Best Internet Providers in Naperville, Illinois
Our Experts
What is the best internet provider in Naperville?
Xfinity is the best internet service provider overall for most households in Naperville because of availability, a variety of plans and fast download speeds. Astound or Verizon 5G Home Internet are also solid picks, depending on what’s available in your area.
If you’re hunting for the lowest prices or fastest speeds, we have those top options. The cheapest internet in Naperville is a tie between Xfinity’s 150Mbps plan and Astound’s 300Mbps plan, which costs $20 per month with introductory pricing deals (but watch out for additional fees). The fastest available home internet speed in Naperville is AT&T Fiber’s 5,000Mbps plan for $225 per month, but it’s not widely available. Also, check out Xfinity’s 2,000Mbps cable plan for $100 per month, although most neighborhoods in town top out at 1,200Mbps.
Our methodology
CNET considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service in Naperville across several categories. Our evaluation includes referencing a proprietary database built over years of reviewing internet services. We validate that against provider information by spot-checking local addresses for service availability. We also do a close read of providers' terms and conditions and, when needed, will call ISPs to verify the details.
Despite our efforts to find the most recent and accurate information, our process has some limitations you should know about. Pricing and speed data are variable: Certain addresses may qualify for different service tiers, and monthly costs may vary, even within a city. The best way to identify your particular options is to plug your address into a provider's website.
Also, the prices, speed and other information listed above and in the provider cards below may differ from what we found in our research. The cards display the full range of a provider's pricing and speed across the US, according to our database of plan information provided directly by ISPs. At the same time, the text is specific to what's available in Naperville. The prices referenced within this article's text come from our research and include applicable discounts for setting up automatic payments each month -- a standard industry offering. Discounts and promotions might also be available for signing a term contract or bundling multiple services.
To learn more about how we review internet providers, visit our full methodology page.
Best internet in Naperville, Illinois
Xfinity
Best internet provider in Naperville, IL
Our take - Xfinity and Astound run neck-and-neck in Naperville when it comes to cable internet. Xfinity has coverage and speed advantages, but compare with Astound if both are available at your address.
Astound Broadband
Best cable alternative in Naperville, IL
Our take - Like Xfinity, Astound offers tempting introductory deals for its cable internet service. It squeaks under Xfinity on price at the gig speed tier but doesn’t have quite as broad a reach as its competitor. Both ISPs will hike your price after the introductory period, although Astound’s plans stay at the same level for the first two years.
AT&T Fiber
Fastest internet in Naperville, IL
Our take - AT&T Fiber’s 5,000Mbps plan is the fastest home internet in town, but it’s only available in a few small pockets of the city. That means most residents are out of luck and must look to Xfinity or Astound for gig-level downloads.
Verizon 5G Home Internet
Best fixed wireless internet in Naperville, IL
Our take - Naperville is one of the markets where Verizon 5G Home Internet offers speeds up to 1,000Mbps, earning it a shoutout on this list. Bundle with an eligible mobile plan for savings on your home internet bill. Compare with T-Mobile Home Internet.
Naperville internet providers compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Astound Broadband Read full review | Cable | $20-$45 | 300-1,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7 |
|
AT&T Fiber Read full review | Fiber | $55-$225 | 300-5,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
|
AT&T Internet Read full review | DSL | $55 | 10-100Mbps | None | 1.5TB (Unlimited for 100Mbps plan) | None | 7.4 |
|
AT&T Internet Air Read full review | Fixed wireless | $55 | 75-225Mbps | None | None | None | N/A |
|
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 Wireless customers) | 50-1,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
|
Xfinity Read full review | Cable | $20-$100 | 150-2,000Mbps | Varies | 1.2TB (for most plans) | Varies | 7 |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Other available internet providers in Naperville
- AT&T Internet: AT&T Internet reaches most of Naperville, but it’s an outdated DSL network with speeds up to 100Mbps. The plan costs $55 per month for whatever maximum speed you can get at your address. A 1.5TB data cap applies to most plans, except the 100Mbps plan. There are no equipment fees or contracts. Consider this as a fallback if you’re not happy with the cable options at your home.
- AT&T Internet Air: AT&T offers a fixed wireless internet option instead of DSL in some parts of Naperville. AT&T Internet Air costs $55 per month with no contract, data cap or equipment fees. Expect typical download speeds of 75-225Mbps.
- Rise Broadband: Rise specializes in fixed wireless rural internet for homes with few options. It covers a little bit of Naperville, to the tune of just under 10% of homes, according to the FCC. A typical plan for Naperville would be $55 per month for download speeds up to 25Mbps with unlimited data. Consider Rise if you’re in a rural spot outside of town with no decent wired internet options.
- Satellite internet: If you live in Naperville, you will most likely choose a cable provider or a 5G home internet ISP. If you’re outside of town or living in a rural area with no strong options for getting online, then look into Starlink, Hughesnet or Viasat for satellite internet. Speeds can be variable, and prices are high, but it may be your best bet if cable, fiber or fixed wireless providers don’t work out at your home.
- T-Mobile Home Internet: T-Mobile’s coverage map shows solid availability of its 5G Ultra Capacity network across Naperville. You’ll need to run your address to see if an open slot is available. There’s one plan for $60 per month (as low as $40 per month when bundled with a phone plan) with typical download speeds of 72-245Mbps. You may come across a special $50-per-month deal. There are no data caps, equipment fees or contracts.
Cheap internet options in Naperville
Astound and Xfinity both offer an entry-level, $20-per-month cable internet plan, but speeds and fees differ. Astound’s plan gets you 300Mbps downloads with equipment included, but you’ll need to factor in about $16 in extra monthly fees along with one-time installation and activation fees that add up to as much as $95. The price stays good for two years. With Xfinity, you’ll get up to 150Mbps download speeds and will need to either provide your own equipment or rent for $15 per month. At that point, you might consider the 300Mbps Xfinity plan with gear included for $35 per month. Both of the Xfinity plans keep their low pricing for the first year. When the price inevitably goes up, get ready to negotiate your rate or try out a different ISP.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Naperville?
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Astound Read full review | $20 | 300Mbps | None |
|
Xfinity Read full review | $20 | 150Mbps | $15 per month (optional) |
|
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | $50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 300Mbps | None |
|
AT&T Fiber Read full review | $55 | 300Mbps | None |
|
AT&T Internet Read full review | $55 | 100Mbps | None |
|
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | $60 ($30 with eligible mobile plans) | 245Mbps | None |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Naperville
The best internet deals and top promotions in Naperville depend on what discounts are available during that time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Naperville internet providers, such as Xfinity and Astound, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, including AT&T Internet, 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 Naperville broadband?
Naperville put in a strong showing in a recent Ookla speed test report with a 265Mbps median download speed for fixed internet. Compare that to Chicago, which pulled down 166Mbps. Xfinity and Astound have Napervile covered with gig-level cable plans, but multi-gig speeds are elusive. In some neighborhoods, Xfinity offers its 2,000Mbps plan, while AT&T Fiber’s super-fast 5,000Mbps plan is only available across a small area of coverage.
Fastest internet plans in Naperville
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Connection |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
AT&T Fiber Internet 5000 Read full review | $225 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
AT&T Fiber Internet 2000 Read full review | $125 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
Xfinity Gigabit X2 Read full review | $100 | 2,000Mbps | 200Mbps | None | Cable |
|
Xfinity Gigabit Extra Read full review | $85 | 1,200Mbps | 35Mbps | 1.2TB | Cable |
|
AT&T Fiber Internet 1000 Read full review | $80 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
Astound 1,000Mbps Read full review | $45 | 1,000Mbps | 20Mbps | None | Cable |
|
Xfinity Gigabit Read full review | $65 | 1,000Mbps | 20Mbps | 1.2TB | Cable |
|
Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read full review | $70 ($45 with qualifying Verizon 5G mobile plans) | 1,000Mbps | 75Mbps | None | Fixed wireless |
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 all at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Naperville
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 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, 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 Naperville?
Most residents of Naperville will face a choice between Xfinity and Astound for cable internet. Pricing is similar, but the details are different. Xfinity offers a 1,200Mbps plan across its coverage area (2,000Mbps in some neighborhoods), while Astound tops out at 1,000Mbps. Expect price hikes from both ISPs once your introductory period is over. Astound offers a two-year price guarantee, while Xfinity’s prices go up after one or two years, depending on the plan. Take time to assess fees, equipment costs and contract requirements before deciding. If you’re one of the few homes with access to AT&T Fiber, you’re in luck with symmetrical speeds and straightforward plans. Consider 5G home internet from Verizon or T-Mobile as an alternative if you’re not happy with the cable providers.
Internet providers in Naperville FAQs
What's the cheapest internet provider in Naperville?
Astound and Xfinity are competitive on pricing with their entry-level plans at $20 per month, but Astound offers 300Mbps downloads compared to Xfinity’s 150Mbps downloads. Be sure to account for Astound’s additional monthly fees (up to around $16) and Xfinity’s optional equipment rental ($15 per month).
Is fiber internet available in Naperville?
Fiber is hard to find in Naperville, but some new housing developments have AT&T Fiber, with speeds up to 5,000Mbps. Most of the town will need to look to cable or Verizon 5G Home Internet for gig-level speeds.
Which internet provider in Naperville offers the fastest plan?
AT&T Fiber’s 5,000Mbps plan is the fastest in Naperville, but it’s hard to find. Most of the city has access to Xfinity’s 1,200Mbps cable plan instead. Xfinity also offers a 2,000Mbps plan in some areas.
What internet provider has the best coverage in Naperville?
Xfinity’s cable network reaches the most homes in Naperville, with over 98% of households eligible for service.
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