Best Internet Providers in Cleveland County, NC
All 8 providers, ranked by coverage, speed and customer ratings
Find internet availability by address in Cleveland County, NC
Cleveland County has 8 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 Cleveland County.
Ranks compare Cleveland County with the 100 North Carolina counties.
The Best Internet in Cleveland County, NC at a Glance
Cleveland County Internet Providers, Ranked by Coverage, Speed and Customer Ratings
Spectrum
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
Cable
EarthLink
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
DSL
Fixed Wireless
AT&T
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
DSL
Fixed Wireless
T-Mobile Home Internet
Connection
Customer Rating
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 Cleveland County ratings may vary and are shown below.
Who is the Best Internet Provider in Cleveland County, NC?
Skyrunner Internet is the highest-rated internet provider in Cleveland County based on 300 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.
Which Providers are Available at my Home in Cleveland 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 Cleveland County
- AT&T - fiber coverage map
- EarthLink - fiber coverage map
- Spectrum - cable coverage map
- Ripple Fiber - fiber coverage map
- Verizon - fixed wireless coverage map
- Spectrum - fiber coverage map
- T-Mobile Home Internet - fixed wireless coverage map
- AT&T - dsl coverage map
- EarthLink - dsl coverage map
- AT&T - fixed wireless coverage map
- EarthLink - fixed wireless coverage map
- Skyrunner Internet - fixed wireless coverage map
- Carolina West - fixed wireless coverage map
How Cleveland County Compares to the Rest of North Carolina
Cleveland County's report card score is tied 57th of 100 and its connectivity index is tied 49th of 100.
| Measure | Cleveland County | Rank among North Carolina counties | North Carolina | US | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISP Report Card inputs: what providers offer here | |||||
| Fiber availability | 47.3% | 93rd of 100 | 78.0% | 71.5% | Davie County (99.8%) |
| Average top speed | 1,926 Mbps | 46th of 100 | 3,577 Mbps | 3,486 Mbps | Greene County (8,030 Mbps) |
| Providers at a typical address | 7.4 | Tied 19th of 100 | 7.3 | 7.1 | Buncombe County (9.2) |
| Connectivity index inputs: how much households need and use the internet | |||||
| People per household | 2.6 | Tied 12th 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 | 92% | Tied 56th of 100 | 95% | 96% | Carteret County and Dare County and 3 more (98%) |
| Homes with internet | 85% | Tied 60th of 100 | 91% | 91% | Wake County (96%) |
| Homes on fiber, cable or DSL | 68% | Tied 56th of 100 | 77% | 76% | Wake County (86%) |
| More about the households here | |||||
| Homes with a desktop or laptop | 72% | Tied 53rd of 100 | 80% | 81% | Orange County and Wake County (90%) |
| Median household income | $63,540 | 53rd 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 47.3% of homes in Cleveland County, against 78.0% across North Carolina. Households in Cleveland County are smaller than the US average (2.6 people against 2.7); 8% of workers work from home (US 15%); and the median household income is $63,540 (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 Cleveland County Compares to Its Neighbors
Cleveland County has 6 neighbors, 2 of them in South Carolina. Among them, Rutherford County has the most homes with fiber (77.2%) and Burke County the fewest (48.4%); Cleveland County has 47.3%.
Map of Cleveland County and its neighbors by ISP Report Card grade
Hover over or tap a county for its numbers, and click through to its page.
Cleveland County and its neighbors
| County | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland County (this page) | 99,519 | 47.3% | 1,926 Mbps | 7.4 | B- | 48/100 |
| York County, SC | 282,090 | 71.7% | 4,282 Mbps | 6.5 | B | 76/100 |
| Gaston County | 227,943 | 69.2% | 3,376 Mbps | 7.9 | B | 62/100 |
| 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 |
| Rutherford County | 64,444 | 77.2% | 2,144 Mbps | 8.4 | B+ | 34/100 |
| Cherokee County, SC | 56,216 | 48.9% | 1,736 Mbps | 6.3 | C+ | 36/100 |
Internet in Cleveland County by City and ZIP Code
Fiber reaches from 13.5% of homes in Grover to 83.2% in Casar; by ZIP code, from 6.8% in 28073 (Grover) to 82.3% in 28020 (Casar). Each row links to that place’s page.
Cities and towns in Cleveland County
| City or town | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelby | 46,760 | 54.4% | 2,211 Mbps | 7.8 | B | 49/100 |
| Kings Mountain | 26,646 | 41.8% | 2,018 Mbps | 7.6 | B- | 49/100 |
| Lawndale | 5,680 | 50.0% | 1,010 Mbps | 6.1 | C+ | 27/100 |
| Grover | 5,422 | 13.5% | 1,265 Mbps | 6.4 | C | 51/100 |
| Boiling Springs | 5,333 | 38.8% | 2,345 Mbps | 8.4 | B | 77/100 |
| Casar | 2,342 | 83.2% | 979 Mbps | 4.3 | C | 31/100 |
| Polkville | 1,035 | 45.7% | 962 Mbps | 7.2 | C+ | 20/100 |
| Fallston | 861 | 38.7% | 1,000 Mbps | 6.8 | C | 31/100 |
| Belwood | 857 | 46.1% | 976 Mbps | 5.8 | C | 31/100 |
| Kingstown | 765 | 54.5% | 1,000 Mbps | 7.8 | C+ | 39/100 |
| Patterson Springs | 689 | 0.0% | 1,000 Mbps | 4.7 | D | 53/100 |
| Waco | 629 | 19.6% | 1,000 Mbps | 7.3 | C | 38/100 |
| Earl | 575 | 0.0% | 1,000 Mbps | 5.3 | D+ | 52/100 |
| Lattimore | 460 | 7.6% | 988 Mbps | 7.5 | C | 58/100 |
| Delight | 249 | 71.9% | 1,000 Mbps | 5.6 | C | 26/100 |
| Washburn | 165 | 100.0% | 1,000 Mbps | 7 | B+ | 14/100 |
| Olive Grove | 154 | 100.0% | 1,000 Mbps | 3.9 | C+ | 26/100 |
| Double Shoals | 75 | 100.0% | 1,000 Mbps | 3.4 | C+ | 19/100 |
ZIP codes in Cleveland County
| ZIP code | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28150 (Shelby) | 28,801 | 62.3% | 2,349 Mbps | 7.9 | B | 44/100 |
| 28086 (Kings Mountain) | 27,473 | 41.9% | 2,042 Mbps | 7.6 | B- | 49/100 |
| 28152 (Shelby) | 25,515 | 40.9% | 1,939 Mbps | 7.6 | B- | 60/100 |
| 28090 (Lawndale) | 7,633 | 48.9% | 1,001 Mbps | 6.2 | C+ | 27/100 |
| 28073 (Grover) | 5,336 | 6.8% | 989 Mbps | 6.1 | C- | 49/100 |
| 28020 (Casar) | 2,562 | 82.3% | 981 Mbps | 4.2 | C | 31/100 |
| 28169 (Waco) | 133 | 0.0% | 1,000 Mbps | 7 | C- | 36/100 |
| 28089 (Lattimore) | 100 | 7.0% | 1,000 Mbps | 7.6 | C | 68/100 |
Who is the Fastest Internet Provider in Cleveland 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, AT&T and EarthLink 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 Cleveland County
| AT&T | 5,000 |
|---|---|
| EarthLink | 5,000 |
| Ripple Fiber | 2,000 |
| Spectrum | 1,000 |
| Verizon | 300 |
| Viasat | 100 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet | 100 |
| HughesNet | 25 |
| Skyrunner Internet | 25 |
| Carolina West Wireless | 25 |
How fast is your internet?
Test your connection here and see it next to the speeds providers advertise in Cleveland County. It takes about 20 seconds and, on a fast line, can move a few hundred MB of data.
Customer Ratings for Cleveland County Internet Providers
Based on 300 reviews from North Carolina internet customers, Skyrunner Internet is the best internet service provider for Cleveland County residents. Skyrunner Internet was rated at an average of 5.00 out of 5 in our report for overall customer satisfaction. AT&T wins for second-place in North Carolina, with 3.73 out of 5 stars and 92.0% coverage in Cleveland County.
At a national level, based on 4178 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 Cleveland County Internet Providers
The table below shows average customer ratings from customers in Cleveland County, North Carolina, and customers throughout the country.
| ISP / Tech Type | Cleveland County Overall | North Carolina Overall | National Overall | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skyrunner Internet |  (0) |  (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 | ||
| Ripple Fiber | (0) | (3) | (4) | View Plans | ||
| Spectrum | (0) | (214) | (1949) | 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 Cleveland County
Based on data reported by Cleveland County ISPs to the FCC, the fastest speeds in the county are available through AT&T and EarthLink. These internet providers offer speeds up to 5,000 Mbps in Cleveland County. Therefore, the average customer can get up to 1,204 Mbps if they’re willing to purchase the fastest subscription tier available at their homes.
Additionally, 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 | Cleveland County Speed | North Carolina Speed | National Speed | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | (0) | (59) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| Ripple Fiber | (0) |  (3) | (4) | View Plans | ||
| Skyrunner Internet | (0) | (1) | (1) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (13) | (342) | View Plans | ||
| Spectrum | (0) | (214) | (1949) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (1) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (9) | (816) | 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 Cleveland County?
Of the providers in Cleveland County, customers rate T-Mobile Home Internet the best for price. Data comes from customers rating their satisfaction with pricing: in Cleveland 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. Skyrunner Internet is rated second for affordability, with an average price rating of 5.00 out of 5.
The table below shows how customers in Cleveland County, North Carolina, and the United States rated the affordability of their internet service.
Rated Affordability in Cleveland County
| ISP / Tech Type | Cleveland County Affordability | North Carolina Affordability | National Affordability | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (13) | (342) | View Plans | ||
| Ripple Fiber | (0) | (3) | (4) | View Plans | ||
| Skyrunner Internet | (0) | (1) | (1) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (9) | (816) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (1) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (59) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| Spectrum | (0) | (214) | (1949) | 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 Cleveland County
Which Fiber Internet Providers are Available in Cleveland County?
EarthLink Fiber in Cleveland County, NC
Availability:
23.4%
Customer Rating:
(6)
Avg. Download Speed
4,578 Mbps
EarthLink offers Fiber service to 23.4% of Cleveland County homes. Across the county, EarthLink Fiber has speeds up to 4,578 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 Cleveland County from EarthLink in terms of customer satisfaction.
AT&T Fiber in Cleveland County, NC
Availability:
23.4%
Customer Rating:
(542)
Avg. Download Speed
4,578 Mbps
AT&T offers Fiber service to 23.4% of Cleveland County homes. Across the county, AT&T Fiber has speeds up to 4,578 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 Cleveland County from AT&T in terms of customer satisfaction.
Spectrum Fiber in Cleveland County, NC
Availability:
20.9%
Customer Rating:
(207)
Avg. Download Speed
1,000 Mbps
Spectrum offers Fiber service to 20.9% of Cleveland County homes. Across the county, Spectrum Fiber has speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
Ripple Fiber in Cleveland County, NC
Availability:
12.4%
Customer Rating:
(4)
Avg. Download Speed
2,000 Mbps
Ripple Fiber offers Fiber service to 12.4% of Cleveland County homes. Across the county, Ripple Fiber is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 2,000 Mbps
Which Fixed Wireless and LTE Internet Providers are Available in Cleveland County?
T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed Wireless in Cleveland County, NC
Availability:
95.4%
Customer Rating:
(342)
Avg. Download Speed
59 Mbps
T-Mobile Home Internet offers Fixed Wireless service to 95.4% of Cleveland 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 59 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 11 Mbps throughout the county.
Verizon Fixed Wireless in Cleveland County, NC
Availability:
93.5%
Customer Rating:
(362)
Avg. Download Speed
226 Mbps
Verizon offers Fixed Wireless service to 93.5% of Cleveland County homes. Across the county, Verizon Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 226 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.
EarthLink Fixed Wireless in Cleveland County, NC
Availability:
79.9%
Customer Rating:
(4)
Avg. Download Speed
35 Mbps
EarthLink offers Fixed Wireless service to 79.9% of Cleveland County homes. Across the county, EarthLink Fixed Wireless has speeds up to 35 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 5.2 Mbps throughout the county.
AT&T Fixed Wireless in Cleveland County, NC
Availability:
79.9%
Customer Rating:
(205)
Avg. Download Speed
35 Mbps
AT&T offers Fixed Wireless service to 79.9% of Cleveland County homes. Across the county, AT&T Fixed Wireless has speeds up to 35 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 5.2 Mbps throughout the county.
Skyrunner Internet Fixed Wireless in Cleveland County, NC
Availability:
46.3%
Customer Rating:
(1)
Avg. Download Speed
25 Mbps
Skyrunner Internet offers Fixed Wireless service to 46.3% of Cleveland County homes. Across the county, Skyrunner Internet Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 25 Mbps
Carolina West Fixed Wireless in Cleveland County, NC
Availability:
2.8%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
25 Mbps
Carolina West Wireless offers Fixed Wireless service to 2.8% of Cleveland 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
Which Cable Internet Providers are Available in Cleveland County?
Spectrum Cable in Cleveland County, NC
Availability:
91.3%
Customer Rating:
(1739)
Avg. Download Speed
1,000 Mbps
Spectrum offers Cable service to 91.3% of Cleveland County homes. Across the county, Spectrum Cable has speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
Which DSL Internet Providers are Available in Cleveland County?
EarthLink DSL in Cleveland County, NC
Availability:
79.3%
Customer Rating:
(5)
Avg. Download Speed
52 Mbps
EarthLink offers DSL service to 79.3% of Cleveland County homes. Across the county, EarthLink DSL has speeds up to 52 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 11 Mbps throughout the county. EarthLink DSL is rated higher than other types of internet service available in Cleveland County from EarthLink in terms of customer satisfaction.
AT&T DSL in Cleveland County, NC
Availability:
79.3%
Customer Rating:
(304)
Avg. Download Speed
52 Mbps
AT&T offers DSL service to 79.3% of Cleveland County homes. Across the county, AT&T DSL has speeds up to 52 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 11 Mbps throughout the county. AT&T DSL is rated about the same as other types of internet service available in Cleveland County from AT&T 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 Cleveland 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 Cleveland County is Skyrunner Internet.
- The fastest internet provider should be AT&T and EarthLink. 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 Cleveland County is T-Mobile Home Internet.
- Viasat, Spectrum, and HughesNet has the broadest coverage in Cleveland County, available to 97.9% 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.