Looking for the best internet providers Chicago has? Compare the top ISPs in Chicago—learn about plans, service features, and perks, so you can choose the one that is a perfect fit for your needs.
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40+
180.9 Mbps
99.2%
27%
IPBB
100 Mbps
for 12 months plus taxes. AutoPay & paperless bill req’d.
Fiber
940 Mbps
plus taxes. AutoPay & paperless bill req’d.
Cable
1200 Mbps
for 12 months with 1-Year Agreement. Paperless billing & automatic payments required.
Satellite
25 Mbps
with 24-month commitment
Cable
1,000 Mbps
with AutoPay & paperless billing. Equipment, taxes, and fees extra.
Cable
940 Mbps
12 Month pricing. Equipment priced separately.
40+
180.9 Mbps
99.2%
27%
27%
The best thing about Chicago is you’re likely to find at least one high-speed internet provider in every area. Whether you’re looking for an ultra-fast fiber optic service or the best price available, Chicago gives you options to pick from!
Fiber internet sends data as blips of light inside thin optical cables. If you get access, this is the best kind of connection delivering symmetrical downloads and uploads. AT&T is the only internet provider in Chicago with a fiber optic broadband infrastructure. The provider reigns fiber internet delivery with an over 25% of Chicago in its network fold.
EarthLink makes use of AT&T’s Fiber network to deliver home internet that is also available to Chicago residents, albeit at different prices and terms.
IPBB (internet protocol broadband) is a type of internet which utilizes a smart mix of DSL-based technologies to enhance download speeds up to 100 Mbps. AT&T is the only provider in the city with an infrastructure that allows delivery of high-speed internet of the said type. The AT&T IPBB network covers over 98% of the city.
Like with Fiber, EarthLink utilizes AT&T’s DSL-based network to deliver home internet to a significant cross section of the Chicago populace, albeit at different prices and terms.
A cable connection uses the same lines as set up decades ago to deliver TV signals to your home, so it reaches a large swath of Chicago. And unlike many cities, multiple ISPs deliver cable internet in Chicago instead of just one.
Xfinity from Comcast offers cable broadband services to over 98% of Chicagoans. But not without competition from some relatively smaller yet worthy names like WOW! and Astound Broadband powered by RCN. Both extend coverage to rather select parts of the city—about 17% and 21% respectively.
A satellite connection uses three satellite dishes to foster an internet connection. One dish is in the space, the second at the user’s location, and the third at the provider’s place.
HughesNet satellite internet covers 100% of Chicago. So, even the communities which are unable to access a high-speed wired service get choice with satellite internet. Yes, you may not get super-fast speeds without any data restrictions, and it maybe a little heavy on your pocket, but it keeps you connected to the World Wide Web even when you’re away from the hubbub of the city.
Besides satellite, you also have fixed wireless delivering high-speed internet to Chicago. Fixed Wireless uses transmitters to send and receive signals in the form of radio waves.
Everywhere Wireless, which offers service within the state of Illinois, covers 85% of Chicago and offers gigabit speed with unlimited data. The actual performance of the connection however may vary depending on your exact location.
Cable
1200 Mbps
for 12 months with 1-Year Agreement. Paperless billing & automatic payments required.
Fiber
940 Mbps
plus taxes. AutoPay & paperless bill req’d.
AT&T’s broadband service has extensive coverage in over 97% of the city, but only one in four Chicagoans have access to its fiber plans. If your neighborhood falls under the AT&T Fiber network coverage, you're in a perfect spot.
AT&T's fiber internet in Chicago provides a great connection at an incredible value—excellent for a range of household sizes with bandwidth-extensive usage. The AT&T Gig service is entertainment grade internet for avid streamers and die-hard gamers. Even the starting plan delivers connectivity which lets you work from home with confidence at all times of the day!
*Number of devices depends on screen size/ resolution. Speed/Time examples are estimates and based on wired connection to gateway. Other factors besides network latency may impact on game lag, individual results will vary.
Xfinity from Comcast strives to meet the diverse needs of Chicago residents with an impressive range of internet plans and packages. The provider not only gives you a fast and reliable connection for all your devices but great value.
Cable
100 - 1000 Mbps
with AutoPay & paperless billing. Equipment, taxes, and fees extra.
Cable
50-940 Mbps
12 Month pricing.
WOW! may not be as familiar as rival Xfinity, but it is one of the most affordable cable providers in Chicago, with relatively economical plans that easily surpass the broadband speed benchmark.
What Astound Broadband powered by RCN brings to Chicago are some of the most aggressively priced promo deals to be found for cable internet.
Choosing an internet provider that gives you enough data and speed to take care of your digital needs is not an easy task. Here are the answers you may be seeking:
AT&T Fiber, Xfinity, RCN, and WOW! can deliver sufficient bandwidth for a household with multiple devices. Just a heads up, Xfinity internet packages in Chicago, IL come with data caps, so running too many devices may make it difficult to track your total household data usage.
While you don’t need an enormous amount of speed to seamlessly stream video or audio, avid binge-watchers who love watching high-quality content may want to be extravagant so they can watch without buffering.
Fiber service from AT&T and cable broadband from Xfinity, RCN, and WOW! offer plans that can help you seamlessly stream on multiple devices at the same time. Even high-speed AT&T Internet 100 can sustain standard streaming activities in a small household.
In gaming, low latency has to be the top priority along with high upload and download speeds. AT&T Fiber and Xfinity cable broadband are the only realistic options for serious gamers who want to avoid lag. You can play on high-speed DSL, but not to your liking if you enjoy more than casual gaming. While Satellite’s high latency puts it out of contention.
With typical work from home activities that include document uploads and downloads, video conferencing, file sharing, and backup, a reliable high-speed connection can make your life easier. If you’re fortunate to be among the small number of Chicago residents who can get AT&T Fiber, that’s a safe bet. If not, cable from Xfinity, WOW!, or RCN can suffice, albeit at slower upload speeds.
AT&T Fiber offers the fastest internet in Chicago. If it is not available in your area, Xfinity offers the highest cable broadband download speeds up to 1,200 Mbps.
Yes. AT&T and EarthLink offer fiber internet in the city. However, the service is only available to around 25% of the Chicagoans, so you will need to check availability in your area. Call at 844-413-4846 to check offers at your address.
There are over 40 providers offering internet services in Chicago.
Xfinity's combo of fast speeds, large coverage area, and appealing promotional offers make it a great pick in Chicago.
Yes. T-Mobile home internet covers over 54% of Chicago, Illinois.
Chicago enjoys a greater availability of high-speed internet compared to most of Illinois. It is ranked the 4th most connected city in the state. But Fiber availability is restricted to under 30%. AT&T Fiber plans and Xfinity Cable plans are among the best options in Chicago.
Yes. Depending on where you live, you may be eligible to sign up for Verizon LTE Home Internet or 5G Home Internet.
AT&T is the only provider in Chicago with a fiber broadband infrastructure that covers 25%-30% of the city. EarthLink Internet, which uses AT&T’s fiber network to deliver home internet, is also available to a cross section of the Chicago population.
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