Best Internet Providers in Phoenix

Phoenix is the largest city in Arizona—not surprising since it’s the state capital—with 1.6 million residents. If you’re adding your own name to that sizable population count, then welcome to the Valley of the Sun. As you start to get settled in your new home, you’ll want to make sure you have plenty of sunscreen and an umbrella for monsoon season. And, one of the first things you’ll want to do is research internet providers in Phoenix to find one that meets your home networking needs and learn about all of the cool things to do in your new city.

Overview of Internet Providers in Phoenix

If you’re moving to Phoenix from a smaller city, you’ll be happy to learn that there are plenty of options for fast and affordable broadband service. Most neighborhoods are actually serviced by at least two providers, giving you more choice.

Higher speeds are generally best for streaming sites like Netflix and Hulu. If you don’t subscribe to services like that, then a slower connection will suffice.

There are three primary internet providers in Phoenix: Cox Communications, CenturyLink, and Phoenix Internet. Their coverage areas tend to overlap significantly, which means all three of these companies could compete for your business.

• Cox Communication is a cable internet provider with speeds that go as high as 300 Mbps. Cable internet service relies on the same coaxial cable that delivers cable TV to your home. While it is very fast, cable internet has one disadvantage: Its total bandwidth is shared among everyone in a particular area. This causes its reputation for slowing down when a lot of people are using it, such as in the evening when everyone is home and streaming their favorite, binge-worthy shows.
• CenturyLink offers DSL service. DSL, or Digital Subscriber Line, uses phone lines to carry the internet. It’s slower than cable, topping out at 100 Mbps, but this bandwidth is dedicated to you—it’s not shared with your neighbors. That means DSL service never slows down based on how much bandwidth your neighbors are using.
• Phoenix Internet offers an alternative to all of these “wired” internet solutions. Its fixed wireless service transmits the internet to your home via a high-speed wireless network that’s similar to 5G cellular technology. Phoenix needs to install an antenna on your roof to receive the signal, but the coverage area is enormous. It even works in rural parts of Phoenix, outlying areas where cable and DSL haven’t reached. One thing to keep in mind about fixed wireless is that it’s slower than wired internet at just 25 Mbps.

Both Cox and CenturyLink also offer fiber internet in limited areas of the city. Often referred to as gigabit service, this service uses fiber optic cables and it’s the fastest residential internet service you can buy, clocking in around 940 Mbps for Cox and 1,000 Mbps for CenturyLink. Like cable, fiber is shared, but it is so fast that neighboring traffic will never affect you.

Which Internet Speed Is Right For You?

You might think it’s a good idea to sign up for the fastest internet speed you can find, but in reality, you probably don’t need gigabit service, or even 100 Mbps.

Higher speeds are generally best for streaming sites like Netflix and Hulu. If you don’t subscribe to services like that, then a slower connection will suffice. But if you stream TV shows and movies on a regular basis, Phoenix Wireless’s 25 Mbps should keep you up to speed. If several people in the home will be using their own screens at the same time, multiply 20 Mbps for each person in the family—you’ll want at least 40 Mbps for two people or 80 Mbps for a family of four. If you’re into gaming or work remotely from your home, consider 100 Mbps.

A good rule of thumb is to start with the cheapest service you think you’ll need. You can always step up to a faster service tier later on if needed.

Which of the Internet Providers in Phoenix Should You Choose?

Which provider you choose depends on a number of factors. First, you need to determine which companies can service your address.

If you want a bundle that combines internet, phone, and television, check out CenturyLink and Cox Communications. Cox has “triple play” plans that include internet, phone, and cable TV. The bundles could cost as little as $90 per month or as much as $160 per month, depending upon speed and the TV packages. CenturyLink offers similar bundles, but because it’s DSL service, the TV comes via DIRECTV satellite and is priced at $135 or more.

You can opt out of bundles as well. If all you want is internet, Cox can deliver 50 Mbps for $40 per month, while CenturyLink goes up to 100 Mbps for just a little more. Phoenix Internet’s fixed wireless starts at $50 per month for 25 Mbps.

Before you settle on a provider and schedule an installation date, be sure that you get the best deal you can. Compare each provider’s plans and see if they are offering a promotion. There’s a good chance you can get a great introductory deal that saves you a substantial amount for the first six or 12 months.

Home Sweet Home

You’ll be in Phoenix soon, kicking off a new chapter—don’t get caught without a connection. Check out the best options for internet providers in Phoenix that are available in your new neighborhood.

Want to avoid the hassle and wasted time spent individually going online or calling each internet provider available in your area? Use the free FindYourInternet shop-and-compare tool to easily search available offers at your home address.

Dave Johnson

Dave Johnson has been writing about tech since the days of the Palm Pilot. He’s the author of three dozen books about digital photography, tech, and robots, and he even authored an interactive children’s storybook. Dave started out in the Air Force, where he spent a few years flying satellites and teaching space operations. Dave has co-hosted a number of podcasts and in what little spare time he has left, he scuba dives and plays drums.

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