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.
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Best rural internet service providers
8 Internet providers SORT BY Recommended
Connection Fixed wireless Speed range 87 - 415 Mbps Price range $50 - $70 per month T-Mobile Home Internet Best rural home internet provider Our take - According to the FCC, T-Mobile Home Internet has the greatest coverage of any non-satellite internet service provider, available to nearly 60% of US households. While service isn’t the cheapest or the fastest of any rural internet provider, the unlimited data, free equipment and potential mobile bundle discounts help boost the provider’s overall value. Read full review Or call to learn more: (877) 519-7610 Check with T-Mobile Compare Connection Fixed wireless Speed range 87 - 415 Mbps Price range $50 - $70 per month Pros and Cons Pros No contracts
No data caps
Simple, affordable pricing
Aggressively competitive with its terms and perks Cons Speeds may vary
Max download speeds don't match fiber and cable
Home internet customers deprioritized over mobile Actual speeds will vary by address, but T-Mobile Home Internet advertises a range of 87 to 415Mbps. Those speeds are a boost from what T-Mobile Home Internet previously offered (72 to 245Mbps), thanks to equipment upgrades. Now, T-Mobile Home Internet offers two speed ranges and a slew of new perks to promote its plans. While those speeds may not be guaranteed, they're still an impressive update to such a broadly available fixed wireless internet provider. All plans come without the hassle of added fees, data caps or contracts. Just watch out for that additional $35 activation fee at the start of service. Key Info Unlimited data
equipment included
no contracts Compare Check with T-Mobile Show more details Show more details Compare
Connection DSL Speed range 10 - 140 Mbps Price range $55 per month CenturyLink Best wired rural internet provider Our take - Aside from satellite internet providers and T-Mobile, CenturyLink has perhaps the greatest coverage area of any rural ISP, spanning suburban and rural areas across 16 states. CenturyLink, though a DSL service, can meet or beat the internet speeds of satellite internet in most service areas, and the $55-per-month service includes unlimited data and no contracts. Read full review Or call to learn more: (866) 671-3650 Check with CenturyLink Compare Connection DSL Speed range 10 - 140 Mbps Price range $55 per month Pros and Cons Pros Some of the most affordable DSL plans you can find
Unlimited data
No contracts Cons DSL speeds can vary wildly based on address and sometimes fall below FCC's broadband levels
Service interruptions can be a bit too frequent, depending on location The speeds available will be based on your location, but you can expect a range between 30 and 100Mbps. There is, however, a $17 monthly fee if you choose to rent your Wi-Fi equipment, but this fee is skippable if you use your own. You can also purchase your equipment for $200 up-front, which might be a better option for long-term service. Key Info Unlimited data
no contracts Compare Check with CenturyLink Show more details Show more details Compare
Connection Fixed wireless Speed range 25 - 50 Mbps Price range $45 - $65 per month Rise Broadband Best rural fixed wireless internet provider Our take - Rise Broadband is a leading non-5G fixed wireless internet provider with service available in 16 states. Of those, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, Texas and Utah have the greatest serviceability. At present, its fiber network is still very limited. However, select areas might be serviceable for its faster fiber speed tiers, offering gigabit speeds. Read full review Or call to learn more: (866) 671-3650 Check with Rise Compare Connection Fixed wireless Speed range 25 - 50 Mbps Price range $45 - $65 per month Pros and Cons Pros Availability in rural areas with no direct cables to the home
Significantly higher data allowances than satellite
Advanced Wi-Fi equipment and service available
Growing fiber network Cons Max speeds of only 100Mbps in most areas
Line of sight to nearby wireless tower required
Possible service disruptions in bad weather Similar to satellite internet, fixed wireless service from Rise Broadband requires no direct wires to the home, making it accessible to those in rural areas where cable, fiber-optic and even telephone lines don't reach. Where available, Rise Broadband would be my choice over satellite internet since the provider offers speeds up to 250Mbps and latency low enough to support online gaming and truly unlimited data options, all for a relatively low price compared with satellite. Rise offers a $10 equipment rental for a TP-Link Wi-Fi 6 mesh router. You can add extra mesh routers for $5 more a month, which may be useful for boosting whole-home Wi-Fi speeds. Key Info Unlimited data on some plans
low price increase Compare Check with Rise Show more details Show more details Compare
Connection Fiber Speed range 100 - 1,000 Mbps Price range $40 - $70 per month Kinetic by Windstream Fast DSL internet speeds in rural areas Our take - Like CenturyLink, Kinetic by Windstream also received a 6.7/10 in our review, but the provider falls short of CenturyLink in total coverage area. That said, it's a practical choice for rural internet as the provider boasts some of the fastest DSL speeds of any rural ISP. Read full review Or call to learn more: (866) 671-3650 Check with Kinetic Compare Connection Fiber Speed range 100 - 1,000 Mbps Price range $40 - $70 per month Pros and Cons Pros Fast speeds for rural areas
No data caps, no speed throttling, no contracts
Fiber expansion in the works Cons Speeds and pricing vary widely by location
No security plan included
Below average customer satisfaction Kinetic offers internet service in 18 states across the Midwest, South and Eastern US. Although available primarily in rural and suburban areas, nearly a third of Windstream's network uses fiber technology. Kinetic's fiber offerings are much more reasonable, and where it's available, Kinetic customers can get download and upload speeds up to 1,000Mbps or higher. These speeds make Kinetic ideal for streaming over wireless connections and online gaming, activities that are often a challenge with rural internet service. Key Info Unlimited data
no contracts Compare Check with Kinetic Show more details Show more details Compare
Connection Satellite Speed range 50-100 Mbps Price range $50 - $80 per month Hughesnet Best satellite internet provider Our take - Hughesnet recently introduced a new set of internet plans with increased speeds of 50 to 100Mbps and monthly priority data limits of 100 to 200GB. That’s a big jump from previous offerings (25Mbps and 15 to 100GB of data) but without a significantly big jump in pricing. Read full review Or call to learn more: (833) 347-4265 Check with Hughesnet Compare Connection Satellite Speed range 50-100 Mbps Price range $50 - $80 per month Pros and Cons Pros Reliable, consistent broadband speeds in all service areas
HughesNet Bonus Zone provides an extra 50GB of data a month during off hours
No hard data caps Cons Two-year contract, with early termination fees if you cancel
Unlimited data is misleading -- Hughesnet will impose severe speed reductions once you hit your data plan's threshold
High equipment costs It’s still satellite internet, which can mean high latency and the potential for inclement weather to disrupt your signal, but Hughesnet has a solution for that, as well. Hughesnet Fusion plans, available in select areas, combine satellite internet with fixed wireless technology to shorten the distance data has to travel. By making use of local fixed wireless towers, Hughesnet Fusion plans create a more reliable connection and can lower latency enough to support online gaming. Key Info Unlimited standard data
nationwide availability Compare Check with Hughesnet Show more details Show more details Compare
Connection Cable Speed range 100 - 1,000 Mbps Price range $25 - $80 per month Mediacom Best cheap rural internet provider Our take - As a cable provider, Mediacom can deliver much faster and more reliable speeds than DSL, satellite or fixed wireless service, but its service reach is more limited. Mediacom is available to just over 2% of US residents, with service areas across much of the Midwest and South, as well as parts of California and Delaware. Read full review Or call to learn more: (866) 671-3650 Check with Mediacom Compare Connection Cable Speed range 100 - 1,000 Mbps Price range $25 - $80 per month Pros and Cons Pros Provides services to over 1,500 communities in 22 states
Great additional hardware available to rent at a fair price Cons Significant price jump for the gigabit plan after a year
Data caps are too tight with the cheapest plans, and there's no limit to the number of overage charges you can rack up
Poor value relative to other cable internet providers Mediacom is one of the best cheap internet providers for rural areas, with service starting at just $15 per month for speeds up to 100Mbps for households participating in eligible government assistance programs like SNAP or the NSLP. The cheapest Mediacom plan comes with only 400GB of data, and going over that limit can lead to a $10 charge to your bill. More data is available with higher-tiered plans up to 2 terabytes. Mediacom may offer fully unlimited internet service for select markets. Mediacom also offers a 300Mbps plan for $50 monthly and a 1,000Mbps plan for $65 monthly if it's available to you. All plans comes with a $15 monthly internet equipment fee. Key Info Up to 6TB monthly data allowance
low introductory rates
no contracts Compare Check with Mediacom Show more details Show more details Compare
Connection Satellite Speed range 20 - 250 Mbps Price range $90 - $120 per month Starlink Fastest satellite internet provider Our take - A relative satellite newcomer, Elon Musk's Starlink promises to boost satellite internet speeds while reducing latency thanks to a massive constellation of low-orbit satellites. For a satellite internet service, speeds aren't bad (25 to 220Mbps), and the unlimited data and low latency are a nice bonus, but initial and ongoing costs are high. The entry-level plan is priced at $80 a month, plus equipment will cost upwards of $349. Read full review Or call to learn more: (866) 671-3650 Check with Starlink Compare Connection Satellite Speed range 20 - 250 Mbps Price range $90 - $120 per month Pros and Cons Pros Decent speeds for a rural connection
Low latency
Unlimited data
Mobile internet available Cons High upfront costs
Slower than cable or fiber internet
Vulnerable to inclement weather Key Info No term contract
1TB data limit
low latency Compare Check with Starlink Show more details Show more details Compare
Connection Fiber Speed range 100 - 50,000 Mbps Price range $20 - $900 per month Ziply Fiber Fastest rural internet provider Our take - Ziply Fiber offers multigigabit internet speeds of 2Gbps, 5Gbps, 10Gbps and now 50Gbps available in select (and rural) areas throughout the Northwest. Read full review Or call to learn more: (866) 671-3650 Check with Ziply Compare Connection Fiber Speed range 100 - 50,000 Mbps Price range $20 - $900 per month Pros and Cons Pros Straightforward, competitive pricing
No data caps, contracts or credit checks
Dedication to fiber expansion, even in rural areas Cons Lots of room to grow fiber network
"B" rating by the Better Business Bureau The fastest Ziply plan may be more speed than you need and more than you want to pay at $900 per month, but other Ziply plans present a bit more affordability without sacrificing too much on speed. Ziply's entry-level plan, for example, starts at just $20 per month for symmetrical upload and download speeds of up to 100Mbps. The 300Mbps speed tier starts at $40 per month. All plans come with unlimited data and no contract requirements. Ziply has an impressive fiber network, but only about half of Ziply service areas are eligible for fiber service, according to the FCC. All others will rely on a DSL network which, like most DSL services, presents one plan option for the fastest speeds available. In the case of Ziply Internet's DSL service, that plan starts at $75 per month for speeds up to 115Mbps. Key Info Unlimited data
no contracts
fast rural internet connection Compare Check with Ziply Show more details Show more details Compare
Best rural internet providers overview
There's a lot to consider when evaluating rural internet options. To help you sort it all, here's a rural internet comparison chart with significant plan and pricing details, including speeds, data caps and contract requirements.
Rural internet provider details
Provider Starting price range Download speed range Equipment cost Data cap Contract CNET review score CenturyLink
Read full review $55 30-100Mbps $17 (optional) or $200 purchase fee None None 6.7 Hughesnet
Read full review $50-$95 50-100Mbps $15-$20 a month or $300-$450 purchase fee 100-200GB 2 years 5.7 Kinetic $25-$70 (varies by location) 100-2,000Mbps $11 (optional) None None 6.7 Mediacom
Read full review $15-$65 100-1,000Mbps $15 (optional) Unlimited None 6.4 Rise Broadband
Read full review $55-$95 50-1,000Mbps $10 modem rental, $15 router rental (optional) None None 6.2 Starlink
Read full review $80-$5,000 25-220Mbps $349 purchase fee ($599 for Starlink Mini) None None 6.5 T-Mobile Home Internet
Read full review $50-$70 ($35-$55 for eligible Go5G Plus and Magenta Max customers) 87-415Mbps None None None 7.4 Ziply Fiber $10-$900 100-50,000Mbps $15 router rental (optional) for some plans None None 7.2 Show more (3 items) Shop providers at my address
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Top rural ISP honorable mentions
These providers are also popular choices for internet service in rural areas but lack the speed, value or customer satisfaction marks to have made our list of the best.
AT&T Fixed Wireless: Where available, AT&T Fixed Wireless customers can get download speeds up to 10Mbps and 350GB of data for around $70 per month. Customers can also bundle with a DirectTV or wireless plan and save $10 a month.
EarthLink: EarthLink employs existing networks from providers including AT&T, CenturyLink and Verizon to deliver service, which makes for high availability, but speeds, connection quality and pricing can vary widely by location. Pricing varies by location but you can expect plans to start at around $40 per month for up to 100Mbps.
Frontier: Frontier Internet, a DSL service, reaches select rural areas in 25 states, but speeds are inconsistent and likely to not reach broadband speeds in many areas. DSL service starts at $65 per month and includes unlimited data and equipment rental at no extra cost.
Verizon LTE Installed: Another fixed wireless service, Verizon LTE Installed makes use of Verizon's 4G network and can deliver speeds around 25Mbps starting at $40 a month for Verizon mobile customers. Verizon's 5G home internet service isn't yet widely available in rural areas.
Viasat: Pricing is a bit higher than rival satellite provider Hughesnet, but Viasat may offer a higher data allowance and faster max speeds, depending on where you live. If satellite internet is your only option, be sure to compare Hughesnet and Viasat closely before deciding on which is best for your home.
Fixed wireless and satellite internet are most common in rural and suburban areas, because providers can cover a large area with a single antenna tower, or with a constellation of satellites, and without needing to run cable to each home address. Wireless Internet Service Providers Association
How to improve your rural internet speeds
Internet speeds tend to be slower in rural America. Here are some ways to help boost your home internet speeds in rural areas.
Switch providers or plans . A surefire way to improve your speeds is to switch to a provider with faster speeds or upgrade your plan with your current provider if you can. Faster providers or plans aren’t always available, but the search tool farther up the page will give you an idea of what’s available in your area.
A surefire way to improve your speeds is to switch to a provider with faster speeds or upgrade your plan with your current provider if you can. Faster providers or plans aren’t always available, but the search tool farther up the page will give you an idea of what’s available in your area. Used a wired Ethernet connection . It’s common to experience slower speeds when using a Wi-Fi connection. If you have a stationary device with an Ethernet port, such as a desktop computer, gaming console or smart TV, plug it directly into your modem or router via an Ethernet cable for a faster, more reliable connection.
It’s common to experience slower speeds when using a Wi-Fi connection. If you have a stationary device with an Ethernet port, such as a desktop computer, gaming console or smart TV, plug it directly into your modem or router via an Ethernet cable for a faster, more reliable connection. Upgrade your equipment, or move closer to it. When only Wi-Fi will do, a high-quality router will help to keep your speeds as fast as possible throughout your home. If your connection is spotty, try moving closer to the router or adding Wi-Fi extenders to your network.
When only Wi-Fi will do, a high-quality router will help to keep your speeds as fast as possible throughout your home. If your connection is spotty, try moving closer to the router or adding Wi-Fi extenders to your network. Limit the number of connected devices. The more active devices you have on your Wi-Fi network, the slower your speeds can be on each device. When running a particularly demanding task, such as streaming in HD or downloading a video game file, try disconnecting other, less-used devices from your network.
The more active devices you have on your Wi-Fi network, the slower your speeds can be on each device. When running a particularly demanding task, such as streaming in HD or downloading a video game file, try disconnecting other, less-used devices from your network. Watch your data usage. Some rural internet providers do enforce data caps. Going over your limit could result in significantly slower speeds for the remainder of your billing cycle, so keep an eye on your data usage if you have a cap.
How we chose the best rural internet providers
Availability is an important consideration for CNET when evaluating home internet providers, but it plays an even larger role when it comes to rural areas where there are fewer practical broadband options.
Using the most recent FCC data, I determined which wired and wireless providers had the largest coverage areas, particularly in regions with low population densities. I then compared the speeds, pricing and service details of each to determine which providers may be the best option for rural residents.
For more information about our review process, see our guide to how CNET reviews internet providers.
Rural internet FAQs
What are my options for internet in a rural area? Satellite internet from Hughesnet, Starlink or Viasat is almost always going to be an option because of the wireless delivery, but satellite comes with a few downsides, not least of which is the high pricing. Other wireless internet options for rural areas include fixed wireless service from providers such as Rise Broadband and AT&T and 5G home internet. T-Mobile offers the greatest 5G coverage in rural areas with max speeds of 72 to 245Mbps starting at $50 a month. DSL is another popular internet option in rural areas, but speeds can vary significantly by location and provider. For the fastest rural DSL speeds, look to ISPs CenturyLink and Kinetic. Cable internet is will likely be your best option for speed variety and connection reliability, but availability is limited in rural areas. Show more
Why aren't there more rural internet options? Installation and operation costs are the main factors preventing ISPs from expanding their networks into rural or suburban markets with low population density. Satellite and fixed wireless services are common in rural areas because providers can broadcast internet signals over a large area without having to run physical cables to each address. DSL service is also common since the technology largely makes use of existing phone lines, which are readily available in many rural areas. Coaxial (traditional "cable") and fiber-optic lines are less accessible in rural areas as the cost of installing lines is often much more than the provider will get in return. This means major cable internet providers like Cox, Spectrum and Xfinity, as well as fiber providers such as AT&T, Google Fiber and Verizon, are less inclined to expand service into rural areas. Show more
What internet connection type is best for rural areas? Wired connection types, such as DSL (copper), cable and fiber-optic internet, typically offer faster speeds and better reliability than wireless, although 5G wireless home internet could prove to be a better option than DSL. Although fiber-optic internet is difficult to come by, especially in rural areas, cable internet is available to 82% of US households, according to the FCC, and is capable of download speeds of 250Mbps or higher in nearly all service areas. In rural areas where wired connections are unavailable, fixed wireless or 5G home internet are the top choices. You'll likely get faster speeds, more data (possibly unlimited) and lower latency with fixed wireless or 5G compared with satellite internet. As a last resort, satellite internet is available virtually everywhere. Prices are high for the speeds you get, and data restrictions can make it difficult to use your internet for streaming, but it's an option for rural internet if no others are available. Show more
Who has the fastest rural internet? Ziply Fiber is the fastest rural internet provider with maximum download speeds of up to 50,000Mbps (50Gbps) available in rural parts of Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington. Ziply Fiber also offers a 5Gbps and 1Gbps plan. Aside from Ziply Fiber, the fastest rural internet providers include Kinetic, Rise Broadband and Mediacom, all of which offer maximum download speeds of around 1Gbps. Show more
Is rural internet fast enough for streaming? Speeds of up to 10Mbps, which are available to nearly all US households, will support light streaming activity such as streaming in standard definition on a single device. Faster speeds, such as CenturyLink's 100Mbps plan or Mediacom's 100Mbps plan, will support streaming in higher resolution and on more devices. The primary issue with streaming in rural areas isn't speed but data. Streaming typically consumes more data than anything else we use the internet for, so you'll want to look for a rural internet option with a high data cap or unlimited data if you typically do a lot of streaming. Try to avoid satellite internet and its strict data limits that, once exceeded, may result in restricted or reduced speeds that cannot support streaming. Show more
Is Viasat or Hughesnet better for rural areas? Viasat has faster maximum speeds — over 150Mbps in select areas compared with Hughesnet's maximum of 100Mbps — and possibly higher data allowances, but Hughesnet is cheaper and likely to be the better value. The choice between Hughesnet and Viasat comes down to whether Viasat's higher price is worth the potentially faster speeds and higher data allowance. For more details, check out our Hughesnet versus Viasat comparison. Show more
Will internet service in rural areas get any better? It's doubtful that cable or fiber providers will significantly expand into rural areas unless a driving force like population growth or development occurs, but emerging 5G and satellite technologies could help close the digital divide in the coming years. While AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon are actively deploying 5G service across the US, Elon Musk and his satellite service Starlink are ramping up to completely disrupt the satellite internet market. Stay tuned for updates regarding these technologies and others that could impact your home internet service, rural or otherwise. Show more