Editor’s Note: This story comes from CableTV.com.
Wondering how you can get wireless internet without cable or a phone line? Not allowed to run a cable line into your apartment or cabin?
Look no further.
We’ve compiled the best local internet providers that offer internet-only plans, and our seasoned editors have ranked them according to our strict standards.
Can you connect to the internet without cable?
Yes, and fiber-optic internet is your best bet.
Fiber internet is faster and more reliable than cable or DSL internet, and you won’t have to worry about issues like frequent outages or unpredictable service. Plus, fiber is the only internet type that supports equal download and upload speeds. Its one drawback, though, is spotty availability — your neighbor could qualify for fiber, but you might not.
We recommend Google Fiber as our overall best fiber internet option, followed by Verizon Fios for its fast speeds, Quantum Fiber for its high customer satisfaction, and AT&T for its flexibility.
All four of these providers scored high in our annual customer satisfaction survey, and if you can get them in your area, we recommend that you snatch them up.
If you’re lucky enough to have more than one of these fiber providers available in your area, we think Google Fiber is the best of the best. But you can’t go wrong with any of them for reliability and excellent performance (and no cable or phone lines needed).
What’s the cheapest way to get Wi-Fi and wireless internet service in your home?
We say fixed wireless internet is the best deal around.
Most U.S. cities have fixed wireless transmitters. Think of them as little cell towers beaming Wi-Fi signals in all directions.
Some transmitters belong to internet service providers you may not recognize, but the signals are even better than 4G — as long as you’re in direct line of sight, with no mountains or skyscrapers between you and the transmitter.
T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T have launched fixed wireless services that use their 5G networks to bring internet service to your home.
Our favorite of the bunch is T-Mobile 5G Home Internet ($35-$70/month, 170-498 Mbps download speeds), which we ranked as the ISP with the best value.
Even with unequal download and upload speeds and a larger number of outages compared to fiber providers, we think T-Mobile 5G Home Internet is still the best deal around.
And even though 5G Home Internet uses mobile data networks, you still don’t need a phone line.
Cable internet without cable TV can feature good speeds at a reasonable price
Gasp! Aren’t we trying to avoid the c-word? Yeah. But there’s cable TV, and then there’s cable internet service.
Cable internet is a solid option because it’s faster and more reliable than DSL or satellite and available without bundling phone or cable TV service.
When it comes to cable internet, we recommend our top-ranked providers: Astound Broadband for its fast speeds and Spectrum for its flexible no-contract plans.
Beware, though, many cable providers (including Spectrum) have hefty price hikes after a year. That’s one of many reasons why cable ISPs have fallen down the ranks of our customer satisfaction survey, while fiber providers (which typically don’t have price hikes or sneaky fees) dominate the top spots.
DSL internet will get the job done if it’s your only option
A DSL (digital subscriber line) connection is slower and less reliable than fiber, fixed wireless, and cable internet, but it’s widely available. You don’t need a landline with phone service for DSL internet, but you will need to use your home’s phone jack.
If DSL is the only option in your area, be sure to check what download speeds your potential providers offer to your home — most DSL plans max out at 100 Mbps, but some rural areas can’t get more than 10 Mbps.
DSL plans are difficult to recommend due to their less-than-impressive speeds and reliability, but CenturyLink’s Simply Unlimited Internet and Windstream’s Kinetic Internet plans will do in a pinch.
Both providers’ DSL plans start at $50–$55 per month and come with unlimited data, which we won’t turn up our noses at.
Satellite internet is a last resort
Satellite internet is the slowest and least reliable internet service, but it may be the only choice for people living in rural areas.
There have been two main satellite internet providers in the past: Hughesnet and Viasat. Hughesnet tends to be cheaper, but Viasat offers a plan with speeds up to 150 Mbps.
Recently, Starlink has entered the competition and boasts high marks in our customer survey to boot. Starlink has speeds up to 220 Mbps, which is impressive, but spotty availability and high prices are its downfalls.
Check out our guide to the best satellite internet providers for more info.
Why you should trust us
To find the best wireless internet providers, we spent thousands of hours analyzing each ISP’s plans based on factors including price, reliability, and features like free equipment. We also relied on our review database to determine which internet provider offers the best cable-free service.
We also used feedback from our annual internet customer satisfaction survey to find out how current customers felt about their ISPs. Not only that but we did hands-on testing of our own home internet to round out our ratings of select providers.
For more information on our methodology, check out our How We Rank page.
