country. Starlink offers faster speeds than other satellite providers in many rural areas. However, at $80 to $120/mo., its starting price is on the higher side. Starlink plans do not have contracts or ETFs, and most plans don’t have data caps.
T-Mobile 5G – Most widely available no-contract plan
Pros
Largest 5G fixed wireless network.
No contracts or ETFs.
Cons
Areas further from a tower will get slower speeds.
Less rural coverage than satellite providers.
Overall score: 3.6 out of 5.
T-Mobile’s standard rate for home internet starts at $50/mo. with a price lock, and you can get a $15 discount if you bundle with T-Mobile Wireless. T-Mobile advertises download speeds of up to 415 Mbps, but your connection may be slower (around 50 Mbps) in a rural neighborhood. T-Mobile 5G is a no-contract internet provider with unlimited data, free equipment and a 15-day money-back guarantee.
Best prices only for customers who bundle services.
Overall score: 4.5 out of 5.
Verizon 5G is a fixed wireless service with two plan options. Verizon 5G Home offers download speeds of up to 300 Mbps for $50/mo., and Home Plus offers download speeds of up to 1 GB for $70/mo. Both plans can be bundled with Verizon Wireless for a discounted price. Along with its high speeds, Verizon has no data caps or contract requirements, making 5G Home a good fit for rural homes that plan on streaming and gaming often.
Free install for qualified customers (otherwise $99).
Cons
All plans include two-year contract with an ETF.
Throttles connection speeds after data limit.
Overall score: 2.5 out of 5.
Viasat uses satellite technology to deliver download speeds of up to 150 Mbps in rural areas. The service is generally available everywhere as long as you can install a satellite with a clear view of the southern sky. Rates generally start at $119.99/mo. but can range from $69.99 to $149.99/mo. depending on location.
Once you find the best rural internet options in your areas, you can narrow your search by budget, speed and data preferences. Here are some key considerations:
Budget: Rural internet tends to be more expensive due to fewer customers and costlier building infrastructure.
Internet speed: Download speeds in rural areas generally range between 12 and 200 Mbps. That’s enough for tasks like email, browsing and even streaming on one or two devices. However, few rural internet plans are ideal for real-time competitive gaming because of slower response times.
Data amount: A fixed wireless plan is best if you need unlimited internet for streaming and gaming. Among the satellite providers, Starlink is the only rural internet option with unlimited data.
Which technology type should you look for?
Rural internet customers can typically choose from the following options:
Cable: Rural areas on the edges of suburbs often have access to cable internet. Cable usually has unlimited or very high data caps, so it’s great for streaming, gaming and browsing on several devices.
Fixed wireless: Some rural areas have internet providers that use cell towers or line-of-sight antennas to connect to a nearby satellite. Fixed wireless usually has unlimited data and costs around $60/mo. Connection speeds can be reasonably fast with 5G networks.
Satellite: Satellite internet is the most frequent go-to for rural internet. Data caps are common, and satellite internet can be more costly because you cannot set up your own internet.
DSL: DSL runs on copper phone lines, another common technology type in rural communities. A copper connection is an older technology and may not be as well-maintained or updated, so connection speeds tend to be slow.
High-speed internet in rural areas
Compare these types of broadband for rural internet providers with high-speed internet. Cable and fixed wireless offer the fastest connections. Satellite internet can get up to 200 Mbps, but the cost can be prohibitive. DSL speeds max out at 100 Mbps and depend on how far you are from the primary terminal.
Connection type
Typical speed range
Cable
50–1,000 Mbps
Fixed wireless
30–1,000 Mbps
Satellite
12–250 Mbps
DSL
10–100 Mbps
Rural internet FAQs
Can you get free internet in rural areas?
Check with your local ISPs to find out if there are any programs or discounts available in your area. You can also find cheap internet from Verizon 5G starting at $35/mo. when you bundle with a qualifying mobile plan.
Who has the best internet for rural areas?
5G providers like T-Mobile and Verizon provide fast and unlimited internet to many rural areas. These plans don’t charge extra for equipment or installation and can support several Wi-Fi devices at once. However, they’re not as widely available as satellite connections.
Can you get cable in rural areas?
Yes. It is often possible to get cable internet in a rural area. Enter your address on the page to find which cable provider offers internet to your rural home.
This content is produced through an alliance between USA TODAY and Allconnect.com. Under the alliance, Allconnect publishes articles about broadband-related topics upholding strict editorial integrity standards in line with USA TODAY’s Principles of Ethical Conduct. The opinions, analyses, reviews and recommendations expressed are those of the Allconnect editorial staff alone. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information. Read more about our Allconnect Advertising Disclosure.
Luke Daugherty is a freelance writer, editor, and former operations manager. His work covers a wide range of topics, including streaming and internet tech, green energy, and personal finance. His work, bylined and ghostwritten, has appeared in The Balance, CNET, CIO Magazine, Entrepreneur, and more.
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.
