Best Internet Providers in Grand Prairie, Texas
Our Experts
What is the best internet provider in Grand Prairie?
Thanks to its wide coverage and reasonable prices, Spectrum is CNET's pick for the best internet service provider for most households in Grand Prairie. This cable internet provider offers simple service details, including unlimited data and a free modem on all plans. AT&T Fiber and T-Mobile Home Internet are also solid options for home internet, but serviceability varies by location.
Grand Prairie's average home internet service starts at $52 per month, but some providers offer it for less. Frontier Fiber offers a monthly base plan at $45, but Spectrum's 300-megabit-per-second plan for $50 may be more readily available.
It's a tie between AT&T Fiber and Frontier Fiber for the fastest plan in Grand Prairie, with symmetrical speeds up to 5,000Mbps. Compared with Frontier Fiber, AT&T Fiber costs more, at $250 compared to $130 per month -- for the first year, at least.
Our methodology
CNET considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service in Grand Prairie across several categories. Our evaluation includes referencing a proprietary database built over years of reviewing internet services. We validate that against provider information by spot-checking local addresses for service availability. We also do a close read of providers' terms and conditions and, when needed, will call ISPs to verify the details.
Despite our efforts to find the most recent and accurate information, our process has some limitations you should know about. Pricing and speed data are variable: Certain addresses may qualify for different service tiers, and monthly costs may vary, even within a city. The best way to identify your particular options is to plug your address into a provider's website.
Also, the prices, speed and other information listed above and in the provider cards below may differ from what we found in our research. The cards display the full range of a provider's pricing and speed across the US, according to our database of plan information provided directly by ISPs. At the same time, the text is specific to what's available in Grand Prairie. The prices referenced within this article's text come from our research and include applicable discounts for setting up automatic payments each month -- a standard industry offering. Discounts and promotions might also be available for signing a term contract or bundling multiple services.
To learn more about how we review internet providers, visit our full methodology page.
Best internet in Grand Prairie, Texas
Spectrum
Best internet provider in Grand Prairie, TX
Our take - Charter's Spectrum will likely be an option for home broadband wherever you're located in the area. Spectrum offers the widest coverage and cheapest internet offering in Grand Prairie. Spectrum also lands as one of CNET's best cable providers for 2024. Spectrum is available to approximately 92% of households in Grand Prairie, according to the latest data from the FCC.
AT&T Fiber
Best fiber internet in Grand Prairie, TX
Our take - Although AT&T serves most of the area, some Grand Prairie residents may get stuck with this provider's much slower DSL network than its fiber one. Fiber connections outshine other connection types, but in this case, only 43% of Grand Prairie residents have access to AT&T's fiber services, according to the latest data from the FCC. If AT&T is serviceable at your address, you're in luck. AT&T Fiber offers blazing multi-gigabit speeds and unlimited data.
T-Mobile Home Internet
Best fixed wireless in Grand Prairie, TX
Our take - A 5G fixed wireless connection from T-Mobile is always a solid alternative to avoid the steep monthly costs of cable and fiber internet providers. If you can get past the slower speeds, it's a valid option.
Grand Prairie internet providers compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
AT&T Internet Air Read full review | Fixed wireless | $55 | 75-225Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
|
AT&T Fiber Read full review | Fiber | $55-$250 | 300-5,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
|
Frontier Fiber Read full review | Fiber | $45-$130 ($60-$140 after 12 months) | 500-5,000Mbps | None | None | None | 6.7 |
|
Spectrum Read full review | Cable | $50-$70 | 300-1,000Mbps | Free modem; $7 router (optional) | None | None | 7.2 |
|
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | Fixed wireless | $60-$70 ($40-$50 for eligible Go5G Plus and Magenta Max mobile customers) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
|
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 with qualifying Verizon 5G mobile plans) | 50-300Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Other available internet providers in Grand Prairie
- EarthLink: While this internet provider offers cable, DSL, and satellite services, it's no match for its fiber-optic connection (which uses AT&T Fiber’s network). Some addresses may be eligible for speeds of up to 5 gigabits. Customers can expect most plans to come with unlimited data and wide coverage throughout the city. Unlike other internet providers, EarthLink doesn't increase monthly rates after 12 months.
- NextLink: This rural internet provider offers fixed wireless coverage to many cities across Texas. However, it's available to only about 18% of households in Grand Prairie. The highest coverage from Grand Prairie is the southwest area of Dallas County in Duncanville and DeSoto. Some addresses may access speeds of up to 1 gigabit. Pricing varies depending on location, but plans can range from $45 to $110 a month.
- Satellite internet: Satellite connections come in handy if you live in rural areas where cable and fiber are out of reach. Providers like Hughesnet, Viasat and Starlink are available virtually everywhere. What deters a lot of people from satellite internet are the slow speeds and the monthly costs. Hughesnet requires a two-year contract, but Starlink and Viasat customers don't have to worry about being tied down by a term agreement (or the steep fees that come with early termination). Starlink is the fastest ISP of the three, but for standard service, you’re looking at $120 per month just to get started. That doesn't even include the equipment lease, which is going cost you $599 upfront.
- Verizon 5G Home Internet: While Verizon’s fixed wireless network may not be the fastest internet connection in Grand Prairie, plans are straightforward: no data caps, contracts or equipment fees. However, most addresses in the city can access only the lower-speed tier of up to 300Mbps. But even so, you would still have faster speeds than with T-Mobile.
Cheap internet options in Grand Prairie
The average starting price for internet service in Grand Prairie is approximately $52 per month, but a couple of providers offer plans cheaper than that. The lowest internet offering in Grand Prairie is Frontier Fiber's $45-per-month plan for 500Mbps. However, that price increases to $60 per month after 12 months. Spectrum Internet is the next best thing, offering a $50-per-month plan for 300Mbps. For eligible mobile customers, you may find lower rates with fixed wireless providers Verizon and T-Mobile.
What's the cheapest internet plan in Grand Prairie?
| Provider | Starting monthly price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Frontier Fiber 500 Read full review | $45 ($60 after 12 months) | 500Mbps | None |
|
Spectrum Internet Read full review | $50 | 300Mbps | Free modem; $7 router (optional) |
|
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | $50 ($35 with eligible mobile plan) | 100Mbps | None |
|
AT&T Home Internet Air Read full review | $55 | 225Mbps | None |
|
AT&T Fiber Read full review | $55 | 300Mbps | None |
|
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | $60 ($40 with eligible mobile plan) | 245Mbps | None |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Grand Prairie
The best internet deals and top promotions in Grand Prairie depend on what discounts are available during that period. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Grand Prairie internet providers, like Spectrum, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, however, such as AT&T, Frontier and Verizon, run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
Flavijus/Getty Images
How fast is Grand Prairie broadband?
In the most recent Ookla speed test data, Grand Prairie came in with a fixed median download speed of 305Mbps. The city performed much better in comparison to other nearby cities like Dallas at 133Mbps and Arlington and Irving at just shy of 296Mbps.
Fastet internet plans in Grand Prairie
| Provider | Starting monthly price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
AT&T Fiber 5000 Read full review | $250 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
Frontier Fiber 5 Gig Read full review | $130 ($140 after 12 months) | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
AT&T Fiber 2000 Read full review | $150 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
Frontier Fiber 2 Gig Read full review | $100 ($110 after 12 months) | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
AT&T Fiber 1000 Read full review | $80 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
Frontier Fiber 1 Gig Read full review | $65 ($80 after 12 months) | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
Spectrum Internet Gig Read full review | $70 | 1,000Mbps | 35Mbps | None | Cable |
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 Federal Communications Commission. 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.
- 0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics -- browsing the internet, sending and receiving email, streaming low-quality video.
- 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
- 40 to 100Mbps should give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
- 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and gaming.
- 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Grand Prairie
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information, drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from FCC.gov.
But 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:
- Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
- Are customers happy with their service?
While the answers to those questions are often layered and complex, the providers that 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, though 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 also consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.
To explore our process in more depth, visit our page on how we test ISPs.
What's the final word on internet providers in Grand Prairie?
Grand Prairie is home to a variety of broadband options. Cable and fixed wireless internet providers have a wider availability throughout the city. However, you wouldn't be getting nearly as fast speeds as you would from a fiber connection. If AT&T Fiber and Frontier Fiber are serviceable at your address, I would put these two at the top of your list.
Internet providers in Grand Prairie FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Grand Prairie?
Charter's Spectrum Internet is Grand Prairie's best internet provider for most households. This cable giant offers the widest coverage in the area, serving 92% of households in Grand Prairie, according to the latest data from the FCC. Spectrum offers speeds up to 1,000Mbps and prices as low as $50 per month. If available at your address, AT&T Fiber is a solid option too.
Is fiber internet available in Grand Prairie?
Fiber connectivity is available to about 48% of addresses in Grand Prairie. While AT&T serves most of the area, only 43% of residents have access to its fiber connections. That said, select households may also be serviceable under Frontier Fiber's network.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Grand Prairie?
The cheapest internet service in Grand Prairie costs $45, which belongs to Frontier Fiber's 500Mbps plan. Spectrum Internet offers a $50-per-month plan for 300Mbps. Additionally, fixed wireless providers T-Mobile Home Internet and Verizon 5G Home Internet offer discounts to eligible mobile customers that can bring their costs down to $35 to $40 monthly.
Which internet provider in Grand Prairie offers the fastest plan?
AT&T Fiber and Frontier Fiber tie for the speediest plan in Grand Prairie -- both ISPs offer symmetrical speeds up to 5,000Mbps.
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