Best Internet Providers in Hickory, NC
All 10 providers, ranked by coverage, speed and customer ratings
Find internet availability by address in Hickory, NC
Hickory 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 city. Reviews are grouped by provider and the type of service they offer, covering all 4 available internet technologies in Hickory.
Ranks compare Hickory with the 749 US small cities (50,000 to 99,999 people), the tiers of our fastest-cities rankings.
The Best Internet in Hickory, NC at a Glance
Hickory Internet Providers, Ranked by Coverage, Speed and Customer Ratings
Spectrum
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
Cable
Brightspeed
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
DSL
Fixed Wireless
Metronet
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
EarthLink
Connection
Customer Rating
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 Hickory ratings may vary and are shown below.
Who is the Best Internet Provider in Hickory, NC?
AT&T is the highest-rated internet provider in Hickory 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 Hickory?
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 Hickory
- Metronet - fiber coverage map
- Spectrum - cable coverage map
- Brightspeed - fiber coverage map
- Verizon - fixed wireless coverage map
- Spectrum - fiber coverage map
- T-Mobile Home Internet - fixed wireless coverage map
- Ripple Fiber - fiber coverage map
- Brightspeed - dsl coverage map
- AT&T - fixed wireless coverage map
- EarthLink - fixed wireless coverage map
- Carolina West - fixed wireless coverage map
- River Street - fixed wireless coverage map
- AT&T - dsl coverage map
- EarthLink - dsl coverage map
- Brightspeed - fixed wireless coverage map
How Hickory Compares to Places Its Size
Hickory's report card score is tied 422nd of 749 and its connectivity index is tied 584th of 749.
| Measure | Hickory | Rank among US small cities (50,000 to 99,999 people) | Catawba County | North Carolina | US | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISP Report Card inputs: what providers offer here | ||||||
| Fiber availability | 60.9% | Tied 550th of 749 | 43.2% | 78.0% | 71.5% | Aloha, OR and Shawnee, KS (100.0%) |
| Average top speed | 3,089 Mbps | Tied 448th of 749 | 2,124 Mbps | 3,577 Mbps | 3,486 Mbps | Layton, UT (9,808 Mbps) |
| Providers at a typical address | 8.1 | Tied 243rd of 749 | 7.8 | 7.3 | 7.1 | Guaynabo, PR (14.3) |
| Connectivity index inputs: how much households need and use the internet | ||||||
| People per household | 2.5 | Tied 456th of 749 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.7 | Pacoima, CA and Spring Valley, NY (4.3) |
| Workers who work from home | 10% | Tied 543rd of 749 | 8% | 16% | 15% | Danville, CA and Potomac, MD and 2 more (39%) |
| Homes with a computer, tablet or phone | 94% | Tied 625th of 749 | 94% | 95% | 96% | Atascocita, TX and Eastvale, CA and 8 more (100%) |
| Homes with internet | 88% | Tied 646th of 749 | 89% | 91% | 91% | Centreville, VA and Danville, CA and 2 more (99%) |
| Homes on fiber, cable or DSL | 77% | Tied 464th of 749 | 75% | 77% | 76% | Flower Mound, TX and Johns Creek, GA and 1 more (93%) |
| More about the households here | ||||||
| Homes with a desktop or laptop | 77% | Tied 558th of 749 | 74% | 80% | 81% | Sammamish, WA (99%) |
| Median household income | $75,602 | 523rd of 749 | $73,867 | $83,207 | $93,246 | Potomac, MD ($227,882) |
| Residents in school (6th grade to college) | 17% | Tied 214th of 749 | 14% | 16% | 16% | East Lansing, MI (58%) |
Fiber reaches 60.9% of homes in Hickory, against 43.2% across Catawba County and 78.0% across North Carolina. Households in Hickory are smaller than the US average (2.5 people against 2.7); 10% of workers work from home (US 15%); and the median household income is $75,602 (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 Hickory
Which Fiber Internet Providers are Available in Hickory?
Metronet Fiber in Hickory, NC
Availability:
47.5%
Customer Rating:
(74)
Avg. Download Speed
5,120 Mbps
Metronet offers Fiber service to 47.5% of Hickory homes. Across the city, Metronet Fiber is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 5,120 Mbps
Spectrum Fiber in Hickory, NC
Availability:
11.3%
Customer Rating:
(207)
Avg. Download Speed
1,000 Mbps
Spectrum offers Fiber service to 11.3% of Hickory homes. Across the city, Spectrum Fiber has speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
Brightspeed Fiber in Hickory, NC
Availability:
10.0%
Customer Rating:
(31)
Avg. Download Speed
1,894 Mbps
Brightspeed offers Fiber service to 10.0% of Hickory homes. Across the city, Brightspeed Fiber has speeds up to 1,894 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 Hickory from Brightspeed in terms of customer satisfaction.
Ripple Fiber in Hickory, NC
Availability:
1.6%
Customer Rating:
(4)
Avg. Download Speed
2,000 Mbps
Ripple Fiber offers Fiber service to 1.6% of Hickory homes. Across the city, 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 Hickory?
Carolina West Fixed Wireless in Hickory, NC
Availability:
96.4%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
25 Mbps
Carolina West Wireless offers Fixed Wireless service to 96.4% of Hickory homes. Across the city, Carolina West Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 25 Mbps
T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed Wireless in Hickory, NC
Availability:
95.4%
Customer Rating:
(342)
Avg. Download Speed
85 Mbps
T-Mobile Home Internet offers Fixed Wireless service to 95.4% of Hickory homes. Across the city, T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 85 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.
Verizon Fixed Wireless in Hickory, NC
Availability:
85.9%
Customer Rating:
(362)
Avg. Download Speed
207 Mbps
Verizon offers Fixed Wireless service to 85.9% of Hickory homes. Across the city, Verizon Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 207 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 city.
EarthLink Fixed Wireless in Hickory, NC
Availability:
85.7%
Customer Rating:
(4)
Avg. Download Speed
36 Mbps
EarthLink offers Fixed Wireless service to 85.7% of Hickory 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 Hickory, NC
Availability:
85.7%
Customer Rating:
(205)
Avg. Download Speed
36 Mbps
AT&T offers Fixed Wireless service to 85.7% of Hickory 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.
River Street Fixed Wireless in Hickory, NC
Availability:
78.8%
Customer Rating:
(1)
Avg. Download Speed
19 Mbps
River Street Networks offers Fixed Wireless service to 78.8% of Hickory homes. Across the city, River Street Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 19 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 2.2 Mbps throughout the city.
Brightspeed Fixed Wireless in Hickory, NC
Availability:
2.7%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
10 Mbps
Brightspeed offers Fixed Wireless service to 2.7% of Hickory homes. Across the city, Brightspeed Fixed Wireless has speeds up to 10 Mbps
Which Cable Internet Providers are Available in Hickory?
Spectrum Cable in Hickory, NC
Availability:
97.8%
Customer Rating:
(1739)
Avg. Download Speed
1,000 Mbps
Spectrum offers Cable service to 97.8% of Hickory homes. Across the city, Spectrum Cable has speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
Which DSL Internet Providers are Available in Hickory?
Brightspeed DSL in Hickory, NC
Availability:
95.5%
Customer Rating:
(43)
Avg. Download Speed
34 Mbps
Brightspeed offers DSL service to 95.5% of Hickory homes. Across the city, Brightspeed DSL has speeds up to 34 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 3.3 Mbps throughout the city. Brightspeed DSL is rated higher than other types of internet service available in Hickory from Brightspeed in terms of customer satisfaction.
EarthLink DSL in Hickory, NC
Availability:
1.9%
Customer Rating:
(5)
Avg. Download Speed
39 Mbps
EarthLink offers DSL service to 1.9% of Hickory homes. Across the city, EarthLink DSL has speeds up to 39 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 7.7 Mbps throughout the city. EarthLink DSL is rated higher than other types of internet service available in Hickory from EarthLink in terms of customer satisfaction.
AT&T DSL in Hickory, NC
Availability:
1.9%
Customer Rating:
(304)
Avg. Download Speed
39 Mbps
AT&T offers DSL service to 1.9% of Hickory homes. Across the city, AT&T DSL has speeds up to 39 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 7.7 Mbps throughout the city. AT&T DSL is rated about the same as other types of internet service available in Hickory from AT&T in terms of customer satisfaction.
Internet in Hickory by Neighborhood and ZIP Code
Hickory has 2 ZIP codes with their own pages. Each row links to that place’s page.
Neighborhoods in Hickory
| Neighborhood | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|
ZIP codes in Hickory
How Hickory Compares to Nearby Places
The 10 places nearest to Hickory that have their own pages are all within 9 miles. Among them, Rutherford College has the most homes with fiber (90.9%) and Long View the fewest (14.6%); Hickory has 60.9%.
| Place | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory (this page) | 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 |
| Granite Falls | 16,767 | 58.2% | 1,587 Mbps | 7.1 | B- | 56/100 |
| St. Stephens | 9,885 | 69.6% | 2,534 Mbps | 8.7 | B | 53/100 |
| Long View | 5,274 | 14.6% | 1,184 Mbps | 7.9 | C+ | 39/100 |
| Hildebran | 1,935 | 25.0% | 1,000 Mbps | 7.9 | C+ | 64/100 |
| Rutherford College | 1,410 | 90.9% | 4,776 Mbps | 8.6 | A- | 46/100 |
| Rhodhiss | 1,287 | 45.5% | 1,447 Mbps | 6.4 | C+ | 59/100 |
| Brookford | 533 | 14.4% | 1,000 Mbps | 7.7 | C | 96/100 |
| Startown | 57 | 0.0% | 726 Mbps | 5.2 | D | 56/100 |
Who is the Fastest Internet Provider in Hickory?
According to unbiased feedback from real internet customers, they reported being happiest with speeds provided by Spectrum. On the other hand, based on data provided by the internet providers to the FCC, Metronet 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 Hickory
| 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 Hickory. It takes about 20 seconds and, on a fast line, can move a few hundred MB of data.
Customer Ratings for Hickory Internet Providers
Based on 320 reviews from North Carolina internet customers, AT&T is the best internet service provider for Hickory 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 86.0% coverage in Hickory.
At a national level, based on 4331 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 Hickory Internet Providers
The table below shows average customer ratings from customers in Hickory, North Carolina, and customers throughout the country.
| ISP / Tech Type | Hickory Overall | North Carolina Overall | National Overall | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon | (1) | (9) | (816) | 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) | (342) | View Plans | ||
| Spectrum | (5) | (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 Hickory
Based on data reported by Hickory ISPs to the FCC, the fastest speeds in the city are available through Metronet. The company offers speeds up to 5,120 Mbps in Hickory. Therefore, the average customer can get up to 5,120 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 Spectrum. This indicates Spectrum reliably delivers speeds expected by the customer based on the plan they are paying for.
| ISP / Tech Type | Hickory 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) | (342) | View Plans | ||
| Spectrum | (5) | (214) | (1949) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (1) | (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 Hickory?
Of the providers in Hickory, customers rate AT&T the best for price. Data comes from customers rating their satisfaction with pricing: in Hickory 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 Hickory, North Carolina, and the United States rated the affordability of their internet service.
Rated Affordability in Hickory
| ISP / Tech Type | Hickory 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) | (342) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (1) | (9) | (816) | View Plans | ||
| Spectrum | (5) | (214) | (1949) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) | (25) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) | (12) | View Plans | ||
| Carolina West | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans |
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 Hickory?
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 Hickory is AT&T.
- The fastest internet provider should be Metronet. Considering speed for the money and reliability in speeds, Spectrum may be a better choice based on real-world local customer feedback.
- The most affordable internet provider in Hickory is AT&T.
- Viasat, Spectrum, and HughesNet has the broadest coverage in Hickory, 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.