Our picks
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Best wired rural internet provider
$55 per month
Fixed wireless
Fiber or DSL
Our take – Formely known as Windstream, Kinetic is one of our top rural internet providers, bringing high-speed connections to underserved places. Targeting North Carolina and Texas, Kinetic has announced plans to expand its fiber network from nearly 2 million homes to 3.5 million by 2029.
Or call to learn more: (866) 671-3650
100 – 2,000 Mbps
$25 – $90 per month
50-100 Mbps
$50 – $80 per month
Satellite
Cable
Our take – As a cable provider, Mediacom can deliver much faster and more reliable speeds than DSL, satellite or fixed wireless service, but its service reach is more limited. Mediacom is available to just over 2% of US residents, with service areas across much of the Midwest and South, as well as parts of California and Delaware.
Or call to learn more: (866) 671-3650
100 – 1,000 Mbps
$25 – $80 per month
100 – 350 Mbps
$80 – $120 per month
Satellite
Fiber
Our take – Ziply Fiber offers multigigabit internet speeds of 2Gbps, 5Gbps, 10Gbps and now 50Gbps (available in select — and rural — areas) throughout the Northwest.
Or call to learn more: (866) 671-3650
100 – 50,000 Mbps
$20 – $900 per month
133-498 Mbps
$55-$75
Our take – Get up to $300 back on T-Mobile 5G Home Internet. Easy to set up. Easy to save.
Or call to learn more: (877) 519-7610
133-498 Mbps
$55-$75
Top rural ISP honorable mentions
These providers may also be available for internet service in rural areas, but lack the speed, value or customer satisfaction marks to have made our list of the best.
- AT&T Internet Air: Where available, AT&T Internet Air customers can get download speeds up to 300Mbps for no additional fees or data caps. Plus, if you bundle with an eligible AT&T wireless plan, you can save 20% on your monthly bill. Your speeds will vary depending on location and network congestion: CNET’s Joe Supan tried out the service himself and barely saw speeds faster than 10Mbps down.
- EarthLink: EarthLink employs existing networks from providers including AT&T, CenturyLink and Verizon to deliver service, which makes for high availability. However, speeds, connection quality and pricing can vary widely by location. Plans start at around $40 per month for up to 100Mbps.
- Frontier: Frontier Internet, a DSL service, reaches select rural areas in 25 states, but speeds are inconsistent and are likely to not reach broadband speeds in many areas. DSL service starts at $65 per month and includes unlimited data and equipment rental at no extra cost.
- Verizon LTE Installed: Another fixed wireless service, Verizon LTE Installed, uses Verizon’s 4G network and can deliver speeds around 25Mbps starting at $40 a month for Verizon mobile customers. Verizon’s 5G home internet service isn’t as widely available as its LTE service in rural areas yet, but it’s a decent option if you can get it.
- Viasat: Pricing is a bit higher than rival satellite provider Hughesnet, but Viasat may offer a higher data allowance and faster max speeds, depending on where you live. If satellite internet is your only option, be sure to compare Hughesnet and Viasat closely before deciding on which is best for your home.
Using the most recent FCC data, I determined which wired and wireless providers had the largest coverage areas, particularly in regions with low population densities. I then compared advertised speeds, pricing and service details of each to determine which providers may be the best option for rural households.
Rural ISPs tend to be slower for roughly the same monthly costs as ISPs in urban areas, which means they tend to have a higher cost per Mbps. If you can qualify for a low-income plan, you can shave some money off your internet bill, and you can also save by buying your own internet equipment instead of renting. Ultimately, the best plan for your household comes down to your budget and how much internet speed you actually need.
For more information about our review process, see our guide to how CNET reviews internet providers.
Rural internet FAQs
What are my options for internet in a rural area?
Satellite internet from Hughesnet, Starlink or Viasat is almost always going to be an option because of the wireless delivery, but satellite comes with a few downsides, not least of which is the high pricing. Other wireless internet options for rural areas include fixed wireless service from providers such as Rise Broadband and AT&T and 5G home internet. T-Mobile offers the greatest 5G coverage in rural areas with max speeds of 133 to 415Mbps starting at $50 a month.
DSL is another popular internet option in rural areas, but speeds can vary significantly by location and provider. For the fastest rural DSL speeds, look to ISPs CenturyLink and Kinetic. Cable internet is will likely be your best option for speed variety and connection reliability, but availability is limited in rural areas.
What internet connection type is best for rural areas?
Wired connection types, such as DSL (copper), cable and fiber-optic internet, typically offer faster speeds and better reliability than wireless, although 5G wireless home internet could prove to be a better option than DSL. Although fiber-optic internet is difficult to come by, especially in rural areas, cable internet is available to 82% of US households, according to the FCC, and is capable of download speeds of 250Mbps or higher in nearly all service areas.
In rural areas where wired connections are unavailable, fixed wireless or 5G home internet are the top choices. You’ll likely get faster speeds, more data (possibly unlimited) and lower latency with fixed wireless or 5G compared with satellite internet. As a last resort, satellite internet is available virtually everywhere. Prices are high for the speeds you get, and data restrictions can make it difficult to use your internet for streaming, but it’s an option for rural internet if no others are available.
Is rural internet fast enough for streaming?
Speeds of up to 10Mbps, which are available to nearly all US households, will support light streaming activity such as streaming in standard definition on a single device. Faster speeds, such as CenturyLink’s 100Mbps plan or Mediacom’s 100Mbps plan, will support streaming in higher resolution and on more devices.
The primary issue with streaming in rural areas isn’t speed but data. Streaming typically consumes more data than anything else we use the internet for, so you’ll want to look for a rural internet option with a high data cap or unlimited data if you typically do a lot of streaming. Try to avoid satellite internet and its strict data limits that, once exceeded, may result in restricted or reduced speeds that cannot support streaming.
Will internet service in rural areas get any better?
It’s doubtful that cable or fiber providers will significantly expand into rural areas unless a driving force like population growth or development occurs, but emerging 5G and satellite technologies could help close the digital divide in the coming years. While AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon are actively deploying 5G service across the US, Elon Musk and his satellite service Starlink are ramping up to completely disrupt the satellite internet market. Stay tuned for updates regarding these technologies and others that could impact your home internet service, rural or otherwise.
