What is the best ISP in Tempe?
CNET recommends Cox as the top ISP in Tempethanks to its fast speeds, affordable starting prices and wide coverage. While Cox's upload speeds lag behind its downloads – unless you're on its fiber network – and its customer satisfaction scores could be better, it remains the best option for high-speed internet in the area.
For those looking for fiber internet, Quantum fibers is the best choice in Tempe. Although its availability is limited, Quantum Fiber delivers superior performance and offers a “Price for Life” guarantee on all its plans, making it an exceptional option.
Verizon 5G Home Internet is another solid alternative, offering competitive speeds and discounts for eligible Verizon cell phone customers. However, wireless internet connections like this are more susceptible to network outages compared to cable or fiber optic services.
Best Internet in Tempe, Arizona
Tempe ISPs compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Agreement | CNET Review Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CenturyLink Read the full review |
DSL | 55 dollars | Up to 30 Mbps | $15 (optional) | No one | No one | 6.7 |
| Cox Read the full review |
Cable | 30-150 dollars | 100-2,000 Mbps | No one | 1.25 TB | No one | 6.2 |
| Internet Phoenix | Fixed wireless | 75-140 dollars | 50-1,000 Mbps | $10 (optional) | No one | No one | N/A |
| Quantum fibers | Hair | 50-95 dollars | 500-2,000 Mbps | No one | No one | No one | 6.7 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$55 for eligible mobile customers) | 72-245 Mbps | No one | No one | No one | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 for eligible customers) | 50-250 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 Tempe?
| Provider | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Monthly subscription for equipment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cox ConnectAssist Read the full review |
30 dollars | 100 Mbps | No one |
| Quantum fibers | 50 dollars | 500 Mbps | No one |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with mobile plan) | 245 Mbps | No one |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible cell phone plans) | 300 Mbps | No one |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find online deals and promotions in Tempe
The best online deals and top Tempe promotions depend on what discounts are available at a particular time. Most deals are short-lived, but we often look for the latest offers.
Tempe ISPs, such as Verizon 5G Home Internet, may offer lower introductory rates or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many providers, including Cox, Quantum Fiber, and T-Mobile Home Internet, have the same standard rates year-round.
For a more extensive list of promotions, check out our guide to the best internet deals.
Fastest internet plans in Tempe
| Provider | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quantum fibers | 95 dollars | 2,000 Mbps | 1,000 Mbps | No one | Hair |
| Cox 2 gig Read the full review |
150 dollars | 2,000 Mbps | 100 Mbps (cable), 2,000 (fiber) | 1.25 TB | Cable |
| Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read the full review |
$70 ($45 with eligible cell phone plans) | 1,000 Mbps | 75 Mbps | No one | Fixed wireless |
| Quantum fibers | 75 dollars | 940 Mbps | 940 Mbps | No one | Hair |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is a good internet speed?
Most internet connection plans can now 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 Tempe
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 start by researching price, availability and speed information based on our historical data from ISPs, provider locations and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at 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?
While the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, 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 factors such as price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively simple. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and look at real-world speed data from sources like Okla and The FCC reports. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
To explore our process in more detail, visit our how we test ISPs page.
ISPs in Tempe Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best internet service provider in Tempe?
Cox is Tempe's best internet service provider, offering the fastest plans, cheapest starting prices, and widest coverage. That said, Cox has downsides like slow upload speeds and below-average customer satisfaction scores.
Is fiber optic internet available in Tempe?
Yes, fiber optic internet is available at 11% of addresses in Tempe, according to FCC data. Quantum Fiber and Pavlov Media offer fiber services in the city.
What is the cheapest ISP in Tempe?
Cox is the cheapest at $30, but Quantum Fiber, T-Mobile Home Internet and Verizon 5G Home Internet all offer starting prices of $50 a month in Tempe.
Which ISP in Tempe offers the fastest plan?
Cox and Tempe offer the fastest plan in Tempe, with download speeds of up to 2,000 Mbps.