Best Internet Providers in Harlingen, Texas [CNET]

Vexus Fiber goes head-to-head with Spectrum. We tested several options, and here are CNET’s recommendations for the best home internet in Harlingen.

What is the best internet provider in Harlingen?

Vexus Fiber is the best internet service provider overall for most households in Harlingen because of its symmetrical speeds and reasonable introductory pricing. You can’t get Vexus Fiber everywhere in Harlingen, but the network is rapidly expanding and it offers plans of up to 5 Gig speeds. Spectrum or T-Mobile Home Internet are also solid picks, depending on what’s available in your area. 

We’ve also found those top options if you’re hunting for the lowest prices or fastest speeds. The cheapest internet in Harlingen is Spectrum’s $25-per-month plan with 50 megabits per second download speeds. It skims in under Vexus Fiber’s 150Mbps plan, which costs $30 per month but has an additional $10 network access fee tacked on. Harlingen’s fastest internet speed comes from both Vexus, Gigabit Fiber and Spectrum. All of which offer 1,000Mbps downloads and are available across town.

Best internet in Harlingen, Texas

Harlingen internet providers compared

Provider	Internet technology	Monthly price range	Speed range	Monthly equipment costs	Data cap	Contract	CNET review score
AT&T Internet Air Read full review	Fixed wireless	$55	75-225Mbps	None	None	None	7.4
Gigabit Fiber	Fiber, Fixed wireless	$50-$100 fiber and fixed wireless	50-100Mbps Fixed wireless; 500-1,000Mbps Fiber	None	None	1-year	N/A
Spectrum Read full review	Cable	$25-$80	50-1,000Mbps	Free modem; $7 router (optional)	None	None	7.2
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 5G mobile customers)	50-300Mbps	None	None	None	7.2
Vexus Fiber	Fiber	$30-$130	150-5,000Mbps	$10-15 router (optional); $10 network access fee for some plans	None	None	N/A

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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Other available internet providers in Harlingen

• AT&T Fiber: AT&T’s fiber network is extremely scarce around Harlingen, but you might find a few isolated pockets of coverage, like around Ed Carey Drive and Morris Road. Plans range from $55 monthly for 300Mbps to $80 for a gig. There are no contracts, data caps or equipment fees. 
• AT&T Internet Air: AT&T’s legacy DSL network, which extends across large areas of Harlingen, no longer offers services to new customers. Luckily, its newer fixed wireless service, AT&T Internet Air. Pricing is $55 monthly for whatever speed you can get at your address. Typical speeds range from 75Mbps to 225Mbps, but your mileage may vary. There are no data caps, equipment fees or contracts. 
• Gigabit Communications: The residential services side of Gigabit Communications provides fixed wireless internet in the Harlingen area. Here’s how fixed wireless compares to other connection types. Plans start at $49 per month for 50Mbps and top out at $99 monthly for 100Mbps. There are no data caps. Check into this option if you’re in a rural location and can’t get coverage from a faster or more affordable ISP. 
• Satellite internet: Rural homes with few (or no) internet options can check into satellite service from Starlink, Viasat or Hughesnet. It’s not the cheapest internet, and speeds can be slow and variable. Consider satellite as a last resort when other ISPs are unavailable or unsatisfactory.
• Verizon 5G Home Internet: While Verizon’s home internet service reaches up to gig downloads in some places, you’ll find it tops out at 300Mbps in Harlingen. The 5G Home plan costs $50 per month for speeds up to 100Mbps, while the 5G Home Plus plan is $70 per month for speeds up to 300Mbps. Bundle with an eligible phone plan to bring down your home internet price. 
• VTX1: VTX1 is a regional fiber and fixed wireless ISP but offers only fixed wireless in Harlingen. Prices start at $55 per month and reach 400Mbps, but you’ll need to check directly with VTX1 to find out what’s available for your specific location. Check into this as an option if you’re in a rural spot outside of town or don’t have good options for wired internet at home.

Cheap internet options in Harlingen

You won’t find much in the way of bargain-basement internet prices in Harlingen. Most plans start over $25 monthly, including Spectrum’s 50Mbps cable plan. While Vexus Fiber starts at $30 per month for 150Mbps, you have to add a $10 network access fee the ISP says it uses to maintain and enhance its infrastructure. That means the entry-level Vexus plan costs more than the displayed numbers. To sidestep equipment rental fees, you must provide your own router for either Spectrum or Vexus. 

One way to lower your monthly home internet cost is to use a 5G home internet option from T-Mobile, Verizon or AT&T and then bundle an eligible mobile plan. This makes the most sense if you can get a strong connection at your house and are already a phone customer with a qualifying plan.

What’s the cheapest internet plan in Harlingen?

Provider	Starting price	Max download speed	Monthly equipment fee
Spectrum Read full review	$25	50Mbps	Free modem; $7 router (optional)
Vexus Fiber	$30	150Mbps	$10-15 router (optional); $10 network access fee
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review	$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans)	100Mbps	None
Gigabit Fiber	$50	50Mbps	None
AT&T Internet Air Read full review	$55	225Mbps	None
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review	$60 ($40 with eligible mobile plans)	245Mbps	None

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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Harlingen

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

Harlingen internet providers, such as Spectrum, T-Mobile or Vexus, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, including AT&T and Verizon, 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 Harlingen broadband?

A recent Ookla speed test report shows Harlingen with a median fixed internet download speed of nearly 327Mbps. That’s faster than the median fixed internet download speed for the state of Texas at 256Mbps and nearby McAllen at 278Mbps. Harlingen internet speeds get a boost from Spectrum’s widespread cable network and the fiber offerings from Vexus Fiber and Gigabit Fiber. All of which offer plans with gig download speeds. With Vexus and Gigabit Fiber, uploads are as fast as download speeds.  

Fastest internet plans in Harlingen

Provider	Starting price	Max download speed	Max upload speed	Data cap	Connection
Vexus Fiber Internet 5 Gig	$130	5,000Mbps	5,000Mbps	None	Fiber
Vexus Fiber Internet 2 Gig	$90	2,000Mbps	2,000Mbps	None	Fiber
Gigabit Fiber 1 Gig	$100	1,000Mbps	1,000Mbps	None	Fiber
Vexus Fiber Internet 1 Gig	$50	1,000Mbps	1,000Mbps	None	Fiber
Spectrum Internet Gig Read full review	$80	1,000Mbps	35Mbps	None	Cable

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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.

• 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 Harlingen

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. 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. 

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? 

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 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 Harlingen?

There are two main competitors in Harlingen regarding wired home internet: Spectrum and Vexus. Spectrum has an advantage in coverage area while Vexus offers desirable fiber plans with fast upload speeds. If both service your address, then consider your upload needs. Both ISPs will raise your rates after your initial promotional period ends, but Vexus has a more affordable introductory deal at the gig level. If you’re dissatisfied with your wired internet options, check into 5G home internet from AT&T, Verizon or T-Mobile. 

Internet providers in Harlingen FAQs