Compare Internet Service Providers in Chicago, Illinois

Confused about the best internet providers in Chicago, IL? Well, whether you are looking for super-fast fiber optic internet or the best rates available, there is a wide variety of options for Chicagoans to take their pick!

Chicago—currently the 2^nd most connected city in Illinois—puts at your disposal more than 40 internet service providers with 13 offering residential services. Living up to its “connected reputation” the city enjoys access to a variety of internet service types as well—DSL, Cable, Fiber, Satellite and Fixed Wireless. Albeit, 99% residents get to choose from among more than one wired provider, ready access to cutting edge fiber optic internet is still limited to select neighborhoods—and only one provider i.e. AT&T. The most widespread wired internet options in the city are DSL and cable, and both are available in over 98% of the city.

Living in the third largest metropolis in the U.S., has its own perks—and one is that on average every household in Chicago gets access to around 4–5 ISPs, which is a pretty decent number when compared to other communities. But having more choice is quite like a paradox—while you’ve more to pick from, the number of available offers can easily overwhelm you—making it all the more difficult to reach a decision.

To ease the selection process, here is a comparative analysis of the top internet providers in Chicago—learn about offers, service features and perks, so you can choose the one that is a perfect fit for your needs.  

Talking about the Top Internet Providers in Chicago, IL

One incredible thing about internet providers in Chicago is there is one in every area—even where the wired network does not reach, you have the option of satellite internet from the #1 satellite internet provider in the U.S. i.e. HughesNet.

In parts of the city where wired networks come in all types, AT&T reigns the fiber optic broadband delivery, albeit with just over 25% of the city in its network fold. The AT&T IPBB network on the other hand  covers over 98% of Chicago. If we look at service types, AT&T is the only provider in Chicago delivering high-speed DSL and fiber broadband.

Xfinity from Comcast provides extensive coverage throughout Chicago—over 98%. But not without competition from some smaller yet worthy internet service providers like WOW! and RCN. Both provide coverage to rather select parts of the city—about 17% and 21% respectively—yet their offerings are worth a shot if available in your neighborhood. From urban to suburban Chicago, cable is as popular a choice as the innovative mix of IPBB technologies from AT&T Internet.

Besides these providers, you also have Viasat delivering its high-speed version of satellite internet. And, Everywhere Wireless which provides fixed wireless broadband to over 85% of the city.

All in all, Chicago is more than well covered—despite its rather limited fiber broadband accessibility relative to some other U.S. cities. To quite an extent this vacuum for real high-speed internet in Chicago is covered by cable broadband providers—which are able to deliver a gig service via hybrid Fiber-Coaxial networks. The good thing is even the vicinities which are not able to access more than one wired ISP get choice with satellite internet.;

Internet Providers in Chicago, IL: One Look at the Offerings

AT&T: Great Value for Your Money

If you want to enjoy a no-contract service which allows seamless working, gaming, and streaming at the most competitive prices, AT&T internet plans make for a top choice. The innovative IPBB network delivers up to 100 Mbps download speed, albeit speed tiers may vary depending on the network capacity in your area. All AT&T DSL internet plans come with data limits—you get up to 1TB of data which is more than enough for standard household internet usage.

On the other hand, AT&T Fiber offers you unlimited data and consistent speeds up to 940 Mbps. You can also easily self-install AT&T internet at your place and even use your own router. The only problem is the boss of ultra-fast speeds AT&T Fiber 1000 plan is delivered through the fiber optic network which covers only select areas in Chicago. So only lucky ones get to benefit from the best speed that AT&T offers.

AT&T plans are value packed not only because of the quality of service and the speed to cost ratio, but the number of perks you get with the service—online security, whole-home Wi-Fi, access to nationwide Wi-Fi hotspots & more.  

Here is a quick snapshot of AT&T Internet in Chicago:

Internet Service Type	Promo Price
AT&T Internet 768 Kbps-100 Mbps	$45/mo. for 12 mos.
AT&T Fiber 300	$35/mo. for 12 mos.
AT&T Fiber 500	$45/mo. for 12 mos.
AT&T Fiber 1 Gig	$60/mo. for 12 mos.

 

Browse AT&T Internet bundles with DIRECTV and AT&T TV for more value.

AT&T bundles come with quite a few service perks such as unlimited data with AT&T Internet plans that are otherwise limited to 1TB. And, when you bundle with DIRECTV, standard pro installation comes included in the price. Call at 1-855-925-2541 to check for offer availability in your ZIP.

Xfinity: Making High Speeds Widely Available

With widespread coverage and speeds as high as 1,200 Mbps, Xfinity from Comcast offers a wide variety of ultra-fast cable internet plans in Chicago at competitive prices.

Xfinity lets you choose from among 6 different speed tiers—ranging from 50 Mbps to 1,200 Mbps—albeit the availability of speed tiers may vary with your location. All plans come with a 1.2TB data limit—which does become a downside if you are on the lightening fast gigabit speed. But then, Xfinity is pretty courteous and does not charge an overage fee the first month you cross the limit in a 12-month period. The subscription gets you options like the XFi whole-home WiFi, and Flex 4K streaming TV box with voice remote.

One thing that you must bear in mind is Xfinity plans and packages come with an option to sign up an agreement or you can take the no contract option at a higher promo rate.

Here is a quick look at Xfinity Internet plans:

Internet Service Plan	Promo Price
Xfinity Performance Starter 50	$25/mo. for 12 mos.
Xfinity Performance 100	$40/mo. for 12 mos.
Xfinity Blast 200	$50/mo. for 12 mos.
Xfinity Extreme 400	$50/mo. for 12 mos.
Xfinity Extreme Pro 800	$60/mo. for 12 mos.
Xfinity Gigabit Speed	$70/mo. for 12 mos.

 

To get more out of your relationship with Xfinity, subscribe to Xfinity bundle deals. Xfinity cable TV service sets you up for a rich and contemporary in-home entertainment experience. Plus bundles have their own perks—so always worth exploring.

WOW! Cable: Award-Winning Customer Service

WOW!—a relatively smaller internet provider that conducts business in the Southeast and Midwest with services accessible to about 7 million people—maybe limited in its coverage, but is not lacking in its customer-centric approach. Its sense of respect, integrity and accountability coupled with the spirit of service shapes the four pillars of its customer service philosophy. The fact WOW! remains super responsive to the needs of the community is key to its award-winning customer service.

WOW! Internet offers are simple—download speeds range from 100-1000 Mbps, and are delivered with unlimited data at affordable prices—you can add on Whole-home Wi-Fi powered by Eero, and a service protection plan which covers all repairs and tech visits—while the WOW! security suite keeps your online activities safe and secure.

The best part is the no-risk 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee—so if you don’t like the service for any reason, you can get a refund provided you cancel within 30 days of service activation.  

Here, take a quick look at WOW! Internet speeds and prices:

Internet Service Plan	Promo Price
WOW! Internet 100	$29.99/mo. for 12 mos.
WOW! Internet 200	$34.99/mo. for 12 mos.
WOW! Internet 500	$44.99/mo. for 12 mos.
WOW! Internet 1,000	$64.99/mo. for 12 mos.

 

For more value, you can always bundle your WOW! Internet with WOW! Cable TV—the WOW! TV channel lineup is extensive and WOW! bundles are competitively priced. Reason why we’d recommend you call at 1-844-343-1373 to check availability of offers at your Chicago address.

RCN: Award-Winning Ultra-Fast Cable Speeds 

While RCN does not cover much of Chicago and is not too spread out nationwide either, its offerings nonetheless make it a great cable broadband choice—especially for budget-minded shoppers who don’t want to compromise on quality.

Having gained prominence for reliability and speed of its internet service, RCN delivers speeds up to 1,000 Mbps at reasonable rates—and without data caps. The service is perfect for everyday usage—especially convenient when you opt for the Whole-home Wi-Fi powered by Eero and get wall-to-wall coverage. You can also include internet security from RCN in your plan to make sure all your online activities and transactions remain secure.

The best part is RCN boasts one of the best speed to cost ratios in the city. And, does not lock you into a mandatory contract!   

Here, take a look at a snapshot of RCN internet services.

Internet Service Plan	Promo Price
RCN Internet 50	$29.99/mo. for 12 mos.
RCN Internet 250	$39.99/mo. for 12 mos.
RCN Internet 940	$44.99/mo. for 12 mos.

 

RCN also offers a network rich cable TV service—RCN Signature TV when bundled with RCN Internet makes a great home-suite. Browse RCN bundles. And contact a customer service representative at 1-844-343-1374 to determine availability in your area. .

HughesNet: Perfect for Rural Usage

For people in the Chicago area who are unable to access more than one wired option, a reliable satellite internet service provider like HughesNet adds to choice. Yes, you may not get blazing-fast speeds with unlimited data, and it maybe a little heavy on your pocket, but it gets where wired networks don’t. So, if you want to stay away from the hubbub of the city, and connected to the World Wide Web, HughesNet does just that.

HughesNet internet service in Chicago offers up to 25 Mbps fast satellite broadband, and its Gen-5 plans promise some amazing perks—like Bonus Zone data worth 50GB/mo. for usage during off-peak hours, smart data consumption and Usage Meter, soft data limits & no overage charges, as well as secure wall-to-wall coverage with Wi-Fi router built-in to the satellite modem.

The provider offers only one speed tier, however, subscribers get to choose from a range of data tiers—10GB, 20GB, 30GB, and 50GB.

Here is a sneak peek into HughesNet Internet plans and prices:

Internet Service Plan	Price/Month
HughesNet 10GB	$59.99/mo.
HughesNet 20GB	$69.99/mo.
HughesNet 30GB	$99.99/mo.
HughesNet 50GB	$149.99/mo.

 

You can also bundle your HughesNet Internet with HughesNet Voice which gives you unlimited calling in the U.S. and to Canada. Call at 1-855-349-9309 for more information. 

Summary of Internet Providers in Chicago, IL

 

ISP	Starting Price/Month	Max Download Speed	Contract	Service Type
AT&T	$35 – $60	940 Mbps	No Contract	DSL & Fiber
Xfinity	$25 – $70	25 Mbps – 1,200 Mbps	Optional	Cable
HughesNet	$59.99 – $149.99	25 Mbps	2 years	Satellite
WOW!	$29.99 – $64.99	1,000 Mbps	No Contract	Cable
RCN	$29.99 – $44.99	940 Mbps	No Contract	Cable

 

Bottom Line

There you are!

Now that you have an idea about the best internet providers in Chicago, you can take your pick by analyzing the options available in your area. Once you have shortlisted internet providers and packages that best match your specific needs, we recommend you ask people in your neighborhood, who are already using these services, for their opinion. This will give you a first-hand idea about real time customer experience and save you from any problems in the future.  

Several appealing perks and add-ons options come with offers from different internet service providers— get in touch with experts at 1-855-349-9328 to uncover the best options for your internet needs.

FAQs

Which ISP is the best for multiple devices in Chicago, IL?

Fiber broadband service from AT&T and cable internet from RCN, WOW!, or Xfinity can deliver sufficient bandwidth for a household with multiple devices.

Which is the best streaming internet service provider near me in Chicago, IL?

If you have RCN or WOW! cable service available in your area, we would suggest you pick any as none includes comes with data caps. Same goes for AT&T Fiber.

Which ISP is the best for gaming in Chicago?

In gaming, latency is the primary concern. Fiber-optic services like AT&T and cable broadband from RCN or WOW! can be ideal in this scenario. You get both ultra-fast speeds and unlimited data.