What is the best internet provider in Naperville?
CNET’s top choice for the best internet service provider in Naperville is Xfinity, thanks to its widespread coverage, solid speeds and affordable plan options. Xfinity's plans start at $35 a month for 150Mbps and go up to $95 for the 2,100Mbps plan. If you're outside the coverage area of Xfinity, you can consider Astound, T-Mobile and Verizon 5G.
Looking for the cheapest internet plans in Naperville? Astound offers a $20 plan with speeds that go up to 300Mbps. However, it can come with hidden fees that could significantly increase your bill. If you want the fastest internet speeds in the area, AT&T Fiber has you covered with a 5,000Mbps plan that costs $245 per month, though it isn't available in every part of the area. If that is more speed than you need, we recommend looking at the 1,100Mbps and 2,100Mbps plans by Xfinity (for $75 and $95 a month, respectively), which have better availability and should suffice for most users.
Best internet in Naperville, Illinois
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Other available internet providers in Naperville
Cheap internet options in Naperville
Astound offers an entry-level, $20-per-month plan that gets you 300Mbps downloads with equipment included. However, you’ll need to factor in about $17 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. Xfinity's 400Mbps plan costs $30 a month currently at the time of updating this article, and 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.
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 304Mbps median download speed for fixed internet. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) Compare that to Chicago, which pulled down 162Mbps. Xfinity and Astound have Naperville covered with gig-level cable plans, but multi-gig speeds are elusive. In some neighborhoods, Xfinity offers its 2,100Mbps plan, while AT&T Fiber’s super-fast 5,000Mbps plan is only available across a small area of coverage.
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.
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:
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 1,100Mbps plan across its coverage area (2,100Mbps in some neighborhoods), while Astound tops out at 1,500Mbps. 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