Finest Web Suppliers in Columbia, South Carolina

What’s the perfect web supplier in Columbia?

When you’re on the lookout for the perfect web supplier in Columbia, South Carolina, our broadband specialists have gotten you lined. This famously sizzling Soda Metropolis — endearingly nicknamed “Cola” — is South Carolina’s capital. Cola residents have a number of choices on the subject of web however the perfect web supplier and plan for you’ll depend upon just a few components, together with pace necessities and finances. So far as the highest supplier goes, AT&T Fiber is our best choice for the perfect web service supplier in Columbia.

Excellent news for residents of the previous residence of the world’s largest hearth hydrant: Median obtain speeds in Columbia exceed 200 megabits per second, in line with Ookla information. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the identical dad or mum firm as CNET, Ziff Davis.) Whereas we advocate AT&T Fiber, its anticipated speeds are on par with Spectrum’s, its largest competitor inside Columbia, in line with Ookla.

Aside from these two main ISPs, some Soda Metropolis residents can join with Verizon and T-Cellular’s 5G residence web. When you’re on the lookout for the speediest plan within the metropolis, AT&T Fiber’s multi-gig plans prime out at 5,000Mbps. However, there are just a few reasonably priced choices within the space, however the most cost-effective web belongs to Spectrum’s $30-a-month plan for 100Mbps.

Finest web in Soda Metropolis

Supply: CNET evaluation of supplier information

Different accessible web suppliers in Columbia

A lot of the metropolis may have entry to AT&T’s fiber web (or EarthLink’s piggybacked possibility) or cable web by means of Spectrum. In distinction, some neighborhoods have entry to T-Cellular or Verizon’s 5G choices, in addition to regional carriers ispMint and EIN. Listed here are the opposite choices within the metropolis not listed above.

• EarthLink: EarthLink makes use of different networks to attach its clients to the web. The corporate supplies a very good number of speeds, beginning at 100Mbps and going as much as a whopping 5,000Mbps, with costs starting from $60 to $190.
• EIN: This Kansas-based ISP serves a few of Columbia and its surrounding areas. DSL web plans begin at $88 month-to-month for 6Mbps in obtain speeds. Nevertheless, the tiers vary from 300Mbps to blazing speeds of 5,000Mbps.
• ispMint: A veteran-owned supplier serving principally rural clients, its $199 plan (which requires buying a $299 gadget or an additional $30 monthly to lease) averages between 15 to 50Mbps.
• Hughesnet: Columbia residents doubtless received’t want satellite tv for pc web (SpaceX’s Starlink can also be accessible nearly in every single place within the metropolis). Hughesnet presents speeds of 50Mbps with costs beginning at $50 with a two-year contract and tools charges. Columbia residents have entry to its Fusion plans, a satellite tv for pc and wi-fi residence web combo.
• T-Cellular Residence Web: The wi-fi provider’s 5G residence web generally is a compelling possibility by way of value if it’s accessible to you, particularly in case you have sure cell plans with the corporate. Speeds vary from 72 to 245Mbps for $60 monthly. It turns into a way more compelling possibility for purchasers of the corporate’s Go5G Plus or Magenta Max cellphone plans, which drops the value to $40 month-to-month. T-Cellular clients with Go5G, Magenta or Necessities plans get a smaller discounted value of $40 monthly. 
• Viasat: Viasat has a singular plan that options speeds of as much as 150Mbps for $120 monthly. Whereas limitless information is obtainable, you’ll be able to count on a month-to-month comfortable cap of 850GB.

Low cost web choices in Columbia

You possibly can count on to spend round $51 monthly to connect with the web in Columbia. If you would like extra pace, there are lots of choices. That is excellent news for individuals who wish to beat town’s well-known warmth by staying indoors.

Most plans begin round $50 monthly. Nevertheless, eligible cell clients with Verizon and T-Cellular can obtain discounted charges.

What is the most cost-effective web plan in Columbia?

Supply: CNET evaluation of supplier information

Find out how to discover web offers and promotions in Columbia

The perfect web offers and prime promotions in Columbia depend upon what reductions can be found throughout a given time. Most offers are short-lived, however we glance often for the most recent presents. 

Columbia web suppliers, akin to Spectrum and Verizon, might supply decrease introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a restricted time. Others, nevertheless, together with AT&T and T-Cellular run the identical customary pricing year-round. 

For a extra in depth checklist of promos, try our information on the finest web offers. 

How briskly is Columbia broadband?

In line with the most recent Ookla pace check information, Columbia residents have entry to a snug mounted median obtain pace of 230Mbps. Gig-plus choices can be found from AT&T, Spectrum and native ISP CarolinaConnect Cooperative. AT&T Fiber has the quickest hookup, that includes 5,000Mbps in obtain and add speeds.

Quickest web plans in Columbia

Supply: CNET evaluation of supplier information

What’s a very good web pace?

Most web connection plans can now deal with fundamental productiveness and communication duties. When you’re on the lookout for an web plan that may accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you may have a greater expertise with a extra strong connection. This is an outline of the beneficial minimal obtain speeds for numerous functions, in line with the FCC. Observe that these are solely tips — and that web pace, service and efficiency fluctuate by connection kind, supplier and handle.

For extra data, confer with our information on how a lot web pace you really want.

• 0 to 5Mbps means that you can deal with the fundamentals — looking the web, sending and receiving electronic mail, streaming low-quality video.
• 5 to 40Mbps provides you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
• 40 to 100Mbps ought to give one person ample bandwidth to fulfill the calls for of contemporary telecommuting, video streaming and on-line gaming. 
• 100 to 500Mbps permits one to 2 customers to concurrently interact in high-bandwidth actions like videoconferencing, streaming and on-line gaming. 
• 500 to 1,000Mbps permits three or extra customers to interact in high-bandwidth actions on the identical time.

How CNET selected the perfect web suppliers in Columbia

Web service suppliers are quite a few and regional. Not like the most recent smartphone, laptop computer, router or kitchen device, it is impractical to personally check each ISP in a given metropolis. So what’s our strategy? We begin by researching the pricing, availability and pace data drawing on our personal historic ISP information, the supplier websites and mapping data from the Federal Communications Fee at FCC.gov.

But it surely doesn’t finish there. We go to the FCC’s web site to examine our information and guarantee we’re contemplating each ISP that gives service in an space. We additionally enter native addresses on supplier web sites to search out particular choices for residents. To guage how glad clients are with an ISP’s service, we take a look at sources together with the American Buyer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Energy. ISP plans and costs are topic to frequent modifications; all data supplied is correct as of the time of publication. 

As soon as we now have this localized data, we ask three predominant questions: 

• Does the supplier supply entry to fairly quick web speeds? 
• Do clients get respectable worth for what they’re paying? 
• Are clients pleased with their service? 

Whereas the solutions to these questions are sometimes layered and sophisticated, the suppliers that come closest to “sure” on all three are those we advocate. 

To discover our course of in additional depth, go to our How We Check ISPs web page.

What is the closing phrase on web suppliers in Columbia?

Most Columbia residents will probably be nicely served by Spectrum’s cable connection which is broadly accessible within the metropolis. Some Cola residents have entry to 5G residence web from T-Cellular or Verizon — every makes for a very good possibility for current clients of their wi-fi providers because of the deep month-to-month reductions they provide. AT&T Fiber’s protection is proscribed within the metropolis, but when your handle is serviceable, I might put it on the prime of your checklist.

Web suppliers in Columbia FAQs