Internet providers in Indianapolis, IN

What is the best internet provider in Indianapolis?

• AT&T - Great value
• Spectrum - No data caps
• Xfinity - High speeds widely available
• EarthLink - Multiple service types available
• MetroNet - Consistent, fast speeds
• Xtream Powered by Mediacom - Good for multiple users
• HughesNet - Perfect for rural areas
• Viasat - Widely available
• TOAST.net - Unlimited data

One of the great things about living in Indianapolis is that there are a lot of internet service providers (ISPs) to choose from, but even with such tight competition for the best internet service, several stand out from the pack.

Four different providers—AT&T, Rice Belt, MetroNet, and NineStar Connect—offer gigabit fiber connections, which offer the fastest, most reliable internet currently available. Xfinity and Spectrum also offer gigabit internet over cable.

With so many ISPs competing neck and neck for the fastest speeds, it’s important to consider other factors that can have a big impact on your internet experience. Factors like reliability and customer service can be just as important as speed, especially if you’re working from home or running a small business.

Another benefit particular to living in Indianapolis is that there are a number of local Indiana-based ISPs that offer incredibly fast and reliable fiber networks that are every bit as good as the services provided by nationwide companies.

One other important consideration is that although there are multiple providers offering high-speed fiber internet service, there are some considerable holes in their coverage areas. For example, while some areas such as Carmel and Greenwood have multiple options for fiber internet providers, there are other areas downtown and near the airport where not even cable networks have coverage.

Fortunately, there are still providers like Viasat and HughesNet that offer satellite internet, as well as fixed-wireless internet providers like On-Ramp Indiana and Precision Data Solutions. No matter what part of the city you live in, you should have access to at least a few options for high-speed internet.

Highest-rated internet providers in Indianapolis

Of all the providers that serve the Indianapolis area, T-Mobile is the highest-rated provider by customers in our ISP customer satisfaction survey, beating out the larger nationwide providers.

Among the nationwide internet providers, EarthLink was once again the highest ranked by customers. Spectrum comes in third place, with AT&T and Xfinity hot on its heels. AT&T took fourth place and Xfinity came in fifth. Mediacom came in seventh place, putting it squarely in the middle of the pack when it comes to nationwide providers.

Compared to many other metropolitan areas, Indianapolis has a large number of local ISPs offering services comparable to those offered by the big nationwide providers. Since these smaller ISPs don’t appear in many surveys, it’s important to pay attention to customer reviews to find out more about the quality of their service.

Fastest internet service providers in Indianapolis

AT&T offers internet at speeds up to 5000 Mbps

EarthLink offers internet at speeds up to 5000 Mbps

Easy Internet Now offers internet at speeds up to 5000 Mbps

Xfinity offers internet at speeds up to 1200 Mbps

AT&T, Xfinity, Spectrum, Rice Belt, Metronet, and NineStar Connect are all the fastest internet service providers in Indianapolis. They all offer gigabit connections (1,000 Mbps) of one type or another. Speed is often the first thing that customers consider when choosing an ISP and fortunately for Hoosiers, there is no shortage of providers with speeds that get up into the gigabit range. But if speed is your main factor in choosing your internet provider, it’s also important to consider a few other factors, such as upload speed, reliability, and availability.

AT&T, Rice Belt, Metronet, and NineStar Connect all offer gigabit connections over fiber-optic networks. Fiber connections are not only lightning-fast, but also the most reliable connections around. Even at peak hours, you likely won’t experience any slowdown from traffic. Fiber also offers symmetrical upload speeds, which makes a huge difference if you livestream or use video chat often. If speed and reliability is what you’re looking for in your ISP, choose a provider with fiber connections in your area.

Cable connections can match fiber in pure speed, but there’s a big asterisk next to this claim. Cable networks can get bogged down at peak hours since you typically share your bandwidth with your neighbors. Cable lines are also geared toward getting data from the internet into your house, not the other way around. This means that upload speeds on cable are typically only a fraction of download speeds.

Despite these drawbacks, gigabit cable is still often the best choice. Fiber networks, while fast and reliable, are not nearly as widespread as cable. AT&T, for example, covers a large portion of Indianapolis, but not all of the areas it serves have access to its fiber network. Fiber is still the best choice for speed, but if it’s not available in your neighborhood, cable easily beats other options like DSL and satellite.

Internet Deals and Promotions in Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis residential internet coverage

Connection speeds in Indianapolis are among the fastest you’ll find in the entire country.  Unfortunately, coverage is a bit patchy. As such, location is one of the most important things to consider when looking for a service provider. It’s a good idea to confirm with your ISP not only that it covers your location, but also that the plan you want is available in your area.

Fiber internet in Indianapolis

Indianapolis has four different options for fiber internet connections: AT&T, Rice Belt, Metronet, and NineStar Connect. Each of these networks offer speeds up to 1 Gbps (1,000 Mbps), which is fast enough for everyone in the house to be streaming HD video to a different device without any slowdown. In fact, you could invite all your neighbors to come over to stream video and play online games, and you still wouldn’t run out of bandwidth.

AT&T covers much more of Indianapolis than other fiber providers, especially the closer you get to the center of the city. However, while Rice Belt, Metronet, and NineStar Connect are fiber-only, not all of the areas covered by AT&T have access to its high-speed fiber network. In many areas, AT&T offers only DSL connections. In both Carmel and Cottage Home, for example, you can sign up for AT&T fiber internet. AT&T also serves Clifton, but the only options it has available there are DSL connections. If you don’t have access to fiber internet in your area, cable internet is a better alternative to DSL.

Cable internet in Indianapolis

Fiber has several significant advantages over cable, but in terms of pure download speed, cable internet can still give fiber networks a run for their money. Since the coverage of fiber networks in Indianapolis is still a bit patchy, cable internet providers offer a great solution for those who fall into the gaps. Comcast Xfinity and Charter Spectrum both offer cable internet services in Indianapolis and cover a large portion of the city. Their services also overlap in many areas, such as McCordsville and Plainfield, so you’re free to choose your provider based on other considerations than just speed.

Local ISPs in Indianapolis

If supporting local businesses is important to you, you’re in luck. There are many Indiana-based providers that have coverage in the Indianapolis area.

These companies provide a wide range of services. There are high-speed fiber providers like Rice Belt and Metronet that expand the availability of gigabit speeds throughout the city, as well as fixed-wireless providers like On-Ramp Indiana, Internet Communications, Inc., and Hoosier Broadband that provide fixed-wireless connections to areas that aren’t covered by wired networks.

These smaller, local ISPs are the reason why Indianapolis has so many options for internet service, so choosing one that fits your needs is both a win for you and a win for the community.