What is the best internet provider in Ann Arbor, Michigan?
Looking for the fastest, most reliable internet in Ann Arbor? AT&T Fiber is CNET’s pick for the best internet service provider in Ann Arbor. Being the area’s only fiber provider, it delivers equal upload and download speeds — essential for remote work and online gaming. Speeds range from 300Mbps to 5,000Mbps, for $55 to $245 monthly. But that’s not all. AT&T Fiber also has the lead in customer satisfaction. The provider has the highest customer satisfaction scores of any ISP in the country from J.D. Power and the American Customer Satisfaction Index.
If fiber internet is not available in your area, Xfinityalso offers a decent variety of plans in Ann Arbor and it is available everywhere in the city. Also, keep an eye on its new price lock plans if you’ve used the service before and would consider sticking with it for the foreseeable future.
If you’re after affordability, Verizon and T-Mobile’s plans start at just $50 a month. Verizon 5G Home Internet is also the best fixed wireless provider in Ann Arbor. You can find plans with speeds of up to 1,000Mbps in the area. Plus, you can save extra money by bundling with an eligible Verizon cellphone plan.
Best internet in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor internet providers compared
Provider Internet technologyMonthly price rangeSpeed rangeMonthly equipment costsData capContractCNET review score AT&T Fiber
Read full review Fiber$55-$245300-5,000MbpsNoneNoneNone7.4Mercury Broadband Fixed wireless$50-$7025-140MbpsNoneNoneSome plansN/A T-Mobile Home Internet
Read full review Fixed wireless$50-$70 ($35-$55 with mobile plans)87-415MbpsNoneNoneNone7.4 Verizon 5G Home Internet
Read full review Fixed wireless$50-$75 ($35-$60 for eligible mobile customers)85-1,000MbpsNoneNoneNone7.2 Xfinity
Read full review Cable$55-$85400-1,300Mbps$25 (included for 12 months)1.2TBOptional7
Show more (1 item)
Shop providers at my address
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Ann Arbor?
Provider Starting priceMax download speedMonthly equipment fee Xfinity Connect More
Read full review $55400Mbps$25 (optional)Mercury Broadband $5030MbpsNone T-Mobile Home Internet
Read full review $50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans)318MbpsNone Verizon 5G Home Internet
Read full review $50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans)85-300MbpsNone
Show more (0 item)
Shop providers at my address
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Ann Arbor
The best internet deals and top promotions in Ann Arbor depend on what discounts are available during that time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Get Started
How many members of your household use the internet?
Next
Ann Arbor internet providers, such as Xfinity and Verizon 5G Home Internet, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, however, including AT&T Fiber, run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
Fastest internet plans in Ann Arbor
Provider Starting priceMax download speedMax upload speedData capConnection type AT&T Internet 5000
Read full review $2455,000Mbps5,000MbpsNoneFiber AT&T Internet 2000
Read full review $1452,000Mbps2,000MbpsNoneFiber AT&T Internet 1000
Read full review $801,000Mbps1,000MbpsNoneFiber Xfinity Gigabit Extra
Read full review $851,300Mbps41Mbps1.2TBCable Xfinity Gigabit
Read full review $651,100Mbps20Mbps1.2TBCable
Show more (1 item)
Shop providers at my address
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, 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 Ann Arbor
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 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, 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 (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
Internet providers in Ann Arbor FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Ann Arbor?
AT&T Fiber is the best internet service provider in Ann Arbor. It’s the only fiber internet provider in the city, so you’ll get the same upload and download speeds. AT&T Fiber doesn’t automatically increase prices after a year or two, and there are no equipment fees or data caps.
Is fiber internet available in Ann Arbor?
Yes, fiber internet is available to 30% of Ann Arbor residents, according to FCC data. AT&T Fiber is the only fiber internet provider in the city.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Ann Arbor?
T-Mobile and Verizon offer the cheapest plan in the area, starting at just $50 a month.
Which internet provider in Ann Arbor offers the fastest plan?
AT&T Fiber offers the fastest internet plan in Ann Arbor, with download and upload speeds up to 5,000Mbps.
