Best Rural Internet Providers for 2024
Our experts have spent hours researching the best internet providers in the rural US to help you find the best internet for your home.
Price: $19.99–$85.00/mo.
Max download speeds: 150–6,000 Mbps
Data caps: 1.2 TB
Price: $19.99–$85.00/mo.
Max download speeds: 150–6,000 Mbps
Data caps: 1.2 TB
Price: $55.00/mo.
Max download speeds: 15–100 Mbps
Data caps: Unlimited
Price: $55.00/mo.
Max download speeds: 15–100 Mbps
Data caps: Unlimited
Price: $40.00–$70.00/mo.
Max download speeds: 72-245 Mbps
Data caps: Unlimited
Price: $40.00–$70.00/mo.
Max download speeds: 72-245 Mbps
Data caps: Unlimited
Price: $99.99–$119.99/mo.
Max download speeds: Up to 100 Mbps
Data caps: Unlimited
Price: $99.99–$119.99/mo.
Max download speeds: Up to 100 Mbps
Data caps: Unlimited
Your internet options for rural areas are limited because few internet providers build networks in small towns. However, Xfinity, CenturyLink, T-Mobile and Viasat all offer internet service in rural America.
Out of these three internet providers, we recommend Xfinity. In our survey data, we’ve found it’s the fastest and most reliable—plus, it offers plenty of data, so you can actually use the internet you pay for.
Best rural internet providers
- Xfinity—best rural cable internet
- CenturyLink—best rural DSL internet
- T-Mobile—best mobile internet
- Viasat—best rural satellite internet
We recommend the rural internet providers above in order from top to bottom. Cable internet tends to be faster and more reliable than DSL, and satellite internet is a good backup if your area doesn’t have any grounded internet lines like cable and DSL.
Pro tip: These four providers aren’t your only rural internet options. Check out our Rural Internet Guide for resources to find the best internet in your rural area.
Compare top rural internet providers
| Provider | Starting price | Download speeds | Connection type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xfinity | $19.99–$85.00/mo. | 150–6,000 Mbps | Cable | |
| CenturyLink | $55.00/mo. | 15–100 Mbps | DSL | |
| T-Mobile | $40.00–$70.00/mo. | 72-245 Mbps | Mobile | |
| Viasat | $99.99–$119.99/mo. | Up to 100 Mbps | Satellite |
Data is as of time of post. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
What are internet options for rural areas?
There are a few rural internet solutions to chose from, although some might not be available in your area.
- Cable internet
- DSL
- Satellite internet
- Cellular hotspot
- Dial-up
The most commonly available internet connection types in rural areas are cable, DSL, and satellite.
Options like cellular hotspot internet (which can be pricey) and dial-up (which still exists) are also available in rural areas, but we’ve concentrated on satellite, DSL, and cable. Fiber internet isn’t included because it’s still a unicorn even in many major cities.
Best rural cable internet: Xfinity
Pros
- High speeds
- Low-ish pricing
Cons
- Limited availability in rural areas
- Degraded signal over distance
The best internet service most rural areas can hope for is cable, and Xfinity has the widest availability of them all. The Comcast-owned company has coaxial lines running through 40 states, with particularly thorough coverage of the Rockies. You can see our Xfinity internet coverage map for a full picture of Xfinity internet availability.
Unfortunately, cable internet from any brand is a rarity in most rural areas—so if it’s available within your zip code, we recommend it, especially if it’s Xfinity. You’ll get nearly all of Xfinity’s internet plans if you’re fortunate enough to have rural Xfinity coverage, and the provider has maximum download speeds of 1.2 Gbps.
One big “but”: the downside of cable internet from any provider is the fact that the data doesn’t travel long distances well. The farther away from a cable provider’s service point you are, the more degraded the signal that eventually reaches you. So even if you can get cable service, it may be weaker and slower version than advertised.
Xfinity internet plans (Northeast)
| Plans | Price | Download speeds | Upload speeds up to | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connect More | $35.00/mo.** | 200 Mbps | 10 Mbps | |
| Fast | $35.00/mo.** | 400 Mbps | 10 Mbps | |
| Superfast | $60.00/mo.† | 800 Mbps | 20 Mbps | |
| Gigabit | $70.00/mo.† | 1,000 Mbps | 20 Mbps | |
| Gigabit Extra | $80.00/mo.† | 1,200 Mbps | 35 Mbps |
* For 12 months with 1-year term contract. Includes $10/mo automatic payments and paperless billing discount. Taxes and equipment not included. Prices may vary by location.
** For 24 months. No term contract. Includes $10/mo automatic payments and paperless billing discount. Taxes and equipment not included. Prices may vary by location.
† For 36 months. No term contract. Includes $10/mo automatic payments and paperless billing discount. Taxes and equipment not included. Prices may vary by location.
Data effective as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Xfinity internet plans (Central)
| Plans | Price | Download speeds | Upload speeds up to | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connect | $30.00/mo.* | 150 Mbps | 10 Mbps | |
| Connect More | $35.00/mo.** | 200 Mbps | 10 Mbps | |
| Fast | $55.00/mo.^ | 400 Mbps | 10 Mbps | |
| Superfast | $70.00/mo.^ | 800 Mbps | 20 Mbps | |
| Ultrafast/Gigabit | $80.00/mo.^ | 1,000 Mbps | 20 Mbps | |
| Gigabit Extra | $85.00/mo.^ | 1,200 Mbps | 25 Mbps |
* with equipment included for 12 months. Prices may vary by location.
** No term contract. Taxes not included. Includes $10/mo automatic payments and paperless billing discount. Prices may vary by location.
^ For 24 months. No term contract. Taxes and equipment not included. Includes $10/mo automatic payments and paperless billing discount. Prices may vary by location.
Data effective as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Xfinity internet plans (West)
| Plans | Price | Download speeds | Upload speeds up to | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connect | $19.99/mo.* | 150 Mbps | 10 Mbps | |
| Connect More | $30.00/mo.** | 300 Mbps | 10 Mbps | |
| Fast | $50.00/mo.** | 500 Mbps | 10 Mbps | |
| Superfast | $60.00/mo.** | 800 Mbps | 20 Mbps | |
| Gigabit | $65.00/mo.** | 1,000 Mbps | 20 Mbps | |
| Gigabit Extra | $70.00/mo.** | 1,200 Mbps | 35 Mbps |
* For 12 months with 1-year term contract. Taxes and equpiment not included. Includes $10/mo automatic payments and paperless billing discount. Prices may vary by location.
** For 24 months. No term contract. Taxes not included. Includes $10/mo automatic payments and paperless billing discount. Prices may vary by location.
Data effective as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Best rural DSL internet: CenturyLink
Pros
- Comparatively low monthly rates
- No contracts
Cons
- Limited availability in rural areas
- Degraded signal over distance
- No longer available in several states
CenturyLink DSL—Digital Subscriber Line, or internet delivered through standard telephone lines—is available in 16 states and covers many rural areas in the Northwest and Midwest. Since phone lines are more common outside of urban grids than cable, you’re more likely to find a DSL hookup if you live in a rural area.
We like CenturyLink DSL for its relatively low monthly rate as well as its wide availability. You’ll pay $55 per month and won’t have to worry about contracts or price increases.
But like with most DSL providers, your maximum download speed will be what CenturyLink’s network supports around your address. On CenturyLink’s DSL plans, you might get a download speed of 15 Mbps or 100 Mbps. Although CenturyLink’s speed unpredictability isn’t great, we’d ultimately recommend CenturyLink if it’s available near you because of the provider’s flat-rate pricing.
CenturyLink also does fiber internet, but it’s still rarer outside of cities than Bigfoot sightings and Pottery Barns.
Like cable internet, distance is the enemy of DSL—the signal gets more diluted the more miles it travels from a service point to your modem. It’s a vast improvement over dial-up internet, but it’s still subject to the limitations of decades-old telephone lines.
CenturyLink DSL internet plans
| Plans | Price | Download speed | Data allowance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simply Unlimited Internet Up to 40-80 Mbps | $55.00/mo.‡ | Up to 80 Mbps | Unlimited | |
| Simply Unlimited Internet 100 Mbps | $55.00/mo.* | Up to 100 Mbps | Unlimited | |
| Simply Unlimited Internet 140 Mbps | $55.00/mo. | Up to 140 Mbps | Unlimited |
Data effective as of publish date. Pricing and speeds are subject to change. Not all offers available in all areas.
* Service is not available everywhere. Offer is available to qualifying customers only. Limited time offer. Paperless billing required. Additional taxes, fees, and surcharges apply.
‡ Speed may not be available in your area. Paperless billing or prepay required. Additional taxes, fees, and surcharges apply. Get the fastest internet speed available at your location (max speed is up to 100 Mbps).
Best mobile internet: T-Mobile Home Internet
Pros
- Unlimited data
- Low prices
Cons
- Limited availability
- Varying download speeds
T-Mobile’s one of the biggest carriers in the home mobile internet market, which refers to households that use cellular data networks to get online. T-Mobile Home Internet’s pricing keeps things straightforward, as you’ll simply pay $40.00–$70.00/mo. for T-Mobile internet and won’t have to deal with annual price increases or data caps. Plus, if you bundle it with an eligible T-Mobile mobile plan, the carrier drops an additional $10–$20 off the monthly price tag, depending on which of their two internet plans you choose.
Unlike cable internet providers, T-Mobile doesn’t need to run a line to your home in order to bring it online—you simply have to be near a T-Mobile cell phone tower. But your internet experience will depend on T-Mobile’s coverage in your area. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet Plus is T-Mobile’s best offering with download speeds up to 245 Mbps and an included Wi-Fi Mesh Access Point for expanded household coverage, but if T-Mobile doesn’t have 5G in your area, you’ll have to settle for slower T-Mobile 4G home internet coverage.
T-Mobile home internet plans
| Plans | Price | Download speed | Data allowance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile 5G Home Internet Unlimited | $40.00–$50.00/mo.* | 72-245 Mbps | Unlimited | |
| T-Mobile 5G Home Internet Plus | $50.00–$70.00/mo.** | 72-245 Mbps | Unlimited |
Data effective as of publish date. Pricing and speeds are subject to change. Not all offers available in all areas.
*With AutoPay.
**w/ Auto Pay. Regulatory fees included in monthly price for qualified accounts. See full terms. Delivered via 5G cellular network; speeds vary due to factors affecting cellular networks, including data prioritization.
Best rural satellite internet: Viasat
Pros
- Widely available
- High (for satellite) download speeds
Cons
- Prices vary by area
- Spotty performance
The good news: satellite internet doesn’t rely on land-wired infrastructures and is readily available to anyone with a clear view of the sky.
The bad news: while great for TV service, satellite dish-delivered internet is capable of only sub-DSL speed and stability. Also, factors like distance from the satellite or inclement weather can knock that speed down or knock it out completely.
Surprisingly, the same type of satellite dish that can beam pristine, HD-quality TV into your home is capable of conveying only a fraction of that signal in internet service. Cable TV and internet are equal in performance; satellite TV and internet couldn’t be further apart.
Of the two satellite internet providers available (Viasat and Hughesnet), we recommend Viasat. Viasat advertises download speeds up to 150 Mbps (megabytes per second), which is near the fastest rate of DSL and means you can stream shows and movies on multiple devices and surf the internet at the same time.
At times, satellite internet may be unreliable and slow, but at least it’s wincingly expensive—just keeping it real here. Besides prices that vary depending on where you live, Viasat’s required equipment isn’t cheap. There’s also the issue of data overages (Viasat says its plans are “unlimited,” but going over certain data numbers—around 60 GB—can cost you in throttled speed and actual dollars).
In other words, satellite internet should be your last resort—and Viasat is the better choice of that last resort by a narrow margin.
Viasat satellite internet plans
| Price* | Download speeds up to | Upload speeds up to | Data cap | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viasat Unleashed | $99.99–$119.99/mo. | Up to 100 Mbps | 3 Mbps | N/A |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change.
*Prices, speeds, and availability vary by location. Prices are subject to change. No annual contract or installation fees are required. Monthly equipment lease fees and taxes may apply.
Other rural internet services
Cellular hotspot
Ever noticed the “Mobile Hotspot” button on your phone and wondered, “What’s that about?” Well, it turns your mobile phone (and data) into a virtual modem/router that connects you to the internet through a cellular network. If you’d rather not tie up your phone, you can also buy a stand-alone MiFi device that does the same thing but still lets you play Fortnite.
Using a cellular mobile hotspot for your internet connection is easy, but because mobile carriers rarely offer unlimited internet data, it can also be expensive. If you’re using your 4G internet connection to power your rural home’s wireless network, you can quickly hit your carrier’s data limits and rack up overage charges.
Also, the distance from the nearest cell tower will affect performance—if the phone call quality in your area is sketchy, the internet quality won’t be much better.
Dial-up internet
Millions of Americans still use good ole ‘90s-style dial-up internet—knock us over with a floppy disk, it’s true. For rural communities wired with telephone lines but not serviced by DSL providers, dial-up internet is a cheap and simple way to check email and weather reports (if little else).
“Cheap” is relative with dial-up internet because—Gen-Xers will remember this, dubiously—you’re charged by the minute, not at a flat monthly rate. Combine that ticking clock with download speeds well under 1 Mbps and any potential savings are out the window.
Which rural internet provider is the best?
When it comes to rural internet, Xfinity comes with the best internet technology, and it offers the fastest speeds at a reasonable price. CenturyLink is a good backup, but it has less bang for your buck. And while Viasat’s satellite internet isn’t as good as grounded cable and DSL internet, it’s better than no internet at all.
Our rural internet recommendations aren’t necessarily inexpensive, but they will get you connected where your options are limited. Check out our availability map or enter your zip code below to see which services are available in your area.
Rural internet FAQ
Is there a way to get internet without a provider?
To connect to the internet, you need access to a massive network of internet cables or a satellite that transmits to a network operations center. Theoretically, if you had billions of dollars to blow, you could build those and become your own broadband provider.
Or you could just pay an internet service provider (ISP) to connect to the networks it already owns. The monthly fees are a hassle, but it costs a lot less up front.
How do gamers get internet in rural areas?
While satellite internet doesn’t respond fast enough for online play, Xfinity and CenturyLink might provide you a strong enough connection to play PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds while chatting with your friends.
Ask some local friends about the internet service they use to game because that’s the easiest way to find out about an important factor most providers don’t advertise—latency. Read our article “How to Get the Best Internet for Gaming” to learn more.
Will 5G work in rural areas?
Right now, it doesn’t look like 5G will be the home internet solution that rural areas need. The radio waves that 5G uses can broadcast only over short distances—not far enough to support the spaced-out homes of rural communities.
How can I get better Wi-Fi in rural areas?
Your Wi-Fi signal depends on your internet service to provide high-speed internet, but it also needs a good router to transmit the internet as Wi-Fi throughout your home. You can buy a new router to improve your signal, or try some of our other internet troubleshooting suggestions.
Why you should trust us
The rural internet providers in this article are some of the most wide-spread rural internet providers in the US. We ranked them by speed, reliability, service type, and scores from our annual “Best Internet Providers in Customer Satisfaction” survey.
You can learn more about our methodologies on our “How We Rank” page.
