Best Internet Providers in Nashville – CNET

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AT&T Fiber – Best overall internet provider in Nashville

  • Prices from $55 – $180 per month
  • Speeds from 300 – 5,000Mbps
  • Unlimited data

Xfinity – Best cable internet provider in Nashville

  • Prices from $20 – $300 per month
  • Speeds from 75 – 6,000Mbps
  • Data caps on some plans

T-Mobile Home Internet – Best fixed wireless provider in Nashville

  • Prices from $50 per month
  • Speeds from 33 – 182Mbps
  • Unlimited data

Nashville will always be known for country music, but it’s not just rhinestone cowboys that give the city its shine. It’s building its reputation as a technology hub thanks to entrepreneurial startups and a growing presence from big names like Oracle, Amazon and Meta. Whether you’re a guitar slinger or a coder (or both), you’ll want a fast, reliable home internet provider for remote work, gaming or streaming your favorite hot country hits. 

Nashville has a host of internet providers competing for your attention with plans to fit your budget and connection needs. Our top pick of AT&T Fiber has a wide coverage area and speeds faster than a banjo roll. If price is on your mind, both T-Mobile and Verizon offer affordable fixed wireless deals, especially if you’re a cellular customer and bundle your phone and internet. 

Now cue up some Dolly Parton, kick back and take a tour through our roundup of Nashville’s best internet service providers. 

Best internet providers in Music City

From fast fiber to fixed wireless, you’ve got options for getting connected in Nashville. There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to ISPs, so we’re highlighting our pick for the best overall provider alongside other top choices for cable and 5G connections.

AT&T
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AT&T Fiber

Best overall internet provider in Nashville


Product details


Price range

$55 – $180 per month

Speed range

300 – 5,000Mbps

Connection

Fiber

Highlights

Unlimited data, no contracts, equipment included

Speed. Reliability. Fiber is the Cadillac of residential internet. Regarding Nashville, that makes AT&T Fiber the equivalent of a long, lean Cadillac convertible with steer horns on the front. AT&T’s wide variety of plan options and speeds up to 5,000 megabits per second (5 gigabits) vault it to the top in our evaluations. 

Availability: The biggest drawback to fiber, whether from AT&T or Google, is availability. AT&T has a wide presence across Nashville, but you’ll still need to run your address to see if your home can connect to the service. For apartment dwellers, you can check availability using the AT&T fiber locator map, which shows heavy coverage across central Nashville and out into surrounding communities like Murfreesboro and Franklin.

Plans and pricing: Budget options start at $55 for 300Mbps (with autopay and paperless billing discounts). If you have a true need for speed, look to the $180-per-month 5-gigabit plan. With fiber, your uploads will be just as fast as your downloads. 

Fees and service details: A $99 installation fee may apply, but keep an eye out for special offers. For example, AT&T was recently dangling a $150 gift card with a sign-up for certain plans. There are no data caps and no annual contracts.

Read our AT&T home internet review.

Xfinity logo on a phone
Sarah Tew/CNET

Xfinity

Best cable internet provider in Nashville


Product details


Price range

$20 – $300 per month

Speed range

75 – 6,000Mbps

Connection

Cable

Highlights

Data caps on some plans, lots of plan options, solid customer satisfaction numbers

When it comes to the sheer variety of plans, Xfinity brings it. Whether you’re a budget buyer or someone needing speed, you’ll find a plan that fits. This comes with the caveat that you’ll want to scrutinize the plan details and keep an eye out for contract requirements, possible equipment fees and introductory pricing that may change later. You may need to renegotiate to get back to a lower price.

Availability: While fiber is fast and tempting, Xfinity’s cable system covers a lot of places that fiber doesn’t yet reach. The cable provider’s faster speed tiers are competitively priced with fiber equivalents. However, your upload speeds top out at 35Mbps, so that’s a consideration if you need to push a lot of data up, not just down.

Plans and pricing: Got a tight budget? Check out the $30 plan for 75Mbps service (equipment not included, and the price is good for one year). Are you feeling peppy? Step up to the $80-per-month 1,200Mbps plan (with a two-year contract). Xfinity likes to lure in new customers with sweet deals, like a recent $25 per month offer for a 200Mbps service (good for two years). Keep in mind there’s a 1.2TB data cap with penalties for going over. Heavy internet users on the gigabit plans should consider paying an extra $10 monthly to rent Xfinity’s xFi Gateway equipment with the unlimited data upgrade.

Fees and service details: All those monthly plan prices include discounts for automatic payments and paperless billing, but check the fine print. Some deals require contracts, others may go up in price after the introductory period and some don’t include equipment, so you’ll need to rent or provide your own gear.

Read our Xfinity home internet review.

T-mobile logo
Sarah Tew/CNET

T-Mobile Home Internet

Best fixed wireless provider in Nashville


Product details


Price range

$50 per month ($30 for eligible T-Mobile Magenta Max customers)

Speed range

33 – 182Mbps

Connection

Fixed wireless

Highlights

Unlimited data, equipment included, no contracts, no additional fees

T-Mobile and Verizon are locked in a tight battle for 5G home internet supremacy. T-Mobile takes a slight edge over Verizon 5G Home Internet in our rankings, but the best fixed wireless ISP for you will depend on availability at your address and which service you use for your phone.

Availability: T-Mobile has been expanding its home internet at a rapid clip, but it still limits sign-ups in many areas so it doesn’t overtax its network. You’ll have to run your address and you may end up on a waiting list if slots are full. Speeds can vary considerably depending on location and how much strain is on the network.

Plans and pricing: T-Mobile’s straightforward pricing means you pay $50 per month (with autopay discount) for speeds up to 182Mbps, though your real-world mileage will vary. T-Mobile voice plan customers may be eligible for an extra-sweet deal of just $30 monthly for internet when you bundle it with your cell service.

Fees and service details: Equipment is included, and there’s no data cap and no contract. T-Mobile charges a $35 activation fee, but otherwise, it takes very little monetary investment to get up and running to test drive the service.

Read our T-Mobile Home Internet review.

Overview of internet providers in Nashville

Provider Internet technology Monthly price range Speed range Monthly equipment costs Data cap Contract CNET review score
AT&T Fiber Fiber $55-$180 300-5,000Mbps None None None 7.4
Google Fiber Fiber $70-$100 1,000-2,000Mbps None None None 7.4
T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed wireless $50 33-182Mbps None None None 7.4
Verizon 5G Home Internet Fixed wireless $50-$70 85-1,000Mbps None None None 7.2
Xfinity Cable $30-$90 75-1,200Mbps Varies 1.2 TB Varies 7

All available Nashville residential internet providers

  • Google Fiber: Google Fiber is expanding its presence across Nashville, but availability is still limited. Residents of neighborhoods like Edgehill, Melrose and West End may be in luck, and Google has announced plans to service Smyrna in 2023. Customers can sign up for speeds as high as 2,000Mbps (for $100 per month), but Google doesn’t yet offer its fastest 5-gigabit plan in Nashville. 
  • Satellite internet: If you’re covered by fiber, cable or fixed wireless, those are likely to be your first choices for getting connected. But if you’re in a remote area around Nashville and don’t have a good ISP option, look into satellite internet service from Starlink, Viasat or HughesNet
  • Verizon 5G Home Internet: Verizon’s coverage map shows most of Nashville is blanketed by its 5G Ultra Wideband service that delivers speeds of up to 300Mbps, but your real-world speed will vary. It’s a tough competitor for T-Mobile Home Internet. If you’re a Verizon phone customer, you can bundle your services and get your 5G internet for as low as $25 per month with autopay and select mobile plans. That’s quite a bargain if you’re in a strong service area.

Nashville's Broadway Street at dusk with neon street lights lit up.

Dan Reynolds Photography/Getty Images

Nashville internet details at a glance

Finding the right internet provider is a bit like dating. Who’s in your area? Are you on the same page financially? Are your internet demands pretty chill, or do you crave a high-bandwidth lifestyle with a need for speed? For Music City residents, AT&T or Google fiber will fulfill your speed requirements, but you may find better budget options and availability via Xfinity’s cable service or Verizon or T-Mobile’s fixed wireless. 

Pricing details on Nashville home internet service

Nashville can be an affordable place to get hooked up to home internet. The average starting price for the city’s ISPs works out to $50, but Xfinity offers up some bargains and T-Mobile or Verizon customers with select plans can add 5G home internet (where available) for discounted rates. 

Cheap internet options in the Nashville metro area

You may be eligible for federal assistance with the cost of your internet service through the Affordable Connectivity Program. The program is designed to get low-income households connected to the internet for free or at a reduced rate. A good example of this is Xfinity’s Internet Essentials option. You’ll need to check that you qualify based on income and participation in certain federal assistance programs.

What’s the cheapest internet plan in Nashville?

Here are the internet speeds you can find in Nashville

Ookla, provider of the Speedtest.net service, places Nashville at number 45 in its ranking of internet speeds for the 100 most populous US cities. The Music City weighs in with a median download speed of about 210Mbps and median upload speed of nearly 29Mbps. That’s pretty respectable, especially if you look west to Memphis, which sits at number 100 with a median of just over 45Mbps for downloads. Nashville’s fiber options from AT&T and Google help push its numbers up, and those will be your best bets for high speeds.

Download speeds

Nashville – 137 Mbps
TN – 145 Mbps
US – 133 Mbps

Upload speeds

Nashville – 52 Mbps
TN – 56 Mbps
US – 46 Mbps


*Data sourced from M-LAB speed tests taken by real users in Nashville.

Fastest internet providers in Nashville

AT&T Fiber reigns as the fastest internet provider in Nashville by a long shot. Its $180-per-month 5-gigabit plan is your fastest residential option, so long as it’s available at your address. Google Fiber’s $100 2-gigabit plan is the next closest competitor. Google has rolled out 5-gig plans in other markets, but those speeds have yet to reach Nashville. Here’s our rundown of the best multi-gigabit internet plans

What are the fastest internet plans in Nashville?

Provider Max download speed Max upload speed Starting price Data cap Contract
AT&T Fiber 5000 5,000Mbps 5,000Mbps $180 None None
AT&T Fiber 2000 2,000Mbps 2,000Mbps $110 None None
Google Fiber 2,000Mbps 2,000Mbps $100 None None
Xfinity Gigabit Extra 1,200Mbps 35Mbps $80 1.2 TB 2-year
Xfinity Gigabit 1,000Mbps 35Mbps $75 1.2 TB 2-year
AT&T Fiber 1000 1,000Mbps 1,000Mbps $80 None None
Google Fiber 1,000Mbps 1,000Mbps $70 None None

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What’s the final word on Nashville internet providers?

Nashville is well covered by ISPs with options ranging from fast fiber to convenient cable to no-fuss 5G. AT&T Fiber and Google Fiber deliver the goods when it comes to sheer speed, but availability may be limited. Xfinity covers most of the area, but with slower max speeds and a data cap (which you can pay to get around). T-Mobile and Verizon both offer 5G home internet, which is easy to set up, but may not be open to new customers in some areas. This all means you’re likely to find a Nashville ISP that will work for your location, your budget and your needs.

Internet providers in Nashville FAQs

Which is the cheapest internet provider in Nashville?

There are several ways to get low-cost internet in Nashville. With eligible phone plans, T-Mobile or Verizon mobile customers can get deep discounts on 5G internet. Xfinity’s cable internet plans dip as low as $30 per month, but keep an eye out for introductory deals for new customers, like the ISP’s recent $25-per-month 200Mbps service offer, with that price good for two years. Eligible low-income households can qualify for federal Affordable Connectivity Program assistance, which may make your internet free.

Is fiber internet available in Nashville?

AT&T Fiber and Google Fiber both service the Nashville area. Which one you go with may depend on availability at your address. AT&T offers the fastest — and most expensive — plan with a 5-gigabit option for $180. The two providers offer 2-gigabit plans at around $100, putting them in close contention at that lower (but still plenty fast) speed tier. 

Is AT&T or Xfinity better?

AT&T and Xfinity have a wide reach across Nashville, but they offer different types of home internet. AT&T’s fiber options reach speeds up to 5,000Mbps, and uploads are as fast as downloads. Xfinity tops out at 1,200Mbps, but uploads max out at 35Mbps. If upload speeds are a concern for you, fiber is a smart choice. If you’re on a budget or fiber isn’t available at your address, look into Xfinity’s wide range of plans and tempting introductory deals. Check out our AT&T versus Xfinity comparison to see how the two service providers compare.

Which internet provider in Nashville offers the fastest plan?

There’s one clear winner when it comes to speedy internet, and that’s AT&T Fiber. It’s fast, hitting speeds up to 5 gigabits, but it comes at a monthly price of $180. That may be overkill for many people, but it can make sense for gamers or households with multiple people putting a lot of demand on the internet.

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