8 Best Internet Providers in Arcata, CA

Compare Providers Ranked by Coverage, Speed, and Customer Ratings

Above are the top 4 providers in Arcata, CA for most people based on high speed internet coverage, speeds, and customer reviews. Click below to see all providers in your city.

All Providers

Speed and technology may vary by address for all providers. Please note we may have a financial relationship with some of the providers above, which does not impact the customer ratings displayed. Customer ratings listed above are national ratings, local Arcata ratings may vary and are shown below.

1. Internet Providers
   

 » 

2. California
   

 » 

3. Arcata, CA Internet Service Providers
   

Who is the Best Internet Provider in Arcata, CA?

Optimum is the best internet provider in Arcata based on California customer satisfaction ratings and reviews. Based on our extensive and unbiased survey, Optimum had the best reviews at the local, state, and national levels versus all available providers in Arcata, making it a solid recommendation among providers with reviews. Optimum is an option for 88.45% of the city.

The chart and table below show average customer ratings from customers in Arcata, California, and customers throughout the country.

Top Rated Internet Providers in Arcata

Local, State, and National Ratings for all Arcata Internet Providers

Based on 160 reviews from California internet customers, Optimum is the best internet service provider for Arcata residents. Optimum was rated at an average of 2.00 out of 5 in our report for overall customer satisfaction. EarthLink wins for second-place in California, with 1.00 out of 5 stars and 88.1% coverage in Arcata.

At a national level, based on 2235 national reviews for any of the providers listed above, 101NETLINK is rated higher than any other provider, with a rating of 3.00 out of 5.

Who is the Fastest Internet Provider in Arcata?

Based on both FCC data and unbiased customer ratings in Arcata, the fastest internet in the city comes from Optimum.

Data Reported to FCC by ISPs: Average Maximum Available in Arcata

	ISP / Tech Type	Max Advertised Speed
	Optimum	940 Mbps
	Verizon	300 Mbps
	T-Mobile Home Internet	100 Mbps
	AT&T	100 Mbps
	EarthLink	100 Mbps
	US Cellular	100 Mbps
	101NETLINK	100 Mbps
	Viasat	100 Mbps
	Velocity Communications	50 Mbps
	HughesNet	25 Mbps

Customer Ratings for Internet Provider Speeds in Arcata

Based on data reported by Arcata ISPs to the FCC, the fastest speeds in the city are available through Optimum. The company offers speeds up to 940 Mbps in Arcata. Therefore, the average customer can get up to 940 Mbps if they're willing to purchase the fastest subscription tier available at their homes.

However, actual customers in the city rated their satisfaction with internet speed highest with Optimum. This indicates Optimum reliably delivers speeds expected by the customer based on the plan they are paying for.

Who is the Cheapest Internet Provider in Arcata?

California customers rate Optimum as the cheapest internet service provider in state. Data comes from customers in the state rating their satisfaction with pricing. This feedback is valuable because it considers price changes and whether the speeds paid for are worth it.

Optimum received a local rating of 2.00 out of 5, which is much lower than the average across all internet providers in the country. EarthLink is rated in second place for affordability by the company’s Arcata customers with an average price rating of 1.00 out of 5.

The chart and graph below show how customers in Arcata, California, and the United States rated the affordability of their internet service.

Rated Affordability in Arcata

Arcata Internet Health Assessment

ISP Reports evaluates the technological infrastructure across the United States. This includes assessing a grade for ISP providers and infrastructure in the city and setting an index number for the digital connectivity of its residents. You can view the ISP Report Card and the Digital Connectivity Index for Arcata below, including the metrics used and how Arcata compares to the rest of California and nation.

Arcata ISP Report Card: C-

	Metric (hover for details)	Arcata	California	USA
	Fiber Availability Percent The percentage of households in Arcata that have a Fiber internet connection available to their home.	0.00%	56.12%	67.25%
	Average Download SpeedThe maximum download speed most households can get on average. This is measured by availability in a block group and weighted by the population in that area.	896 Mbps	3,631 Mbps	3,293 Mbps
	Provider CountThe number of providers available for most people. This is a weighted average by block rather than a total for Arcata.	6.7	7.4	6.8

 

Arcata Digital Connectivity Index: 70 / 100

	Metric (hover for details)	Arcata	California	USA
	Average Household SizeA larger household size in a city indicates that there will be a greater need for bandwidth due to simultaneous usage, multiple devices, and network congestion.	2.3	3.0	2.7
	Work From Home PercentA higher percent of the population working from home indicates bandwidth requirements being more widely needed rather than consolidated to commercial portions of the city.	15%	15%	14%
	Households with DevicesA higher percentage of households with computing devices in the home indicates a higher level of infrastructure needed to support those households.	96%	96%	95%
	Households with InternetA higher percentage of households with internet indicates a higher need for usage and connectivity in people’s daily lives.	94%	93%	90%
	Households with BroadbandA higher percentage of households with a broadband connection (defined as speeds above 25 Mbps) indicates heavier usage needs within these households.	80%	78%	75%
	Broadband Usage vs. AvailabilityThis measures what percentage of households who have a broadband connection to their home actually have an active subscription to that service.	85%	79%	76%

Arcata ISP Report Card & Digital Connectivity Index

The ISP Report Card in Arcata is C-, which is much better than other cities. The local demand for broadband internet connectivity in Arcata is high with a score of 70 / 100 in our Digital Connectivity Index. This means that internet service providers operating in Arcata have done a good job meeting the needs of its residents.

The Arcata ISP Report Card evaluates the city on availability and speed metrics compared to other cities in the United States. ISP Infrastructure can vary greatly and on its own isn’t a perfect measure of what a city needs. Please see our ISP Report Card along with the Digital Connectivity Index above to evaluate how well the connectivity demand is met by the existing infrastructure.

94% of Arcata households have an internet connection while having 93.57% availability. 80% of households have fiber, cable, or DSL, 5% have satellite, 0% are still on dial-up, and 2% of households have internet but don’t pay for a subscription because it’s subsidized by the Affordable Connectivity Program.

As you can see in the table above, while 80% of households have a broadband connection such as fiber, cable or DSL available to their home, 85% subscribe to it. A very large amount of Arcata residents are taking advantage of the available internet infrastructure.

For more details, please visit our ISP Report Card and Digital Connectivity Index pages.

How do Neighboring Cities Compare to Arcata?

How Much Speed does a Arcata Household Need?

Higher speed is typically preferred, but that comes at a higher price. The average size of a household in Arcata is 2.3, which is smaller than the California average of 3.0 and smaller than the national average of 2.7. Arcata's average household income is $55,538 which is much lower than the California average of $108,618 and lower than the national average of $90,606. Homes with fewer people living in them and with lower incomes tend to indicate fewer devices being used less often.

Arcata also has 34% of its population enrolled in school between the 6th grade and college level, this is higher than the California average of 17%. Additionally, 15% of residents work from home, which is lower than the 15% of residents in California who work from home. This and other factors you can see above show us that the community of Arcata has a very high need for internet connectivity and speeds.

Compared to the rest of the country, Arcata households are more technology-engaged. 96% of households have some sort of computing device, 87% have desktops or laptops in the home, and 94% have smartphones. To see what speeds you are currently getting, please visit our internet speed test tool.

Which Fiber Internet Providers are Available in Arcata?

According to the most recently submitted data by internet service providers to the FCC, there are currently no fiber providers available in Arcata, CA.

Which Cable Internet Providers are Available in Arcata?

Which DSL Internet Providers are Available in Arcata?

Which Fixed Wireless and LTE Internet Providers are Available in Arcata?

Which ISP Should You Choose in Arcata?

The right ISP for you depends upon your needs, but in general we can make the following suggestions:

• The best all-around internet service provider in Arcata is Optimum.
• The fastest internet provider should be Optimum. Considering speed for the money and reliability in speeds, Optimum may be a better choice based on real-world local customer feedback.
• The most affordable internet provider in Arcata is Optimum.
• Viasat, HughesNet, and 101NETLINK has the broadest coverage in Arcata, and is most likely to cover your home. To find out exactly what's available at your home, please use our address search tool.

How does Arcata compare to other cities with a similar population?

To see how Arcata stacks up on the national level, it's useful to look at some other cities with similarly sized populations. Below you can see a list of these cities and how they compare to Arcata's C- ISP Report Card and 70 / 100 Digital Connectivity Index.

Customer Reviews

Customer Reviews for Internet Service Providers in California