What is the best mobile internet provider?
The best internet provider in Mobile, Alabama is AT&T Fiber. It’s reliable for most people with its 100% fiber optic connection that delivers fast, symmetrical upload and download speeds — the fastest on mobile at up to 5000 Mbps. AT&T also offers straightforward pricing and simple terms of service that include unlimited data, free equipment rentals, and no contract requirements.
Considering the speeds and benefits, AT&T Fiber is an excellent value, but it’s not the cheapest internet available in the area. If you’re looking for something more budget-friendly, Mediacom’s 250Mbps plan starts at $20 a month. This provider also offers the lowest entry fee on high-speed gigabit service, starting at $60 per month.
Technically, Verizon 5G Home Internet can offer cheaper mobile gigabit internet. Its Home Plus plan advertises speeds of up to 1,000 Mbps at the discounted rate of $45 per month (regularly $70) for eligible Verizon mobile customers. Actual speeds will vary, between 85 and 1000 Mbps, depending on your location.
T-Mobile Home Internet offers a similar discount to customers on its Magenta Max plan, but it doesn’t match the speed potential of Verizon 5G Home Internet. The service starts at $50 per month, or $30 with the bundle discount, for speeds ranging from 72 to 245 Mbps.
The best mobile internet
Alabama mobile internet providers compared
| PROVIDER | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | contracts | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Read the full review |
DSL, fiber | $55 DSL, $55-$245 fiber | 10-100 Mbps DSL, 300-5000 Mbps fiber | ANY | ANY | ANY | 7.4 |
| Mediacom Read the full review |
CABLES | 20-60 dollars | 250-1000Mbps | $15 modem rental | 350-3000 GB | ANY | 6.4 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50 ($35 with eligible cellular plans) | 87-318 Mbps | ANY | ANY | ANY | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers) | 50-1000Mbps | ANY | ANY | ANY | 7.2 |
| Xfinity Read the full review |
CABLES | $35-$95 | 150-1200Mbps | $15 (included in most plans) | 1.2 TB or unlimited | None necessary | 7 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is the cheapest mobile internet plan?
| Plan | Initial price | Maximum download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xfinity Connect Read the full review |
35 dollars | 150 Mbps | $15 (optional) |
| Mediacom Read the full review |
20 dollars | 250 Mbps | $15 modem rental |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible cellular plans) | 87-318 Mbps | ANY |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible cellular plans) | 50-300 Mbps | ANY |
| AT&T Fiber 300 Read the full review |
55 dollars | 300 Mbps | ANY |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find online deals and promotions on mobile
The best internet deals and top Mobile promotions depend on what discounts are available during that time. Most deals are short-lived, but we often look for the latest deals.
Mobile Internet providers like Xfinity may offer lower introductory prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, including AT&T and Mediacom, have the same standard prices year-round.
For a more extensive list of deals, check out our guide to the best internet deals.
Fastest mobile internet plans
| Plan | Initial price | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Fiber 5000 Read the full review |
245 dollars | 5000 Mbps | 5000 Mbps | ANY | Fiber |
| AT&T Fiber 2000 Read the full review |
145 dollars | 2000 Mbps | 2000 Mbps | ANY | Fiber |
| Xfinity Gigabit Extra Read the full review |
95 dollars | 1200 Mbps | 35 Mbps | 1.2 TB or unlimited | CABLES |
| AT&T Fiber 1000 Read the full review |
80 dollars | 1000 Mbps | 1000 Mbps | ANY | Fiber |
| Mediacom 1 Gig Read the full review |
60 dollars | 1000 Mbps | 64 Mbps | 3000 GB | CABLES |
| Xfinity Gigabit Read the full review |
65 dollars | 1000 Mbps | 20 Mbps | 1.2 TB | CABLES |
| Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read the full review |
$70 ($45 with eligible cellular plans) | 85-1000Mbps | 50-75 Mbps | ANY | Fixed wireless |
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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, video streaming, or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a stronger connection. Here’s a summary of the minimum recommended download speeds for various apps, according to the Federal Communications Commission. Note that these are guidelines only and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.
For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.
- 0 to 5 Mbps lets you handle the basics: web browsing, sending and receiving email, and streaming low-quality video.
- 5 to 40 Mbps gives you the highest quality video streaming and video conferencing.
- 40 to 100 Mbps should give a user enough bandwidth to meet the demands of modern telecommunications, 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 1000 Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET Picked the Best Mobile Internet Providers
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router, or kitchen appliance, it’s 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 ISP data, provider sites, and map information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
It doesn’t end there. We go to the FCC website to check our records and make sure we account for every ISP that provides service in an area. We also enter local addresses into provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look to 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 at the time of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three key questions:
- Does the provider provide access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Are customers getting good value for what they are paying for?
- Are customers satisfied with their service?
The answer to these questions is often layered and complex, the providers that come closest to “yes” to all three are the ones we recommend. When it comes to choosing the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also take into account things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively simple. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and also consider real speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
To explore our process in more depth, visit our page on how we test ISPs.
ISPs in Mobile FAQ
What is the best mobile internet service provider?
AT&T Fiber is the best Internet service provider in Mobile due to its wide fiber coverage, symmetrical upload and download speeds, favorable terms of service and high customer satisfaction. Xfinity is a close second, with the best wired Internet coverage in Mobile and the cheapest Internet plan of any major ISP in the area.
Is fiber internet available on mobile?
yes. Almost half of all mobile households are connected to fiber Internet service, according to the FCC. Availability is greatest in the Crichton, Princeton Woods and Navco communities, but fiber service can be found in random neighborhoods throughout Mobile. AT&T is the leading provider of fiber Internet in the Mobile area.
Who is the cheapest mobile internet provider?
Mediacom is the cheapest internet provider in the area, with prices starting at $20 for 250 Mbps speeds. However, prices increase after a year.
Which Mobile Internet Provider Offers the Fastest Plan?
AT&T Fiber offers the fastest Internet plan in Mobile, up to 5000 Mbps starting at $245 per month. The plan, along with other AT&T Fiber plans ranging from 300 to 2,000 Mbps, comes with fiber’s unique advantage of symmetrical upload and download speeds, a benefit not typically offered by other types of Internet connections.