What is the best internet provider in Montgomery?
After thorough research from our broadband experts, CNET recommends WideOpenWest, or WOW, as the best internet service provider in Montgomery, Alabama. With its fast speeds, low pricing and simple service terms, including unlimited data, this cable internet provides the best service for most Montgomery residents. WOW also has the cheapest internet plan in Montgomery, starting at $25 monthly for speeds up to 300 megabits per second. If you were considering AT&T Fiber’s 300Mbps plan, pause, as WOW’s is $30 cheaper. Other WOW plans, ranging from 300 to 1,200Mbps, are also competitively priced.
Cable internet is available at around 81% of households in Montgomery, with Spectrum having slightly higher availability than WOW. For those seeking fiber internet, AT&T Fiber and C Spire are the top providers in the area. AT&T Fiber boasts the best availability, while C Spire offers the fastest multigigabit speeds, reaching up to 8,000 Mbps.
T-Mobile Home Internet has the best fixed wireless broadband coverage in Montgomery, however Verizon 5G Home Internet offers faster speeds. Both providers have discounts available for mobile customers, so the best fixed wireless option for your home may depend on your wireless service carrier.
Best internet in Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery, Alabama, internet providers compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Read full review |
DSL, fiber | $60 DSL, $55-$245 fiber | 10-100Mbps DSL, 300-5,000Mbps fiber | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| C Spire | Fiber | $45-$325 | 500-8,000Mbps | $13 (optional) | None | None | N/A |
| Spectrum Read full review |
Cable | $30-$70 | 100-1,000Mbps | $10 (optional) | None | None | 7.2 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($40-$50 with eligible mobile plans) | 87-415Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 with eligible mobile plans) | 50-1,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
| WideOpenWest | Cable | $30-$95 | 300-1,200Mbps | $10 (optional) | None | None | 7.2 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Montgomery?
| Plan | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum Internet Advantage Read full review |
$30 | 100Mbps | $10 router (optional) |
| WOW Internet 300 Read full review |
$25 | 300Mbps | $10 (optional) |
| C Spire Fiber 500 | $45 | 500Mbps | $13 (optional) |
| WOW Internet 600 Read full review |
$40 | 600Mbps | $10 (optional) |
| Spectrum Internet Premier Read full review |
$50 | 500Mbps | $10 router (optional) |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
$50 ($40 with eligible mobile plans) | 318Mbps | None |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 300Mbps | None |
Show more (3 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Montgomery
Montgomery’s best internet deals and top promotions depend on what discounts are available during a given time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Montgomery internet providers, such as WideOpenWest, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, including AT&T Fiber, Spectrum and C Spire, run the same standard pricing year-round.
Fastest internet plans in Montgomery
| Plan | Starting price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C Spire Fiber 8 Gig | $325 | 8,000Mbps | 8,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| AT&T Internet 5000 Read full review |
$245 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| AT&T Internet 2000 Read full review |
$145 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| C Spire Fiber 2 Gig | $90 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| WOW Internet 1.2 Gig Read full review |
$90 | 1,200Mbps | 50Mbps | None | Cable |
| AT&T Internet 1000 Read full review |
$80 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Spectrum Internet Gig Read full review |
$70 | 1,000Mbps | 35Mbps | None | Cable |
| WOW Internet 1 Gig Read full review |
$55 | 1,000Mbps | 50Mbps | None | Cable |
| Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read full review |
$70 ($45 with eligible mobile plans) | 1,000Mbps | 75Mbps | None | Fixed wireless |
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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 Montgomery, Alabama
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 answers to those questions are often layered and complex, but the providers that 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 Montgomery, Alabama, FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Montgomery?
WideOpenWest, or WOW, is the best internet service provider in Montgomery. WOW is available to more than three-quarters of Montgomery households, second only to Spectrum among wired internet providers, and offers the cheapest internet in the area. WOW plans include unlimited data and no contract requirements.
Is fiber internet available in Montgomery?
Fiber internet is available to just over half of Montgomery addresses, according to FCC data from June 2024. Serviceability is greatest around Alabama State University and the Wynlakes Golf and Country Club, though fiber service can be found in random neighborhoods throughout the city. AT&T Fiber is Montgomery’s largest fiber internet provider, while C Spire has a smaller yet growing local fiber presence.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Montgomery?
WideOpenWest has the cheapest internet in Montgomery, with service starting at $25 monthly for speeds up to 300Mbps. Other WOW plans, including 600Mbps and gig service, are competitively priced as well, starting at $40 and $55 per month, respectively.
Which internet provider in Montgomery offers the fastest plan?
Local fiber internet provider C Spire offers the fastest internet plan in Montgomery with symmetrical speeds up to 8,000Mbps. AT&T Fiber offers the next-fastest plan, up to 5,000Mbps, while both providers offer a 2,000Mbps plan. Cable internet providers WOW and Spectrum have slower max download and upload speeds. WOW offers a 1,200Mbps plan (50Mbps upload speeds), while top download speeds from Spectrum reach 1,000Mbps (35Mbps upload).
