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What is the best internet provider in Allen?
For most Allen addresses, AT&T Fiber is the best internet service provider. As CNET’s top provider for 2024, AT&T Fiber offers symmetrical speeds, blazing-fast connectivity and prices starting at $55 per month. These go up to $245 a month for 5,000 megabits per second. If AT&T Fiber is not available at your address, we recommend checking out Spectrum or T-Mobile Home Internet.
Are you searching for the most affordable service or speediest bandwidth in Allen? We’ve also found those top picks to help make your home internet shopping easier. Astound Broadband is the cheapest ISP in the area, offering download speeds of up to 300 megabits per second for only $20 per month.
If speed is what you need, check out Frontier Fiber. The provider offers symmetrical speeds up to 7 gigabits with unlimited data and equipment included.
Allen internet providers compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astound Broadband Read full review |
Cable | $20-$55 | 300-1,500Mbps | None | None | None | 7 |
| AT&T Home Internet Read full review |
DSL hybrid | $55 | 10-100Mbps | None | 1.5TB | None | 7.4 |
| AT&T Fiber Read full review |
Fiber | $55-$245 | 300-5,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Frontier Fiber Read full review |
Fiber | $30-$300 | 200-7,000Mbps | None | None | None | 6.3 |
| Rise Broadband Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $45-$55 | 25-50Mbp | $10 modem; $5-$15 router (optional) | None | None, but required for some promotions | 6.2 |
| Spectrum Read full review |
Cable | $30-$70 | 100-1,000Mbps | Free modem; $10 router rental (optional) | None | None | 7.2 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($40-$50 for eligible mobile customers) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $60-$80 ($35-$45 with qualifying Verizon 5G mobile plans) | 50-1,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Allen?
Show more (9 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Allen
The best internet deals and top promotions in Allen depend on what discounts are available during that period. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Allen internet providers, such as Spectrum, Astound Broadband and Rise Broadband, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, such as AT&T, Frontier and Verizon, run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
Fastest internet plans in Allen
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Internet technology |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frontier Fiber 7 Gig Read full review |
$300 | 7,000Mbps | 7,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| AT&T Fiber 5000 Read full review |
$245 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Frontier Fiber 5 Gig Read full review |
$130 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| AT&T Fiber 2000 Read full review |
$145 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Frontier Fiber 2 Gig Read full review |
$100 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Astound Broadband 1500 Read full review |
$55 | 1,500Mbps | 50Mbps | None | Cable |
| Astound Broadband 1000 Read full review |
$45 | 1,000Mbps | 20Mbps | None | Cable |
| AT&T Fiber 1000 Read full review |
$80 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Frontier Fiber 1 Gig Read full review |
$65 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Spectrum Internet Gig Read full review |
$70 | 1,000Mbps | 35Mbps | None | Cable |
| Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read full review |
$80 ($45 for eligible mobile customers) | 1,000Mbps | 75Mbps | None | Fixed wireless |
Show more (7 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s 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, streaming video or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here’s an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the Federal Communications Commission. Note that these are only guidelines 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 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics: browsing the internet, sending and receiving email and streaming low-quality video.
- 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and video conferencing.
- 40 to 100Mbps should give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
- 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like video conferencing, streaming and online gaming.
- 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Allen
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information, drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
It doesn’t end there: We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
- Are customers happy with their service?
The answer to those questions is often layered and complex, but the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
Internet providers in Allen FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Allen?
Thanks to its symmetrical speeds and connectivity up to 5 gigabits, AT&T is our top pick for internet service in Allen. AT&T also offers simple service details, such as unlimited data, free equipment and no contracts.
Is fiber internet available in Allen?
According to FCC data, fiber connectivity is available to over 71% of Allen households. AT&T Fiber is the largest fiber provider in the area, but select addresses may also be serviceable under Frontier Fiber.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Allen?
Astound Broadband offers the cheapest plan in Allen, costing only $20 per month for speeds up to 300Mbps.
Which internet provider in Allen offers the fastest plan?
The fastest speed available in Allen is 7 gigabits, which is offered by both Frontier Fiber for $300 monthly.
