What is the best internet provider in Abilene?
If you’re living in Abilene, Texas, and looking for the best internet provider, consider CNET’s top pick for most households: Optimum. The Federal Communications Commission reports that Optimum serves over 86% of addresses in the area, meaning this provider’s low prices and reasonably fast speeds are available to most folks. CNET also recommends Vexus Fiber and Rise Broadband for residential internet if Optimum doesn’t serve your address, or if you’re searching for fiber or fixed wireless connectivity.
Vexus Fiber is Abilene’s most budget-friendly ISP, with a base plan of $30 per month and speeds up to 150Mbps. Optimum is another strong contender, starting at $40 per month for up to 300Mbps, making it an even better value. And if you’re looking for speed, the fastest internet available in this west Texas town is 5 gigabits, offered by AT&T Fiber for $255 monthly.
Best internet in Abilene in 2024
Abilene internet providers compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | $65-$255 | 300-5,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Nextlink | Fixed wireless | $65-$95 | 50-300Mbps | None | None | 2 years | N/A |
| Optimum Read full review |
Cable | $40-$80 | 300-940Mbps | None | None | None | 6.2 |
| 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 |
| Taylor Telecom | DSL/fiber | $45-$100 | 100-1,000Mbps | $12 router (optional) | None | 1-2 years (optional) | N/A |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $65-$75 ($50-$70 for eligible mobile customers) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Vexus Fiber | Fiber | $30-$90 | 150-2,000Mbps | $10 (optional) | None | None | N/A |
Show more (4 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Abilene?
| Provider | Starting monthly price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vexus Internet 150 | $30 | 150Mbps | $10 (optional) |
| Vexus Internet 500 | $40 | 500Mbps | $10 (optional) |
| Optimum 300Mbps Read full review |
$40 | 300Mbps | None |
| Rise Broadband 50Mbps Read full review |
$45 | 50Mbps | $5-$15 (optional) |
| Taylor Telecom 100 | $50 | 100Mbps | $12 (optional) |
| AT&T Home Internet Read full review |
$55 | 100Mbps | None |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
$65 ($50 with eligible mobile plan) | 245Mbps | None |
| AT&T Fiber Read full review |
$65 | 300Mbps | None |
| Nextlink 50 | $65 | 50Mbps | None |
Show more (5 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Abilene
The best internet deals and top promotions in Abilene depend on what discounts are available during that period. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Abilene internet providers, such as Optimum, Vexus Fiber, Nextlink and Rise Broadband, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, such as AT&T, 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 Abilene
| Provider | Starting monthly price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Fiber 5000 Read full review |
$255 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| AT&T Fiber 2000 Read full review |
$155 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Vexus Internet 2 Gig | $90 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| AT&T Fiber 1000 Read full review |
$90 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Taylor Telecom 1 Gig | $100 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Vexus Internet 1 Gig | $50 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Optimum 1 Gig Read full review |
$80 | 940Mbps | 35Mbps | None | Cable |
Show more (3 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 FCC. 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 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 Abilene
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike with 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 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?
Though the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, 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 also 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 Abilene FAQ
What is the best internet service provider in Abilene?
The best internet provider in Abilene is Optimum, since it offers wide availability, affordable prices and speeds up to 940Mbps.
Is fiber internet available in Abilene?
Over 83% of households can access fiber internet in Abilene. The largest fiber providers in the area are Vexus Fiber and AT&T Fiber, but select addresses may also be serviceable for fiber under Taylor Telecom.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Abilene?
Vexus Fiber offers the cheapest plan in Abilene with speeds up to 150Mbps. Other affordable options include Optimum, which provides fiber services at $40 for speeds up to 300Mbps.
Which internet provider in Abilene offers the fastest plan?
AT&T Fiber offers 5 gigabits of symmetrical speed for $255 monthly, which is the fastest service available in Abilene.
Source: CNET
