At a Glance
- AT&T Fiber is named Houston’s best overall ISP.
- Astound Broadband offers the lowest starting price at $30 per month.
- Tachus Fiber tops the speed chart with 8,000Mbps.
- Why it matters: Houston residents can choose a provider that balances speed, price, and coverage.
Houston’s internet landscape is crowded, but one provider stands out as the best overall choice: AT&T Fiber. The decision comes after a comprehensive review of speed, cost, customer satisfaction, and availability. Below we break down the top options, price points, and how the analysis was conducted.
Best Overall ISP
AT&T Fiber earns a score of 7.4 in the review, matching Tachus Fiber’s rating but surpassing other options in customer satisfaction and symmetry of upload and download speeds. The service starts at $45 per month for 100Mbps and climbs to $155 for 5,000Mbps. No data caps or contracts are required, and the modem is included in the monthly fee.
The main drawback is availability. If your address is outside AT&T’s coverage, Xfinity and Verizon 5G Home Internet offer solid alternatives.
Alternative Options
| Provider | Technology | Monthly Price Range | Speed Range | Equipment | Data Cap | Contract | Review Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astound Broadband | Cable | $30-$70 | 300-1,500Mbps | Free modem, optional $10 Wi-Fi | None | None | 7 |
| AT&T Internet Air | Fixed wireless | $60-$50 | 10-225Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Brightspeed | DSL | $55 | Up to 140Mbps | $15 modem (optional) | None | None | 6.6 |
| Optimum | Cable | $40-$120 | 300-5,000Mbps | None | None | None | 6.2 |
| Tachus Fiber | Fiber | $69-$119 | 1,000-8,000Mbps | None | None | None | N/A |
| T-Mobile Home Internet | Fixed wireless | $50-$70 | 133-498Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet | Fixed wireless | $50-$75 (or $35-$60 with mobile plan) | 50-250Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
| Xfinity | Cable | $40-$70 | 300-2,100Mbps | None | 1.2TB on some plans | 1 year on some plans | 7 |
Source: News Of Los Angeles analysis of provider data.
Cheapest Plans
Houston’s average starting price is just over $46 per month, but several providers beat that figure. Optimum’s $25 plan delivers 200Mbps for a $14 monthly equipment fee. Astound Broadband’s $30 plan offers 300Mbps with a free modem and optional Wi-Fi. Below is a quick reference for the lowest-priced options.
| Provider | Starting Price | Max Download Speed | Equipment Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Optimum FASTPASS | $25 | 200Mbps | $14 |
| Astound Broadband | $30 | 300Mbps | Free modem, optional $5 Wi-Fi |
| Optimum | $30 | 300Mbps | None |
| Xfinity | $40 | 300Mbps | $15 modem |
| AT&T Fiber | $45 | 100Mbps | None |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet | $50 | 85Mbps | None |
| T-Mobile Home Internet | $50 | 133-415Mbps | None |
Source: News Of Los Angeles analysis of provider data.
Fastest Speeds
Speed is a key driver for many Houstonians. Tachus Fiber leads with symmetrical speeds up to 8,000Mbps for $119 a month. AT&T Fiber follows with 5,000Mbps for $155, and Brightspeed’s DSL can reach 140Mbps in certain areas. The table below highlights the top speed offerings.
| Provider | Max Speed | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Tachus Fiber | 8,000Mbps | $119 |
| AT&T Fiber | 5,000Mbps | $155 |
| Xfinity | 2,100Mbps | $70 |
| Optimum | 5,000Mbps | $120 |
| Brightspeed | 140Mbps | $55 |
| Astound Broadband | 1,500Mbps | $70 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet | 498Mbps | $70 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet | 250Mbps | $75 |
Coverage & Availability
Availability varies by provider and neighborhood. Key points include:
- AT&T Fiber covers the majority of Houston but not every block.
- Xfinity is available citywide and often the fallback when AT&T is absent.
- Verizon 5G Home Internet reaches roughly 64% of residents, with installation, taxes, and equipment included in the $50-per-month fee.
- T-Mobile Home Internet powers fixed-wireless service to more than 50 million homes nationwide.
- Brightspeed’s DSL is most effective in the Kingwood area, where the company offers a faster fiber product.
- Astound Broadband, known regionally as Grande, maintains the lowest price but has the steepest price increases.
- Kinetic by Windstream provides DSL in small pockets like Sugar Land, but its fiber options are limited.
How the Review Was Made
News Of Los Angeles‘s broadband experts started by gathering pricing, availability, and speed data from the providers’ own sites and from the Federal Communications Commission’s mapping tools. The process also involved:
- Checking the FCC website to verify coverage.
- Entering local addresses on each provider’s site to find specific plans.
- Consulting the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power for customer sentiment.
- Comparing each ISP against three criteria: speed, value, and satisfaction.
- Assigning a score based on how closely each provider met those criteria.
All information is accurate as of publication, and the review reflects the most recent data available.
Key Takeaways
- AT&T Fiber offers the best overall mix of speed, customer satisfaction, and symmetry.
- Astound Broadband provides the most economical entry point.
- Tachus Fiber delivers the fastest speeds in Houston.
- Coverage remains the biggest limiting factor; residents should verify their address with the chosen provider.
- The analysis combines objective speed data with consumer satisfaction metrics to guide buyers.
With these insights, Houston residents can confidently select an internet service that fits their budget and bandwidth needs.
For more details on the testing methodology, visit the News Of Los Angeles how we test ISPs page.
