What is the best internet provider in mobile?
The best internet provider in Mobile, Alabama is AT&T Fiber. It’s reliable for most people with a 100% fiber optic connection that delivers fast, consistent upload and download speeds – the fastest in a mobile phone at up to 5000Mbps. AT&T also offers clear pricing and simple service terms that include unlimited data, free equipment rentals, and no contract requirements.
Considering the speeds and perks, AT&T Fiber is an excellent value, but it’s not the cheapest internet service available in the area. If you’re looking for something a little more budget-friendly, Mediacom’s 250Mbps plan starts at $20 per month. This provider also offers the lowest introductory price for its high-speed gig service, starting at $60 per month.
Technically, Verizon 5G Home Internet could provide cheaper mobile internet. Its Home Plus plan advertises speeds of up to 1,000Mbps at a discounted price of $45 per month ($70 regularly) for eligible Verizon mobile customers. Actual speeds will vary between 85 and 1000 Mbps, depending on your location.
T-Mobile Home Internet is offering a similar discount to customers on its Magenta Max plan, but it doesn’t match the potential speed of Verizon’s 5G Home Internet network. The service starts at $50 per month, or $30 with a bundle discount, for speeds ranging from 72 to 245 Mbps.
The best mobile internet
Compare mobile internet providers in Alabama
| provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data ceiling | a contract | CNET Review Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Read the full review |
DSL, fibre | $55 for DSL, $55-$245 for fiber | 10-100Mbps DSL, 300-5000Mbps Fiber | no one | no one | no one | 7.4 |
| Mediacom Read the full review |
cable | $20 – $60 | 250-1,000 Mbps | Modem rent $15 | 350-3000 GB | no one | 6.4 |
| T-Mobile home internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50 ($35 with qualifying mobile plans) | 87-318 Mbps | no one | no one | no one | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50 – $70 ($35 – $45 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers) | 50-1,000 Mbps | no one | no one | no one | 7.2 |
| Xfinity Read the full review |
cable | $35 – $95 | 150-1,200 Mbps | $15 (included in most plans) | 1.2 TB or unlimited | Nothing required | 7 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is the cheapest mobile internet plan?
| He plans | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Monthly equipment fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xfinity Connect Read the full review |
$35 | 150 Mbps | $15 (optional) |
| Mediacom Read the full review |
$20 | 250 Mbps | Modem rent $15 |
| T-Mobile home internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with qualifying mobile plans) | 87-318 Mbps | no one |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with qualifying mobile plans) | 50-300 Mbps | no one |
| AT&T Fiber 300 Read the full review |
$55 | 300 Mbps | no one |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in mobile
The best online deals and best mobile promotions depend on the discounts available during that period. Most offers are short-term, but we frequently check for the latest offers.
Mobile internet providers like Xfinity may offer lower introductory rates or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, including AT&T and Mediacom, run the same standard rates year-round.
For a more comprehensive list of deals, check out our guide to the best internet deals.
Fastest mobile internet plans
| He plans | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Maximum download speed | Data ceiling | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Fiber 5000 Read the full review |
$245 | 5,000 Mbps | 5,000 Mbps | no one | Fiber |
| AT&T Fiber 2000 Read the full review |
$145 | 2,000 Mbps | 2,000 Mbps | no one | Fiber |
| Xfinity Gigabit Extra Read the full review |
$95 | 1,200 Mbps | 35 Mbps | 1.2 TB or unlimited | cable |
| AT&T Fiber 1000 Read the full review |
$80 | 1,000 Mbps | 1,000 Mbps | no one | Fiber |
| Mediacom 1 GB Read the full review |
$60 | 1,000 Mbps | 64 Mbps | 3000 GB | cable |
| Xfinity Gigabit Read the full review |
$65 | 1,000 Mbps | 20 Mbps | 1.2 TB | cable |
| Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read the full review |
$70 ($45 with qualifying mobile plans) | 85-1,000 Mbps | 50-75 Mbps | no one | Fixed wireless |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is 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 video conferencing, video streaming, or gaming, you’ll get a better experience with a more robust connection. Below is an overview of the minimum recommended download speeds for various applications, According to the Federal Communications Commission. Note that these are just guidelines and that internet speed, service, and performance vary by connection type, provider, and address.
For more information, see our guide on how much internet speed you really need.
- Speeds of 0 to 5 Mbps let you handle the basics: browsing the Internet, sending and receiving email, and streaming low-quality videos.
- 5 to 40 Mbps speed gives you high-quality video streaming and video conferencing.
- A speed of 40 to 100 Mbps should give a single user enough bandwidth to meet the demands of modern remote work, video streaming, and online gaming.
- Speeds of 100 to 500 Mbps allow one or two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities such as video conferencing, streaming, and online gaming.
- Speed of 500 to 1000 Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET picked the best mobile ISPs
ISPs are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphones, laptops, routers or kitchen appliances, it’s not practical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What is our approach? We start by searching for pricing, availability, and speed information based on our own historical ISP data, provider locations, and mapping information from the FCC at FCC.gov.
It doesn’t end there. We go to the FCC website to verify our data and make sure we take into account every ISP that provides service in an area. We also enter local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look to sources, including the US Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with their ISP service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; All information provided is accurate as of the time of publication.
Once we have this local information, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider provide access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Are customers getting adequate value for what they pay?
- Are customers satisfied with their service?
The answers to these questions are often multi-layered and complex, and the providers that come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When it comes to choosing the cheapest internet service, we look for plans with the lowest monthly fees, although we also take into account things like price increases and equipment and contract fees. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively simple. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and also take into account real-world speed data from sources such as Okla 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 to Test ISPs page.
Internet providers in mobile FAQ
What is the best mobile internet service provider?
AT&T Fiber is the best mobile ISP due to its broad fiber coverage, consistent upload and download speeds, favorable terms of service, and high customer satisfaction. Xfinity comes in second, with the best wired mobile internet coverage and the cheapest internet plan of any major ISP in the region.
Is fiber internet available on mobile?
Yes. Nearly half of mobile homes are connected to fiber Internet, According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).. Availability is greatest in the Crichton, Princeton Woods, and Navco communities, but fiber service can be found in random neighborhoods throughout Mobile. AT&T is the major fiber Internet provider in the mobile area.
Who is the cheapest internet provider in Mobile?
Mediacom is the cheapest internet provider in the area, with prices starting at $20 for 250Mbps speeds. But prices rise after a year.
Which mobile internet provider offers the fastest plan?
AT&T Fiber offers the fastest mobile internet plan, up to 5,000 Mbps, starting at $245 per month. The plan, along with other AT&T Fiber plans ranging from 300 to 2,000 Mbps, comes with the unique fiber benefit of identical upload and download speeds, a feature not typically available with other internet connection types.