Best Internet Providers in Mobile, Alabama

What is the best internet provider in Mobile?

The best internet provider in Mobile, Alabama is AT&T Fiber. It is reliable for most people with its 100% fiber-optic connection that offers fast, symmetrical upload and download speeds -- the fastest in Mobile, up to 5,000Mbps. It internet provider also offers straightforward pricing, and simple service terms that include unlimited data, free equipment rental and no contract requirements.

Considering the speeds and perks, AT&T Fiber is an excellent value, but it’s not the cheapest internet available in the area. If you're looking for something more budget-friendly, Xfinity has the cheapest internet plan in Mobile, with service starting at $20 per month for download speeds up to 150 megabits per second. Mediacom has the lowest introductory rate on high-speed gig service, starting at $65 monthly.

Technically, Verizon 5G Home Internet could offer cheaper gig internet in Mobile. Its Home Plus plan advertises speeds up to 1,000Mbps at the discounted rate of $45 per month (regularly $70) for qualifying Verizon mobile customers, but actual speeds will vary, between 85 and 1,000Mbps, depending on your location. 

T-Mobile Home Internet offers a similar discount for Magenta Max customers but doesn’t match the speed potential of Verizon 5G Home Internet. Service starts at $50 per month, or $30 with the bundle discount, for speeds ranging from 72 to 245Mbps.

Best internet in Mobile

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Mobile

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

Mobile internet providers such as Xfinity may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, including AT&T and Mediacom run the same standard pricing year-round. 

For a more extensive list of deals, 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 Federal Communications Commission. 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 Mobile

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 answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who 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 and FCC reports. (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 Mobile FAQs