Best Internet Providers in Durham, NC
All 8 providers, ranked by coverage, speed and customer ratings
Find internet availability by address in Durham, NC
Durham 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 city. Reviews are grouped by provider and the type of service they offer, covering all 4 available internet technologies in Durham.
Ranks compare Durham with the 41 US large cities (250,000 to 499,999 people), the tiers of our fastest-cities rankings.
The Best Internet in Durham, NC at a Glance
Durham Internet Providers, Ranked by Coverage, Speed and Customer Ratings
Spectrum
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
Cable
Frontier
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
DSL
GFiber
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
EarthLink
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
DSL
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 Durham ratings may vary and are shown below.
Who is the Best Internet Provider in Durham, NC?
AT&T is the highest-rated internet provider in Durham based on 308 North Carolina customer reviews, and Google Fiber 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 Durham?
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 Durham
- Google Fiber - fiber coverage map
- Frontier - fiber coverage map
- AT&T - fiber coverage map
- EarthLink - fiber coverage map
- Spectrum - cable coverage map
- Verizon - fixed wireless coverage map
- Spectrum - fiber coverage map
- Hotwire Communications - fiber coverage map
- T-Mobile Home Internet - fixed wireless coverage map
- AT&T - fixed wireless coverage map
- EarthLink - fixed wireless coverage map
- Frontier - dsl coverage map
- AT&T - dsl coverage map
- EarthLink - dsl coverage map
How Durham Compares to Places Its Size
Durham's report card score is tied 9th of 41 and its connectivity index is 17th of 41.
| Measure | Durham | Rank among US large cities (250,000 to 499,999 people) | Durham County | North Carolina | US | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISP Report Card inputs: what providers offer here | ||||||
| Fiber availability | 90.6% | 16th of 41 | 90.5% | 78.0% | 71.5% | Staten Island, NY (99.5%) |
| Average top speed | 6,637 Mbps | 3rd of 41 | 6,670 Mbps | 3,577 Mbps | 3,486 Mbps | Oakland, CA (7,941 Mbps) |
| Providers at a typical address | 7.9 | 19th of 41 | 7.8 | 7.3 | 7.1 | San Juan, PR (14.2) |
| Connectivity index inputs: how much households need and use the internet | ||||||
| People per household | 2.4 | Tied 33rd of 41 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 2.7 | Santa Ana, CA (4.0) |
| Workers who work from home | 23% | Tied 8th of 41 | 23% | 16% | 15% | Scottsdale, AZ (31%) |
| Homes with a computer, tablet or phone | 97% | Tied 20th of 41 | 97% | 95% | 96% | Garland, TX and Gilbert, AZ and 6 more (99%) |
| Homes with internet | 94% | Tied 12th of 41 | 94% | 91% | 91% | Gilbert, AZ and Katy, TX and 2 more (97%) |
| Homes on fiber, cable or DSL | 83% | Tied 10th of 41 | 83% | 77% | 76% | Gilbert, AZ (89%) |
| More about the households here | ||||||
| Homes with a desktop or laptop | 86% | Tied 12th of 41 | 86% | 80% | 81% | Gilbert, AZ and Irvine, CA (95%) |
| Median household income | $94,142 | 23rd of 41 | $92,424 | $83,207 | $93,246 | Irvine, CA ($152,298) |
| Residents in school (6th grade to college) | 18% | Tied 14th of 41 | 18% | 16% | 16% | Irvine, CA (25%) |
Fiber reaches 90.6% of homes in Durham, against 90.5% across Durham County and 78.0% across North Carolina. Households in Durham are smaller than the US average (2.4 people against 2.7); 23% of workers work from home (US 15%); and the median household income is $94,142 (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 Durham
Which Fiber Internet Providers are Available in Durham?
Google Fiber in Durham, NC
Availability:
60.2%
Customer Rating:
(105)
Avg. Download Speed
7,847 Mbps
Google Fiber offers Fiber service to 60.2% of Durham homes. Across the city, Google Fiber is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 7,847 Mbps, with speeds from 1,000 Mpbs up to 8,000 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds are symmetrical, meaning they are exactly the same as download speeds for Google Fiber.
EarthLink Fiber in Durham, NC
Availability:
56.7%
Customer Rating:
(6)
Avg. Download Speed
4,969 Mbps
EarthLink offers Fiber service to 56.7% of Durham homes. Across the city, EarthLink Fiber has speeds up to 4,969 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 Durham from EarthLink in terms of customer satisfaction.
AT&T Fiber in Durham, NC
Availability:
56.7%
Customer Rating:
(542)
Avg. Download Speed
4,969 Mbps
AT&T offers Fiber service to 56.7% of Durham homes. Across the city, AT&T Fiber has speeds up to 4,969 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 Durham from AT&T in terms of customer satisfaction.
Frontier Fiber in Durham, NC
Availability:
45.5%
Customer Rating:
(119)
Avg. Download Speed
6,803 Mbps
Frontier Communications offers Fiber service to 45.5% of Durham homes. Across the city, Frontier Fiber has speeds up to 6,803 Mbps, with speeds from 300 Mpbs up to 7,000 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 100 and as high as 7,000, with an average of 6,798 Mbps throughout the city. Frontier Fiber is rated about the same as other types of internet service available in Durham from Frontier in terms of customer satisfaction.
Spectrum Fiber in Durham, NC
Availability:
23.1%
Customer Rating:
(207)
Avg. Download Speed
1,000 Mbps
Spectrum offers Fiber service to 23.1% of Durham homes. Across the city, Spectrum Fiber has speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
Hotwire Communications Fiber in Durham, NC
Availability:
4.3%
Customer Rating:
(11)
Avg. Download Speed
3,871 Mbps
Hotwire Communications offers Fiber service to 4.3% of Durham homes. Across the city, Hotwire Communications Fiber is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 3,871 Mbps, with speeds from 1,200 Mpbs up to 8,000 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds are symmetrical, meaning they are exactly the same as download speeds for Hotwire Communications Fiber.
Which Fixed Wireless and LTE Internet Providers are Available in Durham?
T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed Wireless in Durham, NC
Availability:
95.2%
Customer Rating:
(341)
Avg. Download Speed
79 Mbps
T-Mobile Home Internet offers Fixed Wireless service to 95.2% of Durham homes. Across the city, T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 79 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 15 Mbps throughout the city.
Verizon Fixed Wireless in Durham, NC
Availability:
94.3%
Customer Rating:
(362)
Avg. Download Speed
269 Mbps
Verizon offers Fixed Wireless service to 94.3% of Durham homes. Across the city, Verizon Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 269 Mbps, with speeds from 25 Mpbs up to 1,000 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 6.0 and as high as 75, with an average of 20 Mbps throughout the city.
EarthLink Fixed Wireless in Durham, NC
Availability:
79.1%
Customer Rating:
(4)
Avg. Download Speed
36 Mbps
EarthLink offers Fixed Wireless service to 79.1% of Durham homes. Across the city, EarthLink Fixed Wireless has speeds up to 36 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 5.4 Mbps throughout the city.
AT&T Fixed Wireless in Durham, NC
Availability:
79.1%
Customer Rating:
(205)
Avg. Download Speed
36 Mbps
AT&T offers Fixed Wireless service to 79.1% of Durham homes. Across the city, AT&T Fixed Wireless has speeds up to 36 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 5.4 Mbps throughout the city.
Which Cable Internet Providers are Available in Durham?
Spectrum Cable in Durham, NC
Availability:
96.6%
Customer Rating:
(1738)
Avg. Download Speed
1,000 Mbps
Spectrum offers Cable service to 96.6% of Durham homes. Across the city, Spectrum Cable has speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
Which DSL Internet Providers are Available in Durham?
Frontier DSL in Durham, NC
Availability:
70.3%
Customer Rating:
(58)
Avg. Download Speed
24 Mbps
Frontier Communications offers DSL service to 70.3% of Durham homes. Across the city, Frontier DSL has speeds up to 24 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 1.7 Mbps throughout the city. Frontier DSL is rated higher than other types of internet service available in Durham from Frontier in terms of customer satisfaction.
EarthLink DSL in Durham, NC
Availability:
3.5%
Customer Rating:
(5)
Avg. Download Speed
47 Mbps
EarthLink offers DSL service to 3.5% of Durham homes. Across the city, EarthLink DSL has speeds up to 47 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 9.5 Mbps throughout the city. EarthLink DSL is rated higher than other types of internet service available in Durham from EarthLink in terms of customer satisfaction.
AT&T DSL in Durham, NC
Availability:
3.5%
Customer Rating:
(304)
Avg. Download Speed
47 Mbps
AT&T offers DSL service to 3.5% of Durham homes. Across the city, AT&T DSL has speeds up to 47 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 9.5 Mbps throughout the city. AT&T DSL is rated about the same as other types of internet service available in Durham from AT&T in terms of customer satisfaction.
Internet in Durham by Neighborhood and ZIP Code
Fiber reaches from 76.7% of homes in North Garrett Road to 100.0% in Trinity Park; by ZIP code, from 86.4% in 27705 to 96.0% in 27703. Each row links to that place’s page.
Neighborhoods in Durham
| Neighborhood | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast Durham | 9,194 | 97.8% | 7,102 Mbps | 7.8 | A | 76/100 |
| Downtown Durham | 6,926 | 81.6% | 4,208 Mbps | 6.9 | B | 58/100 |
| Old West Durham | 6,626 | 79.5% | 4,703 Mbps | 7.1 | B+ | 67/100 |
| East Durham | 6,451 | 100.0% | 7,897 Mbps | 8.1 | A | 48/100 |
| North Garrett Road | 4,520 | 76.7% | 5,883 Mbps | 8.1 | B+ | 75/100 |
| Trinity Park | 3,331 | 100.0% | 6,857 Mbps | 8.6 | A | 67/100 |
ZIP codes in Durham
| ZIP code | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27703 | 61,141 | 96.0% | 7,572 Mbps | 8.1 | A- | 80/100 |
| 27713 | 54,944 | 93.9% | 7,001 Mbps | 7.9 | A- | 79/100 |
| 27707 | 49,986 | 90.1% | 7,109 Mbps | 8.3 | A- | 70/100 |
| 27705 | 48,269 | 86.4% | 5,644 Mbps | 7.8 | B+ | 71/100 |
| 27704 | 39,624 | 94.4% | 6,388 Mbps | 7.9 | A- | 70/100 |
| 27701 | 24,979 | 93.2% | 6,336 Mbps | 7.9 | A- | 55/100 |
| 27712 | 21,919 | 90.6% | 6,135 Mbps | 6.7 | B+ | 84/100 |
How Durham Compares to Nearby Places
The 10 places nearest to Durham that have their own pages are all within 13 miles. Among them, Bahama has the most homes with fiber (97.8%) and Butner the fewest (28.2%); Durham has 90.6%.
| Place | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham (this page) | 312,468 | 90.6% | 6,637 Mbps | 7.9 | A- | 75/100 |
| Chapel Hill metro area | 588,911 | 86.7% | 5,539 Mbps | 7.5 | B+ | 73/100 |
| Morrisville | 43,722 | 94.7% | 7,394 Mbps | 8.4 | A- | 88/100 |
| Hillsborough | 29,040 | 92.7% | 4,371 Mbps | 6.8 | B+ | 82/100 |
| Carrboro | 22,354 | 92.1% | 6,795 Mbps | 9.4 | A- | 78/100 |
| Butner | 13,853 | 28.2% | 775 Mbps | 3.3 | D | 54/100 |
| Bahama | 3,292 | 97.8% | 6,661 Mbps | 5.6 | B+ | 61/100 |
| Orange Factory | 515 | 61.2% | 4,670 Mbps | 5.8 | B- | 83/100 |
| North Side | 304 | 61.8% | 1,829 Mbps | 6 | C+ | 84/100 |
| Schley | 284 | 100.0% | 5,000 Mbps | 6.2 | A- | 68/100 |
| Gorman | 162 | 100.0% | 7,000 Mbps | 5.2 | B+ | 78/100 |
Who is the Fastest Internet Provider in Durham?
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, Google Fiber 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 Durham
| Google Fiber | 8,000 |
|---|---|
| Hotwire Communications | 8,000 |
| Frontier Communications | 7,000 |
| AT&T | 5,000 |
| EarthLink | 5,000 |
| Spectrum | 1,000 |
| Verizon | 1,000 |
| Viasat | 100 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet | 100 |
| HughesNet | 25 |
How fast is your internet?
Test your connection here and see it next to the speeds providers advertise in Durham. It takes about 20 seconds and, on a fast line, can move a few hundred MB of data.
Customer Ratings for Durham Internet Providers
Based on 308 reviews from North Carolina internet customers, AT&T is the best internet service provider for Durham 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 91.0% coverage in Durham.
At a national level, based on 4467 national reviews for any of the providers listed above, Google Fiber is rated higher than any other provider, with a rating of 4.23 out of 5.
Local, State, and National Ratings for all Durham Internet Providers
The table below shows average customer ratings from customers in Durham, North Carolina, and customers throughout the country.
| ISP / Tech Type | Durham Overall | North Carolina Overall | National Overall | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | (3) | (59) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink |  (0) | (1) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| Frontier | (0) | (3) | (177) | View Plans | ||
| GFiber | (0) | (6) | (105) | View Plans | ||
| Hotwire Communications | (0) | (3) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (13) | (341) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (9) | (815) | View Plans | ||
| Spectrum | (11) | (214) | (1948) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) | (25) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) |  (12) | View Plans |
Customer Ratings for Internet Provider Speeds in Durham
Based on data reported by Durham ISPs to the FCC, the fastest speeds in the city are available through Google Fiber. The company offers speeds up to 8,000 Mbps in Durham. Therefore, the average customer can get up to 7,847 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 | Durham Speed | North Carolina Speed | National Speed | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | (3) | (59) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (1) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| Frontier | (0) | (3) | (177) | View Plans | ||
| GFiber | (0) |  (6) | (105) | View Plans | ||
| Hotwire Communications | (0) | (3) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (13) | (341) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (9) | (815) | View Plans | ||
| Spectrum | (11) | (214) | (1948) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) | (25) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) | (12) | View Plans |
Who is the Cheapest Internet Provider in Durham?
Of the providers in Durham, customers rate EarthLink the best for price. Data comes from customers rating their satisfaction with pricing: in Durham 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.
EarthLink is rated 3.00 out of 5 for price, which is lower than the average across all internet providers in the country. Frontier Communications is rated second for affordability, with an average price rating of 4.00 out of 5.
The table below shows how customers in Durham, North Carolina, and the United States rated the affordability of their internet service.
Rated Affordability in Durham
| ISP / Tech Type | Durham Affordability | North Carolina Affordability | National Affordability | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EarthLink | (0) | (1) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| Frontier | (0) | (3) | (177) | View Plans | ||
| GFiber | (0) | (6) | (105) | View Plans | ||
| Hotwire Communications | (0) | (3) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (13) | (341) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (9) | (815) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (3) | (59) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| Spectrum | (11) | (214) | (1948) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) | (25) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) | (12) | View Plans |
Customer Reviews for Internet Service Providers in North Carolina
Customer Reviews
A Durham, NC Customer
Spectrum Fiber
February 25, 2026 While Spectrum's fiber-to-the-home internet product is of decent quality, the games they play around pricing and speeds are maddening. At least once per year I need to call them and get their 'retention' department on the line in order to understand why my price suddenly increased, and then 'threaten' to leave their service to get a better price, again on a not-standard-length promotional period. Contrast that to Google Fiber which has had consistent pricing for years and no games played. Until recently I was forced to use Spectrum as they were the only provider in my neighborhood, but within the past year, both Google Fiber and Frontier Fiber have laid cable in my neighborhood and have been heavily promoting their services. I am inclined to make a switch the next time my price automatically increases with Spectrum.
A Durham, NC Customer
Spectrum Cable
January 30, 2026 
A Durham, NC Customer
Spectrum Cable
December 07, 2025 A Durham, NC Customer
Spectrum Cable
August 01, 2025 A Durham, NC Customer
AT&T Fixed Wireless
June 26, 2025 I primarily chose my internet provider for convenience and ease of use. I already use them for my cell phone so it was easy to add internet to my package and a pretty straight forward process. I don't have a lot of internet bandwidth needs so my setup rarely causes me any issues and I don't have a problem with internet speed or lags. Their pricing also seems fair and I appreciate that I can set up everything online without having to go into a physical store.
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Which ISP Should You Choose in Durham?
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 Durham is AT&T.
- The fastest internet provider should be Google Fiber. 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 Durham is EarthLink.
- Viasat, Spectrum, and HughesNet has the broadest coverage in Durham, available to 96.8% 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.