What is the best internet provider in Little Rock?
CNET recommends AT&T Fiber as it's top-choice for the best internet provider in Little Rock, Arkansas. It offers ultra-fast speeds up to 5,000Mbps with symmetrical uploads and downloads, no data caps, no equipment fees and no contracts. However, those top-tier speeds come with a top-tier $245 monthly price tag.
For something easier on the wallet, Xfinity is the better pick. Its $40-per-month plan gets you speeds up to 300Mbps, making it a solid value for everyday use. Sparklight is another affordable option, though it’s not as widely available across the city. If you’re outside the range of wired providers or just want something different, consider fixed wireless alternatives like Verizon 5G Home Internet or T-Mobile Home Internet.
Best internet in Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock, Arkansas internet providers compared Provider Internet technology Monthly price range Speed range Monthly equipment costs Data cap Contract CNET review score Aristotle Unified Communications Fixed wireless $45-$94 50-100Mbps None None 1 year N/A AT&T
Read full review DSL, fiber $60 DSL, $55-$245 fiber 10-100Mbps DSL, 300-5,000Mbps fiber None 1.5TB DSL, none fiber None 7.4 Sparklight
Read full review Cable $35-$60 300-940Mbps None 5TB soft cap None 6.9 T-Mobile Home Internet
Read full review Fixed wireless $50 ($40-$55 with eligible mobile plans) 72-245Mbps None None None 7.4 Verizon 5G Home Internet
Read full review Fixed wireless $50-$70 ($35-$55 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers) 50-1,000Mbps None None None 7.2 Xfinity
Read full review Cable $40-$100 300-2,000Mbps $15 (included in most plans) 1.2TB or unlimited 1 or 2 years for lowest pricing 7 Show more (2 items) Shop providers at my address
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Getty Images
How to find internet deals and promotions in Little Rock
The best internet deals and the top promotions in Little Rock depend on what discounts are available during that given time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Little Rock internet providers, such as Xfinity, may offer lower introductory pricing, free equipment rental or unlimited data with select plans for a limited time. Many, including AT&T Fiber, Verizon 5G Home Internet and Sparklight, run the same standard pricing year-round.
Take our quiz Get Started Progress Step 1 of 4 How many members of your household use the internet? 1-2 people
3-5 people
6-9 people
10+ people Next
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
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 person sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
100 to 500Mbps allows one to two people to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming.
500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more people to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Little Rock
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike 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 from the Federal Communications Commission 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?
The answer to those questions is often layered and complex, but 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 consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports. (Disclosure: 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 Little Rock, Arkansas FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Little Rock? AT&T Fiber is the best internet service provider in Little Rock. The area’s largest fiber-optic internet provider offers symmetrical upload and download speeds ranging from 300 to 5,000Mbps, making it the fastest ISP in Little Rock and the only one to deliver symmetrical speeds. Aside from fast speeds, AT&T Fiber is preferred for its stable pricing (no set price increases) and simple service terms that include free equipment rental and unlimited data. AT&T Fiber consistently received high customer satisfaction ratings from the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power in recent years.
Is fiber internet available in Little Rock? Around 40% of Little Rock households are eligible for fiber internet service, according to the most recent FCC data. Serviceability is greatest in the Greenwood Acres, Pulaski Heights and Hickory Hills communities, but fiber service can be found in random neighborhoods throughout Little Rock. AT&T Fiber is the largest, and essentially only, fiber-optic internet provider in Little Rock.
Who is the cheapest internet provider in Little Rock? Xfinity has the lowest introductory rate on home internet in Little Rock, with service starting at $40 per month for download speeds up to 300Mbps. Xfinity’s next cheapest plan offers a bit more speed, up to 500Mbps, also currently starting at $55 monthly. Faster Xfinity plans are also priced competitively. For example, Xfinity offers 500Mbps for the same starting monthly rate as AT&T Fiber’s 300Mbps plan ($55), and 2-gig service is $45 cheaper from Xfinity than AT&T Fiber. Unfortunately, the low rates won’t last forever as Xfinity rates increase after the first year or two of service. The exact increase varies by plan, but it could add anywhere from $10 to $37 or more to your bill. Additionally, a one or two-year contract may be required for the lowest pricing, and renting equipment may add $15 to your monthly bill.