Best Internet Providers in Clay County, NC
All 8 providers, ranked by coverage, speed and customer ratings
Find internet availability by address in Clay County, NC
Clay County has 8 internet service providers, they are sorted by coverage, available speed, and customer rating from our unbiased internet provider report. Cable, Fiber, 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 Clay County.
Ranks compare Clay County with the 100 North Carolina counties.
The Best Internet in Clay County, NC at a Glance
Clay County Internet Providers, Ranked by Coverage, Speed and Customer Ratings
Blue Ridge Mountain EMC
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
Frontier
Connection
Customer Rating
DSL
Windstream
Connection
Customer Rating
Cable
DSL
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 Clay County ratings may vary and are shown below.
Who is the Best Internet Provider in Clay County, NC?
Windstream is the highest-rated internet provider in Clay County based on 93 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 1-866-558-4090
Which Providers are Available at my Home in Clay 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 Clay County
- Blue Ridge Mountain EMC - fiber coverage map
- Windstream - cable coverage map
- Verizon - fixed wireless coverage map
- T-Mobile Home Internet - fixed wireless coverage map
- Frontier - dsl coverage map
- River Street - fixed wireless coverage map
- AT&T - fixed wireless coverage map
- EarthLink - fixed wireless coverage map
- Windstream - dsl coverage map
How Clay County Compares to the Rest of North Carolina
Clay County's report card score is tied 78th of 100 and its connectivity index is tied 84th of 100.
| Measure | Clay County | Rank among North Carolina counties | North Carolina | US | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISP Report Card inputs: what providers offer here | |||||
| Fiber availability | 87.3% | 25th of 100 | 78.0% | 71.5% | Davie County (99.8%) |
| Average top speed | 936 Mbps | 97th of 100 | 3,577 Mbps | 3,486 Mbps | Greene County (8,030 Mbps) |
| Providers at a typical address | 5.7 | Tied 68th of 100 | 7.3 | 7.1 | Buncombe County (9.2) |
| Connectivity index inputs: how much households need and use the internet | |||||
| People per household | 2.3 | Tied 66th 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 | 89% | Tied 85th of 100 | 95% | 96% | Carteret County and Dare County and 3 more (98%) |
| Homes with internet | 84% | Tied 70th of 100 | 91% | 91% | Wake County (96%) |
| Homes on fiber, cable or DSL | 61% | Tied 80th of 100 | 77% | 76% | Wake County (86%) |
| More about the households here | |||||
| Homes with a desktop or laptop | 73% | Tied 47th of 100 | 80% | 81% | Orange County and Wake County (90%) |
| Median household income | $61,879 | 59th of 100 | $83,207 | $93,246 | Union County ($119,553) |
| Residents in school (6th grade to college) | 10% | Tied 91st of 100 | 16% | 16% | Watauga County (36%) |
Fiber reaches 87.3% of homes in Clay County, against 78.0% across North Carolina. Households in Clay County are smaller than the US average (2.3 people against 2.7); 8% of workers work from home (US 15%); and the median household income is $61,879 (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 Clay County Compares to Its Neighbors
Clay County has 5 neighbors, 3 of them in Georgia. Among them, Union County, GA has the most homes with fiber (95.3%) and Rabun County, GA the fewest (59.8%); Clay County has 87.3%.
Map of Clay County and its neighbors by ISP Report Card grade
Hover over or tap a county for its numbers, and click through to its page.
Clay County and its neighbors
| County | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County (this page) | 11,089 | 87.3% | 936 Mbps | 5.7 | C+ | 32/100 |
| Macon County | 37,014 | 68.8% | 4,354 Mbps | 5.7 | B- | 31/100 |
| Cherokee County | 28,774 | 68.9% | 846 Mbps | 5.3 | C | 40/100 |
| Union County, GA | 24,632 | 95.3% | 1,587 Mbps | 6.7 | B | 56/100 |
| Rabun County, GA | 16,883 | 59.8% | 1,504 Mbps | 5 | C | 52/100 |
| Towns County, GA | 12,493 | 85.5% | 1,006 Mbps | 7 | B- | 58/100 |
Internet in Clay County by City and ZIP Code
Fiber reaches from 87.0% of homes in Hayesville to 98.3% in Warne; by ZIP code, from 85.3% in 28904 (Hayesville) to 98.4% in 28909 (Warne). Each row links to that place’s page.
Cities and towns in Clay County
| City or town | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hayesville | 7,839 | 87.0% | 931 Mbps | 5.9 | C+ | 35/100 |
| Warne | 1,329 | 98.3% | 984 Mbps | 4.1 | C+ | 26/100 |
| Brasstown | 1,209 | 95.4% | 974 Mbps | 4.2 | C | 41/100 |
| Shooting Creek | 662 | 93.5% | 1,000 Mbps | 7.9 | B | 43/100 |
| Fires Creek | 307 | 40.1% | 1,000 Mbps | 6.9 | C | 10/100 |
| Tusquitee | 155 | 0.0% | 25 Mbps | 1.4 | F | 32/100 |
ZIP codes in Clay County
| ZIP code | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28904 (Hayesville) | 9,031 | 85.3% | 926 Mbps | 6 | C+ | 34/100 |
| 28902 (Brasstown) | 1,377 | 95.4% | 983 Mbps | 4.1 | C | 42/100 |
| 28909 (Warne) | 1,064 | 98.4% | 984 Mbps | 4.3 | C+ | 26/100 |
Who is the Fastest Internet Provider in Clay 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, Blue Ridge Mountain Electric Membership Corporation 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 Clay County
| Blue Ridge Mountain Electric Membership Corporation | 1,000 |
|---|---|
| Windstream | 1,000 |
| Verizon | 300 |
| Frontier Communications | 115 |
| Viasat | 100 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet | 100 |
| HughesNet | 25 |
| River Street Networks | 25 |
| AT&T | 25 |
| EarthLink | 25 |
How fast is your internet?
Test your connection here and see it next to the speeds providers advertise in Clay County. It takes about 20 seconds and, on a fast line, can move a few hundred MB of data.
Customer Ratings for Clay County Internet Providers
Based on 93 reviews from North Carolina internet customers, Windstream is the best internet service provider for Clay County residents. Windstream was rated at an average of 4.33 out of 5 in our report for overall customer satisfaction. Blue Ridge Mountain Electric Membership Corporation wins for second-place in North Carolina, with 5.00 out of 5 stars and 87.3% coverage in Clay County.
At a national level, based on 2503 national reviews for any of the providers listed above, T-Mobile Home Internet is rated higher than any other provider, with a rating of 4.02 out of 5.
Local, State, and National Ratings for all Clay County Internet Providers
The table below shows average customer ratings from customers in Clay County, North Carolina, and customers throughout the country.
| ISP / Tech Type | Clay County Overall | North Carolina Overall | National Overall | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windstream |  (0) |  (6) |  (99) | View Plans | ||
| Blue Ridge Mountain EMC | (1) | (1) | (1) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (59) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) |  (13) | (342) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (1) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (9) | (816) | View Plans | ||
| River Street | (0) |  (1) |  (2) | View Plans | ||
| Frontier | (0) | (3) | (177) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) | (25) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) |  (12) | View Plans |
Customer Ratings for Internet Provider Speeds in Clay County
Based on data reported by Clay County ISPs to the FCC, the fastest speeds in the county are available through Blue Ridge Mountain Electric Membership Corporation. The company offers speeds up to 1,000 Mbps in Clay 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 | Clay County Speed | North Carolina Speed | National Speed | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windstream | (0) | (6) | (99) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (59) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| Blue Ridge Mountain EMC | (1) | (1) | (1) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (13) | (342) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (1) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (9) | (816) | View Plans | ||
| River Street | (0) | (1) | (2) | View Plans | ||
| Frontier | (0) | (3) | (177) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) | (25) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) | (12) | View Plans |
Who is the Cheapest Internet Provider in Clay County?
Of the providers in Clay County, customers rate T-Mobile Home Internet the best for price. Data comes from customers rating their satisfaction with pricing: in Clay 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.
T-Mobile Home Internet is rated 4.23 out of 5 for price, which is higher than the average across all internet providers in the country. Blue Ridge Mountain Electric Membership Corporation is rated second for affordability, with an average price rating of 5.00 out of 5.
The table below shows how customers in Clay County, North Carolina, and the United States rated the affordability of their internet service.
Rated Affordability in Clay County
| ISP / Tech Type | Clay County Affordability | North Carolina Affordability | National Affordability | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (13) | (342) | View Plans | ||
| Blue Ridge Mountain EMC | (1) | (1) | (1) | View Plans | ||
| Frontier | (0) | (3) | (177) | View Plans | ||
| Windstream | (0) | (6) | (99) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (9) | (816) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (1) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (59) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| River Street | (0) | (1) | (2) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) | (25) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) | (12) | View Plans |
Fiber, 5G, Cable and DSL Internet in Clay County
Which Fiber Internet Providers are Available in Clay County?
Blue Ridge Mountain EMC Fiber in Clay County, NC
Availability:
87.3%
Customer Rating:
(1)
Avg. Download Speed
1,000 Mbps
Blue Ridge Mountain Electric Membership Corporation offers Fiber service to 87.3% of Clay County homes. Across the county, Blue Ridge Mountain EMC Fiber is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
Which Fixed Wireless and LTE Internet Providers are Available in Clay County?
River Street Fixed Wireless in Clay County, NC
Availability:
88.2%
Customer Rating:
(1)
Avg. Download Speed
21 Mbps
River Street Networks offers Fixed Wireless service to 88.2% of Clay County homes. Across the county, River Street Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 21 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 2.5 Mbps throughout the county.
Verizon Fixed Wireless in Clay County, NC
Availability:
73.7%
Customer Rating:
(362)
Avg. Download Speed
220 Mbps
Verizon offers Fixed Wireless service to 73.7% of Clay County homes. Across the county, Verizon Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 220 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 16 Mbps throughout the county.
T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed Wireless in Clay County, NC
Availability:
70.9%
Customer Rating:
(342)
Avg. Download Speed
47 Mbps
T-Mobile Home Internet offers Fixed Wireless service to 70.9% of Clay 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 47 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 7.9 Mbps throughout the county.
EarthLink Fixed Wireless in Clay County, NC
Availability:
42.5%
Customer Rating:
(4)
Avg. Download Speed
25 Mbps
EarthLink offers Fixed Wireless service to 42.5% of Clay County homes. Across the county, EarthLink Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 25 Mbps
AT&T Fixed Wireless in Clay County, NC
Availability:
42.5%
Customer Rating:
(205)
Avg. Download Speed
25 Mbps
AT&T offers Fixed Wireless service to 42.5% of Clay County homes. Across the county, AT&T Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 25 Mbps
Which Cable Internet Providers are Available in Clay County?
Windstream Cable in Clay County, NC
Availability:
59.4%
Customer Rating:
(2)
Avg. Download Speed
1,000 Mbps
Windstream offers Cable service to 59.4% of Clay County homes. Across the county, Windstream Cable has speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
Which DSL Internet Providers are Available in Clay County?
Frontier DSL in Clay County, NC
Availability:
81.8%
Customer Rating:
(58)
Avg. Download Speed
33 Mbps
Frontier Communications offers DSL service to 81.8% of Clay County homes. Across the county, Frontier DSL is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 33 Mbps, with speeds from 10 Mpbs up to 115 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 1.0 and as high as 7.0, with an average of 2.1 Mbps throughout the county.
Windstream DSL in Clay County, NC
Availability:
9.2%
Customer Rating:
(52)
Avg. Download Speed
20 Mbps
Windstream offers DSL service to 9.2% of Clay County homes. Across the county, Windstream DSL has speeds up to 20 Mbps, with speeds from 10 Mpbs up to 200 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 2.2 Mbps throughout the county. Windstream DSL is rated higher than other types of internet service available in Clay County from Windstream in terms of customer satisfaction.
Customer Reviews for Internet Service Providers in North Carolina
Customer Reviews
ISPReports User
Spectrum Cable
November 05, 2026 Service during the day has gotten a little better. However, Spectrum does a lot of maintenance late at night and therefore the TV and Internet go out. Not happy with that since I stay up late.
ISPReports User
Ripple Fiber
November 01, 2026 Constant outages with customer service associates that barely know anything about the product
M.L.
AT&T Fiber
October 26, 2026 Price keeps going up, for the same service. Terrible internet service: 6 outages in the past month (Sept-Oct 2026) Very unreliable. If you have a problem: Customer Service is an AI bot.
ISPReports User
Spectrum
October 26, 2026 Declining since an optic company came into our housing area in zip 28110. We are displeased and considering alternatives.
ISPReports User
Brightspeed
October 23, 2026 You can not pay me enough to recommend Brightspeed. I can not believe that there are any legitimate reviews over a 2.
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Which ISP Should You Choose in Clay 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 Clay County is Windstream.
- The fastest internet provider should be Blue Ridge Mountain Electric Membership Corporation. 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 Clay County is T-Mobile Home Internet.
- Viasat, River Street Networks, and HughesNet has the broadest coverage in Clay County, available to 88.2% 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.