Internet providers in San Francisco, CA
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Cheapest plans available
Prices from
$19.99
per month
Speeds up to
2,000
Mbps
with a mobile unlimited plan that includes 5G Ultra Wideband. With Auto Pay + Paperless billing.
Widely available service
Prices from
$55.00
per month
Speeds up to
5,000
Mbps
Price after $5/mo Autopay & Paperless bill discount (w/in 2 bills). Monthly State Cost Recovery Charge in TX, OH, NV applies. One time install charge may apply.
Good internet and wireless bundles
Explore internet options in San Francisco
San Francisco has over half a dozen internet providers, with plans starting at $19.99/month. AT&T and Xfinity cover most of San Francisco, while Astound Broadband, T-Mobile and Verizon 5G offer affordable options. High-speed internet up to 10 GB is available with Sonic’s fiber connection, and rural internet is available through fixed wireless service or satellite from Hughesnet, Starlink and Viasat.
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Allconnect’s team of broadband experts regularly reviews the top internet service providers in the U.S., scrutinizing each company under a rigorous scoring system to help our readers make informed internet purchases. We keep our data points accurate and up to date based on thorough research and partnership communications. Our content is not directed by partners. Visit our full methodology page and advertising disclosure to learn more.
Best San Francisco internet providers
- Xfinity: Cheapest plans available
- AT&T: Widely available service
- Unwired Ltd: Best rural coverage
- Verizon 5G: Fastest 5G plans
- T-Mobile: Good internet and wireless bundles
- Sonic: Fastest plans available
- Astound Broadband: Good internet and TV bundles
San Francisco internet comparison
The following table compares the price and speed range of the most available cable, fiber, 5G and fixed wireless internet providers in San Francisco.
Provider | Starting price range* | Download speed range | Connection type | Availability |
---|---|---|---|---|
Xfinity | $19.99–$120/mo. | 75–2,000 Mbps | Cable, fiber | 97% |
AT&T | $55–$225/mo. | Up to 25 Mbps | DSL, fiber | 96% |
Unwired Ltd. | $55–$145/mo. | Varies | Fixed wireless | 93% |
Verizon 5G | $60–$80/mo. | 85–1,000 Mbps | 5G | 55% |
T-Mobile | $50/mo. | 72–245 Mbps | 5G | 44% |
Sonic | $49.99/mo. | up to 10 GB | Fiber | 27% |
Astound Broadband | $20–$55/mo. | 300–1,500 Mbps | Cable | 24% |
Methodology
We rated the largest internet providers in the U.S. for 2024. Each provider was rated on a scale of 1 to 5 based on over a dozen factors, including speed, cost, availability, fees, customer satisfaction, connection type and more. We also used data from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to compare the average speed offered by internet companies in the U.S. to set a baseline for what is considered a good internet speed. Additionally, we analyzed data from the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) to understand how each internet service provider (ISP) fares in customer service and perceived value.
How to choose an internet provider in San Francisco
Choose your best internet option in San Francisco by considering your budget and the internet speed you need. A good internet speed is not necessarily the plan with the most Mbps. Only heavy internet users with many devices need to upgrade to the fastest available plans. Households with few devices and light internet use can choose a basic or mid-tier internet plan.
When you compare plans, note how long the monthly price remains the same. Providers guarantee the price for 12 or 24 months or longer. A longer guarantee is usually a better value, so you don’t have to deal with price increases. Plans may have extra fees for a modem and router and installation, while other providers offer these items free of charge.
San Francisco internet provider reviews
Decide which San Francisco home Wi-Fi provider is the best for you after you learn more about the equipment, data and term agreement details for each.
Xfinity – Cheapest plans available
Overall score: 4.0 out of 5.
Read our full Xfinity review.
Xfinity internet in San Francisco starts at $19.99/mo. and has a wide variety of cable internet plans at 75, 200, 400 or 800 Mbps. Xfinity offers fiber internet with symmetrical upload and download speeds at 1, 1.2 and 2 GB. Prepaid internet plans are also available starting at $15.
The options make it easy to find a plan without overspending on excessive internet speed. Some Xfinity plans come with extra fees, such as an xFi Gateway for $15/mo. You can use your modem and router, but you must use the xFi Complete gateway to get unlimited internet with Xfinity. The xFi Complete is $15/mo. for the first 12 months, then $25/mo. after.
AT&T – Widely available service
Overall score: 4.1 out of 5.
Read our full AT&T review.
Plans from AT&T Internet in San Francisco are $55/mo. for 12 months. Download speeds go up to 75 Mbps, and a $99 installation fee may apply. With AT&T Internet, a 150 GB data limit applies and a $10 overage fee for an additional 50 GB blocks of data. If you have AT&T Fiber available at your San Francisco location, plans start at $55/mo. for 300 Mbps and go up to $180/mo. for 4,700 Mbps. All AT&T Fiber plans are unlimited and have no contract, with equipment costs included in the monthly rate.
Unwired Ltd – Best rural coverage
Unwired Ltd mounts an antenna outside your home to connect with the nearest tower, providing residential and business internet service. Speeds vary by address, and the best speeds with Unwired Ltd will occur if your home is closer to the tower and nothing obstructs the line of sight between the tower and the antenna.
Equipment rental is already factored into the monthly cost, but a $10/mo. equipment maintenance charge and a $100 installation fee will apply. Unwired Ltd is based in San Francisco, making it easy to reach a local technician if your Wi-Fi isn’t working or other issues arise.
Verizon 5G – Fastest 5G plans
Overall score: 4 out of 5.
Read our full Verizon 5G review.
Verizon 5G has two plans available, offering speeds up to 300 Mbps or up to 1,000 Mbps. The standalone internet plans are $60 and $80/mo., or $35 and $45/mo. when bundled with qualifying Verizon wireless plans. Plans are unlimited and equipment does not cost extra.
T-Mobile – Good internet and wireless bundles
Overall score: 4.1 out of 5.
Read our full T-Mobile review.
T-Mobile is unlimited, no-contract 5G home internet that can reach speeds of 245 Mbps. While this speed isn’t great for the most connected households, it is a reliable plan for light-to-medium internet users. Streaming, gaming and video conferencing can work on 5G internet, but network congestion can cause slower speeds throughout the day. Bundling T-Mobile 5G service with wireless is a good value that can save up to $20/mo. off the monthly price.
Sonic – Fastest plans available
Overall score: 4 out of 5.
Read our full Sonic review.
Sonic Fiber internet differs from other ISPs in San Francisco because there are no different plan tiers, just one type of internet deal, at $49.99/mo. for up to 1 GB and $59.99/mo. for speeds as fast as 10 GB (availability will depend on your address). The provider offers free installation and unlimited data, making this plan a great value for fiber service. Sonic works with Bay Area residential communities to provide service to multi-unit buildings.
Astound Broadband – Good internet and TV bundles
Overall score: 4 out of 5.
Read our full Astound Broadband review.
Astound Broadband plans in San Francisco are a good value because the low prices are guaranteed for two years. Plus, Astound doesn’t have fees that other providers charge for, like equipment and installation. Astound offers 300, 600, 1,000 and 1,500 Mbps plans in the Bay Area, with a free month of internet service on all plans. Basic TV bundles with Astound start at $52.37/mo. Availability is limited to the areas along the western coast of the San Francisco Bay around Palo Alto, San Mateo and Daly City.
Cheap internet in San Francisco
The cheapest San Francisco internet plan is Xfinity Connect starting at $19.99/mo. The price is guaranteed for 12 months, and the equipment costs extra, or you can provide your own modem and router. However, Astound’s 300 Mbps plan is a better value at $20/mo. This plan has three times the speed and includes equipment and a 24-month price guarantee.
Plan | Starting price* | Download speed | Connection type |
---|---|---|---|
Xfinity Connect | $19.99/mo. | 75 Mbps | Cable |
Astound Broadband | $20/mo. | 300 Mbps | Cable |
T-Mobile 5G Home | $60/mo. | up to 245 Mbps | 5G |
AT&T Fiber 300 | $55/mo. | 300 Mbps | Fiber |
Fastest internet in San Francisco
According to the FCC, San Francisco’s fastest speeds of at least 1,000 Mbps are available in about 45% of the city, slightly more than the nationwide average. However, over 99% of the area has access to speeds of at least 250 Mbps, compared to 88% of the entire country. This level of high-speed internet coverage is likely attributed to the fact that San Francisco is the most densely populated city in California, with very few homes outside the urban and suburban centers.
Fast internet service from Astound, Xfinity and Sonic is available in the Bay Area. Astound offers a cheaper price for 1,200 Mbps compared to Xfinity. Sonic potentially offers the fastest speed, depending on your location.
Plan | Starting price* | Download speed | Connection type |
---|---|---|---|
Xfinity Gigabit Extra | $70/mo. | 1,200 Mbps | Fiber |
Astound Broadband | $55/mo. | 1,500 Mbps | Cable |
Xfinity Gigabit X2 | $120/mo. | 2,000 Mbps | Fiber |
Sonic | $49.99/mo. | up to 10 GB | Fiber |
San Francisco internet technologies
San Francisco offers a broad range of internet technologies, including fiber, cable, 5G, fixed wireless, satellite and DSL. Learn more about each type of connection to help you choose the best internet plan.
Fiber’s fast, symmetrical speeds make it ideal for gaming and streaming, while cable is also fast enough for most needs but has slower upload speeds. 5G is easy to set up but may fluctuate with user traffic, similar to how fixed wireless varies in speed based on proximity to the nearest radio tower. Satellite options like Hughesnet, Starlink, and Viasat are good for rural internet but often come with data limits and high equipment costs. DSL, using older copper lines, may have inconsistent quality due to less frequent maintenance.
Tech Type | Starting price | Speeds | San Francisco availability |
---|---|---|---|
Fiber | $55/mo. | Up to 10 GB | 42% |
Cable | $19.99/mo. | Up to 2 GB | 97% |
5G/fixed wireless | $60/mo. | Up to 1 GB | 56% |
Satellite | $49.99/mo. | Up to 150 Mbps | 100% |
DSL/copper | $55/mo. | Up to 100 Mbps | 24% |
San Francisco internet FAQs
How much does internet cost in San Francisco?
Xfinity and Astound Broadband offer the cheapest internet in San Francisco for around $20/mo. Internet from other ISPs in San Francisco like AT&T and T-Mobile start at around $50–$55/mo.
Does San Francisco have fiber internet?
Yes, fiber internet in San Francisco is offered by Xfinity and Sonic.
What’s the most popular internet provider in San Francisco?
AT&T and Xfinity are the most available internet services in the Bay Area, making these popular with San Francisco residents. However, T-Mobile is rated the best in customer satisfaction by the ACSI.
This content is produced through an alliance between USA TODAY and Allconnect.com. Under the alliance, Allconnect publishes articles about broadband-related topics upholding strict editorial integrity standards in line with USA TODAY’s Principles of Ethical Conduct. The opinions, analyses, reviews and recommendations expressed are those of the Allconnect editorial staff alone. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information. Read more about our Allconnect Advertising Disclosure.
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