Top internet providers in San Diego: Which one is right for you?
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Best cable provider
Prices from
$49.99
per month
Speeds up to
1,000
Mbps
for 12 mos with Auto Pay.
Fastest internet plans
Prices from
$55.00
per month
Speeds up to
5,000
Mbps
Price after $5/mo Autopay & Paperless bill discount (w/in 2 bills). Monthly State Cost Recovery Charge in TX, OH, NV applies. One time install charge may apply.
Best cable coverage
Prices from
$50.00
per month
Speeds up to
2,000
Mbps
Why trust our broadband experts
Allconnect’s team of broadband experts regularly reviews the top internet service providers in the U.S., scrutinizing each company under a rigorous scoring system to help our readers make informed internet purchases. We keep our data points accurate and up to date based on thorough research and partnership communications. Our content is not directed by partners. Visit our full methodology page and advertising disclosure to learn more.
San Diego’s beaches and sunny weather make it a great place for outdoor recreation and family fun. Additionally, the city’s ties to technology and start-up culture have established it as a hub for many businesses. Whether you’re searching for the best local beach spot or working remotely, reliable internet and high-speed Wi-Fi are a must-have in San Diego, CA.
AT&T, T-Mobile and Cox are the top internet providers in San Diego, and you can choose from fiber, cable, 5G and satellite internet connections. San Diego internet prices range from $35–$225/mo. with speeds from 100–5,000 Mbps.
Read on to learn more and compare San Diego home Wi-Fi providers.
Best internet service providers in San Diego
- AT&T: Fastest internet plans
- T-Mobile: Best 5G coverage
- Verizon 5G: Cheapest plans
- Spectrum: Best cable provider
- Cox: Best cable coverage
San Diego internet comparison
Compare San Diego internet providers by price, speed, connection type and availability. AT&T is the most widely available provider in San Diego, covering 81% of the city, with T-Mobile and Cox following behind. AT&T also offers the fastest internet in San Diego with its fiber service. Satellite providers like Hughesnet, Starlink and Viasat are also available to the entirety of San Diego.
Provider | Starting price range* | Download speed range | Connection type | Availability |
---|---|---|---|---|
AT&T | $55–$225/mo. | 300–5,000 Mbps | Fiber | 81% |
T-Mobile | $60/mo. | 72–245 Mbps | 5G | 63% |
Cox | $50–$150/mo. | 100–2,000 Mbps | Fiber/cable hybrid | 50% |
Spectrum | $49.99–$69.99/mo. | 400–1,000 Mbps | Cable | 45% |
Verizon 5G | $60–$80/mo. | 85–1,000 Mbps | 5G | 36% |
How to choose an internet provider in San Diego
Before you choose an internet provider, it’s helpful to find the providers available at your specific address. Not all providers are available at every household even if they’re available in your general area. Once you enter your address to browse the providers available at your location, consider other factors such as price and speed.
- Price: Evaluate the price of internet deals while keeping speed in mind. Some providers offer better value, but account for extra costs like equipment fees, installation fees and price increases. Spectrum offers one of the cheapest internet options in San Diego, providing cable internet at 400 Mbps for $49.99/mo. This is an excellent choice for households looking to save money on internet.
- Speed: Some internet activities, like gaming, streaming, working from home or downloading large files, require more bandwidth. If you often engage in these activities, choose a higher internet speed. AT&T offers the fastest internet in San Diego with fiber speeds up to 5 GB.
- Number of devices: When choosing an internet speed, consider the number of devices connected to your network, the number of people in your household and your daily internet activities. More people and devices require higher speeds to avoid network congestion and spotty Wi-Fi.
San Diego internet provider reviews
AT&T: Fastest speeds
AT&T provides the fastest internet speeds in San Diego. AT&T’s fiber-optic network offers symmetrical download and upload speeds ranging from 300–5,000 Mbps. With coverage to 81% of the city, AT&T is the best choice for high-speed internet if it’s available at your address.
AT&T fiber has no data caps, modem and router fees or price increases after one year. AT&T also has some great perks, often offering rewards cards and cancellation fee coverage to new fiber customers if you switch from your old provider before your contract ends.
Overall score: 4 out of 5.
Read our full AT&T review.
T-Mobile: Best 5G coverage
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet is available to 63% of San Diego. T-Mobile offers one 5G plan for $60/mo. with speeds up to 245 Mbps. With no price increases, equipment fees, data caps or other hidden costs, T-Mobile is a great choice if you’re looking for an affordable cable or fiber alternative. T-Mobile also comes with some bundling perks — if you bundle your internet with a mobile line, you could get some promotional discounts or free gifts.
Overall score: 4.1 out of 5.
Read our full T-Mobile review.
Verizon: Cheapest plans
Verizon 5G home internet is your best bet if you want to save on internet in San Diego. Verizon offers two 5G plans, 5G Home for $35/mo. with speeds up to 300 Mbps and 5G Home Plus for $45/mo. with speeds up to 1,000 Mbps. However, these prices are only available if you bundle with a mobile line. Otherwise, you’ll pay full price at $60–$80/mo.
Verizon 5G Home Internet has no price increases or hidden fees, so if you choose to bundle with a mobile line, you’ll pay either $35 or $45/mo. for the duration of your service.
Overall score: 4 out of 5.
Read our full Verizon 5G review.
Spectrum: Best cable internet service
Spectrum offers cable internet to 45% of San Diego. It has prices from $49.99–$69.99/mo. with speeds from 400–1,000 Mbps. Spectrum has one of the lowest router fees of top internet providers at just $5/mo., but your prices will increase after 12 months. Spectrum also charges an installation fee, even if you choose to self-install.
Overall score: 3.9 out of 5.
Read our full Spectrum review.
Cox: Best cable internet coverage
Cox is available to 50% of San Diego. With speeds from 100–2,000 Mbps, you’ll have the option to pick from a wide range of speeds to fit your needs. Cox is a fiber-cable hybrid internet service, meaning it is powered by a fiber connection but connected to your home through a coaxial cable. On the downside, Cox’s internet prices will increase after one year, and there are extra equipment and installation fees.
Overall score: 3.6 out of 5.
Read our full Cox review.
Methodology
We rated the largest internet providers in the U.S. for 2024. 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.
Cheapest internet service in San Diego
Compare the cheapest internet options in San Diego by provider plans. Verizon’s 5G and T-Mobile offer cheap options at $35–$45/mo. when you bundle with a mobile line. Although it is not the cheapest plan, AT&T’s Fiber 300 plan offers great value since it is a fiber optic connection with symmetrical download and upload speeds.
Plan | Price* | Download speed | Connection type |
---|---|---|---|
Verizon 5G Home | $35/mo. | 85–300 Mbps | 5G |
Verizon 5G Home Plus | $45/mo. | 300–1,000 Mbps | 5G |
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet | $40/mo. | 72–245 Mbps | 5G |
Spectrum Internet® 400 Mbps | $49.99/mo. | 400 Mbps | Cable |
AT&T Fiber Internet 300 | $55/mo. | 300 Mbps | Fiber |
Fastest internet service in San Diego
The fastest internet in San Diego is offered by AT&T Fiber. With speeds up to 5 GB, you can pick the best multi-gigabit tier for your internet needs. Cox and Spectrum also offer high-speed plans up to 1 GB.
Plan | Price* | Download speed | Connection type |
---|---|---|---|
AT&T Fiber Internet 1,000 | $80/mo. | 1 GB | Fiber |
AT&T Fiber Internet 2 Gig | $125/mo. | 2 GB | Fiber |
AT&T Fiber Internet 5 Gig | $225/mo. | 5 GB | Fiber |
Cox Go Beyond Fast | $150/mo. | 1 GB | Hybrid |
Spectrum Internet® Gig | $69.99/mo. | 1 GB | Cable |
San Diego internet technologies
San Diego has a range of ISP options providing fiber, cable, 5G and satellite internet.
- Fiber internet: Fiber internet is the fastest and most reliable internet connection type available. It uses light instead of electricity to deliver internet connections, so it is not affected by electrical interference. It also provides symmetrical upload and download speeds, which sets it apart from other internet technologies. AT&T Fiber is widely available in San Diego, covering 81% of the city.
- Cable: Cable internet providers in San Diego include Cox and Spectrum. Cable internet competes with fiber in terms of download speeds but falls short when it comes to upload speeds. Spectrum offers cable internet plans with speeds up to 1,000 Mbps, and Cox reaches up to 2,000 Mbps.
- 5G: 5G home internet is one of the newer technology types available. It uses 5G cellular towers to provide your internet connection and is widely available around the country. T-Mobile is available to 63% of San Diego and has 5G speeds between 72 and 245 Mbps. Verizon 5G offers faster speeds from 300–1,000 Mbps but serves only 36% of the city.
- Satellite: Satellite internet is available to 100% of San Diego through Hughesnet, Viasat and Starlink. Satellite speeds are much slower and less reliable than other technology types. Hughesnet offers speeds up to 100 Mbps, Viasat up to 100 Mbps and Starlink up to 500 Mbps.
Fiber internet in San Diego
AT&T Fiber is the only fiber internet provider available in San Diego, with service to 81% of the city. AT&T is one of the top fiber internet providers, making it your best option if it’s available at your address. You can also find fiber in other California cities including Bakersfield, Fresno, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento, San Francisco and San Jose.
San Diego internet FAQs
Is fiber internet available in San Diego?
Yes, fiber internet is available to San Diego through AT&T Fiber with 81% coverage.
How fast is the internet in San Diego?
The fastest internet in San Diego is again through AT&T Fiber. AT&T offers symmetrical upload and download speeds in 300, 500, 1,000, 2,000 or 5,000 Mbps speed tiers. Spectrum and Cox also have plans up to 1,000 and 2,000 Mbps, respectively.
Can you get free internet in San Diego?
No, free internet is currently not available in San Diego. However, depending on your address, you may be able to get internet from Verizon as low as $35/mo. if you bundle with a qualifying mobile plan.
How much is the internet per month in San Diego?
Internet prices in San Diego range from $35–$225/mo., depending on your provider and plan.
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.
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