Best Internet Providers in Catawba County, NC
All 10 providers, ranked by coverage, speed and customer ratings
Find internet availability by address in Catawba County, NC
Catawba County has 10 internet service providers, they are sorted by coverage, available speed, and customer rating from our unbiased internet provider report. Fiber, Cable, DSL, and Fixed Wireless internet are available in the county. Reviews are grouped by provider and the type of service they offer, covering all 4 available internet technologies in Catawba County.
Ranks compare Catawba County with the 100 North Carolina counties.
The Best Internet in Catawba County, NC at a Glance
Catawba County Internet Providers, Ranked by Coverage, Speed and Customer Ratings
Spectrum
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
Cable
Brightspeed
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
DSL
Fixed Wireless
EarthLink
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
DSL
Fixed Wireless
AT&T
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
DSL
Fixed Wireless
Providers with less than 1% coverage in this county are excluded from the list. To see if one of these providers is available at your home, please use the address search above.
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 Catawba County ratings may vary and are shown below.
Who is the Best Internet Provider in Catawba County, NC?
AT&T is the highest-rated internet provider in Catawba County based on 320 North Carolina customer reviews, and T-Mobile Home Internet has the highest rating nationwide. The provider information above and the information immediately below can help you decide. Compare provider ratings and review counts above.
or call 1-877-610-1219
Which Providers are Available at my Home in Catawba County?
Coverage changes block by block. Pick a provider and a technology to see where its service reaches: the darker the area, the larger the share of homes it covers. For your exact address, use the address search above.
Coverage map for each provider in Catawba County
- Metronet - fiber coverage map
- Spectrum - cable coverage map
- AT&T - fiber coverage map
- EarthLink - fiber coverage map
- Verizon - fixed wireless coverage map
- Brightspeed - fiber coverage map
- Ripple Fiber - fiber coverage map
- Spectrum - fiber coverage map
- T-Mobile Home Internet - fixed wireless coverage map
- AT&T - fixed wireless coverage map
- EarthLink - fixed wireless coverage map
- Brightspeed - dsl coverage map
- Carolina West - fixed wireless coverage map
- AT&T - dsl coverage map
- EarthLink - dsl coverage map
- River Street - fixed wireless coverage map
- Brightspeed - fixed wireless coverage map
How Catawba County Compares to the Rest of North Carolina
Catawba County's report card score is tied 46th of 100 and its connectivity index is tied 38th of 100.
| Measure | Catawba County | Rank among North Carolina counties | North Carolina | US | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISP Report Card inputs: what providers offer here | |||||
| Fiber availability | 43.2% | 95th of 100 | 78.0% | 71.5% | Davie County (99.8%) |
| Average top speed | 2,124 Mbps | 41st of 100 | 3,577 Mbps | 3,486 Mbps | Greene County (8,030 Mbps) |
| Providers at a typical address | 7.8 | Tied 11th of 100 | 7.3 | 7.1 | Buncombe County (9.2) |
| Connectivity index inputs: how much households need and use the internet | |||||
| People per household | 2.5 | Tied 26th of 100 | 2.5 | 2.7 | Union County (3.0) |
| Workers who work from home | 8% | Tied 63rd of 100 | 16% | 15% | Mecklenburg County and Wake County (29%) |
| Homes with a computer, tablet or phone | 94% | Tied 32nd of 100 | 95% | 96% | Carteret County and Dare County and 3 more (98%) |
| Homes with internet | 89% | Tied 35th of 100 | 91% | 91% | Wake County (96%) |
| Homes on fiber, cable or DSL | 75% | 31st of 100 | 77% | 76% | Wake County (86%) |
| More about the households here | |||||
| Homes with a desktop or laptop | 74% | Tied 43rd of 100 | 80% | 81% | Orange County and Wake County (90%) |
| Median household income | $73,867 | 27th of 100 | $83,207 | $93,246 | Union County ($119,553) |
| Residents in school (6th grade to college) | 14% | Tied 28th of 100 | 16% | 16% | Watauga County (36%) |
Fiber reaches 43.2% of homes in Catawba County, against 78.0% across North Carolina. Households in Catawba County are smaller than the US average (2.5 people against 2.7); 8% of workers work from home (US 15%); and the median household income is $73,867 (US $93,246).
Our demographic data is sourced from the latest 5-year release of the American Community Survey by the US Census Bureau.
How Catawba County Compares to Its Neighbors
Catawba County has 5 neighbors. Among them, Iredell County has the most homes with fiber (73.5%) and Alexander County the fewest (36.5%); Catawba County has 43.2%.
Map of Catawba County and its neighbors by ISP Report Card grade
Hover over or tap a county for its numbers, and click through to its page.
Catawba County and its neighbors
| County | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catawba County (this page) | 160,610 | 43.2% | 2,124 Mbps | 7.8 | B- | 55/100 |
| Iredell County | 186,693 | 73.5% | 3,483 Mbps | 7.5 | B | 75/100 |
| Burke County | 87,570 | 48.4% | 2,311 Mbps | 8.6 | B | 41/100 |
| Lincoln County | 86,810 | 48.7% | 2,019 Mbps | 7.3 | B- | 71/100 |
| Caldwell County | 80,652 | 58.1% | 1,765 Mbps | 8.1 | B- | 45/100 |
| Alexander County | 36,444 | 36.5% | 1,261 Mbps | 6.3 | C+ | 39/100 |
Internet in Catawba County by City and ZIP Code
Fiber reaches from 9.8% of homes in Terrell to 69.6% in St. Stephens; by ZIP code, from 12.8% in 28610 (Claremont) to 70.7% in 28609 (Catawba). Each row links to that place’s page.
Cities and towns in Catawba County
| City or town | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | 64,793 | 60.9% | 3,089 Mbps | 8.1 | B | 59/100 |
| Newton | 24,550 | 23.9% | 1,440 Mbps | 8.1 | C+ | 55/100 |
| Conover | 23,842 | 23.5% | 1,324 Mbps | 8.2 | C+ | 49/100 |
| Maiden | 14,102 | 25.0% | 1,500 Mbps | 6.9 | C+ | 52/100 |
| Claremont | 10,274 | 10.7% | 1,056 Mbps | 7.1 | C | 52/100 |
| St. Stephens | 9,885 | 69.6% | 2,534 Mbps | 8.7 | B | 53/100 |
| Catawba | 6,578 | 68.8% | 1,608 Mbps | 6.4 | B- | 43/100 |
| Long View | 5,274 | 14.6% | 1,184 Mbps | 7.9 | C+ | 39/100 |
| Lake Norman of Catawba | 5,050 | 22.4% | 1,051 Mbps | 5.3 | C- | 69/100 |
| Terrell | 1,503 | 9.8% | 1,000 Mbps | 6.2 | C- | 74/100 |
| Sherrills Ford | 1,458 | 53.2% | 1,183 Mbps | 6.3 | C+ | 51/100 |
| Cooksville | 783 | 35.2% | 894 Mbps | 7.3 | C | 46/100 |
| Brookford | 533 | 14.4% | 1,000 Mbps | 7.7 | C | 96/100 |
| Duan | 274 | 0.0% | 1,000 Mbps | 6.4 | C- | 71/100 |
| Plateau | 193 | 23.3% | 1,000 Mbps | 7.2 | C | 34/100 |
| Longisland | 60 | 0.0% | 1,000 Mbps | 6 | D+ | 53/100 |
| Startown | 57 | 0.0% | 726 Mbps | 5.2 | D | 56/100 |
ZIP codes in Catawba County
| ZIP code | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28601 (Hickory) | 53,862 | 60.4% | 3,088 Mbps | 8.2 | B | 60/100 |
| 28602 (Hickory) | 29,365 | 52.6% | 2,344 Mbps | 7.9 | B | 52/100 |
| 28658 (Newton) | 26,172 | 22.8% | 1,416 Mbps | 8.1 | C+ | 55/100 |
| 28613 (Conover) | 23,133 | 22.1% | 1,317 Mbps | 8.2 | C+ | 48/100 |
| 28650 (Maiden) | 12,859 | 24.6% | 1,513 Mbps | 6.7 | C+ | 53/100 |
| 28610 (Claremont) | 10,178 | 12.8% | 1,080 Mbps | 7.1 | C | 50/100 |
| 28673 (Lake Norman of Catawba) | 6,764 | 25.8% | 1,079 Mbps | 5.5 | C | 68/100 |
| 28609 (Catawba) | 5,955 | 70.7% | 1,630 Mbps | 6.3 | B- | 44/100 |
| 28682 (Terrell) | 1,122 | 20.7% | 1,000 Mbps | 6.3 | C | 65/100 |
Who is the Fastest Internet Provider in Catawba County?
According to unbiased feedback from real internet customers, they reported being happiest with speeds provided by AT&T. On the other hand, based on data provided by the internet providers to the FCC, Spectrum should have faster speeds at a local level. While we typically put more weight on real-world customer ratings, we display both satisfaction and technical maximum information for customers to decide for themselves.
Data Reported to FCC by ISPs: Average Maximum Available in Catawba County
| Metronet | 5,120 |
|---|---|
| AT&T | 5,000 |
| EarthLink | 5,000 |
| Brightspeed | 2,000 |
| Ripple Fiber | 2,000 |
| Spectrum | 1,000 |
| Verizon | 300 |
| Viasat | 100 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet | 100 |
| HughesNet | 25 |
| Carolina West Wireless | 25 |
| River Street Networks | 25 |
How fast is your internet?
Test your connection here and see it next to the speeds providers advertise in Catawba County. It takes about 20 seconds and, on a fast line, can move a few hundred MB of data.
Customer Ratings for Catawba County Internet Providers
Based on 320 reviews from North Carolina internet customers, AT&T is the best internet service provider for Catawba County residents. AT&T was rated at an average of 3.73 out of 5 in our report for overall customer satisfaction. EarthLink wins for second-place in North Carolina, with 4.00 out of 5 stars and 90.3% coverage in Catawba County.
At a national level, based on 4328 national reviews for any of the providers listed above, T-Mobile Home Internet is rated higher than any other provider, with a rating of 4.01 out of 5.
Local, State, and National Ratings for all Catawba County Internet Providers
The table below shows average customer ratings from customers in Catawba County, North Carolina, and customers throughout the country.
| ISP / Tech Type | Catawba County Overall | North Carolina Overall | National Overall | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon | (1) | (9) | (815) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (59) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| Brightspeed | (0) | (17) | (76) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (1) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| Metronet | (0) | (3) | (76) | View Plans | ||
| Ripple Fiber | (0) | (3) | (4) | View Plans | ||
| River Street | (0) |  (1) |  (2) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (13) | (341) | View Plans | ||
| Spectrum | (6) | (214) | (1948) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) | (25) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) |  (12) | View Plans | ||
| Carolina West | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans |
Customer Ratings for Internet Provider Speeds in Catawba County
Based on data reported by Catawba County ISPs to the FCC, the fastest speeds in the county are available through Spectrum. The company offers speeds up to 1,000 Mbps in Catawba County. Therefore, the average customer can get up to 1,000 Mbps if they’re willing to purchase the fastest subscription tier available at their homes.
However, actual customers rated their satisfaction with internet speed highest with AT&T. This indicates AT&T reliably delivers speeds expected by the customer based on the plan they are paying for.
| ISP / Tech Type | Catawba County Speed | North Carolina Speed | National Speed | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | (0) | (59) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| Brightspeed | (0) | (17) | (76) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (1) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| Metronet | (0) | (3) | (76) | View Plans | ||
| Ripple Fiber | (0) |  (3) | (4) | View Plans | ||
| River Street | (0) | (1) | (2) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (13) | (341) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (1) | (9) | (815) | View Plans | ||
| Spectrum | (6) | (214) | (1948) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) | (25) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) | (12) | View Plans | ||
| Carolina West | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans |
Who is the Cheapest Internet Provider in Catawba County?
Of the providers in Catawba County, customers rate AT&T the best for price. Data comes from customers rating their satisfaction with pricing: in Catawba County where enough of them have reviewed a provider, otherwise across North Carolina or the country. This feedback is valuable because it considers price changes and whether the speeds paid for are worth it.
AT&T is rated 3.46 out of 5 for price, which is lower than the average across all internet providers in the country. EarthLink is rated second for affordability, with an average price rating of 3.00 out of 5.
The table below shows how customers in Catawba County, North Carolina, and the United States rated the affordability of their internet service.
Rated Affordability in Catawba County
| ISP / Tech Type | Catawba County Affordability | North Carolina Affordability | National Affordability | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | (0) | (59) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| Brightspeed | (0) | (17) | (76) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (1) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| Metronet | (0) | (3) | (76) | View Plans | ||
| Ripple Fiber | (0) | (3) | (4) | View Plans | ||
| River Street | (0) | (1) | (2) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (13) | (341) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (1) | (9) | (815) | View Plans | ||
| Spectrum | (6) | (214) | (1948) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) | (25) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) | (12) | View Plans | ||
| Carolina West | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans |
Fiber, 5G, Cable and DSL Internet in Catawba County
Which Fiber Internet Providers are Available in Catawba County?
Metronet Fiber in Catawba County, NC
Availability:
21.3%
Customer Rating:
(74)
Avg. Download Speed
5,120 Mbps
Metronet offers Fiber service to 21.3% of Catawba County homes. Across the county, Metronet Fiber is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 5,120 Mbps
Spectrum Fiber in Catawba County, NC
Availability:
8.9%
Customer Rating:
(207)
Avg. Download Speed
1,000 Mbps
Spectrum offers Fiber service to 8.9% of Catawba County homes. Across the county, Spectrum Fiber has speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
Brightspeed Fiber in Catawba County, NC
Availability:
7.9%
Customer Rating:
(31)
Avg. Download Speed
1,879 Mbps
Brightspeed offers Fiber service to 7.9% of Catawba County homes. Across the county, Brightspeed Fiber has speeds up to 1,879 Mbps, with speeds from 940 Mpbs up to 2,000 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds are symmetrical, meaning they are exactly the same as download speeds for Brightspeed Fiber. Brightspeed Fiber is rated lower than other types of internet service available in Catawba County from Brightspeed in terms of customer satisfaction.
Ripple Fiber in Catawba County, NC
Availability:
7.0%
Customer Rating:
(4)
Avg. Download Speed
2,000 Mbps
Ripple Fiber offers Fiber service to 7.0% of Catawba County homes. Across the county, Ripple Fiber is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 2,000 Mbps
EarthLink Fiber in Catawba County, NC
Availability:
4.7%
Customer Rating:
(6)
Avg. Download Speed
3,806 Mbps
EarthLink offers Fiber service to 4.7% of Catawba County homes. Across the county, EarthLink Fiber has speeds up to 3,806 Mbps, with speeds from 1,000 Mpbs up to 5,000 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds are symmetrical, meaning they are exactly the same as download speeds for EarthLink Fiber. EarthLink Fiber is rated about the same as other types of internet service available in Catawba County from EarthLink in terms of customer satisfaction.
AT&T Fiber in Catawba County, NC
Availability:
4.7%
Customer Rating:
(542)
Avg. Download Speed
3,806 Mbps
AT&T offers Fiber service to 4.7% of Catawba County homes. Across the county, AT&T Fiber has speeds up to 3,806 Mbps, with speeds from 1,000 Mpbs up to 5,000 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds are symmetrical, meaning they are exactly the same as download speeds for AT&T Fiber. AT&T Fiber is rated lower than other types of internet service available in Catawba County from AT&T in terms of customer satisfaction.
Which Fixed Wireless and LTE Internet Providers are Available in Catawba County?
T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed Wireless in Catawba County, NC
Availability:
91.6%
Customer Rating:
(341)
Avg. Download Speed
69 Mbps
T-Mobile Home Internet offers Fixed Wireless service to 91.6% of Catawba County homes. Across the county, T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 69 Mbps, with speeds from 25 Mpbs up to 100 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 3.0 and as high as 20, with an average of 13 Mbps throughout the county.
Verizon Fixed Wireless in Catawba County, NC
Availability:
89.4%
Customer Rating:
(362)
Avg. Download Speed
200 Mbps
Verizon offers Fixed Wireless service to 89.4% of Catawba County homes. Across the county, Verizon Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 200 Mbps, with speeds from 25 Mpbs up to 300 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 6.0 and as high as 20, with an average of 15 Mbps throughout the county.
EarthLink Fixed Wireless in Catawba County, NC
Availability:
86.6%
Customer Rating:
(4)
Avg. Download Speed
34 Mbps
EarthLink offers Fixed Wireless service to 86.6% of Catawba County homes. Across the county, EarthLink Fixed Wireless has speeds up to 34 Mbps, with speeds from 25 Mpbs up to 100 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 3.0 and as high as 20, with an average of 5.0 Mbps throughout the county.
AT&T Fixed Wireless in Catawba County, NC
Availability:
86.6%
Customer Rating:
(205)
Avg. Download Speed
34 Mbps
AT&T offers Fixed Wireless service to 86.6% of Catawba County homes. Across the county, AT&T Fixed Wireless has speeds up to 34 Mbps, with speeds from 25 Mpbs up to 100 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 3.0 and as high as 20, with an average of 5.0 Mbps throughout the county.
Carolina West Fixed Wireless in Catawba County, NC
Availability:
76.9%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
25 Mbps
Carolina West Wireless offers Fixed Wireless service to 76.9% of Catawba County homes. Across the county, Carolina West Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 25 Mbps
River Street Fixed Wireless in Catawba County, NC
Availability:
65.3%
Customer Rating:
(1)
Avg. Download Speed
18 Mbps
River Street Networks offers Fixed Wireless service to 65.3% of Catawba County homes. Across the county, River Street Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 18 Mbps, with speeds from 10 Mpbs up to 25 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 1.0 and as high as 3.0, with an average of 2.1 Mbps throughout the county.
Brightspeed Fixed Wireless in Catawba County, NC
Availability:
2.4%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
10 Mbps
Brightspeed offers Fixed Wireless service to 2.4% of Catawba County homes. Across the county, Brightspeed Fixed Wireless has speeds up to 10 Mbps
Which Cable Internet Providers are Available in Catawba County?
Spectrum Cable in Catawba County, NC
Availability:
97.3%
Customer Rating:
(1738)
Avg. Download Speed
1,000 Mbps
Spectrum offers Cable service to 97.3% of Catawba County homes. Across the county, Spectrum Cable has speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
Which DSL Internet Providers are Available in Catawba County?
Brightspeed DSL in Catawba County, NC
Availability:
59.8%
Customer Rating:
(43)
Avg. Download Speed
35 Mbps
Brightspeed offers DSL service to 59.8% of Catawba County homes. Across the county, Brightspeed DSL has speeds up to 35 Mbps, with speeds from 10 Mpbs up to 100 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 1.0 and as high as 10, with an average of 3.4 Mbps throughout the county. Brightspeed DSL is rated higher than other types of internet service available in Catawba County from Brightspeed in terms of customer satisfaction.
EarthLink DSL in Catawba County, NC
Availability:
31.5%
Customer Rating:
(5)
Avg. Download Speed
42 Mbps
EarthLink offers DSL service to 31.5% of Catawba County homes. Across the county, EarthLink DSL has speeds up to 42 Mbps, with speeds from 10 Mpbs up to 100 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 1.0 and as high as 20, with an average of 8.4 Mbps throughout the county. EarthLink DSL is rated higher than other types of internet service available in Catawba County from EarthLink in terms of customer satisfaction.
AT&T DSL in Catawba County, NC
Availability:
31.5%
Customer Rating:
(304)
Avg. Download Speed
42 Mbps
AT&T offers DSL service to 31.5% of Catawba County homes. Across the county, AT&T DSL has speeds up to 42 Mbps, with speeds from 10 Mpbs up to 100 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 1.0 and as high as 20, with an average of 8.4 Mbps throughout the county. AT&T DSL is rated about the same as other types of internet service available in Catawba County from AT&T in terms of customer satisfaction.
Customer Reviews for Internet Service Providers in North Carolina
Customer Reviews
A Hickory, NC Customer
Verizon Fixed Wireless
April 27, 2026 A Hickory, NC Customer
Spectrum Cable
April 26, 2025 Every year, like clockwork, our modem stops working. It's the oddest thing. It would seem, however, that the cables around our house are very old. Charter has sent someone out just about once per year to check our internet and get us a new modem, but a couple of years ago, the worker discovered that the cables around our house were basically falling apart. They promised to send someone out to check and change the cables, but they have since failed to do so; now, we simply deal with the poors service, for which we feel we should be reimbursed. Ever since the whole area's internet went out, however, and they fixed it, we've had fewer moments where the internet has dropped. It still happens, but not as often. Still, the workers who have come have been friendly and respectful and the customer service is nice, even if their overall system isn't wholely reliable.
A Hickory, NC Customer
Spectrum Cable
June 14, 2023 My ISP is not the greatest and if I could swap I would, but the alternative is even worse due to higher pricing and lower speed. My internet situation is horrible because I only have two providers to choose from because I live in a small area. I just hope that the two providers don't merge because I will really be screwed then.
A Hickory, NC Customer
Spectrum Cable
June 03, 2023 A Hickory, NC Customer
Spectrum Cable
May 13, 2023 
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Which ISP Should You Choose in Catawba County?
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 Catawba County is AT&T.
- The fastest internet provider should be Spectrum. Considering speed for the money and reliability in speeds, AT&T may be a better choice based on real-world local customer feedback.
- The most affordable internet provider in Catawba County is AT&T.
- Viasat, Spectrum, and HughesNet has the broadest coverage in Catawba County, available to 98.1% of homes, and is most likely to cover your home. To find out exactly what’s available at your home, please use our address search tool.