Best Rural Internet Providers of 2024 [CNET]
Life away from the city has its advantages, but home internet isn’t one of them. Look to these internet providers for the best broadband in rural areas.
Article updated on September 11, 2024 at 2:12 PM PDT
Our Experts
CNET staff — not advertisers, partners or business interests — determine how we review the products and services we cover. If you buy through our links, we may get paid.
Our expert staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and evaluates our top picks. The order in which our top picks are presented may be impacted by partnerships, and we may get a commission if you buy through our links.
Enter your address to view internet providers available near you
Prefer to speak with an expert live? Call (833) 888-6076 for availability in your area.
Our picks
Why we chose these providers
Sort by
Best rural home internet provider
Or call to learn more: (855) 758-2133
Best wired rural internet provider
Or call to learn more: (855) 292-6560
Best rural fixed wireless ISP
Or call to learn more: (877) 215-6970
Fast DSL internet speeds in rural areas
Or call to learn more: (877) 758-2133
Best satellite internet provider
Or call to learn more: (833) 217-7369
Best rural internet providers
Broadband has never better widely available in rural areas, and the Federal Communication Commission’s overdue ruling that classifies a high-speed connection as at least 100 megabits per second down and 20Mbps up means broadband connections even harder to find. Wired service, especially those of the cable or fiber variety, are scarce, so many in rural areas rely on wireless internet.
Among wired and wireless rural internet providers, T-Mobile Home Internet is arguably the best rural internet service provider overall. The ISP has high availability without the need for wires or a direct line of sight to the home, plus competitive pricing and customer-friendly service terms that include unlimited data and free equipment rental.
Among popular rural internet options, Mediacom is the cheapest internet provider, with service starting at $35 a month for speeds up to 100Mbps. If you’re looking for speed, Ziply Fiber has the fastest multigigabit speeds of any ISP, rural or otherwise, with its 50,000Mbps plan.
Other rural internet providers, including CenturyLink, Kinetic and Rise Broadband, are also worth considering if available in your area. In locations where wired or fixed wireless connections aren’t available, satellite internet from Hughesnet and Viasat are an always an option, but you may get faster speeds and better overall value with Starlink.
Which rural internet provider is best for your home? Here are CNET’s picks for the best internet providers with high availability in rural areas, all chosen based on coverage, speeds, pricing, data caps and customer satisfaction.
Best rural internet of 2024
Speed range
72 – 245 Mbps
Price range
$60 per month
Our take – T-Mobile Home Internet has the greatest coverage of any non-satellite internet service provider, available to nearly 60% of US households, according to the Federal Communications Commission. While service isn’t the cheapest or the fastest of any rural internet provider, the unlimited data, free equipment and potential mobile bundle discount help boost the provider’s overall value.
Or call to learn more: (855) 758-2133
Speed range
72 – 245 Mbps
Price range
$60 per month