Best Internet Providers in Berkeley, California
What is the best internet provider in Berkeley?
CNET recommends Sonic Telecom as a top Internet provider in Berkeleyand offers symmetrical gigabit speeds (up to 1,000 Mbps) for just $50 per month – a rare deal for such high performance. Although the equipment isn’t included in the price and the price increases by $10 after the first year, Sonic remains the best choice overall.
For those looking for even faster speeds, AT&T Fiber is the top choice in Berkeley, with plans offering symmetrical speeds of up to 5,000 Mbps. Unlike Sonic, AT&T includes the equipment in the base price and offers five flexible plans starting at $55 per month.
If affordability is a priority for you, Xfinity offers the cheapest entry-level plan at $20 per month for 150 Mbps, although prices increase after the first year or two. For a more predictable bill, T Mobile And Verizon 5G home internet offer price lock guarantees on all of their plans.
Best Internet in Berkeley, California
Berkeley Internet Providers Compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Fiber Read the full review | fiber | $55-$245 | 300-5,000 Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| AT&T Internet Read the full review | DSL | $55 | Up to 140 Mbps | None | 1.5TB on some plans | None | 7.4 |
| Sonic Telecom | fiber | $50 | 1,000 Mbps | $5 (optional) | None | None | N/A |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review | Fixed WiFi | $50-70 ($35-55 with eligible wireless plans) | 72-245 Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G home internet Read the full review | Fixed WiFi | $50-70 ($35-45 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers) | 50-1,000 Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
| Xfinity Read the full review | Cable | $20-$75 | 75-1200 Mbps | $15 (included in most plans) | 1.2TB, unlimited on most plans | Optional | 7 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Berkeley?
| Provider | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xfinity 150 Mbps Read the full review | $20 | 150 Mbps | $15 (optional) |
| Xfinity 300 Mbps Read the full review | $35 | 300 Mbps | $15 (optional) |
| Xfinity 500 Mbps Read the full review | $55 | 500 Mbps | $15 (optional) |
| Sonic Telecom | $50 | 1,000 Mbps | $5 (optional) |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review | $55 ($35 with eligible wireless plans) | 245 Mbps | None |
| Verizon 5G home internet Read the full review | $50 ($35 with eligible wireless plans) | 300 Mbps | None |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to Find Internet Deals and Promotions in Berkeley
The best internet deals and top promotions in Berkeley depend on the discounts available during this period. Most offers are short-lived, but we regularly check for the latest offers.
Berkeley internet providers like Verizon may offer cheaper introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many providers, including Sonic Telecom, AT&T Fiber, and T-Mobile Home Internet, offer the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more detailed list of promotions, see our guide on the The best internet offers.
Fastest Internet Rates in Berkeley
| Provider | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Internet 5000 Read the full review | $245 | 5,000 Mbps | 5,000 Mbps | None | fiber |
| AT&T Internet 2000 Read the full review | $145 | 2,000 Mbps | 2,000 Mbps | None | fiber |
| Xfinity Gigabit Extra Read the full review | $75 | 1,200 Mbps | 35 Mbps | None | Cable |
| AT&T Fiber 1 GIG speed Read the full review | $90 (currently $55) | 1,000 Mbps | 1,000 Mbps | None | fiber |
| Sonic Telecom | $50 | 1,000 Mbps | 1,000 Mbps | None | fiber |
| Xfinity Gigabit Read the full review | $65 | 1,000 Mbps | 20 Mbps | None | Cable |
| Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read the full review | $70 ($45 with eligible wireless plans) | 1,000 Mbps | 75 Mbps | None | Fixed WiFi |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is 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 allows for video conferencing, video streaming, or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a more stable connection. Here you will find an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications. according to the Federal Communications Commission. Please note that these are guidelines only and that internet speeds, service and performance vary depending on connection type, provider and address.
For more information, see our guide at How much internet speed you really need.
- With 0 to 5 Mbps, you can handle the basics: surf the web, send and receive emails, and stream low-quality videos.
- With 5 to 40 Mbit/s you get higher quality video streaming and video conferencing.
- 40 to 100 Mbps should provide a user with enough bandwidth to meet the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming, and online gaming.
- With 100 to 500 Mbps, one to two users can simultaneously participate in high-bandwidth activities such as video conferencing, streaming and online gaming.
- With 500 to 1,000 Mbps, three or more users can participate in high-bandwidth activities simultaneously.
How CNET chose the best Internet providers in Berkeley
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest one Smartphone, laptop, routers or kitchen toolIt is impractical to personally test every ISP in a particular city. What is our approach? We begin by researching pricing, availability and speed information, relying on our own historical ISP data, provider locations and Federal Communications Commission map information FCC.gov.
That’s not the end of it. We visit the FCC’s website to review our data and ensure we include every ISP that offers service in an area. We also enter local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power to evaluate how satisfied customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; All information provided is correct at the time of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Are customers getting fair value for what they pay?
- Are customers satisfied with their service?
The answer to these questions is often multi-faceted and complex, but the providers that are most likely to answer “yes” to all three questions are the ones we recommend. When choosing the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, but also consider things like price increases, device fees, and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively easy. 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 detail, visit our how we test ISPs Page.
Frequently asked questions about internet providers in Berkeley
What is the best internet provider in Berkeley?
Sonic Telecom is the best Internet service provider in Berkeley. Available to 4 out of 5 households in the city, it offers fast upload and download speeds at a lower price than most competitors.
Is fiber optic internet available in Berkeley?
Yes, fiber optic internet is available to 81% of Berkeley homes. according to FCC information. Sonic Telecom and AT&T both offer service in the city.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Berkeley?
Xfinity is the cheapest internet provider in Berkeley, with plans starting at $20 per month for speeds of 150 Mbps.
Which internet provider in Berkeley offers the fastest plan?
AT&T Fiber offers the fastest internet plan in Berkeley with upload and download speeds of up to 5,000 Mbps.
