If you're seeking rich history, you can't go wrong with Arizona. It has everything you'd want: beautiful mountains, show-stopping vistas, the saguaro cacti and, most importantly, Route 66. Arizona's cities aren't anything to sniff at either, with Dateland known for its famous date shakes, as well as picturesque Phoenix, terrific Tucson and fabulous Flagstaff. But if you live in Arizona or want to move there, you'll no doubt need to know more about your home internet options.
What is the best internet provider in Arizona?
CNET recommends CenturyLink as the top internet provider in Arizona. However, Arizona is a big place, and you should keep in mind that where you live can make a massive difference in the availability of ISPs. Our experts recommend Sparklight and Frontier as good options if you live in the eastern regions. In Tucson, Xfinity has you covered, and Cox is the go-to in the south. With fiber connections being scarce, many people use DSL, cable or fixed wireless internet. Ultimately, the best ISPs are based on availability, as even the fastest speeds in Arizona usually cap at 940Mbps.
Because of Arizona's limited fiber network, those looking to get their hands on fiber have their best bets with Cox Communications, Optimum, Xfinity and 5G home internet from Verizon or T-Mobile. In rural areas lacking wired connections, local fixed wireless providers or satellite internet are typically the primary options for internet access.
Rural internet options in Arizona Provider Connection type Price range Speed range Data cap Availability AireBeam Fixed wireless $60 to $80 20-50Mbps None Pinal, Maricopa, Pima counties AirFiber Fixed wireless $50 to $100 50-500Mbps None Greater Phoenix area Bolt Internet Fiber/Fixed wireless $55 to $84 100 to 1,000Mbps None Yavapai County CenturyLink
Read full review DSL/Fiber $50 to $75 20 to 940Mbps None Large areas of the state Mile High Networks Fiber/Fixed wireless Fiber - $69-$99 Fixed wireless - $44-$154 15 to 1,000Mbps None Yavapai County Mojo Broadband Fixed wireless $77 to $99 50 to 250Mbps None Cave Creek, Carefree, Desert Hills, Tonopah, Wintersburg, Arlington, Buckeye, New River Simply Bits Fixed wireless $79 to $139 10 to 100Mbps None Southern Arizona TREPIC Networks Fixed wireless $55 to $120 65 to 150Mbps None Gilbert, Mesa, Queen Creek, San Tan Valley, Coolidge, Eloy, Casa Grande, Florence Show more (3 items) Shop providers at my address
Source: CNET analysis of provider data
Regarding wired internet for rural Arizona, your best bet will likely be an older network, like CenturyLink's DSL service, our choice for the top rural ISP in the nation. It has a much broader reach than the company's fiber offering but can still get you speeds up to 500Mbps in some places. With plans running $55 a month, this is a good place to start in your search for rural internet. If that doesn't work out, consider fixed wireless or satellite as an alternative.
Arizona is full of small fixed wireless ISPs, some of which we included in the chart above. Plug your address into the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) National Broadband Map to see which ones service your area. Fixed wireless can sometimes be slow and expensive, but it's better than no connection at all, and it may work out to be a better deal than satellite. Fixed wireless speeds can vary with location and distance. You need a clear line of sight to a tower. Plans vary quite a bit from provider to provider, with some starting at 10Mbps speeds, which doesn't even qualify as broadband in the eyes of the FCC. Others offer speeds as high as 150Mbps in some areas, but the monthly price can increase to well over $100.
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