Technology

Best Internet Providers in Akron, Ohio

What is the best internet provider in Akron, Ohio?

Akron has high-speed fiber internet all around. AT&T Fiber stands out as the best internet service provider in Akron, according to CNET. Between reasonable rates, fast speeds going up to 5000Mbps and free equipment, AT&T is your best bet in the city. Moreover, you can save $20 or more monthly by bundling the service with an eligible cellphone plan.

Spectrum is the cheapest internet provider in Akron by a long shot, with plans starting as low as $30 per month. Unfortunately, those rates skyrocket after one or two years. Spectrum doesn’t require contracts, so you can always switch before the price hike kicks in. 

It’s only available in the suburb of Fairlawn, but FairlawnGig is an excellent regional internet option if you can get it. It’s owned by the city, which means it can offer incredibly fast speeds as high as 5000Mbps at affordable rates. Verizon 5G Home Internet is a wireless internet option worth considering. Its wireless internet isn’t a great fit for bigger households that connect many devices simultaneously, but you can get excellent discounts by bundling with an eligible Verizon cellphone plan.

Best internet in Akron, Ohio

Akron internet providers compared

Provider Internet technology Monthly price range Speed range Monthly equipment costs Data cap Contract CNET review score
AT&T Fiber
Read full review
Fiber $55-$245 300-5,000Mbps None None None 7.4
AT&T Internet
Read full review
DSL $55 Up to 140Mbps None 1.5TB on some plans None 7.4
FairlawnGig Fiber $55-$99 1,000-5,000Mbps None None None N/A
Spectrum
Read full review
Cable $30-$70 100-1,000Mbps $10 (optional) None None 7.2
T-Mobile Home Internet
Read full review
Fixed wireless $55 ($50 with Auto Pay) 72-245Mbps None None None 7.4
Verizon 5G Home Internet
Read full review
Fixed wireless $50-$70 ($35-$45 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers) 100-300Mbps None None None 7.2

Show more (1 item)

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

What’s the cheapest internet plan in Akron?

Provider Starting price Max download speed Monthly equipment fee
Spectrum Internet Advantage
Read full review
$30 100Mbps $10 (optional)
Spectrum Internet Premier
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$50 500Mbps $10 (optional)
Verizon 5G Home Internet
Read full review
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) 100Mbps None

Show more (0 item)

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Akron skyline on a cloudy summer day

Sean Pavone/Getty Images

How to find internet deals and promotions in Akron

The best internet deals and top promotions in Akron depend on what discounts are available during that time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers. 

How many members of your household use the internet?

Akron internet providers, such as Verizon 5G Home Internet, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many providers, including Spectrum and AT&T Fiber, 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 Akron

Provider Starting price Max download speed Max upload speed Data cap Connection type
AT&T Internet 5000
Read full review
$245 5,000Mbps 5,000Mbps None Fiber
FairlawnGig Pro $99 5,000Mbps 5,000Mbps None Fiber
AT&T Internet 2000
Read full review
$145 2,000Mbps 2,000Mbps None Fiber
AT&T Internet 1000
Read full review
$80 1,000Mbps 1,000Mbps None Fiber
FairlawnGig Premium $55 1,000Mbps 1,000Mbps None Fiber
Spectrum Internet Gig
Read full review
$70 1,000Mbps 40Mbps None Cable
Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet
Read full review
$70 ($45 with eligible mobile plans) 300Mbps 75Mbps None Fixed wireless

Show more (2 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 videoconferencing, 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 videoconferencing.
  • 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 videoconferencing, streaming and 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 Akron

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 FCC.gov.

It doesn’t end there: We use 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:

  1. Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
  2. Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
  3. 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.

To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.

Akron internet provider FAQs

What is the best internet service provider in Akron?

AT&T Fiber is Akron’s best internet service provider, offering fast, symmetrical upload and download speeds at reasonable prices. It also has some favorable terms, including unlimited data, free equipment and discounts for AT&T cellphone customers. 

Is fiber internet available in Akron?

Yes, fiber internet is available to 32% of Akron residents, according to FCC data. AT&T Fiber and FairlawnGig both offer fiber internet service in the city.

What is the cheapest internet provider in Akron?

Spectrum is the cheapest internet provider in Akron, with prices starting at $30 per month. Prices increase significantly on all plans. 

Which internet provider in Akron offers the fastest plan?

AT&T Fiber and FairlawnGig both offer upload and download speeds up to 5,000Mbps. AT&T Fiber is more widely available throughout the city. 

Source: CNET

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