Best Internet Providers in Tennessee

What is the best internet provider in Tennessee?

Tennessee is one of the best places in the United States for internet speeds, ranking eighth among all states for the highest median speeds. It has the potential for either impressive gigabit internet or more low-cost, basic internet packages. With that in mind, if you're looking for the best internet service provider in Tennessee, you've come to the right place.

CNET's top pick for Tennessee's best internet service provider is AT&T Fiber, which offers 300Mbps speeds for as low as $55 a month, but faster AT&T plans offer maximum download speeds of 5,000Mbps (5 gigabits per second), making for the fastest speeds you'll find from any major ISP in the Volunteer State.

There are plenty of internet providers in Tennessee, with varying pricing, speeds and availability depending on your residential location. On the cheaper side, Xfinity's Connect plan comes with download speeds of up to 150Mbps, starting at just $30 per month. Elsewhere, WideOpenWest (WOW) also has a $30 plan with speeds of up to 300Mbps if you're lucky enough to reside in the catchment area.

So whether you’re looking for the cheapest internet, the fastest plan or just an all-around service to fit your needs and your budget, you’ll find a rundown of the best internet providers in Tennessee and what makes them stand out.

Best internet providers in Tennessee

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Other available internet providers in Tennessee

• AT&T Internet: AT&T's copper-based (DSL) side has a larger coverage area than AT&T Fiber, but you'll probably want to explore other options as service starts at $60 per month for the fastest speeds available, typically only around 75 to 225Mbps.
• Brightspeed: After taking over operations from Lumen (CenturyLink, Quantum Fiber) in Tennessee, Brightspeed has continued offering DSL and fiber internet, mostly in the eastern part of the state around Johnson City. As with AT&T and other DSL/fiber providers, I'd recommend checking out the fiber service but passing on the DSL if possible.
• Frontier: Again, pass on the DSL if possible, but check out Frontier Fiber where available (mostly around Cookeville). The speeds, pricing and service terms are as good as any, but availability in Tennessee is highly limited.
• Google Fiber: Finally, a fiber-only provider. If you want gigabit internet, Google Fiber is the way to go.
• WideOpenWest: Also known as WOW, WideOpenWest is a cable provider with speeds and pricing to rival any. However, availability in Tennessee leaves something to be desired, as the Knoxville area is the only presence WOW has in the state.
• Verizon 5G Home Internet: Verizon's home internet service doesn't have the same broad coverage as T-Mobile, but it does offer faster speeds and two plan options: 50 to 300Mbps starting at $50 per month and 85 to 1,000Mbps starting at $70 per month. Qualifying Verizon mobile customers can receive a discount on home internet service. 
• Satellite internet: Some parts of Tennessee will not have any practical home internet options other than satellite. Hughesnet and Viasat are the obvious options for satellite internet. Yet, Starlink and its fleet of low-orbiting satellites may be the best choice for speed, latency and data from a satellite provider.

Tennessee internet options by city

It’s hard to cover the internet options of an entire state like Tennessee while giving individual cities the in-depth attention they deserve. That’s why we’ve also put together lists of the best internet providers in cities across the US, including those in Tennessee. If you don’t find your hometown below, check back later. We’re working to add more every day.

• Best internet providers in Chattanooga
• Best internet providers in Clarksville
• Best internet providers in Franklin
• Best internet providers in Knoxville
• Best internet providers in Memphis
• Best internet providers in Murfreesboro
• Best internet providers in Nashville

Cheap internet options in Tennessee

Xfinity and WOW have plans starting at $30 per month, the cheapest of any major provider in Tennessee. Other providers, such as Spectrum, AT&T and Frontier, may have a higher starting price but come with more speed than the cheapest plans from Xfinity or WOW.

When shopping for cheap internet in Tennessee, keep in mind that equipment fees and service terms like data caps (and overage fees) can add to the total cost of internet. Also, be aware of price increases -- when they will happen and by how much.

Cheapest internet plans in Tennessee

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Tennessee

The best internet deals and the top promotions in Tennessee depend on what discounts are available when you're looking. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers. 

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

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

How fast is Tennessee broadband?

According to Ookla speed test data (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis), Tennessee reaches median download speeds of 230Mbps -- noticeably higher than the national average -- while comparison site BroadbandNow reports that 94.7% of people in the state are able to access speeds of 100Mbps and above.

Nashville was listed as the fastest city in the state with median download speeds of 233Mbps, although Memphis also made the top 100 list with speeds of 184Mbps.

The speed test results are averages, and many factors can affect the results. While speeds around 218Mbps are suitable for most households and internet activities, many may prefer faster speeds. Here’s a look at the fastest internet plans from the top ISPs in Tennessee.

Fastest internet plans in Tennessee

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 Tennessee

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:

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?

While 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 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 Tennessee?

Depending on where you live in Tennessee, multiple options may be available for home internet. AT&T Fiber would be my first choice for home internet in Tennessee, but Xfinity, Spectrum and T-Mobile are also top ISPs in their own ways. 

Others, such as Brightspeed, Google Fiber and Frontier may better suit your needs, although availability is highly limited in the state.

Internet providers in Tennessee FAQs