Find internet service and providers in North Carolina
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Overview of internet satisfaction and availability in North Carolina
North Carolina has more internet providers spread out from the frigid mountains to the feet-burning shores than you can shake a stick at. AT&T and Spectrum are your top providers, offering fast fiber internet complemented by DSL (AT&T) or cable (Spectrum) internet. If you want superfast speeds, Google Fiber reaches up to 5Gbps in The Triangle and Charlotte. Other options include Verizon and T-Mobile 5G Home internet, HughesNet and Viasat satellite internet, and DSL internet from Kinetic, Brightspeed, and Frontier.
Internet providers received an average satisfaction rating of 3.7 out of 5 stars from customers in North Carolina.
That ranks North Carolina 29th nationwide for internet customer satisfaction.
Learn more about our methodologyInternet customer satisfaction in North Carolina
3.7/5 average customer satisfaction rating
29th
national ranking for customer satisfaction
$69.73 average price per payment for internet, per household
84.7% of the time, advertised speeds meet household needs
3.7/5 average customer service rating of internet services
3.6/5 average reliability rating of services state-wide
Population:
10,807,491 people
2.62 average people per household
$56,341 average income per household
43 average age per household
54% of population employed
7% higher than national average
Ranked 3rd nationally
4% lower than national average
Ranked 35th nationally
9% higher than national average
Ranked 42nd nationally
7% higher than national average
Ranked 9th nationally
Fastest internet providers in North Carolina
| Provider | Avg download speed | Avg upload speed | Availability | Order online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Fiber | 217.42 Mbps | 177.82 Mbps | 58.92% | |
| Ting | 211.3 Mbps | 182.36 Mbps | 46.18% | View Plans for Ting |
| Hotwire Communications | 205.72 Mbps | 92.25 Mbps | 50% | View Plans for Hotwire Communications |
| MetroNet | 195.68 Mbps | 186.2 Mbps | 52.22% | View Plans for MetroNet |
Internet by tech type
| Internet tech type | Avg download speed | % of people with access | % availability | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5G Home | 267.33 Mbps | 86.25% | 99.41% | See all providers |
| Cable | 934.34 Mbps | 86.45% | 91.29% | See all providers |
| DSL | 371.52 Mbps | 67.85% | 83.45% | See all providers |
| Fiber | 2971.71 Mbps | 71.56% | 73.74% | See all providers |
| Fixed Wireless | 87.86 Mbps | 21.19% | 65.87% | See all providers |
| LTE Home | 99 Mbps | 46.28% | 99% | See all providers |
| Satellite | 98.96 Mbps | 87.81% | 100% | See all providers |
Best cities for internet in North Carolina
Cities in North Carolina with the fastest internet
| City | Avg download speed | Avg upload speed | Fiber availability | Fastest provider |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kannapolis | 254.3 Mbps | 32.15 Mbps | 55% | Hotwire Communications |
| Burlington | 234.29 Mbps | 51.73 Mbps | 48% | North State Communications |
| Morrisville | 224.46 Mbps | 140.74 Mbps | 70% | Google Fiber |
| Huntersville | 190.85 Mbps | 101.12 Mbps | 78% | AT&T |
| Havelock | 188.68 Mbps | 15.54 Mbps | 63% | Spectrum |
| Smithfield | 187.74 Mbps | 20.05 Mbps | 79% | Spectrum |
| Harrisburg | 187.22 Mbps | 27.74 Mbps | 57% | Spectrum |
Kannapolis is the best city in North Carolina for internet, shooting to the top of the list thanks to a combination of record-setting average download speeds, wide fiber-optic internet availability, and the presence of a reliable and well-rated internet provider. Burlington and Morrisville also earn top rankings, according to our data.
The most connected cities in North Carolina
| City | Population | Percent with access to high speed internet | Percent with access to fiber internet | Percent with access to 3+ providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | 923,655 | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Raleigh | 555,041 | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Greensboro | 330,277 | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Winston-Salem | 229,338 | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Durham | 294,960 | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Asheville | 134,341 | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Fayetteville | 246,145 | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Cary | 156,204 | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Charlotte is the most internet-connected city in North Carolina. Charlotte makes it to the top of the list due to the high number of its residents who have access not only to high-speed internet, but also to fiber internet specifically. A large number of Charlotte's residents also have access to three or more internet providers—an uncommon number of options compared to the rest of the state. Raleigh and Greensboro also make it to the top of our list.
Top cities in North Carolina
Charlotte
Population: 923,655
Median income: $72,619
137.27 Mbps
avg. download speed
57.83 Mbps
avg. upload speed
100% have access to high speed internet
100% have access to fiber internet
100% have access to 3 or more providers
Raleigh
Population: 555,041
Median income: $74,737
166.32 Mbps
avg. download speed
90.73 Mbps
avg. upload speed
100% have access to high speed internet
100% have access to fiber internet
100% have access to 3 or more providers
Greensboro
Population: 330,277
Median income: $68,792
167.25 Mbps
avg. download speed
56.07 Mbps
avg. upload speed
100% have access to high speed internet
100% have access to fiber internet
100% have access to 3 or more providers
Methodology
HighSpeedInternet.com relies on proprietary and exclusive data to analyze the customer and provider trends presented on this page. We analyze millions of results from our speed test tool to determine average statewide speeds, fastest speeds, and availability. Our annual customer satisfaction survey provides us with data for developing the satisfaction rating. We also draw from data provided to us directly by internet providers to determine available tech types and average speeds.
North Carolina FAQs
Is Spectrum available in my area?
Spectrum is probably available where you live. Most older neighborhoods have Spectrum’s cable internet, while newer ones may have Spectrum’s fiber-to-the-home internet service. You won’t know which internet type you’ll get until you call to order service. The plans are the same for fiber and cable, only fiber has symmetrical (equal) speeds, and cable doesn’t.
What are the best internet providers in North Carolina?
Earthlink is the best national provider in North Carolina for overall customer satisfaction based on our annual survey. You’ll find it wherever AT&T offers fiber and DSL internet, which ranks fourth in our survey for overall satisfaction. Verizon (5G Home) ranks second on our list, followed by Spectrum (cable and fiber).
On a regional level, Google Fiber ranks highest in our survey, followed by T-Mobile 5G Home Internet.
What internet is available at my address?
The only way to find out what type of internet you have at your address is to use our zip check tool to discover all the providers in your area and then supply your street address to the provider you choose. But, if you see traditional cable TV lines in your home, you likely have access to cable internet. DSL internet uses telephone lines, and fiber uses Ethernet and thin fiber cables.