3 days ago
North Carolina internet providers: Compare high-speed and affordable options
With its mild climate, access to both mountains and beaches and affordable living, North Carolina is a popular destination. As more people move to the Tar Heel State, the demand for fast and reliable home internet is on the rise.
Residents in North Carolina have a range of choices when it comes to internet providers, connection types and price points for home Wi-Fi plans.
Explore and compare internet providers in North Carolina, including fiber, cable, wireless and satellite options. Learn about coverage, cheap plans, fast speeds and what's available in your area. Our guide will walk you through the types of internet available, major providers, affordable choices and how to find service that fits your needs.
Major internet providers in North Carolina
Residents can choose from several internet service providers, each offering different technologies, speeds and availability. Here is an overview of the main providers:
AT&T Fiber offers home internet plans in North Carolina. Fiber internet uses symmetrical upload and download speeds, which means you'll be able to quickly upload large attachments, files and videos.
Here's a quick look at AT&T Fiber plans:
Best for: AT&T 300 to 500 plans are best for households with under 20 connected wireless devices. If you live in an ultra-connected home with 20+ connected devices, consider AT&T's 1 Gig, 2 Gig or 5 Gig plans.
Read our full AT&T Fiber home internet guide
T-Mobile 5G plans use fixed wireless technology, with download speeds between 318 Mbps and 415 Mbps. Plans start at $40 and go up to $70 per month. Plans can cost less if bundled with a T-Mobile cellular plan.
Here's a quick look at T-Mobile 5G home internet plans:
Best for: T-Mobile internet plans are best for light-to-medium internet use and under 20 connected devices. Because the 5G plans are connected through cellular towers, network congestion may impact speeds.
Read our full T-Mobile 5G Home Internet guide
Verizon 5G delivers fixed wireless internet with download speeds from 300 Mbps to 1,000 Mbps. Pricing is $50 to $70 monthly. You can get lower prices by bundling with a mobile plan.
Here's a quick look at Verizon 5G home internet plans:
Best for: Verizon 5G Home and Home Plus plans are best for under 20 connected wireless devices. Verizon 5G Home Ultimate is great for households that have over 20 connected devices and high internet use. Like all fixed wireless plans, network congestion can slow internet speeds and may cause buffering or lag.
Read our full Verizon 5G Home guide
Spectrum offers cable internet with download speeds from 100 Mbps to 1,000 Mbps. Prices range from $30 to $70 per month. Spectrum is widely available across North Carolina.
Here's a quick look at Spectrum Internet plans:
Best for: Spectrum Internet Premier plan is best for under 20 connected wireless devices and its Gig plan is best for 20+ connected devices.
Read our full Spectrum Internet guide
Brightspeed sells fiber and DSL internet with speeds from 20 Mbps to 2,000 Mbps. Monthly rates start at $29 for 6 months, but prices go up once that promotional period ends.
Here's a quick look at Brightspeed's fiber home internet plans:
Best for: The Brightspeed 300 plan is best for households with under 10 connected devices, and its 500 Mbps plan is best for under 20. The 1 Gig and 2 Gig plans are best for households that have 20+ connected devices and need high-speed internet and increased bandwidth.
Google Fiber delivers fiber internet with speeds up to 8,000 Mbps. Plans range from $70 to $150 per month. Currently available only in select cities, including Charlotte and Raleigh.
Here is a quick look at Google Fiber internet plans:
Best for: Households with ultra-high internet use. This is North Carolina's fastest internet provider. If you you live in an ultra-connected smart home, consider the Edge 8 Gig plan.
Earthlink offers fiber, fixed wireless and satellite internet plans. Earthlink's fiber internet plan speeds range from 100 Mbps to 5,000 Mbps. Prices are $49.95 to $189.95 per month. Coverage varies by city.
Best for: Because Earthlink offers such a diverse range of connection types, your location and internet speed needs will largely determine which plan is right for you. If you live in a rural or hard-to-reach area, check out the "Rural internet" section of Earthlink's website. If you need super-fast internet speed and live in home with over 20 connected devices, see if Earthlink's 1 Gig or multi-gig plans are available where you are.
Provides satellite internet with speeds between 50 Mbps and 250 Mbps. Monthly rates are $80 to $120, but equipment fees can start at $349, which is more expensive than other satellite internet providers in North Carolina. Starlink is available statewide.
Here is a quick look at Starlink's two residential internet plans:
Best for: Starlink Residential Lite plans are only available in select locations and are best for light internet use. The Starlink Residential plan is best for households with medium-to-light internet use. Starlink connection can be impacted by weather and network congestion.
Read our full Starlink guide
Hughesnet sells satellite internet with speeds between 50 Mbps and 100 Mbps. Plans cost $49.99 to $94.99 per month. Available throughout North Carolina.
Here's a quick look at Hughesnet home internet plans:
Best for: Medium-to-light internet use. Satellite connections can be impacted by both weather and network congestion. The Hughesnet Fusion plan is a combination of wireless technology and satellite. Choose this plan if you want less risk of lag or buffering.
Read our full Hughesnet home internet guide
Viasat offers satellite internet with speeds from 25 Mbps to 150 Mbps. Below are two of Viasat's high-speed data plan offerings:
Best for: People who live in rural or hard-to-reach areas; light internet users.
What types of internet are available in North Carolina?
The main types of internet technology in the state include:
Which internet providers offer the cheapest plan in North Carolina?
Some providers offer lower-priced internet plans for residents on a budget:
What are the fastest internet options in North Carolina?
How can rural residents get home internet in North Carolina?
For residents outside cities and suburbs, satellite providers are often the only option, but you may be able to get 5G as well.
Starlink, Hughesnet and Viasat all provide satellite internet, which is available statewide. Starlink offers the fastest satellite speeds, up to 250 Mbps. Keep in mind that you may have to pay equipment and installation fees for satellite dishes and other necessary equipment.
5G home internet uses a network of cell towers instead of hard lines like cable. This makes it more widely available and easier to access in hard-to-reach places like rural areas. Verizon 5G and T-Mobile 5G both offer a range of fixed wireless plans that are available throughout the state of North Carolina.
Are there any special programs for affordable internet in North Carolina?
Yes, many of the top internet providers in North Carolina offer affordable home internet plans to qualifying customers. To qualify for these plans, you must meet certain requirements, which may be income-related or based on enrollment in government assistance programs, like SSI or WIC.
Below are a couple of programs offered by internet providers in North Carolina:
Is fiber internet available in North Carolina?
Fiber internet is available in North Carolina, but availability varies. It's typically not available in more rural areas. Major fiber providers include AT&T, Google Fiber, EarthLink and Brightspeed. Coverage is more common in cities like Charlotte and Raleigh, but expanding in other locations.
What is the fastest internet speed in North Carolina?
The fastest internet speed offered in North Carolina is 8,000 Mbps through Google Fiber. This service is currently available in Charlotte and Raleigh. Other providers, such as AT&T and EarthLink, offer speeds up to 5,000 Mbps.
How do I know if a provider is serviceable for me in North Carolina?
Residents can check if a provider offers service at their address by:
Coverage can vary by city, neighborhood and even individual streets.
How do I choose the right internet plan in North Carolina?
Here are some steps to take to find the right internet plan for you in North Carolina:
Contributing: Luke Daugherty, Hannah Whatley, Allconnect
This article was edited with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and reviewed by a journalist before publication. Learn more about Gannett's AI guidelines and policy here.
