What is the best ISP in Melbourne?
Spectrum is the top internet service provider for most households in Melbourne recommended by CNET. Spectrum offers some of the cheapest prices for home internet service, providing wide coverage and unlimited data on all plans. If Spectrum is not available at your address, AT&T fiber and T-Mobile Home Internet are also solid options.
We've also found the cheapest plans and fastest speeds for Melbourne residents. Although Spectrum offers a $25 plan for select addresses, many will only be able to get Spectrum's Internet Ultra plan, which costs $40 per month. For speed, consider AT&T Fiber, which offers 2 gigabit and 5 gigabit symmetrical speeds for $145 and $245, respectively.
The best internet in Melbourne, Florida in 2024
Melbourne ISPs compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Agreement | CNET Review Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Home Internet Read the full review |
DSL | 55 dollars | 10-100Mbps | No one | 1.5 TB | No one | 7.4 |
| AT&T fiber Read the full review |
Hair | $55-$245 | 300-5,000 Mbps | No one | No one | No one | 7.4 |
| Spectrum Read the full review |
Cable | 30-70 dollars | 100-1,000 Mbps | Free modem; $10 router (optional) | No one | No one | 7.2 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($30 for eligible Go5G Plus and Magenta Max mobile customers) | 87-415 Mbps | No one | No one | No one | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 with eligible Verizon 5G cellular plans) | 50-1,000 Mbps | No one | No one | No one | 7.2 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Melbourne?
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find online deals and promotions in Melbourne
The best online deals and top promotions in Melbourne depend on what discounts are available at the time. Most deals are short-lived, but we often look for the latest offers.
ISPs in Melbourne, such as Spectrum, may offer lower introductory prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, including AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon, have the same standard prices year-round.
For a more extensive list of promotions, check out our guide to the best internet deals.
Photo by Mbell/Getty Images
Melbourne's fastest internet plans
| Provider | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Fiber 5000 Read the full review |
245 dollars | 5,000 Mbps | 5,000 Mbps | No one | Hair |
| AT&T Fiber 2000 Read the full review |
145 dollars | 2,000 Mbps | 2,000 Mbps | No one | Hair |
| AT&T Fiber 1000 Read the full review |
80 dollars | 1,000 Mbps | 1,000 Mbps | No one | Hair |
| Spectrum Internet gig Read the full review |
70 dollars | 1,000 Mbps | 35 Mbps | No one | Cable |
| Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read the full review |
$70 ($45 with eligible mobile plan) | 1,000 Mbps | 75 Mbps | No one | Fixed wireless |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is a good internet speed?
Most internet connection plans can handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you're looking for an Internet plan that can accommodate video conferencing, streaming video, or gaming, you'll have a better experience with a stronger connection. Here's an overview of recommended minimum download speeds for different apps, according to the FCC. Note that these are guidelines only and that internet speed, service and performance will vary by connection type, provider and address.
For more information, see our guide to how much internet speed do you really need?.
- 0 to 5 Mbps lets you handle the basics: web browsing, sending and receiving email, and streaming low-quality video.
- From 5 to 40 Mbps, you can enjoy video streaming and video conferencing with higher quality.
- 40 to 100 Mbps should give a user enough bandwidth to meet the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
- 100 to 500 Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities such as video conferencing, streaming, and online gaming.
- 500 to 1,000 Mbps allows three or more users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities.
How CNET picked the best ISPs in Melbourne
Internet providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest ones smart phone, laptop, router or kitchen toolit is impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What is our approach? We begin by researching pricing, availability, and speed information, drawing our own historical data from ISPs, provider locations, and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission to FCC.gov.
It doesn't stop there: We go to the FCC website to check our data and make sure we account for every ISP that provides service in a certain area. We also enter local addresses on supplier websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power to gauge how satisfied customers are with an ISP's service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent change; all information provided is correct as of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Are customers getting decent value for what they are paying for?
- Are customers satisfied with their service?
The answer to those questions is often layered and complex, but the providers who come closest to saying yes to all three are the ones we recommend. When choosing the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also take into account things including price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively simple. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and also look at real-world speed data from sources like Okla and The FCC reports.
To explore our process in more detail, visit our how we test ISPs page.
ISPs in Melbourne Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best internet service provider in Melbourne?
Wide availability and cheap plans make Spectrum Melbourne a top internet service provider. This cable ISP offers plans ranging from 30 Mbps to 1 gigabit, all including unlimited data.
Is fiber internet available in Melbourne?
Yes, but AT&T Fiber is the only fiber provider in Melbourne. If AT&T Fiber is not available at your address, your next choice should be a cable connection.
What is the cheapest ISP in Melbourne?
Although Spectrum offers the cheapest plan in Melbourne — $30 for up to 100Mbps — most households won't be able to use it. Spectrum's 500Mbps service is more readily available, costing $50 per month.
Which ISP in Melbourne offers the fastest plan?
AT&T Fiber easily takes the gold for Melbourne's fastest plan. This fiber provider offers 2 gigabit for $145 and 5 gigabit for $245.