Winston-Salem residents can rely on AT&T, Spectrum and other top ISPs for home internet. Here’s a look at the best internet providers in Winston-Salem.
AT&T Fiber is a top choice for speed and value, but it’s not the cheapest internet provider in Winston-Salem. Kinetic by Windstream has the cheapest plan in the area, with service starting at $40 per month for speeds up to 100Mbps. That’s not a bad deal, but for $10 more per month, Spectrum offers up to five times the download speed potential plus a lower equipment cost should you opt to rent your router.
Verizon 5G Home Internet and T-Mobile Home Internet are also decent options for cheap internet, particularly if you qualify for their mobile bundle discounts. Both services start at $50 per month (before any discounts) and include your equipment and unlimited data at no extra cost.
methodology page.
Best internet in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Speed range
300 – 5,000Mbps
Price range
$55 – $250 per month
Our take – It’s not the cheapest ISP in Winston-Salem, but AT&T Fiber arguably presents the best value. With symmetrical upload and download speeds, free equipment rental and no set price increase after 12 months, AT&T Fiber has a clear advantage over local broadband competitor Spectrum.
Our take – Cable internet, like that of Spectrum, doesn’t come with all the benefits of fiber internet, but it often boasts greater availability. That’s the case in Winston-Salem, where Spectrum covers more than 93% of households, according to the most recent FCC data. Download speeds of up to 500 and 1,000Mbps are available throughout all service areas but be prepared for significantly lower upload speeds.
Our take – If you’re looking for an alternative to AT&T and Spectrum in Winston-Salem, consider Verizon 5G Home Internet. The wireless internet provider has the speed potential to rival cable and fiber connections, plus customer-friendly perks like free equipment, unlimited data and an additional discount of $15 to $25 off the monthly rate for qualifying Verizon mobile customers.
Our take – Availability is limited to communities such as Reynolda Park, Old Town and Bethania in northwest Winston-Salem. Still, if your address is eligible for Kinetic internet, it’s likely to be the cheapest option. Service starts at $40 per month, but speeds may vary depending on your location and the connection type (DSL or fiber) available at your address. Fiber is a decent deal, but if you’re eligible only for DSL, you may want to consider Spectrum or another ISP.
$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.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Winston-Salem?
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
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How to find internet deals and promotions in Winston-Salem
The best internet deals and top promotions in Winston-Salem depend on what discounts are available during a given time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Winston-Salem internet providers, such as AT&T Fiber, may throw in bonus offers such as gift cards or streaming services for a limited time. Most, however, including Spectrum and Kinetic, run the same standard offers year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
Fastest internet plans in Winston-Salem
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 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 Winston-Salem
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:
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 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 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.
Internet providers in Winston-Salem FAQs
according to the FCC. Fiber internet is primarily available in the Buena Vista, Waughtown, Ardmore and Reynolda Park areas, though fiber service can be found in select neighborhoods throughout Winston-Salem. AT&T Fiber is the largest fiber internet provider in Winston-Salem, while Kinetic has a small fiber presence, mostly to the northwest.
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Updated Dec. 7, 2023 3:15 p.m. PT
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David AndersSenior Writer
David Anders is a senior writer for CNET covering broadband providers, smart home devices and security products. Prior to joining CNET, David built his industry expertise writing for the broadband marketplace Allconnect. In his 5 plus years covering broadband, David’s work has been referenced by a variety of sources including ArcGIS, DIRECTV and more. David is from and currently resides in the Charlotte area with his wife, son and two cats.
ExpertiseBroadband providers, Home internet, Security Cameras
Why You Can Trust CNET
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