Best Internet Providers in Chandler, Arizona

What is the best internet provider in Chandler?

According to CNET’s broadband experts, Cox is the best internet service provider overall for most households in Chandler because of its wide coverage area. If you compare, Quantum Fiber and Verizon 5G Home Internet are also solid picks (plans start at $30 a month). Most of it depends on what’s available in your area. T-Mobile is another close competitor to Verizon in Chandler.

We’ve also found the top options if you’re hunting for the lowest prices or the fastest speeds. The cheapest internet in Chandler is Cox’s 100-megabits-per-second cable or fiber plan, which costs $30 per month. The fastest available internet speed in Chandler is Quantum Fiber’s 8,000Mbps plan. Note that Google Fiber has started to build in Chandler, but it’ll take some time before the network is up and running. When it goes live, it’ll give Cox some serious competition. 

Best internet in Chandler

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Other available internet providers in Chandler

• AirFiber WISP: Fixed wireless ISP AirFiber includes most of Chandler in its Phoenix metro coverage area. There are multiple plan options, starting at $50 per month for speeds up to 25Mbps and going up to $140 per month for 1,000Mbps, although availability will vary and you’ll have to contact the ISP to check for offers. There are no data caps, hardware fees or contracts. Here’s how fixed wireless compares to other types of broadband.
• CenturyLink: CenturyLink DSL and Quantum Fiber come from parent company Lumen, but the fiber service is superior to the outdated DSL technology. CenturyLink’s DSL reaches much of Chandler with speeds up to 100Mbps. A modem lease costs $15 per month, or you can buy outright for $200 or provide your own equipment. There are no data caps. Slow DSL speeds will likely tip you toward Cox or 5G home internet.
• Phoenix Internet: Fixed wireless ISP Phoenix Internet reaches parts of Chandler with speeds of 50-1,000Mbps and prices from $75 to $140 per month. Router rental costs $10 monthly, or you can supply your own gear. There are no data caps. Services like this are aimed mainly at rural households or ones that don’t have faster and more affordable wired options.
• Satellite internet: Satellite internet from Starlink, Viasat or Hughesnet is often seen as a last resort for rural homes with no other options for getting online. Most Chandler residents will find that cable, fiber or fixed wireless offers faster speeds and more affordable pricing, but consider satellite if you’re in a tricky location or live in a more remote spot outside the Phoenix metro area.
• WeLink: Fixed wireless ISP WeLink covers some areas of the Phoenix metro area, including parts of Chandler. WeLink advertises unlimited data and fiber-level gigabit speeds, but it doesn’t share pricing online and asks potential customers to join a waitlist. It’s worth checking out if you’re looking for an alternative to Cox and if Quantum Fiber doesn’t service your home.

Cheap internet options in Chandler

Most home internet plans in Chandler start at $50 per month — excluding the entry-level Cox plan which costs $30 per month. That includes the entry-level Cox, Quantum Fiber and Verizon 5G Home Internet plans. Be sure to budget the equipment rental or purchase cost if the gear isn’t included in the price. Phone customers with Verizon or T-Mobile can look into bundling plans to bring down the monthly price of home internet. With Verizon, it can go as low as $35 per month. With T-Mobile, some eligible plans lower your home internet cost to $30 monthly. 

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Chandler

The best internet deals and top promotions in Chandler depend on what discounts are available during that time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers. 

Chandler internet providers, such as Cox and T-Mobile, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, including Quantum Fiber and Verizon 5G Home Internet, tend to run the same standard pricing year-round. 

For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals. 

How fast is Chandler broadband?

Cox has upgraded speeds across its coverage area, raising the top tier to 2,000Mbps. That multi-gigabit speed isn’t yet available everywhere in Chandler. Based on an Ookla speed test report, Quantum Fiber offers the fastest speeds in Chandler with its 8,000Mbps plan. Chandler’s median fixed internet download speed registered as 293Mbps, placing it above the Arizona state average of about 250. Chandler compares favorably to Phoenix’s 236Mbps. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

What’s a good internet speed?

Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here’s an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.

For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.

• 0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics: browsing the internet, sending and receiving email and streaming low-quality video.
• 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
• 40 to 100Mbps should give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming. 
• 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming. 
• 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.

How CNET chose the best internet providers in Chandler

Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike with the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every internet service provider in a given city. What’s our approach? For starters, we tap into a proprietary pricing, availability and speed database that draws from our own historical ISP data, partner data and mapping information at FCC.gov. 

It doesn’t end there: We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication. 

Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions: 

• Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds? 
• Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying? 
• Are customers happy with their service? 

Although the answers to those questions are often layered and complex, the providers that come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.

To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.

What’s the final word on internet providers in Chandler?

Due to sheer coverage alone, Cox is the big dog among ISPs in Chandler. However, its fiber network doesn’t have nearly the reach of its cable network. Quantum Fiber is a solid choice if it services your address, and it might even offer multi-gigabit download speeds. If Cox isn’t your cup of tea, consider testing the waters of 5G home internet with Verizon or T-Mobile. Chandler’s home internet scene will go through a major shakeup when Google Fiber’s under-construction network begins to go live in 2024. Until then, expect Cox to continue its domination. 

Internet providers in Chandler FAQ