Internet Providers in Chicago, IL

Over 40,723 people in Chicago found the best Internet Provider in the last 30 days.

#1

EarthLink Fiber

91.11% availability
EarthLink Fiber logo

Connection Types:

Fiber
Speed up to:

5 Gbps

User Review:

(2728)

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Authentic fiber connection, from the network to your door.

#2

Earthlink 5G Home Internet

86.1% availability
Earthlink 5G Home Internet logo

Connection Types:

Fixed Wireless / Mobile / 5G Home Internet
Speed up to:

100 Mbps

User Review:

(2977)

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No credit checks - No contracts

#3

Xfinity

87.38% availability
Xfinity logo

Connection Types:

Cable / Television / Phone
Speed up to:

2 Gbps

User Review:

(2645)

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Comcast customers get access to millions of WiFi hotspots nationwide!

#4

AT&T

91.11% availability

Connection Types:

Fiber / Television / 5G Home Internet
Speed up to:

1 Gbps

User Review:

(2629)

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AT&T Internet offers lightning-fast, high-speed internet with speeds up to 100 Mbps at a great price.

#5

Viasat

65.11% availability

Connection Types:

Satellite / Phone
Speed up to:

150 Mbps

User Review:

(2975)

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#6

Astound Broadband

22.35% availability

Connection Types:

Fiber / Cable / Television / Phone
Speed up to:

155 Mbps

User Review:

(2629)

Award-winning, high-speed internet service with speeds up to 940 Mbps.

#7

WOW!

16.5% availability

Connection Types:

Fiber / Cable / DSL / Television
Speed up to:

50 Mbps

User Review:

(2721)

WOW! is a leading broadband provider, serving customers in 20 markets across Michigan, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida

#8

HughesNet

64.73% availability

Connection Types:

Satellite / Phone
Speed up to:

100 Mbps

User Review:

(2869)

*24-month commitment and early service termination fees apply. Monthly Fee reflects the applied $5 savings for ACH enrollment. Offer may vary by geographic area.

Unlimited Data – With no hard data limits, if you use the data in your plan, speeds will reduce.

#9

Starlink

97% availability

Connection Types:

Satellite
Speed up to:

400 Mbps

User Review:

(2978)

View Plans

Fast Satellite Internet available almost anywhere on Earth.

Television Only Providers in Chicago, IL

#1DIRECTV

  • Stream over your internet connection; no dish required
  • 2-year price guarantee — no annual contract
  • Preferred video provider
  • New subscriptions to Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN UNLIMITED included
  • CHOICE package: 125+ channels, 75k+ Video on demand, locals & RSNs included
  • Self-setup in minutes; no technician needed
Pricing starting at:
$59.99

#2Dish Network

  • DISH is ranked #1 in Customer Satisfaction by J.D. Power for the third year in a row.
  • 2-Year TV Price Guarantee.
  • Free Google Voice Remote and Smart DVR Included.
  • Record up to 16 shows at once.
  • 80,000 On Demand Titles.
  • FREE Standard Professional Installation from a trusted, local expert.
Pricing starting at:
$64.99

Best Internet Providers in Chicago

Sitting on Lake Michigan's shore, Chicago's lakefront and orthogonal street grid have long guided where utilities fit into the city. The elevated 'L' lines and Interstates 90/94 serve as obvious arteries for commercial corridors. Fiber service is widely available in the Loop, River North and the Near West Side, while the Far South Side and some outlying neighborhoods remain concentrated on cable or DSL. That history of downtown investment and dense apartment blocks means people near the center get higher upload capacity and more gigabit options, whereas homeowners farther south often see faster-download cable plans but smaller uploads and occasional evening congestion.

EarthLink Fiber is the best internet provider in most parts of Chicago, if it is available at your address. Fiber internet is one of the fastest and most reliable types of internet and is ideal for remote work, streaming, gaming, and busy households with lots of connected devices. In many areas of Chicago, you will see speed tiers from 3 Mbps to 5 Gbps, with pricing generally in the $29.99-$99/mo range.

Xfinity is a solid choice in Chicago, if fiber is not available where you live. Cable internet is widely available in many parts of Chicago and can support most households with speeds up to 2 Gbps and plans starting at $29.99/mo.

Earthlink 5G Home Internet offers 5G home internet plans starting at $39.95/mo, and delivers speeds from 6 Mbps to 200 Mbps, depending on your address and signal strength. 5G internet can be a great alternative in many parts of Chicago.

What is the fastest internet provider in Chicago?

EarthLink Fiber is the fastest internet provider in Chicago, IL, with download speeds up to 5 Gbps and upload speeds up to 1 Gbps — available to 91.11% of the city.
ProviderConnectionsMax DownloadMax UploadAvailability
EarthLink FiberFiber5 Gbps1 Gbps91.11%
XfinityCable / Television / Phone2 Gbps1 Gbps87.38%
AT&TFiber / Television / 5G Home Internet1 Gbps1 Gbps91.11%
StarlinkSatellite400 Mbps44 Mbps97.00%
Astound BroadbandFiber / Cable / Television / Phone155 Mbps15 Mbps22.35%
ViasatSatellite / Phone150 Mbps3 Mbps65.11%
Earthlink 5G Home InternetFixed Wireless / Mobile / 5G Home Internet100 Mbps55 Mbps86.10%
HughesNetSatellite / Phone100 Mbps5 Mbps64.73%
WOW!Fiber / Cable / DSL / Television50 Mbps5 Mbps16.50%

What is the cheapest internet provider in Chicago?

Astound Broadband offers the cheapest internet in Chicago starting at $29.99/month with speeds up to 155 Mbps. EarthLink Fiber offers the next lowest price at $39.95/month.
ProviderStarting PriceSpeedContractData Cap
EarthLink Fiber$39.95Up to 5 GbpsYesUnlimited
Xfinity$50.00+Up to 2 GbpsNoUnlimited
AT&T$55.00Up to 1 GbpsNo1 TB
Starlink$55.00Up to 400 MbpsNoUnlimited
Astound Broadband$29.99Up to 155 MbpsNoUnlimited
Viasat$49.99Up to 150 MbpsNoUnlimited
Earthlink 5G Home Internet$39.95Up to 100 MbpsNoUnlimited
HughesNet$74.99*Up to 100 MbpsYes100-200 GB
WOW!$40.00Up to 50 MbpsNoUnlimited

What type of internet connection is best in Chicago?

Chicago has 5 main types of internet connections. Your best option depends on where you live and what you need.

Fiber

1.49%

Fastest, most reliable. Symmetrical speeds. EarthLink Fiber is the best available for gaming and WFH.

Cable

69.03%

Most widely available wired option. Xfinity covers 87.38%, Astound Broadband covers 22.35%. Up to 2 Gbps download. Good for most households.

DSL

86.59%

WOW!, max 50 Mbps. Being phased out for fiber. Only consider if no other options exist.

5G Wireless

5.57%

No contracts or data caps. Earthlink 5G Home Internet leads at 86.10%. Typical 15 Mbps - 450 Mbps. Great for renters and budget-conscious users.

Satellite

100.00%

Viasat (150 Mbps), HughesNet (100 Mbps), Starlink (400 Mbps). Higher latency. Last resort for most Chicago residents.

Chicago, IL - Internet Connection and Coverage Map

Chicago, IL has a total of 25 internet providers including  13 Fiber providers, 6 Cable providers, 7 DSL providers, 13 Fixed Wireless providers and 3 Satellite providers.

Compare Internet Providers in Chicago, IL by Coverage Area

All 25 internet providers serving Chicago by coverage area. This is the most comprehensive provider comparison available for the city — no competitor lists more than 13 providers with coverage data.

ProviderMax DownloadMax UploadInternet ConnectionCoverage
1.Starlink400 Mbps44 MbpsSatellite97.00%
2.EarthLink Fiber5 Gbps1 GbpsFiber91.11%
3.AT&T1 Gbps1 GbpsFiber / Television / 5G Home Internet91.11%
4.Xfinity2 Gbps1 GbpsCable / Television / Phone87.38%
5.Cyberonic11 Mbps11 MbpsFiber / Cable / DSL / Fixed Wireless86.11%
6.Earthlink 5G Home Internet100 Mbps55 MbpsFixed Wireless / Mobile / 5G Home Internet86.10%
7.Viasat150 Mbps3 MbpsSatellite / Phone65.11%
8.HughesNet100 Mbps5 MbpsSatellite / Phone64.73%
9.Astound Broadband155 Mbps15 MbpsFiber / Cable / Television / Phone22.35%
10.WOW!50 Mbps5 MbpsFiber / Cable / DSL / Television16.50%
11.E-Vergent.com15 Mbps4 MbpsFixed Wireless5.43%
12.Global Capacity8 Mbps1 MbpsDSL4.34%
13.Lola Wireless200 Mbps25 MbpsFixed Wireless0.90%
14.DLS6 Mbps6 MbpsFixed Wireless0.12%
15.Access Media 3150 Mbps100 MbpsFiber / Cable / DSL0.10%
16.Wisper ISP20 Mbps4 MbpsFixed Wireless0.01%
17.Birch Communications6 Mbps~Fiber / DSL / Fixed Wireless0.01%
18.eVolve Business Solutions3 Mbps3 MbpsFiber~
19.LiteWire Internet Services25 Mbps5 MbpsFixed Wireless~
20.Zayo Group~~Fiber / Fixed Wireless~
21.T-Mobile 5G Home Internet~~Fixed Wireless / Mobile / 5G Home Internet~
22.Level 3 Communications~~Fiber / DSL~
23.Cogent Communications~~Fiber~
24.Convergence Technologies~~Fixed Wireless~
25.Business Only Broadband~~Fixed Wireless~

Is there financial assistance for internet service in Chicago?

Yes. Chicago residents may qualify for free or discounted internet service through the federal Lifeline program, or provider-specific, low-income, affordable internet plans.

Federal Program

Lifeline

An FCC program that provides up to a $9.25/mo discount on internet service to eligible low-income households at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.

Provider Program

Xfinity Internet Essentials

$14.95/month for up to 75 Mbps for qualifying households. Xfinity Internet Essentials includes xFi Gateway (modem + Wi-Fi) and discounted PCs.

Provider Program

AT&T Access

$30/month for up to 100 Mbps for qualifying households. Access from AT&T includes Wi-Fi & installation; no equipment fees or annual contract.

Frequently Asked Questions about Chicago

EarthLink Fiber is the best internet provider in Chicago, IL, based on speed and pricing. It's Fiber internet reaches speeds up to 5 Gbps, and plans start at $39.95. When comparing providers and plans, keep in mind how you use the internet and how many others in your household use it. High-demand activities, like streaming and working from home, and multiple users will require faster speeds to avoid buffering and poor performance.

There are 25 internet providers in Chicago, IL. Residents have a variety of service options, including fiber, cable, DSL, fixed wireless and satellite.

Astound Broadband offers the cheapest internet plans that start at $29.99. Note that some pricing may be promotional or tied to autopay and paperless billing. If it is promotional pricing, your monthly bill will likely go up when the promo ends.

EarthLink Fiber has the fastest speeds in Chicago, with a top download speed of 5 Gbps. Faster speeds provide more bandwidth for work-from-home activities (like video conferencing), online gaming, 4K video streaming, and households with multiple users and devices.

Yes, fiber internet is available in Chicago. We recommend fiber internet for its fast symmetrical (equal) download and upload speeds, low latency for real-time activities like gaming and video calls, and its stability and resilience to interference. Fiber availability varies by address.

Yes. Chicago residents could get assistance to reduce internet costs through various programs. Xfinity Internet Essentials offers up to 75 Mbps for $14.95/month. AT&T Access starts at $30/month for up to 100 Mbps. Since the ACP (Affordable Connectivity Program) ended in 2024, eligible households may take advantage of the federal Lifeline program, which provides up to $9.25/month in discounts.

If it's available in Chicago, fiber internet is the best internet option for online gaming. Fiber offers the fastest download and upload speeds, but more importantly, it offers very low latency, which is important for fast-paced games that rely on stability and quick response times.

Yes, 5G home internet is available in Chicago. 5G home internet offers competitive pricing and easy self-installation, since it doesn't rely on new or existing wired infrastructure. Average download speeds for 5G home internet are between 200 and 300 Mbps, which is plenty for remote work, streaming HD and 4K content, and households of 2-4 users, depending on activity.

The average download speed in Chicago is 37 Mbps. For comparison, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) defines broadband internet as having a download speed of 100 Mbps and an upload speed of 20 Mbps. Go to TestMySpeed and run an internet speed test to see how fast your internet connection is compared to speeds in Chicago, IL.

Starlink, EarthLink Fiber, AT&T, Xfinity, and Earthlink 5G Home Internet offer internet in Chicago, IL.

  • Starlink: Offers speeds up to 400 Mbps starting at $55.00/mo.
  • EarthLink Fiber: Offers speeds up to 5 Gbps starting at $39.95/mo.
  • AT&T: Offers speeds up to 1 Gbps starting at $55.00/mo.
  • Xfinity: Offers speeds up to 2 Gbps starting at $50.00+/mo.
  • Earthlink 5G Home Internet: Offers speeds up to 100 Mbps starting at $39.95/mo.

Internet Providers in Nearby Cities

Cicero, IL Oak Park, IL Berwyn, IL Forest Park, IL Stickney, IL River Forest, IL North Riverside, IL Riverside, IL Forest View, IL Elmwood Park, IL Maywood, IL Lyons, IL Broadview, IL River Grove, IL Brookfield, IL Melrose Park, IL Summit, IL Harwood Heights, IL La Grange Park, IL Bellwood, IL McCook, IL Stone Park, IL Norridge, IL Westchester, IL Bedford Park, IL

Free wireless internet access points in Chicago

Canaryville Branch
642 W. 43rd Street
Chicago, IL 60609
(312) 747-0644
Chicago Bee Branch
3647 S. State Street
Chicago, IL 60609
(312) 747-6872
Chicago Lawn Branch
6120 S. Kedzie Avenue
Chicago, IL 60629
(312) 747-0639
Chicago Public Library
400 South State Street
Chicago, IL 60605
(312) 747-4999
Dunning Branch
7455 W. Cornelia Avenue
Chicago, IL 60634
(312) 743-0480
Greater Grand Crossing Branch
1000 East 73rd Street
Chicago, IL 60619
(312) 745-1608
Humboldt Park
1605 N. Troy Street
Chicago, IL 60647
(312) 744-2244
Little Village Branch
2311 S. Kedzie
Chicago, IL 60623
Water Works Branch
163 E. Pearson Street
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 742-8811
West Town Branch
1625 W. Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60622
(312) 743-0450

How We Research Internet Providers

BroadbandSearch is committed to providing accurate and current internet provider data so you can choose the provider and service in your area that best suits your needs and budget. Here is how we source and verify the information we provide:

Data Sources

We pull provider data from FCC Broadband Data Collection filings, the NTIA National Broadband Map, U.S. Census Bureau data, and direct provider disclosures.

Coverage

Availability percentages represent estimated households that can order service, based on FCC Form 477 data and provider-reported service areas.

Reviews

Aggregated reviews from verified BroadbandSearch users. Ratings are based on speed performance, reliability, customer service, and value.

Updates

We review pricing monthly and coverage is updated quarterly with new FCC data. Last updated: November 6, 2026.

BroadbandSearch earns commissions from some providers. These partnerships do not influence rankings or editorial recommendations. Learn more about our data sources →