Best Internet Providers in Aurora, Illinois – CNET [CNET]

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What is the best internet provider in Aurora?

Availability is somewhat limited, but if you can get it at your address, AT&T Fiber is the best internet service provider in Aurora, Illinois. The provider’s straightforward pricing, fast speeds, simple service terms and high customer satisfaction make it a great choice for home internet. Plans range from 300 to 5,000 megabits per second, the fastest in Aurora, and include free equipment data and unlimited data.

In areas where AT&T Fiber is unavailable, or if you’re looking for the cheapest internet in Aurora, Xfinity will be your best internet provider. Xfinity is available to nearly every Aurora household, offering a variety of plans ranging from $20 to $100 for max speeds of 75 to 2,000Mbps. Some conditions, such as possible data caps, contracts and a set price increase, bring the value down a bit, but Xfinity is still a decent choice for fast, relatively cheap internet.

Aside from AT&T and Xfinity, fixed wireless internet from Verizon 5G Home Internet or T-Mobile Home Internet may be available for broadband in your area. T-Mobile has slightly better local coverage, but Verizon may be the cheaper, faster option. Both providers offer unlimited data, free equipment rental, no contracts and a discount for qualifying mobile customers.

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Best internet in Aurora, Illinois

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Speed range

300 – 5,000 Mbps

Price range

$55 – $250 per month

Our take – It’s not the cheapest internet provider, but with symmetrical upload and download speeds, free equipment, unlimited data and no set price increases, AT&T Fiber arguably presents the best value. Extra signup bonuses like gift cards, plus the reassurance of high customer satisfaction scores, make the 100% fiber ISP even more appealing.

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Speed range

300 – 5,000 Mbps

Price range

$55 – $250 per month

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Speed range

75 – 2,000 Mbps

Price range

$20 – $120 per month

Our take – Xfinity will be an option wherever you live or are moving to in Aurora. With service starting at $20 or $35 per month for speeds up to 75 or 200Mbps, respectively, it’s an obvious choice for cheap internet. That said, Xfinity has plenty of high-speed plans to consider, including gig, 1.2-gig and 2-gig speed tiers. With any plan, a data cap, contract and equipment fee may apply, and initially low prices will increase after the first year or two.

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Speed range

75 – 2,000 Mbps

Price range

$20 – $120 per month

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Speed range

85 – 1,000 Mbps

Price range

$50 – $70 per month

Our take – Fixed wireless internet is Aurora’s most practical alternative to AT&T and Xfinity. Verizon 5G Home Internet and T-Mobile Home Internet are possible options, but Verizon has lower pricing and faster max speeds. The contract-free service includes free equipment rental, unlimited data and a potential discount for Verizon mobile customers.

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Speed range

85 – 1,000 Mbps

Price range

$50 – $70 per month

Aurora, Illinois, internet providers compared
Provider Internet technology Monthly price range Speed range Monthly equipment costs Data cap Contract CNET review score
AT&T DSL, fiber $55 DSL, $55-$225 fiber 10-100Mbps DSL, 300-5,000Mbps fiber None None None 7.4
T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed wireless $60 ($40-$50 with eligible mobile plans) 72-245Mbps None None None 7.4
Verizon 5G Home Internet Fixed wireless $50-$70 ($35-$45 with eligible mobile plans) 50-1,000Mbps None None None 7.2
Xfinity Cable $20-$100 75-2,000Mbps $15 (included in most plans) 1.2TB 1-2 years for lowest pricing 7

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

What’s the cheapest internet plan in Aurora?

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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Image of downtown Aurora, Illinois
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How to find internet deals and promotions in Aurora

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

Aurora internet providers, such as Xfinity and T-Mobile Home Internet, may offer lower introductory pricing or free equipment rental for a limited time. Others, however, including AT&T Fiber and Verizon 5G Home Internet, run the same standard pricing year-round. 

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

Fastest internet plans in Aurora
Plan Starting price Max download speed Max upload speed Data cap Connection type
AT&T Internet 5000 $225 5,000Mbps 5,000Mbps None Fiber
AT&T Internet 2000 $125 2,000Mbps 2,000Mbps None Fiber
Xfinity Gigabit x2 $100 2,000Mbps 200Mbps Unlimited data included Cable
Xfinity Gigabit Extra $85 1,200Mbps 35Mbps 1.2TB Cable
AT&T Internet 1000 $80 1,000Mbps 1,000Mbps None Fiber
Xfinity Gigabit $60 1,000Mbps 20Mbps 1.2TB Cable
Verizon 5G Home Internet Plus $70 ($45 with eligible mobile plans) 1,000Mbps 75Mbps None Fixed wireless

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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.

How CNET chose the best internet providers in Aurora

Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.

But 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:

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

While the answers to those questions are often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When it comes to selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, though 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 also take into account 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.

Internet providers in Aurora, Illinois, FAQs

recent FCC data. Neighborhoods closest to the city center have the highest fiber serviceability, but fiber service can be found in random communities throughout Aurora. AT&T Fiber is Aurora’s largest fiber internet provider, though Xfinity has a small fiber presence in the area.



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