'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean?
ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.
When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.
ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form.
The best internet providers in Los Angeles: Top local ISPs compared
Residents of Los Angeles enjoy a vast array of internet options, more than what's typically available in rural areas of America. Angelenos have access to broadband, fiber optic cable, and generally some of the best internet around as well as a bounty of provider options. Whether you want to use your internet to stream shows, work from home, connect using video chat or all of the above, there is a standout provider in LA to meet your needs. We've rounded up the best internet providers in Los Angeles in a few important categories to help you narrow the field.
The three best internet providers in Los Angeles
- AT&T — Best for fast downloads
- Starry Internet — Best for affordable internet
- Spectrum — Best for internet and TV packages
The best Los Angeles internet providers: summed up
| AT&T | Starry | Spectrum | |
| Defining trait | Super Fast Downloads | Affordable with No Hidden Fees | Good Bundles |
| Connection type | DSL, Fiber Optic | Fixed Wireless | Cable |
| Download speeds (Mbps) | DSL: 0.2-100 Mbps Fiber: 100-1,000 Mbps | Fixed Wireless: Up to 200 Mbps | Cable: 100- 940 Mbps |
| Prices starting at | $49.99/month | $50/month | $49.99/month |
| Contract length | No annual contract | No annual contract | No annual contract |
| Data cap | 1 TB | None | None |
AT&T has some of the fastest download speeds on the market, with a connection speed up to 1,000Mbps and an upload speed up to 35Mbps on their fiber internet network.
Even users who are on the company's DSL internet enjoy fast download speeds. The service's connection speed reaches up to 100Mbps — some of the fastest DSL internet we've seen. We've awarded it the best for downloads, because you'll notice a speed difference over other providers even if fiber is not yet available in Los Angeles. The 1 TB of data per month offer should also keep the entire family streaming, downloading and uploading work documents, and connecting with the household virtual stable, even when everyone is connected at the same time.
AT&T requires no annual contract for internet service in Los Angeles, but the introductory price only lasts for 12 months of your service. As of May 4th, 2020, internet prices start at just under $50/month, with internet and TV bundles beginning at $79.98/month.
This small internet company offers consistent, all-in pricing with no long-term obligation, making it perfect for most renters on a budget.
Starry Internet covers about 2 million households in the Los Angeles area, and they also do business in NYC, Boston, D.C., and Denver. The company charges $50 flat, with no added fees, and no introductory period. While other companies may offer a similar price model for the first 12 months, Starry customers continue to pay the same monthly charges. Included in the $50 monthly fees are the wireless router, 24/7 customer service, all fees and taxes, and up to 200 Mbps speed.
No long-term contracts are required, and there is no data cap. Starry only deals with internet service, so there are no bundles available, which makes the company a good option for customers who do not need cable TV and only care about reliable streaming speeds.
If you want internet, cable, and a landline, Spectrum helps you get the most bang for your buck. For less than $100 per month, you can get all three major services. If you're willing to commit to 24-months of service, you can get bundles for under $90. The company doesn't require contracts and signing up for a bundle with Spectrum qualifies you for their contract buy-out program. That means if you're stuck in a contract with another provider, Spectrum will pay the fees associated with early cancellation, up to $500.
With internet speeds that start at 100Mbps, you can rest assured that your household can stream and video chat at the same time. The most affordable Spectrum package offers more than 125 cable channels – more than most other major competitors in Los Angeles.
How we found the best internet providers in Los Angeles
Here are the primary factors we considered when recommending internet providers in Los Angeles.
- Coverage: AT&T, Verizon, and Spectrum have some of the broadest internet coverage in Los Angeles. While other internet providers, such as Frontier or HughesNet, may also offer fast service or great prices – they only cover very select areas of Los Angeles. We stuck to the providers most relevant to a wider audience.
- Value: We also considered the value of each internet service. We considered each provider's offerings, the range of speeds, intro pricing periods, data caps, and other services important to the average internet user.
- Customer Satisfaction: The companies we've chosen are rated very highly by the J.D. Power Internet Service Provider Satisfaction Survey (AT&T and Spectrum) and TrustPilot (Starry Internet).
Los Angeles internet FAQ
Who offers fiber-optic internet in Los Angeles?
AT&T, Frontier, Sonic, Spectrum, and Race Communications all offer fiber-optic internet service in Los Angeles.
What is the fastest internet in LA?
AT&T and Sonic have the fastest internet in Los Angeles with speeds up to 1,000 Mbps (or 1 Gbps).
What internet providers are available in Los Angeles?
LA has more than a dozen internet providers, some with more availability throughout the city than others. AT&T and Spectrum have the broadest coverage areas. The best way to determine if a provider is available in your neighborhood is to use the provider's website to "Check Availability" at your address.