What is the best mobile internet provider?
The best mobile Internet provider in Alabama is AT&T Fiber. It’s reliable for most people with its 100% fiber optic connection that delivers fast, symmetrical upload and download speeds—the fastest on mobile at up to 5,000Mbps. AT&T also offers straightforward pricing and simple terms of service that include unlimited data, free equipment rentals, and no contract requirements.
Considering speed and benefits, AT&T Fiber is a great value, but it’s not the cheapest internet available in the area. If you’re looking for something more budget-friendly, the 250Mbps plan from MediaComer starts at $20 per month. This provider also offers the lowest introductory rate on high-speed gigabit service, starting at $60 per month.
Technically, Verizon 5G home internet can offer cheaper mobile internet. Its Home Plus plan advertises speeds of up to 1,000Mbps at the discounted rate of $45 per month (regularly $70) for qualifying Verizon mobile customers. Actual speeds will vary, between 85 and 1,000Mbps, depending on your location.
T-Mobile Home Internet offers a similar discount to customers on its Magenta Max plan, but it doesn’t match the speed potential of Verizon 5G home Internet. The service starts at $50 per month, or $30 with bundle discounts, for speeds ranging from 72 to 245Mbps.
The best mobile internet
Mobile Internet Providers, Alabama compared
| bidder | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data | Contract | CNET Review Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Read the full review |
DSL, fiber | $55 DSL, $55-$245 fiber | 10-100Mbps DSL, 300-5,000Mbps fiber | ANY | ANY | ANY | 7.4 |
| Media Read the full review |
CABLES | $20-$60 | 250-1,000Mbps | $15 modem rental | 350-3,000 GB | ANY | 6.4 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
No landline | $50 ($35 with eligible cellular plans) | 87-318Mbps | ANY | ANY | ANY | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Internet at home Read the full review |
No landline | $50-$70 ($35-$45 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers) | 50-1,000Mbps | ANY | ANY | ANY | 7.2 |
| Xfinity Read the full review |
CABLES | $35-$95 | 150-1,200Mbps | $15 (included in most plans) | 1.2tb or unlimited | None required | 7 |
Show more (1 item)
Shop providers at my address
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is the cheapest mobile internet plan?
| I plan | Initial price | Maximum download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xfinity Connect Read the full review |
35 dollars | 150Mbps | $15 (optional) |
| Media Read the full review |
20 dollars | 250Mbps | $15 modem rental |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible cellular plans) | 87-318Mbps | ANY |
| Verizon 5G Internet at home Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible cellular plans) | 50-300Mbps | ANY |
| AT&T Fiber 300 Read the full review |
55 dollars | 300Mbps | ANY |
Show more (1 item)
Shop providers at my address
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find online deals and promotions on mobile
The best online deals and top mobile promotions depend on what discounts are available during that time. Most deals are short-lived, but we check often for the latest deals.
Mobile Internet providers like XFinity may offer lower introductory prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, including AT&T and Mediacom, run the same standard price year-round.
For a more extensive list of deals, check out our guide to the best internet deals.
Fastest mobile internet plans
| I plan | Initial price | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | Data | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T 5000 fiber Read the full review |
245 dollars | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | ANY | Fiber |
| AT&T Fiber 2000 Read the full review |
145 dollars | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | ANY | Fiber |
| Xfinity extra gigabit Read the full review |
95 dollars | 1,200Mbps | 35Mbps | 1.2tb or unlimited | CABLES |
| AT&T 1000 fiber Read the full review |
80 dollars | 1.000Mbps | 1.000Mbps | ANY | Fiber |
| Mediacom 1 concert Read the full review |
60 dollars | 1.000Mbps | 64Mbps | 3,000 GB | CABLES |
| Xfinity Gigabit Read the full review |
65 dollars | 1.000Mbps | 20Mbps | 1.2TB | CABLES |
| Verizon 5G Home plus Internet Read the full review |
$70 ($45 with eligible cellular plans) | 85-1,000Mbps | 50-75Mbps | ANY | No landline |
Show more (3 items)
Shop providers at my address
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is 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 video conferencing, video streaming, or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a stronger connection. Here’s a summary of the minimum recommended download speeds for various applications, according to the Federal Communications Commission. Note that these are guidelines only 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 lets you handle the basics: web browsing, sending and receiving email, and streaming low-quality video.
- 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher quality video streaming and video conferencing.
- 40 to 100Mbps should give a user enough bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommunications, video streaming and online gaming.
- 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities such as video conferencing, 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 picked the best mobile Internet providers
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike a smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen appliance, it is impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What is our approach? We start by researching pricing, availability, and speed information in our historical ISP data, provider pages, and map information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
It doesn’t end here. We go to the FCC website to check our records and make sure we consider every ISP that offers service in an area. We also enter local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look to sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power, to gauge how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent change; All information provided is correct as of the time of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three key questions:
- Does the provider provide access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Are customers getting good value for what they pay?
- Are customers satisfied with their service?
The answer to those questions is often layered and complex, providers that come close to “yes” to all three are the ones we recommend. When it comes to choosing 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 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 Mobile FAQ
What is the best mobile internet service provider?
AT&T Fiber is the best mobile internet service provider because of its wide fiber coverage, symmetrical speed and download speed, favorable terms of service and high customer satisfaction. Xfinity is a close second, boasting the best wired Internet coverage on mobile and the cheapest Internet plan of any major ISP in the area.
Is Fiber Internet available on mobile?
Yes. Nearly half of all mobile households are connected to fiber Internet service, according to the FCC. Availability is greatest in the Crichton, Princeton Woods and Navco communities, but fiber service can be found in random neighborhoods throughout the cell. AT&T is the leading provider of fiber Internet in the mobile area.
Who is the cheapest mobile internet provider?
Mediacom is the cheapest internet provider in the area, with prices starting at $20 for 250Mbps speeds. However, prices increase after a year.
Which mobile internet provider offers the fastest plan?
AT&T Fiber offers the fastest mobile Internet plan, up to 5,000Mbps starting at $245 per month. The plan, along with other AT&T fiber plans ranging from 300 to 2,000Mbps, comes with the fiber-only advantage of symmetrical upload and download speeds, a benefit not usually available from other types of Internet connections.