San Diego is residence to a rising inhabitants of about 1.4 million folks, and nearly all of them would profit from a quick, dependable web connection at residence. Fortunately, the area boasts a good variety of first rate choices for getting on-line, together with fiber, a number of cable suppliers, and rising alternate options like 5G web.
You can plug your zip code into the instrument beneath to see an outline of the choices that out there at your handle, however when you want some help sorting by way of them, we’re right here to assist. Keep studying for a full rundown of what is out there in San Diego to get your own home on-line, together with our prime supplier picks, a take a look at the quickest plans out there, and a take a look at essentially the most inexpensive plans you may discover as you store round.
Chris Delmas/AFP by way of Getty Images
AT&T Fiber is without doubt one of the prime web choices within the nation proper now, providing quick speeds, engaging phrases, and affordable charges that do not go up after a 12 months. Matching near-gigabit add and obtain speeds can be found for $80 monthly, ultra-fast multigig speeds can be found at a choose however rising variety of addresses (together with in San Diego), and the bottom plan with matching speeds of 300Mbps is a terrific deal at $55 monthly.
The drawback is that the majority addresses in AT&T’s nationwide footprint haven’t got entry to fiber — as a substitute, the one possibility out there from AT&T shall be a a lot slower DSL plan. That consists of San Diego, the place AT&T’s fiber infrastructure solely reaches sure neighborhoods and addresses.
“AT&T Fiber is on the market to tons of of hundreds of consumers within the San Diego space,” an AT&T spokesperson mentioned after I requested about fiber availability in San Diego. “Throughout 2022, AT&T will proceed to roll out multi-gig speeds throughout its fiber footprint and densify fiber in San Diego, amongst different cities throughout California.”
Ball-parking it right here, however that comes out to one thing like 1 in 5 San Diego residents who at the moment have entry to AT&T Fiber. It’s price checking to see when you’re one of many fortunate ones, and in that case, it is price signing up, as AT&T Fiber is without doubt one of the finest values for high-speed web out there wherever.
Read the CNET evaluate of AT&T residence web.
Tim Rue/Bloomberg by way of Getty Images
With a cable web footprint that covers the broad majority of downtown San Diego and its surrounding neighborhoods, in addition to protection throughout Chula Vista and El Cajon and areas north of the town like Poway, Ramona and Escondido, Cox is without doubt one of the most prevalent web suppliers within the space. If you are dwelling in San Diego otherwise you’re transferring there, then there is a very first rate likelihood that Cox shall be an possibility at your handle, and the checklist of plans you may join consists of one with obtain speeds as excessive as 940Mbps.
As with all cable suppliers, the draw back is that your add speeds shall be a lot, a lot slower — but when fiber is not out there at your handle, cable remains to be a serviceable possibility for high-speed web at residence. Just remember that Cox plans run on the dear aspect, full with an unavoidable worth leap after 12 months one and a knowledge cap to regulate, so check out your alternate options to verify there is not a greater worth on the market earlier than you join.
Read the CNET evaluate of Cox residence web.
Ry Crist/CNET
You will not discover Spectrum out there in downtown San Diego or the neighborhoods surrounding it — that is Cox territory — however when you’re dwelling north of the Mission Valley Freeway (the 8, by California parlance), then you definately’re seemingly dwelling in Spectrum’s cable protection map, which covers areas west of El Cajon and on up north in direction of Encinitas and Escondido. Good factor, too — between the 2, we are saying Spectrum is the superior cable supplier, and a greater choose for residence web.
Why? For starters, Spectrum does not implement a knowledge cap on any of its plans, so that you need not fear about overage fees or throttling when you exceed a set quantity of information in a given month. Spectrum plans are additionally a greater general worth than Cox plans. For occasion, a 200Mbps plan from Spectrum will price you $50 monthly through the first 12 months and $75 monthly after that. The closest comparability from Cox is a barely slower 150Mbps plan that prices $60 monthly through the first 12 months and $84 monthly after that. That makes Spectrum our prime cable choose for the San Diego space.
Read the CNET evaluate of Spectrum residence web.
T-Mobile
Available at addresses the place the sign is robust sufficient for a flat charge of $50 monthly, T-Mobile’s mobile fastened wi-fi web service leverages the corporate’s 5G and LTE airwaves to ship web connections to folks’s houses with out want for ground-laid cable, DSL or fiber infrastructure. Average speeds vary between 35-115Mbps on the obtain aspect and 6-23Mbps almost about uploads, so it is not blazing-fast by any stretch, however the lack of information caps, contracts, gear charges or pre-scheduled worth will increase make it an interesting possibility nonetheless.
The firm tells CNET that its residence web service is on the market to roughly 40% of households in San Diego, and provides that almost all of these households will join by way of T-Mobile’s 5G community, which implies sooner speeds. That’s sufficient availability to make it price checking to see if T-Mobile is an possibility at your handle, notably if fiber is not, or in case your different alternate options implement knowledge caps.
Read the CNET evaluate of T-Mobile Home Internet.
San Diego web choices in contrast
Internet know-how
Speed vary
Price vary (first 12 months)
Price vary (after 12 months)
Data caps
AT&T Home Internet
DSL
10-100Mbps downloads, 1-20Mbps uploads
$55 monthly
$70 monthly
1TB (no knowledge cap with 100Mbps plan)
AT&T Fiber
Fiber
300-5,000Mbps downloads and uploads
$55-180 monthly
$55-180 monthly
None
Cox
Cable
25-940Mbps downloads, 3-35Mbps uploads
$30-100 monthly
$45-120 monthly
1.25TB
Google Fiber Webpass
Fixed Wireless
1,000Mbps downloads and uploads
$63-70
$63-70
None
Spectrum
Cable
200-940Mbps downloads, 10-35Mbps uploads
$50-80 monthly
$75-115 monthly (costs on sooner plans do not go up till 24 months)
None
Ting
Fiber
1,000Mbps downloads and uploads
$89 monthly
$89 monthly
None
T-Mobile Home Internet
5G/LTE
35-115Mbps downloads, 6-23Mbps uploads
$50 monthly
$50 monthly
None
Ultra Home Internet
5G/LTE
35-115Mbps downloads, 6-23Mbps uploads
$60-190 monthly
$60-190 monthly
25-150GB
Verizon
5G/LTE
300-980Mbps downloads, 50Mbps uploads
$50-70 monthly (50% much less with a qualifying Verizon cellular plan)
$50-70 monthly (50% much less with a qualifying Verizon cellular plan)
None
Other web suppliers in San Diego
Earthlink
An age-old identify in residence web, Earthlink affords connections throughout the nation by leasing infrastructure from different suppliers. In San Diego, that borrowed footprint consists principally of AT&T DSL and fiber hookups.
Leasing infrastructure from different suppliers permits Earthlink to boast an intensive protection map throughout the whole nation, and in San Diego, you may discover Earthlink providers out there in Alpine, Bonita, Camp Pendleton, Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Coronado, El Cajon, Encinitas, Escondido, La Mesa, Lakeside, National City, Oceanside, Poway, Rancho Santa Fe, San Luis Re and San Marcos. Still, the additional overhead prices concerned with leasing out infrastructure implies that Earthlink plans sometimes price a bit greater than common. It’s nonetheless price checking to see if Earthlink is on the market at your handle, notably if fiber is an possibility, however most often, the corporate should not be your first selection for residence web.
Select buildings in downtown San Diego and surrounding areas are outfitted for Google Fiber Webpass, a hard and fast wi-fi service providing gigabit speeds.
Google Fiber Webpass
Google does not have full-fledged fiber infrastructure in San Diego, however choose areas all through the realm are connected for Google Fiber’s Webpass service, which makes use of receivers mounted to rooftops and constructing exteriors to supply the residents inside high-speed fastened wi-fi connections. Availability is considerably restricted, however the phrases are affordable — gigabit speeds and no knowledge caps for $63 monthly with a 12 months dedication, or $70 monthly with out one.
The majority of the town’s Webpass-ready buildings are situated in downtown San Diego and its surrounding neighborhoods, together with the Marina, the Gaslamp Quarter, the East Village and Cortez Hill, and you will find different Webpass areas clustered additional north, close to Hillcrest, University Heights, Morena, and the Midway District, amongst different choose spots. You can use Google’s San Diego Webpass map to seek for eligible addresses.
Race Communications
Race is a hyper-targeted fiber-to-the-home supplier servicing a scattering of small communities all through California. That consists of the three,000 or so residents of Rancho Santa Fe, to the north of San Diego.
As a fiber supplier, Race affords glorious speeds, with a gigabit plan that prices $135 monthly. That worth is steeper than common partly as a result of Race collects $70 out of your invoice and remits the opposite $65 to the Rancho Santa Fe Association, the wide-scale home-owner’s affiliation that manages metropolis capabilities for space residents.
Satellite web service from Hughesnet and Viasat is nearly definitely out there at your handle, and repair from Starlink may be an possibility, too. In most circumstances, although, you’ve got obtained a lot better alternate options.
SpaceX
Satellite web
Hughesnet and Viasat are the highest two satellite tv for pc web suppliers within the US, and their providers can be found all through the overwhelming majority of San Diego and its surrounding areas. That stage of availability makes them a worthy possibility in distant spots the place actually nothing else is on the market, however earlier than you join, you may wish to think about the steep prices ($65-160 monthly after the primary six months with Hughesnet, $100-300 monthly after the primary three months with Viasat), the sluggish speeds (25Mbps with Hughesnet, 12-100Mbps with Viasat), the tight knowledge caps (15-100GB with Hughesnet, 40-150GB with Viasat) and the necessary two-year contract every supplier enforces. Add all of that up, and also you’re taking a look at little greater than an absolute final resort for residence web.
Starlink, the up-and-coming satellite tv for pc web service from SpaceX and Elon Musk may be out there at some addresses within the San Diego space — at a recently-hiked flat charge of $110 monthly, plus $600 upfront for the gear, it is simply as offputtingly costly as its satellite tv for pc rivals, however there are not any knowledge caps to take care of, and speeds could also be notably larger due to the truth that Starlink’s satellites fly in low-earth orbit, giving your sign a shorter round-trip. If your own home is brief on web choices, it is price having a look to see if Starlink is on the market at your handle, however you may want to attend till late 2022 or later earlier than the corporate can ship you your {hardware} and begin service. If another suppliers can be found, you may most likely wish to begin there first.
Ting
An subsidiary of Dish initially primarily based out of Ontario (the one in Canada, not the one in California), Ting now affords fiber web service in choose markets within the US. As of 2021, that features Encinitas, the place clients can join gigabit speeds and no knowledge caps at $89 monthly, plus set up prices, a $9 month-to-month gear charge, and an extra “month-to-month entry charge.” Service seems to be centered south of the town, close to Solana Beach — when you dwell in that area, Ting’s quick speeds and interesting charges make it nicely price a glance.
Ultra Home Internet
Similar to Earthlink, Ultra leases out mobile airwaves from T-Mobile to supply web service at serviceable addresses all through San Diego. That mentioned, Ultra’s plans aren’t pretty much as good a deal as T-Mobile’s $50 monthly plan.
For starters, you may must pay Ultra not less than $60 monthly for a similar speeds ($55 when you arrange auto-pay), and in contrast to T-Mobile, you may must pay an gear charge of $12 monthly to your modem and router, as nicely. Ultra’s plans additionally include a very tight month-to-month knowledge cap of 25GB, which most houses would burn by way of fairly rapidly. You can elevate that to 50GB when you’re keen to pay $85 monthly, or as excessive as 150GB when you’re keen to pay $190 monthly, however even then, you’d solely be getting about one eighth as a lot knowledge as you would be getting with a cable supplier that enforces a knowledge cap, like Cox. It’s mobile web with out the interesting phrases of the key suppliers, and that makes Ultra a supplier price skipping when you can.
Verizon affords 5G Home Internet service in San Diego, however when you zoom in on this map, you may see that 5G Ultra Wideband service is extraordinarily restricted within the space.
Verizon
Verizon 5G Home Internet
The mobile supplier now affords residence web service at addresses with a powerful sufficient 5G sign, and repair is on the market in San Diego. With speeds of as much as 980Mbps in some areas, Verizon can declare to be the quickest mobile web supplier within the US, and the flat month-to-month charge of $50 with no knowledge caps or worth will increase is tempting — particularly for current Verizon subscribers, who get a 50% low cost. Verizon guarantees to not elevate your worth for 2 years, and you can also make that three years by paying $70 monthly.
That mentioned, the corporate’s 5G protection within the metropolis seems to be fairly restricted (zoom in on Verizon’s protection map and search for the scant traces of darkish pink in San Diego). That implies that many addresses all through San Diego must accept Verizon’s a lot slower 4G LTE service, which is not as nice of a worth. Other addresses will not be serviceable in any respect. It’s nonetheless price checking to see if Verizon is an possibility at your handle, particularly for the sooner speeds and the Verizon buyer low cost, however most often, there’s a greater likelihood you may discover worthwhile service out there from T-Mobile.
David Toussaint/Getty Images
What are the most affordable web plans in San Diego?
Most suppliers in San Diego supply residence web service beginning at someplace round $50 monthly, however Cox will get the trophy for essentially the most inexpensive plan of all, with a plan that nets you obtain speeds of 25Mbps and add speeds of 3Mbps (the precise federal definition of broadband velocity), for $30 monthly through the first 12 months and $45 after that. If you simply want a fundamental connection and also you wish to pay as little as potential, that is a very good place to start out.
If you are a Verizon cellular buyer, then I’d additionally suggest checking to see if Verizon 5G Home Internet is on the market at your handle. It’s well-worth contemplating in that case — with speeds doubtlessly as excessive as 980Mbps, the bottom charge of $50 monthly is sort of first rate by itself, and in case your Verizon cellular plan qualifies, you may get a 50% low cost, bringing the month-to-month price right down to $25. That’s with no knowledge caps and no worth enhance after the primary 12 months.
Least Expensive Internet Plans in San Diego
Internet know-how
Speed vary
Price vary (first 12 months)
Price vary (after 12 months)
Data caps
AT&T Home Internet
DSL
10Mbps downloads, 1Mbps uploads
$55 monthly
$70 monthly
1TB
AT&T Fiber
Fiber
300Mbps downloads and uploads
$55 monthly
$55 monthly
None
Cox
Cable
25Mbps downloads, 3Mbps uploads
$30 monthly
$45 monthly
1.25TB
Google Fiber Webpass
Fixed Wireless
1,000Mbps downloads and uploads
$63 monthly with 1-year dedication
$63 monthly with 1-year dedication
None
Spectrum
Cable
200Mbps downloads, 10Mbps uploads
$50 monthly
$75 monthly
None
Ting
Fiber
1,000Mbps downloads and uploads
$89 monthly
$89 monthly
None
T-Mobile Home Internet
5G/LTE
35-115Mbps downloads, 6-23Mbps uploads
$50 monthly
$50 monthly
None
Ultra Home Internet
5G/LTE
35-115Mbps downloads, 6-23Mbps uploads
$60 monthly ($55 with auto-pay)
$60 monthly ($55 with auto-pay)
25GB
Verizon
5G/LTE
300-980Mbps downloads, 50Mbps uploads
$50 monthly (50% much less with a qualifying Verizon cellular plan)
$50 monthly (50% much less with a qualifying Verizon cellular plan)
None
Spectrum has a strong entry-level web providing, too. For $50 monthly through the first 12 months and $75 monthly after that, you may get obtain speeds of as much as 200Mbps and add speeds of as much as 10Mbps, which is so much zippier than the bottom plan from Cox (albeit a bit dearer). AT&T’s entry-level fiber plan does even higher, with matching add and obtain speeds of as much as 300Mbps for $55 monthly with no knowledge caps and no worth enhance after the primary 12 months, nevertheless it’s solely out there at choose addresses. Check to see if it is out there at yours earlier than signing up for one thing else.
The different possibility price mentioning is T-Mobile Home Internet, which boasts higher availability than Verizon and that very same flat charge of $50. Speeds aren’t as quick, topping out with downloads of 115Mbps and uploads of 23Mbps, however that is nonetheless completely serviceable, making it a fairly whole lot if your own home has a powerful sufficient sign to assist it.
San Diego web choices for low-income households
Qualifying low-Income residents of San Diego ought to ensure that to benefit from the Affordable Connectivity Program, which affords to knock $30 off the value of your month-to-month residence web invoice. Apply the profit to that entry-level Cox plan, as an example, and also you’re successfully taking a look at a broadband connection for $0 monthly (save for gear charges and the like).
You can discover full particulars on the Affordable Connectivity Program right here on CNET, in addition to provider-specific directions for signing up on the hyperlinks beneath:
Both Cox and Spectrum supply close to gigabit obtain speeds, and between the 2 of them, plans like these can be found virtually all over the place within the San Diego space.
FCC/Mapbox
What are the quickest web plans in San Diego?
Feel the necessity for velocity, huh? While gigabit service is on the market from numerous San Diego web suppliers, availability will rely upon your particular handle. Both Cox and Spectrum supply near-gigabit obtain speeds for patrons keen to pay up, and between the 2 of them, plans like these shall be an possibility for almost all of San Diego and its surrounding areas.
Between the 2 of them, Spectrum’s high-speed providing is the higher worth at $80 monthly through the first 12 months in comparison with $100 monthly from Cox for a similar speeds, and with Spectrum, your worth will not go up till 24 months have handed, in comparison with 12 months for Cox. Spectrum does not implement a knowledge cap, both, one other level in its favor in comparison with Cox. However, the 2 suppliers principally keep away from one another all through the San Diego space, which means that there aren’t many situations the place you’ll select between the 2. In most circumstances, just one shall be out there at your handle.
Fastest Internet Plans in San Diego
Internet know-how
Speed vary
Price vary (first 12 months)
Price vary (after 12 months)
Data caps
AT&T Home Internet
DSL
100Mbps downloads, 20Mbps uploads
$55 monthly
$70 monthly
None
AT&T Fiber
Fiber
5,000Mbps downloads and uploads
$180 monthly
$180 monthly
None
Cox
Cable
940Mbps downloads, 35Mbps uploads
$100 monthly
$120 monthly
1.25TB
Google Fiber Webpass
Fixed Wireless
1,000Mbps downloads and uploads
$63-70 monthly
$63-70 monthly
None
Spectrum
Cable
940Mbps downloads, 35Mbps uploads
$80 monthly
$115 monthly (after 24 months)
None
Ting
Fiber
1,000Mbps downloads and uploads
$89 monthly
$89 monthly
None
T-Mobile Home Internet
5G/LTE
35-115Mbps downloads, 6-23Mbps uploads
$50 monthly
$50 monthly
None
Ultra Home Internet
5G/LTE
35-115Mbps downloads, 6-23Mbps uploads
$60 monthly ($55 with auto-pay)
$60 monthly ($55 with auto-pay)
25GB
Verizon
5G/LTE
300-980Mbps downloads, 50Mbps uploads
$50 monthly (50% much less with a qualifying Verizon cellular plan)
$50 monthly (50% much less with a qualifying Verizon cellular plan)
None
Of course, neither of these two cable suppliers affords add speeds that exceed double digits — for that, you may want your own home to be wired for fiber. AT&T Fiber’s most inexpensive plan will get you matching add and obtain speeds of 300Mbps for $55 monthly, and that might be greater than sufficient for many households. If you are itching for gigabit speeds, you may go along with the Fiber Internet 1000 plan, which will get you obtain speeds of as much as 940Mbps and add speeds of as much as 880Mbps for $80 monthly. And, at choose addresses, new multigig plans with matching add and obtain speeds of 2Gbps or 5Gbps (that is 2,000Mbps and 5,000Mbps) can be found for $110 and $180 monthly, respectively. That’s at the moment as quick as residence web will get in San Diego.
If you are not wired for AT&T Fiber, you may nonetheless have the ability to enroll in AT&T Home Internet, which makes use of DSL to ship web connectivity to peoples’ houses. DSL is way, a lot slower than fiber, although, and the precise speeds out there will fluctuate from residence to residence. If the corporate’s quickest DSL possibility is on the market, you’ll hit obtain speeds of as much as 100Mbps, however do not rely on that.
If fiber and cable aren’t out there at your handle, then it is price checking to see if a mobile fastened wi-fi connection from T-Mobile or Verizon may be out there. T-Mobile is my prime choose for San Diego attributable to larger availability, however make sure to verify with Verizon, as nicely, as the corporate may have the ability to supply a reference to sooner speeds than T-Mobile is able to.
San Diego Internet FAQs
Does San Diego have fiber web?
Yes. Along with smaller, regional suppliers like Ting and Race Communications who service communities like Encinitas and Rancho Santa Fe, AT&T affords fiber web to “tons of of hundreds of households” in San Diego, nevertheless it is not out there all over the place. The firm’s latest multigig plans can be found at choose addresses in San Diego, too, however that stage of service is much more restricted, not less than for now. Earthlink affords fiber service, as nicely, however solely by leasing current fiber infrastructure from AT&T.
How a lot does web price in San Diego?
Prices will fluctuate by supplier, however a lot of the prime web choices in San Diego supply service that begins at round $50 monthly, plus relevant taxes and costs. Among main San Diego suppliers, Cox affords the least costly plan with a $30 monthly possibility that nets you obtain speeds of as much as 25Mbps and add speeds of as much as 3Mbps. That worth goes as much as $45 monthly after the primary 12 months.
Does San Diego have Google Fiber?
Not actually — the town is not wired for Google Fiber service, however choose buildings within the downtown space are wired for Google Fiber Webpass, a high-speed fastened wi-fi web service providing gigabit add and obtain speeds for $63-70 monthly. You can seek for eligible addresses in San Diego by clicking right here.
