Best Internet Providers in Hillsborough, NC
All 10 providers, ranked by coverage, speed and customer ratings
Find internet availability by address in Hillsborough, NC
Hillsborough 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 Hillsborough.
Ranks compare Hillsborough with the 1,383 US suburban and regional cities (25,000 to 49,999 people), the tiers of our fastest-cities rankings.
The Best Internet in Hillsborough, NC at a Glance
Hillsborough Internet Providers, Ranked by Coverage, Speed and Customer Ratings
Spectrum
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
Cable
Brightspeed
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
DSL
GFiber
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
Lumos Networks
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
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 Hillsborough ratings may vary and are shown below.
Who is the Best Internet Provider in Hillsborough, NC?
Lumos Networks is the highest-rated internet provider in Hillsborough based on 348 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.
Click here to get Lumos Networks
or call 1-833-875-1338
Which Providers are Available at my Home in Hillsborough?
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 Hillsborough
- Lumos Networks - fiber coverage map
- Google Fiber - fiber coverage map
- Brightspeed - fiber coverage map
- Spectrum - cable coverage map
- Frontier - fiber coverage map
- Spectrum - fiber coverage map
- Verizon - fixed wireless coverage map
- AT&T - fiber coverage map
- EarthLink - fiber coverage map
- T-Mobile Home Internet - fixed wireless coverage map
- Hotwire Communications - fiber coverage map
- Brightspeed - dsl coverage map
- AT&T - fixed wireless coverage map
- EarthLink - fixed wireless coverage map
- AT&T - dsl coverage map
- EarthLink - dsl coverage map
- Frontier - dsl coverage map
How Hillsborough Compares to Places Its Size
Hillsborough's report card score is in the top 32% and its connectivity index is in the top 26%.
| Measure | Hillsborough | Rank among US suburban and regional cities (25,000 to 49,999 people) | Orange County | North Carolina | US | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISP Report Card inputs: what providers offer here | ||||||
| Fiber availability | 92.7% | top 34% | 82.5% | 78.0% | 71.5% | 25 places at 100.0% |
| Average top speed | 4,371 Mbps | top 31% | 5,731 Mbps | 3,577 Mbps | 3,486 Mbps | Hixson, TN (25,000 Mbps) |
| Providers at a typical address | 6.8 | bottom 42% | 8 | 7.3 | 7.1 | San Lorenzo, CA (13) |
| Connectivity index inputs: how much households need and use the internet | ||||||
| People per household | 2.5 | bottom 41% | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.7 | Kiryas Joel, NY (5.1) |
| Workers who work from home | 25% | top 11% | 26% | 16% | 15% | Venice, CA (47%) |
| Homes with a computer, tablet or phone | 99% | top 2% | 98% | 95% | 96% | 16 places at 100% |
| Homes with internet | 97% | top 5% | 93% | 91% | 91% | 13 places at 99% |
| Homes on fiber, cable or DSL | 83% | top 33% | 81% | 77% | 76% | Burke, VA and Colleyville, TX and 3 more (94%) |
| More about the households here | ||||||
| Homes with a desktop or laptop | 89% | top 24% | 90% | 80% | 81% | University Park, TX (99%) |
| Median household income | $108,129 | top 36% | $100,365 | $83,207 | $93,246 | Scarsdale, NY ($244,191) |
| Residents in school (6th grade to college) | 13% | bottom 25% | 27% | 16% | 16% | Rexburg, ID (71%) |
Fiber reaches 92.7% of homes in Hillsborough, against 82.5% across Orange County and 78.0% across North Carolina. Households in Hillsborough are smaller than the US average (2.5 people against 2.7); 25% of workers work from home (US 15%); and the median household income is $108,129 (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 Hillsborough
Which Fiber Internet Providers are Available in Hillsborough?
Brightspeed Fiber in Hillsborough, NC
Availability:
58.1%
Customer Rating:
(31)
Avg. Download Speed
1,800 Mbps
Brightspeed offers Fiber service to 58.1% of Hillsborough homes. Across the city, Brightspeed Fiber has speeds up to 1,800 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 Hillsborough from Brightspeed in terms of customer satisfaction.
Google Fiber in Hillsborough, NC
Availability:
47.6%
Customer Rating:
(105)
Avg. Download Speed
3,857 Mbps
Google Fiber offers Fiber service to 47.6% of Hillsborough homes. Across the city, Google Fiber is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 3,857 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.
Lumos Networks Fiber in Hillsborough, NC
Availability:
39.6%
Customer Rating:
(27)
Avg. Download Speed
5,000 Mbps
Lumos Networks offers Fiber service to 39.6% of Hillsborough homes. Across the city, Lumos Networks Fiber is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 5,000 Mbps
Spectrum Fiber in Hillsborough, NC
Availability:
18.9%
Customer Rating:
(207)
Avg. Download Speed
1,000 Mbps
Spectrum offers Fiber service to 18.9% of Hillsborough homes. Across the city, Spectrum Fiber has speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
Frontier Fiber in Hillsborough, NC
Availability:
7.9%
Customer Rating:
(119)
Avg. Download Speed
7,000 Mbps
Frontier Communications offers Fiber service to 7.9% of Hillsborough homes. Across the city, Frontier Fiber has speeds up to 7,000 Mbps
EarthLink Fiber in Hillsborough, NC
Availability:
3.2%
Customer Rating:
(6)
Avg. Download Speed
5,000 Mbps
EarthLink offers Fiber service to 3.2% of Hillsborough homes. Across the city, EarthLink Fiber has speeds up to 5,000 Mbps
AT&T Fiber in Hillsborough, NC
Availability:
3.2%
Customer Rating:
(542)
Avg. Download Speed
5,000 Mbps
AT&T offers Fiber service to 3.2% of Hillsborough homes. Across the city, AT&T Fiber has speeds up to 5,000 Mbps
Hotwire Communications Fiber in Hillsborough, NC
Availability:
1.7%
Customer Rating:
(11)
Avg. Download Speed
1,812 Mbps
Hotwire Communications offers Fiber service to 1.7% of Hillsborough homes. Across the city, Hotwire Communications Fiber is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 1,812 Mbps, with speeds from 1,200 Mpbs up to 2,500 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 Hillsborough?
Verizon Fixed Wireless in Hillsborough, NC
Availability:
87.7%
Customer Rating:
(362)
Avg. Download Speed
205 Mbps
Verizon offers Fixed Wireless service to 87.7% of Hillsborough homes. Across the city, Verizon Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 205 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.
T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed Wireless in Hillsborough, NC
Availability:
87.7%
Customer Rating:
(342)
Avg. Download Speed
76 Mbps
T-Mobile Home Internet offers Fixed Wireless service to 87.7% of Hillsborough homes. Across the city, T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 76 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.
EarthLink Fixed Wireless in Hillsborough, NC
Availability:
67.2%
Customer Rating:
(4)
Avg. Download Speed
34 Mbps
EarthLink offers Fixed Wireless service to 67.2% of Hillsborough homes. Across the city, EarthLink Fixed Wireless has speeds up to 34 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 5.0 Mbps throughout the city.
AT&T Fixed Wireless in Hillsborough, NC
Availability:
67.2%
Customer Rating:
(205)
Avg. Download Speed
34 Mbps
AT&T offers Fixed Wireless service to 67.2% of Hillsborough homes. Across the city, AT&T Fixed Wireless has speeds up to 34 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 5.0 Mbps throughout the city.
Which Cable Internet Providers are Available in Hillsborough?
Spectrum Cable in Hillsborough, NC
Availability:
94.4%
Customer Rating:
(1739)
Avg. Download Speed
1,000 Mbps
Spectrum offers Cable service to 94.4% of Hillsborough homes. Across the city, Spectrum Cable has speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
Which DSL Internet Providers are Available in Hillsborough?
Brightspeed DSL in Hillsborough, NC
Availability:
68.5%
Customer Rating:
(43)
Avg. Download Speed
40 Mbps
Brightspeed offers DSL service to 68.5% of Hillsborough homes. Across the city, Brightspeed DSL has speeds up to 40 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 4.1 Mbps throughout the city. Brightspeed DSL is rated higher than other types of internet service available in Hillsborough from Brightspeed in terms of customer satisfaction.
Frontier DSL in Hillsborough, NC
Availability:
13.7%
Customer Rating:
(58)
Avg. Download Speed
18 Mbps
Frontier Communications offers DSL service to 13.7% of Hillsborough homes. Across the city, Frontier DSL has speeds up to 18 Mbps, with speeds from 10 Mpbs up to 90 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 1.0 and as high as 5.0, with an average of 1.4 Mbps throughout the city. Frontier DSL is rated higher than other types of internet service available in Hillsborough from Frontier in terms of customer satisfaction.
EarthLink DSL in Hillsborough, NC
Availability:
7.1%
Customer Rating:
(5)
Avg. Download Speed
59 Mbps
EarthLink offers DSL service to 7.1% of Hillsborough homes. Across the city, EarthLink DSL has speeds up to 59 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 12 Mbps throughout the city. EarthLink DSL is rated higher than other types of internet service available in Hillsborough from EarthLink in terms of customer satisfaction.
AT&T DSL in Hillsborough, NC
Availability:
7.1%
Customer Rating:
(304)
Avg. Download Speed
59 Mbps
AT&T offers DSL service to 7.1% of Hillsborough homes. Across the city, AT&T DSL has speeds up to 59 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 12 Mbps throughout the city. AT&T DSL is rated about the same as other types of internet service available in Hillsborough from AT&T in terms of customer satisfaction.
Internet in Hillsborough by Neighborhood and ZIP Code
Hillsborough has 1 ZIP code with its own page. Each row links to that place’s page.
Neighborhoods in Hillsborough
| Neighborhood | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|
ZIP codes in Hillsborough
| ZIP code | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27278 | 28,523 | 93.5% | 4,384 Mbps | 6.8 | B+ | 80/100 |
How Hillsborough Compares to Nearby Places
The 10 places nearest to Hillsborough that have their own pages are all within 12 miles. Among them, Cedar Grove has the most homes with fiber (100.0%) and Mebane the fewest (84.7%); Hillsborough has 92.7%.
| Place | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsborough (this page) | 29,040 | 92.7% | 4,371 Mbps | 6.8 | B+ | 82/100 |
| Chapel Hill metro area | 588,911 | 86.7% | 5,539 Mbps | 7.5 | B+ | 73/100 |
| Durham | 312,468 | 90.6% | 6,637 Mbps | 7.9 | A- | 75/100 |
| Mebane | 30,834 | 84.7% | 3,963 Mbps | 6.8 | B+ | 69/100 |
| Carrboro | 22,354 | 92.1% | 6,795 Mbps | 9.4 | A- | 78/100 |
| Efland | 4,806 | 91.9% | 4,665 Mbps | 4.6 | B- | 69/100 |
| Cedar Grove | 2,217 | 100.0% | 4,670 Mbps | 4.8 | B+ | 47/100 |
| Orange Grove | 681 | 96.8% | 4,839 Mbps | 6.7 | B+ | 53/100 |
| Orange Factory | 515 | 61.2% | 4,670 Mbps | 5.8 | B- | 83/100 |
| Schley | 284 | 100.0% | 5,000 Mbps | 6.2 | A- | 68/100 |
| McDade | 95 | 100.0% | 5,000 Mbps | 6.8 | A- | 61/100 |
Who is the Fastest Internet Provider in Hillsborough?
Based on both FCC data and unbiased customer ratings, the fastest internet in the city comes from Lumos Networks.
Data Reported to FCC by ISPs: Average Maximum Available in Hillsborough
| Google Fiber | 8,000 |
|---|---|
| Frontier Communications | 7,000 |
| AT&T | 5,000 |
| EarthLink | 5,000 |
| Lumos Networks | 5,000 |
| Hotwire Communications | 2,500 |
| Brightspeed | 2,000 |
| Spectrum | 1,000 |
| Verizon | 300 |
| 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 Hillsborough. It takes about 20 seconds and, on a fast line, can move a few hundred MB of data.
Customer Ratings for Hillsborough Internet Providers
Based on 348 reviews from North Carolina internet customers, Lumos Networks is the best internet service provider for Hillsborough residents. Lumos Networks was rated at an average of 4.04 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 68.5% coverage in Hillsborough.
At a national level, based on 4574 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 Hillsborough Internet Providers
The table below shows average customer ratings from customers in Hillsborough, North Carolina, and customers throughout the country.
| ISP / Tech Type | Hillsborough Overall | North Carolina Overall | National Overall | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lumos Networks |  (0) | (23) | (28) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (59) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (13) | (342) | View Plans | ||
| Hotwire Communications | (0) | (3) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (1) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (9) | (816) | View Plans | ||
| GFiber | (0) | (6) | (105) | View Plans | ||
| Spectrum | (1) | (214) | (1949) | View Plans | ||
| Frontier | (0) | (3) | (177) | View Plans | ||
| Brightspeed | (0) | (17) | (76) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) | (25) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) |  (12) | View Plans |
Customer Ratings for Internet Provider Speeds in Hillsborough
Based on data reported by Hillsborough ISPs to the FCC, the fastest speeds in the city are available through Lumos Networks. The company offers speeds up to 5,000 Mbps in Hillsborough. Therefore, the average customer can get up to 5,000 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 Lumos Networks. This indicates Lumos Networks reliably delivers speeds expected by the customer based on the plan they are paying for.
| ISP / Tech Type | Hillsborough Speed | North Carolina Speed | National Speed | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lumos Networks | (0) | (23) | (28) | View Plans | ||
| GFiber | (0) |  (6) | (105) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (59) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| Hotwire Communications | (0) | (3) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (13) | (342) | View Plans | ||
| Spectrum | (1) | (214) | (1949) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (1) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (9) | (816) | View Plans | ||
| Frontier | (0) | (3) | (177) | View Plans | ||
| Brightspeed | (0) | (17) | (76) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) | (25) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) | (12) | View Plans |
Who is the Cheapest Internet Provider in Hillsborough?
Of the providers in Hillsborough, customers rate T-Mobile Home Internet the best for price. Data comes from customers rating their satisfaction with pricing: in Hillsborough 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. Lumos Networks is rated second for affordability, with an average price rating of 3.87 out of 5.
The table below shows how customers in Hillsborough, North Carolina, and the United States rated the affordability of their internet service.
Rated Affordability in Hillsborough
| ISP / Tech Type | Hillsborough Affordability | North Carolina Affordability | National Affordability | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (13) | (342) | View Plans | ||
| Lumos Networks | (0) | (23) | (28) | View Plans | ||
| Frontier | (0) | (3) | (177) | View Plans | ||
| Hotwire Communications | (0) | (3) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| GFiber | (0) | (6) | (105) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (9) | (816) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (1) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (59) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| Brightspeed | (0) | (17) | (76) | View Plans | ||
| Spectrum |  (1) | (214) | (1949) | 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
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 Hillsborough?
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 Hillsborough is Lumos Networks.
- The fastest internet provider should be Lumos Networks. Considering speed for the money and reliability in speeds, Lumos Networks may be a better choice based on real-world local customer feedback.
- The most affordable internet provider in Hillsborough is T-Mobile Home Internet.
- Viasat, Spectrum, and HughesNet has the broadest coverage in Hillsborough, available to 95.7% 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.