Internet Providers in Hickory, KY

Over 940 people in Hickory found the best Internet Provider in the last 30 days.

#1

EarthLink Fiber

1% availability
EarthLink Fiber logo

Connection Types:

Fiber
Speed up to:

5 Gbps

User Review:

(2728)

View Plans

100% Fiber. All the way to your door. $24.95/mo

#2

Earthlink 5G Home Internet

86.1% availability
Earthlink 5G Home Internet logo

Connection Types:

Fixed Wireless / Mobile
Speed up to:

100 Mbps

User Review:

(2977)

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No credit checks - No contracts

#3

Viasat

97.29% availability
Viasat logo

Connection Types:

Satellite / Phone
Speed up to:

150 Mbps

User Review:

(2975)

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#4

HughesNet

98.65% 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.

#5

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 Hickory, KY

#1Dish 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

#2DIRECTV

  • Best entertainement options for any sports fan over Cable TV, including NFL Sunday Ticket!
  • Includes local channels
  • HBO, Showtime, Starz, Cinemax free for first 3 months
  • Free upgrade to Genie HD-DVR
  • Free professional installation in up to 4 rooms
Pricing starting at:
$64.99

Best Internet Providers in Hickory

Hickory sits between small-town streets and open farmland, so blocks of houses often butt up against big, empty lots. Where the state highway and an old rail spur run through town, providers tend to follow those ribbons when they decide where to pull new lines. Fiber service is concentrated in downtown Hickory and along the highway commercial strip, while neighborhoods beyond the rail spur are largely dependent on fixed wireless and satellite. So, folks near town report smoother video calls and faster uploads, while those on the lanes cope with higher latency, modest upload ceilings, and occasional buffering during storms.

In Hickory, internet competition varies by neighborhood, but most residents have multiple options to choose from. After reviewing provider availability, plan pricing, typical speeds, and customer sentiment across the 25 areas we track, here are our top recommendations for 2026.

EarthLink Fiber is the standout pick if it is available at your address. With speeds up to 5 Gbps (and, in some areas, symmetrical upload speeds), it is often the best option for gaming, remote work, and busy households with many users and connected devices. Availability has expanded across parts of Hickory, so it is worth checking your exact address first.

HughesNet is usually the most widely available choice in Hickory and a strong option when you need a reliable connection. Its network reaches approximately 99% of Hickory, with speeds up to 100 Mbps and plans starting around $74.99/mo, making it the most accessible option for many residents. In neighborhoods where EarthLink Fiber is not offered yet, HughesNet is often the best overall mix of speed and price.

Earthlink 5G Home Internet can be a strong third option if you would rather keep things simple, with straightforward pricing around $39.95/mo and fewer stipulations.

Coverage reaches roughly 86% of Hickory, and speeds range between 50 Mbps and 100 Mbps, which is enough for streaming, video calls, and everyday home use. It can be a great fit in parts of Hickory where signal strength is strong.

Dialog Telecommunications or Viasat may still offer service in parts of Hickory, if none of these are available at your address, with speeds up to 10 Mbps. Since promotions change often, it is always smart to check current deals before you order.

What is the fastest internet provider in Hickory?

EarthLink Fiber is the fastest internet provider in Hickory, KY, with download speeds up to 5 Gbps and upload speeds up to 1 Gbps — available to 1% of the city.
ProviderConnectionsMax DownloadMax UploadAvailability
EarthLink FiberFiber5 Gbps1 Gbps1.00%
StarlinkSatellite400 Mbps44 Mbps97.00%
ViasatSatellite / Phone150 Mbps3 Mbps97.29%
Earthlink 5G Home InternetFixed Wireless / Mobile100 Mbps55 Mbps86.10%
HughesNetSatellite / Phone100 Mbps5 Mbps98.65%

What is the cheapest internet provider in Hickory?

EarthLink Fiber offers the cheapest internet in Hickory starting at $39.95/month with speeds up to 5 Gbps. Earthlink 5G Home Internet offers the next lowest price at $39.95/month.
ProviderStarting PriceSpeedContractData Cap
EarthLink Fiber$39.95Up to 5 GbpsYesUnlimited
Starlink$55.00Up to 400 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

What type of internet connection is best in Hickory?

Hickory has 4 main types of internet connections. Your best option depends on where you live and what you need.

Fiber

73.30%

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

Cable

18.74%

Most widely available wired option. Zito Media, LP covers 18.74%. Up to 100 Mbps download. Good for most households.

5G Wireless

33.07%

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 Hickory residents.

Hickory, KY - Internet Connection and Coverage Map

Hickory, KY has a total of 8 internet providers including  3 Fiber providers, 1 Cable providers, 1 Fixed Wireless providers and 3 Satellite providers.

Compare Internet Providers in Hickory, KY by Coverage Area

All 8 internet providers serving Hickory by coverage area. This is the most comprehensive provider comparison available for the city — no competitor lists more than 4 providers with coverage data.

ProviderMax DownloadMax UploadInternet ConnectionCoverage
1.HughesNet100 Mbps5 MbpsSatellite / Phone98.65%
2.Viasat150 Mbps3 MbpsSatellite / Phone97.29%
3.Starlink400 Mbps44 MbpsSatellite97.00%
4.Earthlink 5G Home Internet100 Mbps55 MbpsFixed Wireless / Mobile86.10%
5.West Kentucky and Tennessee Telecommunications Cooperative1 Gbps1 GbpsFiber73.30%
6.Zito Media, LP100 Mbps10 MbpsCable18.74%
7.Dialog Telecommunications10 Mbps2 MbpsFiber / DSL11.69%
8.EarthLink Fiber5 Gbps1 GbpsFiber1.00%

Is there financial assistance for internet service in Hickory?

Yes. Hickory 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.

Frequently Asked Questions about Hickory

EarthLink Fiber is the best internet provider in Hickory, KY, 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 8 internet providers in Hickory, KY. Residents have a variety of service options, including fiber, cable, fixed wireless and satellite.

EarthLink Fiber offers the cheapest internet plans that start at $39.95. 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 Hickory, 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 Hickory. 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. Hickory residents could get assistance to reduce internet costs through various programs. 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 Hickory, 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 Hickory. 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 Hickory is 29 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 Hickory, KY.

HughesNet, Viasat, Starlink, Earthlink 5G Home Internet, and EarthLink Fiber offer internet in Hickory, KY.

  • HughesNet: Offers speeds up to 100 Mbps starting at $74.99*/mo.
  • Viasat: Offers speeds up to 150 Mbps starting at $49.99/mo.
  • Starlink: Offers speeds up to 400 Mbps starting at $55.00/mo.
  • Earthlink 5G Home Internet: Offers speeds up to 100 Mbps starting at $39.95/mo.
  • EarthLink Fiber: Offers speeds up to 5 Gbps starting at $39.95/mo.

Internet Providers in Nearby Cities

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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: July 14, 2026.

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