What is the best internet provider in Hawaii?
CNET's pick for the best internet provider in Hawaii is Spectrum. The provider offers gig speeds and is available throughout much of Hawaii, from the Big Island to Kauai. Spectrum offers multiple speed options for a variety of budgets, unlimited data and a free modem, allowing those already owning a router to skip equipment fees altogether.
While Spectrum technically has fiber available in Hawaii, it's practically impossible to find. Your better bet for a fiber-optic network is Hawaiian Telecom, which offers drastically faster upload speeds than cable and is available to about half the state. If your area doesn't have wired internet service providers or you want a fixed wireless connection, T-Mobile's $50-per-month 5G home internet service is another decent broadband alternative.
If you want the fastest internet in Hawaii, Spectrum and Hawaiian Telecom tie for the fastest internet provider in Hawaii with plans up to 1,000Mbps, with no data caps or required contracts. If you're looking for the cheapest internet, Spectrum and Hawaiian Telecom offer plans starting at $30, although Hawaii Telecom will get you four times the download speeds for that price. Eligible mobile customers can access home internet from Verizon or T-Mobile for as low as $35 per month, although Verizon's 5G Home internet is only available to about 4% of the state.
Best internet in Hawaii in 2025
Hawaii internet providers compared Provider Internet technology Monthly price range Speed range Monthly equipment costs Data cap Contract CNET review score Hawaiian Telcom Fiber $30-$120 400-940Mbps $10 gateway (optional) None None N/A Spectrum
Read full review Cable $30-$70 100-1,000Mbps Free modem; $10 router (optional) None None 7.2 T-Mobile Home Internet
Read full review Fixed wireless $50-$70 ($35-$55 for eligible mobile customers) 87-415Mbps None None None 7.4 Verizon 5G Home Internet
Read full review Fixed wireless $50-$70 ($35-$45 with qualifying mobile plans) 50-250Mbps None None None 7.2 Viasat
Read full review Satellite $100 25-150Mbps $15 monthly or $300 one-time fee 60-500GB 2 years 6.1 Show more (1 item) Shop providers at my address
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Internet breakdown by city in Hawaii
It's hard to cover the broadband options of a state like Hawaii and give individual cities the attention they deserve. That's why we also compile lists of the best internet providers in cities across the US, including those in Hawaii. We tackle details including internet connection types, maximum speeds and cheapest providers. Check back later if you don't find the city you're looking for below. We're working to add more locations every week.
Cheap internet options in Hawaii
Hawaiian Telcom has the cheapest starting price for internet in Hawaii at $30 per month for speeds up to 400Mbps. Spectrum also has a $30 plan but it only offers 100Mbps, meaning that Hawaiian Telcom's upload speed is faster than Spectrum's download speed.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Hawaii? Provider Starting monthly price Max download speed Monthly equipment fee Hawaiian Telcom Symmetrical Fioptics 400 $30 400Mbps $10 (optional) Spectrum Internet Advantage
Read full review $30 100Mbps $10 router (optional) Hawaiian Telcom Symmetrical Fioptics 600 $40 600Mbps $10 (optional) Spectrum Internet Premier
Read full review $50 500Mbps $10 router (optional) T-Mobile Home Internet
Read full review $50 ($35 with eligible mobile plan) 318Mbps None Verizon 5G Home Internet
Read full review $50 ($35 with eligible mobile plan) 250Mbps None Show more (2 items) Shop providers at my address
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
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How to find internet deals and promotions in Hawaii
The best internet deals and top promotions in Hawaii depend on what discounts are available during that time. Most deals are short-lived but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Hawaii internet providers, such as Spectrum and Viasat, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, including Verizon, run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
Photo by SkyHighStudios/Getty Images SkyHighStudios/Getty Images
Fastest internet plans in Hawaii
The FCC reports that 100% of households in Hawaii are eligible for broadband speeds of at least 25Mbps down and 3Mbps up. The most recent Ookla speed test data ranks Hawaii's average download speeds 13th among all states (and Washington, DC) at about 226Mbps. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) Spectrum and Hawaiian Telcom will be your best bets for those speeds and higher.
Regarding speed potential and reliability, I'd prefer a fiber-optic connection like the one you get with Hawaiian Telcom over a cable one from Spectrum. Fiber internet is equipped to support much faster upload speeds and is less susceptible to speed fluctuations during peak use times.
Fastest internet plans in Hawaii Provider Starting monthly price Max download speed Max upload speed Data cap Connection type Hawaiian Telcom Fioptic 1Gig $60 940Mbps 600Mbps None Fiber Spectrum Internet Gig
Read full review $70 1,000Mbps 35Mbps None Cable Show more (0 item) Shop providers at my address
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 user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming.
500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Hawaii
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it's impractical to personally test every internet service provider in a given city. What's our approach? For starters, we tap into a proprietary database of pricing, availability and speed information that draws from our own historical ISP data, partner data 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 answers to those questions are 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.
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
What's the final word on internet providers in Hawaii?
Although some amenities are less accessible or affordable in Hawaii than in other parts of the U.S., broadband connectivity and pricing are as good in Hawaii as anywhere. Spectrum is the best high-speed internet source throughout much of Hawaii, but Hawaiian Telcom's fiber service could be the better value if available at your address.
If neither offers service where you live, T-Mobile Home Internet is a decent option for low-hassle broadband. As a last resort, satellite provider Viasat is available throughout the Aloha State.
Internet providers in Hawaii FAQs
Does Hawaii have fiber internet? Yes, fiber internet is available for about 52% of Hawaii, according to the FCC's Broadband Map. Hawaiian Telcom is the largest fiber-optic provider in Hawaii, with Spectrum's super-sparse fiber network mostly relegated to commercial and municipal buildings. Show more
Is Spectrum or Hawaiian Telcom better? Like many fiber versus cable versus DSL provider comparisons, the answer will come down to which connection type is available at your address. If your address is only wired for cable internet from Spectrum or DSL from Hawaiian Telcom, Spectrum will be the better choice for speeds and overall value. If your address is serviceable for fiber internet from Hawaiian Telcom, you'll likely find the local provider to have better pricing and speed consistency than Spectrum, especially for upload speeds if you deal with any home servers or hosting live streams. Show more