Best Internet Providers in Columbia, MD
All 6 providers, ranked by coverage, speed and customer ratings
Find internet availability by address in Columbia, MD
Columbia has 6 internet service providers, they are sorted by coverage, available speed, and customer rating from our unbiased internet provider report. Cable, Fiber, and Fixed Wireless internet are available in the city. Reviews are grouped by provider and the type of service they offer, covering all 3 available internet technologies in Columbia.
Ranks compare Columbia with the 749 US small cities (50,000 to 99,999 people), the tiers of our fastest-cities rankings.
The Best Internet in Columbia, MD at a Glance
Columbia Internet Providers, Ranked by Coverage, Speed and Customer Ratings
XFINITY
Connection
Customer Rating
Cable
EarthLink
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
Fixed Wireless
Verizon
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
Fixed Wireless
T-Mobile Home Internet
Connection
Customer Rating
Fixed Wireless
Providers with less than 1% coverage in this city 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 Columbia ratings may vary and are shown below.
Who is the Best Internet Provider in Columbia, MD?
AT&T is the highest-rated internet provider in Columbia based on 154 Maryland 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.
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Which Providers are Available at my Home in Columbia?
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 Columbia
How Columbia Compares to Places Its Size
Columbia's report card score is tied 182nd of 749 and its connectivity index is tied 118th of 749.
| Measure | Columbia | Rank among US small cities (50,000 to 99,999 people) | Howard County | Maryland | US | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISP Report Card inputs: what providers offer here | ||||||
| Fiber availability | 99.2% | Tied 23rd of 749 | 99.0% | 77.0% | 71.5% | Aloha, OR and Shawnee, KS (100.0%) |
| Average top speed | 1,868 Mbps | 686th of 749 | 2,014 Mbps | 2,260 Mbps | 3,486 Mbps | Layton, UT (9,808 Mbps) |
| Providers at a typical address | 7.4 | Tied 384th of 749 | 7.3 | 6.3 | 7.1 | Guaynabo, PR (14.3) |
| Connectivity index inputs: how much households need and use the internet | ||||||
| People per household | 2.6 | Tied 361st of 749 | 2.8 | 2.7 | 2.7 | Pacoima, CA and Spring Valley, NY (4.3) |
| Workers who work from home | 24% | Tied 103rd of 749 | 26% | 19% | 15% | Danville, CA and Potomac, MD and 2 more (39%) |
| Homes with a computer, tablet or phone | 99% | Tied 11th of 749 | 99% | 97% | 96% | Atascocita, TX and Eastvale, CA and 8 more (100%) |
| Homes with internet | 96% | Tied 96th of 749 | 97% | 93% | 91% | Centreville, VA and Danville, CA and 2 more (99%) |
| Homes on fiber, cable or DSL | 90% | Tied 20th of 749 | 89% | 80% | 76% | Flower Mound, TX and Johns Creek, GA and 1 more (93%) |
| More about the households here | ||||||
| Homes with a desktop or laptop | 94% | Tied 31st of 749 | 95% | 86% | 81% | Sammamish, WA (99%) |
| Median household income | $137,019 | 97th of 749 | $162,618 | $117,984 | $93,246 | Potomac, MD ($227,882) |
| Residents in school (6th grade to college) | 17% | Tied 214th of 749 | 18% | 17% | 16% | East Lansing, MI (58%) |
Fiber reaches 99.2% of homes in Columbia, against 99.0% across Howard County and 77.0% across Maryland. Households in Columbia are smaller than the US average (2.6 people against 2.7); 24% of workers work from home (US 15%); and the median household income is $137,019 (US $93,246).
Our demographic data is sourced from the latest 5-year release of the American Community Survey by the US Census Bureau.
Fiber, 5G, Cable and DSL Internet in Columbia
Which Fiber Internet Providers are Available in Columbia?
EarthLink Fiber in Columbia, MD
Availability:
99.2%
Customer Rating:
(6)
Avg. Download Speed
1,137 Mbps
EarthLink offers Fiber service to 99.2% of Columbia homes. Across the city, EarthLink Fiber has speeds up to 1,137 Mbps, with speeds from 75 Mpbs up to 2,300 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 75 and as high as 2,300, with an average of 1,049 Mbps throughout the city. EarthLink Fiber is rated about the same as other types of internet service available in Columbia from EarthLink in terms of customer satisfaction.
Verizon Fiber in Columbia, MD
Availability:
99.2%
Customer Rating:
(452)
Avg. Download Speed
1,137 Mbps
Verizon offers Fiber service to 99.2% of Columbia homes. Across the city, Verizon Fiber has speeds up to 1,137 Mbps, with speeds from 75 Mpbs up to 2,300 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 75 and as high as 2,300, with an average of 1,049 Mbps throughout the city. Verizon Fiber is rated about the same as other types of internet service available in Columbia from Verizon in terms of customer satisfaction.
Which Fixed Wireless and LTE Internet Providers are Available in Columbia?
T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed Wireless in Columbia, MD
Availability:
97.6%
Customer Rating:
(341)
Avg. Download Speed
86 Mbps
T-Mobile Home Internet offers Fixed Wireless service to 97.6% of Columbia homes. Across the city, T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 86 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 17 Mbps throughout the city.
EarthLink Fixed Wireless in Columbia, MD
Availability:
95.4%
Customer Rating:
(4)
Avg. Download Speed
59 Mbps
EarthLink offers Fixed Wireless service to 95.4% of Columbia homes. Across the city, EarthLink Fixed Wireless has 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 city.
AT&T Fixed Wireless in Columbia, MD
Availability:
95.4%
Customer Rating:
(205)
Avg. Download Speed
59 Mbps
AT&T offers Fixed Wireless service to 95.4% of Columbia homes. Across the city, AT&T 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 city.
Believe Wireless Fixed Wireless in Columbia, MD
Availability:
84.5%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
38 Mbps
Believe Wireless offers Fixed Wireless service to 84.5% of Columbia homes. Across the city, Believe Wireless Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 38 Mbps, with speeds from 10 Mpbs up to 500 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 1.0 and as high as 100, with an average of 6.7 Mbps throughout the city.
Verizon Fixed Wireless in Columbia, MD
Availability:
65.5%
Customer Rating:
(362)
Avg. Download Speed
213 Mbps
Verizon offers Fixed Wireless service to 65.5% of Columbia homes. Across the city, Verizon Fixed Wireless has speeds up to 213 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 city.
Which Cable Internet Providers are Available in Columbia?
XFINITY Cable in Columbia, MD
Availability:
99.6%
Customer Rating:
(2074)
Avg. Download Speed
1,825 Mbps
XFINITY from Comcast offers Cable service to 99.6% of Columbia homes. Across the city, XFINITY Cable is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 1,825 Mbps, with speeds from 1,200 Mpbs up to 2,000 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 35 and as high as 250, with an average of 203 Mbps throughout the city.
Which DSL Internet Providers are Available in Columbia?
According to the most recently submitted data by internet service providers to the FCC, there are currently no DSL providers available in Columbia, MD.
Internet in Columbia by Neighborhood and ZIP Code
Fiber reaches from 96.5% of homes in 21046 to 99.8% in 21045. Each row links to that place’s page.
Neighborhoods in Columbia
| Neighborhood | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|
ZIP codes in Columbia
How Columbia Compares to Nearby Places
The 10 places nearest to Columbia that have their own pages are all within 6 miles. Among them, Savage has the most homes with fiber (100.0%) and Annapolis Junction the fewest (46.9%); Columbia has 99.2%.
| Place | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia (this page) | 96,503 | 99.2% | 1,868 Mbps | 7.4 | B+ | 86/100 |
| Ellicott City | 78,530 | 99.2% | 2,144 Mbps | 7.1 | A- | 93/100 |
| Scaggsville | 29,701 | 99.5% | 2,262 Mbps | 7.6 | A- | 93/100 |
| Ilchester | 27,921 | 99.6% | 2,173 Mbps | 7.6 | A- | 95/100 |
| Elkridge | 21,557 | 97.7% | 2,240 Mbps | 7.6 | A- | 92/100 |
| Jessup | 14,813 | 78.6% | 2,030 Mbps | 6.7 | B | 84/100 |
| Clarksville | 11,336 | 99.5% | 1,795 Mbps | 7.5 | A- | 97/100 |
| Fulton | 6,790 | 99.8% | 2,268 Mbps | 7.3 | A- | 96/100 |
| Highland | 4,912 | 99.0% | 1,497 Mbps | 7 | B+ | 96/100 |
| Savage | 3,407 | 100.0% | 2,269 Mbps | 7.6 | A- | 63/100 |
| Annapolis Junction | 1,221 | 46.9% | 2,134 Mbps | 6 | C+ | 89/100 |
Who is the Fastest Internet Provider in Columbia?
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, XFINITY from Comcast 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 Columbia
| EarthLink | 2,300 |
|---|---|
| Verizon | 2,300 |
| XFINITY from Comcast | 2,000 |
| Believe Wireless | 500 |
| Viasat | 100 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet | 100 |
| AT&T | 100 |
| HughesNet | 25 |
How fast is your internet?
Test your connection here and see it next to the speeds providers advertise in Columbia. It takes about 20 seconds and, on a fast line, can move a few hundred MB of data.
Customer Ratings for Columbia Internet Providers
Based on 154 reviews from Maryland internet customers, AT&T is the best internet service provider for Columbia residents. AT&T was rated at an average of 3.33 out of 5 in our report for overall customer satisfaction. XFINITY from Comcast wins for second-place in Maryland, with 4.00 out of 5 stars and 99.8% coverage in Columbia.
At a national level, based on 4596 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 Columbia Internet Providers
The table below shows average customer ratings from customers in Columbia, Maryland, and customers throughout the country.
| ISP / Tech Type | Columbia Overall | Maryland Overall | National Overall | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XFINITY | (1) | (75) | (2374) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (3) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (2) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) |  (9) | (341) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (4) | (65) | (815) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) |  (25) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) |  (12) | View Plans | ||
| Believe Wireless | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans |
Customer Ratings for Internet Provider Speeds in Columbia
Based on data reported by Columbia ISPs to the FCC, the fastest speeds in the city are available through XFINITY from Comcast. The company offers speeds up to 2,000 Mbps in Columbia. Therefore, the average customer can get up to 1,823 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 | Columbia Speed | Maryland Speed | National Speed | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon | (4) | (65) | (815) | View Plans | ||
| XFINITY | (1) | (75) | (2374) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (3) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (2) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (9) | (341) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) | (25) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) | (12) | View Plans | ||
| Believe Wireless | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans |
Who is the Cheapest Internet Provider in Columbia?
Of the providers in Columbia, customers rate AT&T the best for price. Data comes from customers rating their satisfaction with pricing: in Columbia where enough of them have reviewed a provider, otherwise across Maryland 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 3.00 out of 5 for price, which is lower than the average across all internet providers in the country. XFINITY from Comcast is rated second for affordability, with an average price rating of 4.00 out of 5.
The table below shows how customers in Columbia, Maryland, and the United States rated the affordability of their internet service.
Rated Affordability in Columbia
| ISP / Tech Type | Columbia Affordability | Maryland Affordability | National Affordability | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XFINITY | (1) | (75) | (2374) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (3) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (2) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (9) | (341) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (4) | (65) | (815) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) | (25) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) | (12) | View Plans | ||
| Believe Wireless | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans |
Customer Reviews for Internet Service Providers in Maryland
Customer Reviews
A Columbia, MD Customer
XFINITY Fiber
November 01, 2025 We've had Xnfinity forever. It's still cheaper than other providers. It gets bundled with the cable bill. I'm not downloading large files or streaming vidoe all the time, so I don't need it to be super fast.
A Columbia, MD Customer
Verizon Fiber
April 26, 2023 A Columbia, MD Customer
Verizon Fixed Wireless
April 11, 2023 E.F.
Verizon Fiber
February 22, 2023 We have been with Verizon Fios for a while and have noticed a decline. Higher prices, less speed reliability. The quality of our TV service is pixelated at times. The Fios customer service is still nice and they were quick to respond to a technical issue we were having.
A Columbia, MD Customer
Verizon Fiber
February 18, 2023 My internet provider, Verizon, has very reliable fiber optic service compared to other competitors such as Comcast. My home internet does not cut out very often compared to my friends internet. My internet provider also provides internet at a stable and fair price. I have used other internet providers that raised their prices throughout the years. I am overall satisfied with my current internet service provider.
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Which ISP Should You Choose in Columbia?
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 Columbia is AT&T.
- The fastest internet provider should be XFINITY from Comcast. 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 Columbia is AT&T.
- XFINITY from Comcast, Viasat, and HughesNet has the broadest coverage in Columbia, available to 99.8% 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.