Best Internet Providers in Macon, Georgia

What is the best internet provider in Macon?

AT&T Fiber is the best internet service provider in Macon. Its fast upload and download speeds, straightforward pricing and high customer satisfaction help the 100% fiber-optic provider to edge out the somewhat limited broadband competition in the area.

Aside from AT&T Fiber, cable internet from Cox and fixed wireless internet from Verizon 5G Home Internet or T-Mobile Home Internet are practical options for broadband in Macon. Each has a standard starting price of $50 per month, but if you qualify for Cox's Connect Assist plan or have a mobile service from T-Mobile or Verizon, you can have lower pricing. 

T-Mobile Home Internet and Cox have the cheapest internet in Macon, starting at $30 per month for qualifying customers. Speeds from T-Mobile Home Internet are slower than other top internet providers in Macon, ranging from 72 to 245 megabits per second. Maximum speeds from Verizon tops out around around 1,000Mbps, while AT&T Fiber and Cox offer offer multi-gigabit speeds in Macon -- Cox up to 2,000Mbps while AT&T offers speeds up to 5,000Mbps.

Best internet in Macon, Georgia

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

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How to find internet deals and promotions in Macon

The best internet deals and top promotions in Macon depend on what discounts are available during that time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers. 

Macon internet providers, such as Cox, may offer lower introductory pricing for a limited time. Many, including AT&T Fiber, Verizon 5G Home Internet and T-Mobile Home Internet, run the same standard pricing year-round. 

For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.

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 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 Macon

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 the time of publication.

Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:

1. Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
2. Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
3. 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 it comes to 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 also take into account real-world speed data from sources like Ookla (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis) and FCC reports.

To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.

Internet providers in Macon FAQs