Best Internet Providers in Chandler, Arizona [CNET]

View Article on CNET

What is the best internet provider in Chandler?

If you’re looking for the best internet providers in Chandler, Arizona, here’s everything you need to know, 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 want to compare internet providers Quantum Fiber and Verizon 5G Home Internet are also solid picks, depending on what’s available in your area. 

We’ve also found the top options if you’re hunting for the lowest prices or the fastest speeds. The cheapest internet in Chandler comes from several different internet service providers, starting at $50 a month. The most widespread $50 option is Cox’s 100-megabits-per-second cable or fiber plan. The fastest available internet speed in Chandler is Cox’s 2,000Mbps 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

Chandler internet providers compared

Provider Internet technology Monthly price range Speed range Monthly equipment costs Data cap Contract CNET review score
CenturyLink
Read full review
DSL $55 10-100Mbps $15 (optional) None None 6.7
Cox
Read full review
Cable/fiber $50-$150 100-2,000Mbps $15 (optional) 1.25TB (may be waived for fiber) None 6.2
Quantum Fiber Fiber $50-$75 500-940Mbps None None None 6.7
T-Mobile Home Internet
Read full review
Fixed wireless $60 ($40 with eligible mobile plans) 72-245Mbps None None None 7.4
Verizon 5G Home Internet
Read full review
Fixed wireless $50-$70 ($35-$45 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers) 50-1,000Mbps None None None 7.2
Show more (1 item)

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 two plan options: $50 per month for speeds up to 25Mbps or $60 for up to 50Mbps. AirFiber delivers faster speeds up to a gig in some limited areas. You must contact the ISP to check availability for those higher speed tiers. 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CenturyLink: CenturyLink DSL and Quantum Fiber come from parent company Lumen, but the fiber service is superior to the outdated DSL technology. However, 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 15-100Mbps and prices from $60 to $100 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.
Street view of historic downtown Chandler, a city in Maricopa County, Arizona.
Denis Tangney, Jr./Getty Images

Cheap internet options in Chandler

Most home internet plans in Chandler start at $50 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 $40 monthly. 

What’s the cheapest internet plan in Chandler?

Provider Starting price Max download speed Monthly equipment fee
Cox
Read full review
$50 100Mbps None
Quantum Fiber $50 500Mbps None
Verizon 5G Home Internet
Read full review
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) 300Mbps None
CenturyLink
Read full review
$55 100mbps $15 (optional)
T-Mobile Home Internet
Read full review
$60 ($40 with eligible mobile plans) 245Mbps None

Show more (1 item)

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. 

How many members of your household use the internet?

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 multigigabit speed isn’t yet available everywhere in Chandler. A recent Ookla speed test report shows Cox as the city’s fastest ISP. Chandler’s median fixed internet download speed registered as nearly 255Mbps, placing it above the Arizona state average of about 215Mbps. Chandler compares favorably to Phoenix’s 211Mbps.   

Fastest internet plans in Chandler

Provider Starting price Max download speed Max upload speed Data cap Connection
Cox Fiber 2 Gig
Read full review
$150 2,000Mbps 1,000Mbps 1.25TB (may be waived for fiber) Fiber
Cox 2 Gig
Read full review
$150 2,000Mbps 100Mbps 1.25TB Cable
Cox Fiber 1 Gig
Read full review
$65 1,000Mbps 1,000Mbps 1.25TB (may be waived for fiber) Fiber
Cox 1 Gig
Read full review
$110 1,000Mbps 100Mbps 1.25TB Cable
Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet
Read full review
$70 ($45 with qualifying Verizon 5G mobile plans) 1,000Mbps 75Mbps None Fixed wireless
Quantum Fiber $75 940Mbps 940Mbps None Fiber

Show more (2 items)

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. So 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, although it doesn’t 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

What is the cheapest internet provider in Chandler?

Most Chandler ISPs offer plans starting at $50 per month. For Cox’s cable and fiber offerings, that means 100Mbps speeds. One way to get your broadband for less is to bundle an eligible phone plan with T-Mobile or Verizon’s 5G home internet service. 

Which internet provider in Chandler offers the fastest plan?

Cox’s 2,000Mbps plan is available across much of Chandler, though some neighborhoods still top out at a gig. In areas serviced by Cox’s fiber network, the 2-gig plan comes with 1,000Mbps uploads. The 2-gig cable plans max out at 100Mbps uploads.

Is fiber internet available in Chandler?

Fiber isn’t yet widespread in Chandler, but you can find pockets of coverage from Cox and Quantum Fiber. Google Fiber started a network buildout in Chandler in late 2023, which will considerably change the home internet landscape when it begins accepting customers in 2024. 

What internet provider has the best coverage in Chandler?

Cox covers the most ground in Chandler. FCC data shows that the ISP reaches over 93% of homes, most through Cox’s extensive cable network.