The Sparkling City by the Sea has broadband options from AT&T, Spectrum, Astound and more. Here are CNET’s picks for the area’s best internet providers.
What is the best internet provider in Corpus Christi?
AT&T Fiber is the best internet service provider overall for most households in Corpus Christi because of symmetrical speeds, straightforward plans and up to 5,000Mbps downloads in some parts of town. That being said, service isn’t available for that provider everywhere in Corpus Christi, so Astound or Spectrum 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 fastest speeds. The cheapest internet in Corpus Christi is Astound’s 300Mbps introductory offer for $25 a month, with that pricing good for a year. The fastest internet speed in Corpus Christi is AT&T Fiber’s 5,000Mbps plan.
Blazing fast speeds and straightforward plans put AT&T Fiber into the top spot among the best ISPs in Corpus Christi. This recommendation is specifically for AT&T’s fiber offering, not its older and more widespread DSL network.
Astound offers some of the lowest introductory pricing in Corpus Christi. The 300Mbps plan costs just $25 a month for the first year without a contract. The catch is that the price will go up, but you can try negotiating with your ISP or jump to another provider at that time.
Spectrum’s low introductory prices and wide availability earn it a shoutout among the best ISPs in Corpus Christi. The downside is that prices increase after the initial deal runs out.
Wired internet isn’t your only option in Corpus Christi. Both T-Mobile Home Internet and Verizon 5G Home Internet have some availability in the city. T-Mobile’s simple plan structure gives it a nudge over Verizon. Still, Verizon’s 5G home internet is a worthy alternative, especially if you’re a phone customer who can bundle for extra savings. While Verizon offers speeds up to 1,000Mbps in some places, you’re more likely to top out at 300Mbps in Corpus Christi. Here’s what you need to know about 5G home internet.
$50-$70 ($35-$45 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers)
50-1,000Mbps
None
None
None
7.2
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Other available internet providers in Corpus Christi
AT&T Internet: Not to be confused with AT&T Fiber, AT&T Internet is the ISP’s outdated DSL network. What’s good about DSL is that it covers more ground than the fiber offering, so it may be an option for residents who can’t get a faster ISP. The plan costs $55 a month for up to 100Mbps service, but your actual speeds may be considerably lower. There are no contract or equipment fees, but a 1.5TB data cap applies.
Gtek Communications: South Texas ISP Gtek Communications offers fixed wireless internet across the broader Corpus Christi area. Here’s how fixed wireless compares to other types of home internet. You’ll need a good line of sight to a tower to get the best connection. Plans range from $45 for up to 12Mbps to $125 for up to 50Mbps. There’s no data cap. You’re unlikely to go this route if you have good service from a wired ISP, but it can be a lifeline for rural residents with few options.
Satellite internet: Starlink, HughesNet and Viasat are all vying to provide internet to rural households that have few, if any, alternatives for getting online. Satellite internet service can be slow and expensive. Starlink makes a case for itself with the potential for higher top speeds alongside no contract requirements, but the $599 upfront equipment cost may make you think twice. Think of satellite as a fallback if no satisfactory wired, fixed wireless or 5G ISPs cover your home.
Verizon 5G Home Internet: Verizon’s home internet service is an especially good deal for phone customers who bundle with a phone plan for home internet savings. Verizon home internet customers in some parts of the country can get 1,000Mbps downloads, but you’re more likely to top out at 300Mbps in Corpus Christi. There are two plans to choose from. The 5G Home Plus plan runs $70 monthly for typical speeds of 85 to 250 with a max of 300Mbps. The 5G Home plan is $50 a month for up to 100Mbps downloads, but speeds typically fall within 50-85Mbps. Bundle with an eligible plan to bring those prices down to $45 or $35. Availability can vary with location, but you can get on a waitlist if a slot isn’t open for your address.
RoschetzkylstockPhoto/Getty Images
Cheap internet options in Corpus Christi
Internet prices swing wildly in Corpus Christi, ranging from $25 a month with Astound to $250 with AT&T Fiber’s fastest plan. Astound has the cheapest plan in town, but the price will increase after the first year. Astound’s other plans are also very affordable. The 1,500Mbps plan for $60 monthly (good for two years) is worth a look. If you want value and fast upload speeds, check into a mid-level AT&T Fiber plan like the 1,000Mbps tier for $80 a month. If you’re in a low-income household, look into eligibility for the federal Affordable Connectivity Program for free or cheap home internet.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Corpus Christi?
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Corpus Christi
The best internet deals and the top promotions in Corpus Christi depend on what discounts are available during that time period. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Corpus Christi internet providers such as Astound and Spectrum may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, however, including AT&T Fiber and T-Mobile Home Internet, tend to run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promotions, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
How fast is Corpus Christi broadband?
Recent Ookla speed test data shows Corpus Christi with a median fixed-internet download speed of approximately 270Mbps. That’s pretty decent. AT&T is the city’s fastest provider, but Astound and Spectrum aren’t far behind. Speed test results can vary with ISP, internet technology, network congestion and Wi-Fi equipment. Here are some tips for speeding up your internet connections.
Fastest internet plans in Corpus Christi
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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.
0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics — browsing the internet, sending and receiving email, streaming low-quality video.
5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
40 to 100Mbps should give one person sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
100 to 500Mbps allows one to two people to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming.
500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more people to engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming all at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Corpus Christi
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike 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 database of pricing, availability and speed information that draws from our own historical ISP data, partner data 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’re considering every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. To evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service, we look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of the time 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?
While the answer to those questions is 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, you can visit our How we test ISPs page.
What’s the final word on internet providers in Corpus Christi?
Corpus Christi has a solid broadband scene. Between AT&T Fiber, Astound and Spectrum, most homes can access gig-level speeds and above. Which provider you go with will depend on which ISPs reach your address. Spectrum covers almost the whole town. If upload speeds are important to you, check with AT&T Fiber. If affordability is key, look at Astound’s introductory deals. T-Mobile and Verizon offer a 5G alternative to the wired ISPs. Pricing can be affordable for those services, especially if you also have a mobile account.
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