Best Internet Providers in Chicago

Know more about Chicago Internet Providers

The best internet service providers in Chicago, IL are AT&T, Xfinity and RCN.

AT&T provides DSL Internet everywhere in the Chicago metro area. AT&T Fiber-Optic Internet service availability is more limited. Fiber is available at select locations in areas such as Belmont Gardens, Skokie and Arlington Heights.

Xfinity is widely available throughout Chicago. From Park Ridge, Evanston and Lincolnwood to Burbank, Palos Heights and Harvey, you will find that most of the homes in the metro area have Xfinity service. Xfinity also serves Naperville, Bolingbrook, Joliet and Aurora.

Although Xfinity Cable provides the Internet in most parts of the city, there are neighborhoods near Berkeley, Bedford Park, Crestwood and other areas where Xfinity is not available.

RCN Cable will be heading toward Internet plans primarily for Lincolnwood and Evanston. RCN also serves as an Internet option in Skokie, South Brighton and Oakland.

Wow! The city of Chicago provides fast cable internet, mainly in the suburbs. Key areas with the use of WOW! Internet plans include Naperville, Glen Ellyn, Des Plaines and Arlington Heights.

Use our free zip check tool to learn more about leading Internet providers around Chicago and the shop plan sent to your address.

Internet Service Providers in Chicago

Internet at Chicago

Chicago is a huge city, there are many internet providers and types of connection. AT&T offers the largest number of plans - about 70 - for residents.

Internet provider in Chicago

• A wide variety of providers, including household names such as AT&T and Xfinity
• Cable, fiber, DSL and satellite internet connections are available in Chicago
• AT&T, RCN and WOW! Many plans offer

Chicagoans are blessed with good internet providers, including some of the industry's surnames - AT&T, Xfinity and RCN. See a brief description of each, along with some cable, DSL, fiber and satellite plans below.

Cable Internet Provider in Chicago

Cable Internet is the most common type of Internet connection. It is connected by existing cable wires, so buildings that run for cable TV already have the infrastructure for Internet access. For this reason, cable internet is available in most parts of Chicago. RCN is a popular cable internet provider in Chicago.

DSL Internet Provider in Chicago

A small DSL for a digital subscriber line is a type of Internet connection that is faster than a telephone network, much faster than a dial-up connection. Like cable internet, DSL is widely available throughout Edgewater to South Chicago. AT&T and Earthlink are the leading ADSL and VDSL providers in Chicago.

Fiber Internet Provider in Chicago

Fiber optic internet connections are made of a cable that has thin optical fibers. Fiber optic cables allow super-fast connection speeds; No wonder this is called "proof of the future". Fiber networks can only be located in select areas of Chicago; To find out if you are available, enter your address on our Internet search engine. AT&T and WOW! There are two major fiber providers in the city.

Satellite Internet Provider in Chicago

The advantage of satellite internet is its versatility. Since it does not require cables or wires to operate, satellite internet can be accessed by customers living in rural areas of Chicago, where there is no infrastructure for cable, DSL, or fiber connections. Hughesnet and Viasat/ Exede are offering satellite plans for Chicago land.

Internet speed in Chicago

• Depending on the type of connection the range of speed is available
• Fiber and cable internet connections provide faster speeds
• Satellite service is available in urban areas provided by wired connections

We all want to get the most out of our internet plan, and it will most likely accelerate. There is nothing worse than getting stuck with a service that is too slow for your needs. To put this in perspective, here are the top speeds that cable, DSL, fiber and satellite internet connections provide:

• Cable Top Speed: 1Gbps
• DSL Top Speed: 100Mbps
• Fiber Top Speed: 2Gbps
• Satellite Top Speed: 100Mbps

These numbers don't mean much to you if you don't know what speed you need for browsing, gaming or streaming. Use this handy chart to find out what speed you need for your home.

Why we want the Internet in Chicago

Ah, Chicago, Chicago Cubs, Willis Tower, Deep Dish Pizza and the river that turns green on St. Patrick’s Day.

Chicago is a huge and diverse city with 2.7 million inhabitants and 242 square miles. Depending on the size of the city, the entire internet provider and connection type are available. However, plans and providers offered in one part of the city may not be provided in another.

See, the city is full of many ISP networks, so the RCN cable internet service may be available at Wicker Park, which may not be entirely in Wrigleyville.