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Internet providers in Madison, WI

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1. AT&T
90% available in Madison
Connection:
DSL & Fiber
Download speeds up to
5000Mbps

Click to learn how to get up to $300 in reward cards when ordering online – Ltd. avail./areas.

2. Spectrum
100% available in Madison
Connection:
Cable
Download speeds up to
1000Mbps
(wireless speeds may vary)

Speed based on wired connection and may vary by address. Wireless speeds may vary. Services subject to all applicable service terms and conditions, subject to change. Services not available in all areas. Restrictions apply.

3. EarthLink
92% available in Madison
Connection:
Fiber
Download speeds up to
5000Mbps

User Rating(69)

$200 Mastercard on any Fiber or DSL product – Ltd Time Offer

4. Frontier
22% available in Madison
Connection:
DSL & Fiber
Download speeds up to
5000Mbps
5. Brightspeed
99% available in Madison
Connection:
DSL & Fiber
Download speeds up to
940Mbps
6. HughesNet
99% available in Madison
Connection:
Geo Satellite & Satellite
Download speeds up to
50Mbps

User Rating(220)

Order now and receive a $100 Prepaid Card via rebate (terms apply). Offer expires 11/13/23

7. Viasat
99% available in Madison
Connection:
Satellite
Download speeds up to
100Mbps
8. T-Mobile Home Internet.
80% available in Madison
Connection:
5G Home
Download speeds up to
245Mbps
9. Easy Internet Now
95% available in Madison
Easy Internet Now
Connection:
Fiber
Download speeds up to
5000Mbps
Link not provided
10. SupraNet
48% available in Madison
Connection:
Fiber
Download speeds up to
1000Mbps
11. TDS Telecom
64% available in Madison
Connection:
Cable, DSL, Fiber & Other Copper Wireline
Download speeds up to
1000Mbps
12. LiteWire Internet Services, Inc.
65% available in Madison
Connection:
Fixed Wireless
Download speeds up to
35Mbps
13. ResTech Services
75% available in Madison
Connection:
Fiber
Download speeds up to
1000Mbps
1. Spectrum
100% available in Madison
Connection:
Cable
Download speeds up to
1000Mbps
(wireless speeds may vary)

Speed based on wired connection and may vary by address. Wireless speeds may vary. Services subject to all applicable service terms and conditions, subject to change. Services not available in all areas. Restrictions apply.

2. Earthlink Business
90% available in Madison
Connection:
Fiber
Download speeds up to
5000Mbps
3. Frontier
91% available in Madison
Connection:
DSL
Download speeds up to
Speeds may vary
4. HughesNet
99% available in Madison
Connection:
Geo Satellite & Satellite
Download speeds up to
50Mbps

User Rating(220)

Order now and receive a $100 Prepaid Card via rebate (terms apply). Offer expires 11/13/23

5. Viasat
99% available in Madison
Connection:
Satellite
Download speeds up to
100Mbps
6. Easy Internet Now
95% available in Madison
Easy Internet Now
Connection:
Fiber
Download speeds up to
5000Mbps
Link not provided
7. Ooma
50% available in Madison
Ooma
Connection:
Wireless LTE
Download speeds up to
100Mbps
Link not provided
8. SupraNet
48% available in Madison
Connection:
Fiber
Download speeds up to
1000Mbps
9. TDS Telecom
64% available in Madison
Connection:
Cable, DSL, Fiber & Other Copper Wireline
Download speeds up to
1000Mbps
10. LiteWire Internet Services, Inc.
65% available in Madison
Connection:
Fixed Wireless
Download speeds up to
65Mbps
11. ResTech Services
75% available in Madison
Connection:
Fiber
Download speeds up to
1000Mbps
1. Verizon Wireless
Available in Madison
Connection:
Mobile
Verizon Wireless
4GLTE

User Rating
2. AT&T Wireless
Available in Madison
Connection:
Mobile
AT&T Wireless
5G

User Rating
3. Mint
Available in Madison
Connection:
Mobile
Mint
4GLTE

User Rating
4. Visible
Available in Madison
Connection:
Mobile
Visible
4GLTE

User Rating

What’s a good internet speed?

Take our quiz to find out how much internet speed you need. Or use our internet speed test to test your current speeds.

0–5 Mbps

Works for:

  • Checking email
  • Streaming music on one device
  • Searching on Google

5–40 Mbps

Works for:

  • Streaming video on one device
  • Video calling with Skype or FaceTime
  • Online gaming for one player

40–100 Mbps

Works for:

  • Streaming HD video on a few devices
  • Multiplayer online gaming
  • Downloading large files

100–500 Mbps

Works for:

  • Streaming video in UHD on multiple screens
  • Downloading files quickly
  • Gaming online for multiple players

500–1,000+ Mbps

Works for:

  • Doing a lot of almost anything

What is the best internet provider in Madison?

Of the 14 internet providers in Madison, AT&T is the best internet provider in terms of speed. It boasts a wide range of fiber-optic plans, including one with maximum download speeds of 5 Gbps (5,000 Mbps). Spectrum comes in second because it gives you unlimited data and doesn’t require annual contracts. It offers gigabit internet in many parts of the city and surrounding suburbs with its Internet GIG package, which tops out at 940 Mbps.

Want to see if you can get AT&T in your home? Find out by searching your zip code below.

Other Wi-Fi service providers in Wisconsin

Madison has several locally based providers that will be a good pick if you value great customer service and supporting your community.

There are also satellite internet providers in Madison that can give you internet if you’re living in a rural area with no other internet options.

Local providers LiteWire and Netwurx market Wi-Fi specifically to businesses and people living in the countryside. A local ISP usually means better customer service since they have a bigger stake in serving the community.

That said, both of these providers tend to have higher billing rates and lower speeds compared to national ISPs, so check other options before going with these companies.

Viasat and HughesNet hold it down with satellite connections in rural areas. Satellite is basically the Wi-Fi of last resort, and it’s less reliable than fiber, cable, or DSL. It will likely be patchy on occasion in Wisconsin, where heavy snowfalls and other winter conditions will interfere with the signal beaming down from space. We recommend choosing this only if there are no other options in your area.

Summary of Madison internet providers

Provider Type Download speeds up to User rating Order online
AT&T DSL & Fiber 5000 Mbps 3.5/5 View Plans for AT&T
Spectrum Cable 1000 Mbps
(wireless speeds may vary)
3.5/5 View Plans for Spectrum
EarthLink Fiber 5000 Mbps 4.0/5 View Plans for EarthLink
Frontier DSL & Fiber 5000 Mbps 3.5/5 View Plans for Frontier
Brightspeed DSL & Fiber 940 Mbps 1.0/5 View Plans for Brightspeed
HughesNet Geo Satellite & Satellite 50 Mbps 3/5 View Plans for HughesNet
Viasat Satellite 100 Mbps 3/5 View Plans for Viasat
T-Mobile Home Internet. 5G Home 245 Mbps 3.5/5 View Plans for T-Mobile Home Internet.
Easy Internet Now Fiber 5000 Mbps 4.5/5
SupraNet Fiber 1000 Mbps N/A View Plans for SupraNet
TDS Telecom Cable, DSL, Fiber & Other Copper Wireline 1000 Mbps 2.0/5 View Plans for TDS Telecom
LiteWire Internet Services, Inc. Fixed Wireless 35 Mbps N/A View Plans for LiteWire Internet Services, Inc.
ResTech Services Fiber 1000 Mbps N/A View Plans for ResTech Services

Availability and speeds displayed are not guaranteed and are subject to change.

Technology Type

DSL:

DSL provides internet service via phone cables and is up to ten times faster than dial-up service.

Cable:

Cable provides internet speeds faster than DSL through the same cables used for cable TV.

Satellite:

Satellite internet is widely available, but offers slower speeds due to a far-traveling signal.

Fiber:

Fiber relies on glass strands to relay digital code and is much faster than both DSL and cable.

What is the fastest internet provider in Madison?

AT&T is the fastest internet provider in Madison. AT&T’s 5G Internet plan delivers internet at 5,000 Mbps (or 5 Gbps)—that’s the fastest speed you can get on a residential plan from a major internet provider. EarthLink has similar speeds (albeit in more limited areas) because it uses AT&T’s fiber network.

Frontier is also a fast internet provider in Madison, with a fiber plan that reaches up to 5,000 Mbps speeds. It’s unclear how widely available that plan is in the city, though, so we recommend sticking to gigabit plans from providers like Spectrum and CenturyLink. Both offer plans that reach speeds up to 940 Mbps (CenturyLink) or 1,000 Mbps (Spectrum).

If you’re looking for sheer speed, we definitely recommend AT&T. Most of its plans run over a fiber network, giving you a lot more reliability and incredibly fast upload speeds. But Spectrum’s cable internet is more widely available, and you can still get great service on a cable plan.

Fastest internet providers in Madison

ProviderMax speedsInternet typeView plans
AT&T 5,000 MbpsFiberView Plans
EarthLink 5,000 MbpsFiberView Plans
Frontier 5,000 MbpsFiberView Plans
Spectrum 1,000 Mbps (wireless speeds may vary)CableView Plans
CenturyLink 940 MbpsFiberView Plans
Quantum Fiber 940 MbpsFiberView Plans

Looking for an easy way to test and track your internet speed anywhere?

Download our free, easy-to-use speed test app for quick and reliable results.

 

 

 

 

What is the cheapest internet provider in Madison?

Spectrum, EarthLink, Frontier, and AT&T are the cheapest internet providers in Madison. All three have internet plans that cost around $50 per month. AT&T’s lower tier fiber plan is the best of the bunch because it gives you speeds of up to 300 Mbps over a fiber network for $55 per month, whereas the other plans can’t surpass 100 Mbps and likely are much slower because they work over cable and DSL.

Cheapest internet plans in Madison

PlanPriceSpeedsView plan
EarthLink 15 Mbps Internet$49.95/mo.*15 MbpsView Plans
Spectrum Internet®$49.99/mo.Up to 300 MbpsView Plans
Frontier Internet (DSL)$49.99/mo.Call for detailsView Plans
AT&T Fiber Internet 300$55.00/mo.300 MbpsView Plans
HSI badge deals

Internet Deals and Promotions in Madison, WI

ProviderAvailable DealView on Provider’s Site
AT&T Order a fiber internet plan to get a reward card worth $100 or $150. You get the $100 card with the 300 Mbps and 500 plans and the $150 card with the gigabit plan or faster. You can also get up to $300 gift card with the promo code HOLIDAY150.

Order a fiber plan of 300Mbps or higher online and get up to a $150 reward card.
Get the Deal
Spectrum Get a free Unlimited Mobile line for 12 months when you sign up for an internet plan with speeds of 300Mbps or faster.

Get a free mobile line with unlimited talk, text and data and free Advanced WiFi for enhanced network security when you sign up for Spectrum One Stream and get 300Mbps Spectrum Internet®. You can also get a free Xumo Stream Box when you add Spectrum TV®.
Get the Deal
Frontier Order a qualifying Frontier fiber internet plan to get a free installation and a free rental of the Amazon eero Pro 6 or 6E router. You also get a $200 Visa Reward Gift Card if you sign up for the Fiber 2 Gig plan.Get the Deal
EarthLink EarthLink's fiber plans include unlimited data without an extra fee.Get the Deal
CenturyLink If you refer a new customer to CenturyLink services and they sign up, you and the new customer will both get a reward of up to $100.Get the Deal
T-Mobile Home Internet Get a $50 Virtual Prepaid MasterCard, 65% off Nest Wifi routers, SiriusXM Streaming Platinum for 6 mos., and Pandora Premium for 4 mos. when you sign up for T-Mobile 5G Home Internet.

Also, you can get a free Blink Outdoor 4 and Mini Pan-Tilt Camera security package (a $179.98 value) when you switch to T-Mobile Home Internet.
Get the Deal
HughesNet Get $25 off a month for six months on select plans. Offer excludes 15 GB plan and a 24-month commitment is requiredGet the Deal
Viasat Get free installation when you sign up for a qualifying home internet plan.Get the Deal

What are the fiber internet providers in Madison?

AT&T, EarthLink, Frontier, CenturyLink, and Quantum Fiber are the fiber internet providers in Madison. AT&T is the most prominent of the bunch, with the best pricing, plans, and speeds (reaching up to 5,000 Mbps).

Most of these providers also offer DSL internet, which is more widely available but a lot slower. By comparison, fiber is extremely fast, reliable, and cheap—and we highly recommend signing up if you can get fiber in your area.

Fiber providers in Madison

Highest-rated internet providers in Madison

T-Mobile Home Internet gets the best rankings out of 15 internet providers in our annual customer satisfaction survey. The budding provider’s 5G service takes the top spot for overall satisfaction, customer service, speed, and price.

AT&T gets excellent ratings as well, sitting pretty in the top-two or top-three in categories like speed, price, and reliability. There’s also Spectrum, which gets mostly average or above-average ratings. 

Run a search with your zip code to see which providers are available in your corner of Madtown.

How much speed do you need?

Take a quick quiz to decide what speeds are best for your household

Wanna know more? Check out these internet resources.

AT&T vs. Spectrum: Which Internet Provider Is Best for You?

AT&T is perfect for speed demons who don’t want to pay too much. Spectrum offers a faster average speed over its coverage area, thanks to extensive cable infrastructure.

Read more about AT&T vs. Spectrum: Which Internet Provider Is Best for You?

Spectrum vs. Frontier

If it’s Spectrum vs. Frontier, go with Frontier. Frontier’s fiber-optic internet offers speeds fast enough for any home, and the 50/50 and 500/500 plans are a great value.

Read more about Spectrum vs. Frontier

Cable vs. Fiber: Which Internet Type Is Right for You?

Both fiber and cable internet are common types of broadband internet, but which connection is right for you?

Read more about Cable vs. Fiber: Which Internet Type Is Right for You?

Madison residential internet coverage

AT&T and Spectrum both operate the largest networks in Madison and the surrounding suburbs of Dane County. AT&T provides DSL and fiber connections across downtown and the Madison Isthmus, out to distant neighborhoods like Cardinal Glenn and McClellan Park, and further into northeast and southeast Dane County.

Spectrum’s cable network is even more widespread, covering the whole city as well as suburbs like Sun Prairie and Fitchburg. It also provides internet in smaller villages and towns in the outskirts of the county.

Frontier‘s DSL network covers parts of Madison, including areas along the Southwest Commuter Path and around the intersection of Verona Road and the West Beltline Highway. Frontier’s network also stretches out across Dane County going north, south, and east—from the city of Monona out to Deerfield, Oregon, and parts of DeForest.

CenturyLink doesn’t cover the city limits, nor parts of popular suburbs like McFarland or Middleton. But it does pop up in the villages of DeForest, Waunakee, Windsor, and other areas north of Lake Mendota.

Viasat and HughesNet hook up satellite internet to rural areas—though, by the looks of it, rural internet users will likely also find coverage by much faster (and cheaper) DSL or cable networks.

Type in your zip code below to see which internet providers are available in your neighborhood.

How to get free internet (Wi-Fi) in Madison

For folks who can’t afford high-end internet packages or need free Wi-Fi away from home, there’s free, high-speed internet at nine public libraries across the city. The connections are available wirelessly and from library computers.

The city also provides fiber-optic service at 14 community and cultural centers, including the Goodman Community Center on Madison’s east side and Boys & Girls Clubs branches in Bram’s Addition and Fitchburg. This is a great way to provide the fastest connections possible to the people of Madison, especially in underserved areas.

Internet Provider Availability

Click to Activate Interactive Map

Learn more about AT&T

Learn more about Spectrum

Learn more about EarthLink

Learn more about Frontier

Learn more about Brightspeed

Learn more about HughesNet

Learn more about Viasat

Learn more about T-Mobile Home Internet.

Learn more about Easy Internet Now

Learn more about SupraNet

Learn more about TDS Telecom

Learn more about LiteWire Internet Services, Inc.

Learn more about ResTech Services

Internet provider stores in Madison

Select a provider

Customer reviews of internet providers in Madison

Featured customer reviews

Spectrum

“The service was good—a little expensive but good. Once I hit the second year of service, my bill went up an extra $20 a month.”

–Heather R.

actual customer Verified User

AT&T

“AT&T has provided us with the worst customer service experience of my life. Nine months now of ongoing phone calls.”

–Matt T.

 

Frontier

“Great product at a good price. I have the High Speed Internet and run multiple devices wireless.”

–Mark B.

 

Madison internet FAQ

Who has the best home internet service in Madison, Wisconsin?

Earthlink has the fastest speeds and the best ratings in terms of customer satisfaction for home internet in Madison, Wisconsin. AT&T’s higher-tier packages, however, run over fiber-optic cables, a big improvement on DSL networks and even better than cable connections like Spectrum and Xfinity. If you’re looking for fast, reliable internet in Madison, go for AT&T and CenturyLink if you can get their fiber service. Otherwise, EarthLink might be a slightly better choice.

Who has the cheapest internet in Madison, Wisconsin?

Spectrum has the cheapest internet plan in Madison, Wisconsin—its most basic package delivers costs under $50 per month for 300Mbps of download speeds.

What internet providers are available in my area of Madison?

There are 14 internet providers available in the Madison, Wisconsin area. AT&T has DSL and fiber internet in the city and surrounding suburbs. Spectrum offers internet plans over a coaxial cable network.

Frontier provides DSL internet in much of the city and Dane County. CenturyLink does DSL and fiber internet in some areas north of Lake Mendota. 

Two providers, HughesNet and Viasat, offer satellite internet. Local internet providers LiteWire, Netwurx, and a few others offer internet for businesses and rural homes.

Customer reviews of internet providers in Madison

Spectrum

Overall:
Service:
Pricing:
Speed:

Dale B | 08-21-2023

My bill has gone up 3 times in the past year with no upgrade in service. I cancelled 1 week into a payment period and must pay the full period rather than prorating the final bill for service actual used. All the more reason to leave this greedy company,.

Was this review helpful? Yes 3 No 0

Spectrum

Overall:
Service:
Pricing:
Speed:

Tenzin K | 08-01-2023

Verified User

Customer service representatives don’t help they seek position to benefit them and their company. They told me to upgrade my internet speeds for a free phone line and told me to get the tv select choice and going back and checking my monthly bills they charge an insane $160 and with an Acp program bundle. Spectrum is all business and will not budge on pricing. The rest of the people who left a review I agree with and feel sorry for those.

Was this review helpful? Yes 3 No 0

Spectrum

Overall:
Service:
Pricing:
Speed:

M N | 09-03-2021

Verified User

Spectrum's internet speed was fine. Adequate, but nothing special. Spectrum consistently raised the price of my internet for no reason. The real reason for such a low review is their awful customer service. When I cancelled my account due to moving, they would not cancel it, and the rep took no notes of my call in their system. So when I called again, they said they cancelled it then, but didn't actually cancel it until I returned my equipment, which was into another billing cycle. Then they were entirely useless in talking to me about my dispute of the billing, which was entirely their fault. I can't recommend Spectrum to anyone.

Was this review helpful? Yes 4 No 0
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