Our picks 90001 Edit ZIP code Why we chose these providers Sort by Best rural home internet provider 87 - 415 Mbps $50 - $70 per month Check with T-Mobile Provider not available in 90001 Edit ZIP code Or call to learn more: (877) 519-7610 Best wired rural internet provider 10 - 140 Mbps $55 per month Check with CenturyLink Provider not available in 90001 Edit ZIP code Or call to learn more: (866) 671-3650 Best rural fixed wireless internet provider 25 - 50 Mbps $45 - $65 per month Check with Rise Broadband Provider not available in 90001 Edit ZIP code Or call to learn more: (866) 671-3650 Fast DSL internet speeds in rural areas 100 - 1,000 Mbps $40 - $70 per month Check with Kinetic Internet Provider not available in 90001 Edit ZIP code Or call to learn more: (866) 671-3650 Best satellite internet provider 50-100 Mbps $50 - $80 per month Check with Hughesnet Provider not available in 90001 Edit ZIP code Or call to learn more: (833) 347-4265 Best cheap rural internet provider 100 - 1,000 Mbps $25 - $80 per month Check with Mediacom Communications Provider not available in 90001 Edit ZIP code Or call to learn more: (866) 671-3650 Fastest satellite internet provider 20 - 250 Mbps $90 - $120 per month Check with Starlink Provider not available in 90001 Edit ZIP code Or call to learn more: (866) 671-3650 Fastest rural internet provider 100 - 50,000 Mbps $20 - $900 per month Check with Ziply Fiber Provider not available in 90001 Edit ZIP code Or call to learn more: (866) 671-3650 Show 3 more
Best rural internet providers
Broadband service has never been widely available in rural areas, and the Federal Communications Commission's overdue ruling classifying a high-speed connection as at least 100Mbps down and 20Mbps up means reliable internet connections are even harder to find in rural communities, where 100Mbps is hard to come by for a decent price. High-speed wired services, especially those of the cable internet or fiber-optic variety, are scarce in remote areas due to difficult terrains and low population density. Instead, many households in rural areas rely on slower DSL legacy networks or fixed wireless internet that doesn't require wired networks or a direct line of sight to the home.
T-Mobile Home Internet is arguably the best home internet option for rural homes. It surpasses wired and wireless rural internet providers thanks to its extensive availability, competitive pricing and customer-friendly service terms, including unlimited data and free equipment.
Among popular rural internet options, Ziply Fiber and Mediacom offer some of the cheapest internet options, with service starting at $20 to $15 monthly for speeds up to 100Mbps and 100Mbps, respectively. Just note that Mediacom's cheapest tier is a low-income plan: You'll have to qualify and apply to get that low monthly rate. If you’re looking for speed, Ziply Fiber also has the fastest multigigabit speeds of any ISP, rural or otherwise, with its 50,000Mbps plan.
Other DSL internet providers, including CenturyLink, Kinetic and Rise Broadband, are also worth considering if you don't have other options. In locations where wired or fixed wireless connections aren’t available, satellite internet from Hughesnet and Viasat is always an option, but you'll likely get faster speeds and better overall value with Starlink.
Aside from well-known ISPs with broad coverage, thousands of local wireless internet providers may service hard-to-reach rural areas. Your best shot of figuring out what home internet providers are available is to start by using the FCC's Broadband Map and picking a plan based on cost efficiency, speed and other factors.
Which rural internet service provider is best for your home? Check out CNET's picks for the best ISPs with broad availability in rural areas based on coverage, speeds, pricing, data caps and customer satisfaction.
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
... continue reading