Best Internet Providers in Lake Forest, CA
All 7 providers, ranked by coverage, speed and customer ratings
Find internet availability by address in Lake Forest, CA
Lake Forest has 7 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 Lake Forest.
Ranks compare Lake Forest with the 749 US small cities (50,000 to 99,999 people), the tiers of our fastest-cities rankings.
The Best Internet in Lake Forest, CA at a Glance
Lake Forest Internet Providers, Ranked by Coverage, Speed and Customer Ratings
Cox
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 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 Lake Forest ratings may vary and are shown below.
Who is the Best Internet Provider in Lake Forest, CA?
AT&T is the highest-rated internet provider in Lake Forest based on 231 California 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 Lake Forest?
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 Lake Forest
- Cox - cable coverage map
- Cityside Fiber - fiber coverage map
- AT&T - fiber coverage map
- EarthLink - fiber coverage map
- GeoLinks - fixed wireless coverage map
- Cox - fiber coverage map
- Verizon - fixed wireless 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
How Lake Forest Compares to Places Its Size
Lake Forest's report card score is tied 631st of 749 and its connectivity index is tied 67th of 749.
| Measure | Lake Forest | Rank among US small cities (50,000 to 99,999 people) | Orange County | California | US | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISP Report Card inputs: what providers offer here | ||||||
| Fiber availability | 36.1% | 671st of 749 | 62.4% | 62.4% | 71.5% | Aloha, OR and Shawnee, KS (100.0%) |
| Average top speed | 2,794 Mbps | 501st of 749 | 3,495 Mbps | 3,834 Mbps | 3,486 Mbps | Layton, UT (9,808 Mbps) |
| Providers at a typical address | 7.2 | Tied 428th of 749 | 7.9 | 8 | 7.1 | Guaynabo, PR (14.3) |
| Connectivity index inputs: how much households need and use the internet | ||||||
| People per household | 2.9 | Tied 164th of 749 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.7 | Pacoima, CA and Spring Valley, NY (4.3) |
| Workers who work from home | 23% | Tied 118th of 749 | 19% | 17% | 15% | Danville, CA and Potomac, MD and 2 more (39%) |
| Homes with a computer, tablet or phone | 98% | Tied 115th of 749 | 98% | 97% | 96% | Atascocita, TX and Eastvale, CA and 8 more (100%) |
| Homes with internet | 97% | Tied 31st of 749 | 95% | 94% | 91% | Centreville, VA and Danville, CA and 2 more (99%) |
| Homes on fiber, cable or DSL | 86% | Tied 120th of 749 | 81% | 79% | 76% | Flower Mound, TX and Johns Creek, GA and 1 more (93%) |
| More about the households here | ||||||
| Homes with a desktop or laptop | 90% | Tied 152nd of 749 | 89% | 84% | 81% | Sammamish, WA (99%) |
| Median household income | $132,779 | 113th of 749 | $129,477 | $111,728 | $93,246 | Potomac, MD ($227,882) |
| Residents in school (6th grade to college) | 15% | Tied 397th of 749 | 18% | 17% | 16% | East Lansing, MI (58%) |
Fiber reaches 36.1% of homes in Lake Forest, against 62.4% across Orange County and 62.4% across California. Households in Lake Forest are larger than the US average (2.9 people against 2.7); 23% of workers work from home (US 15%); and the median household income is $132,779 (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 Lake Forest
Which Fiber Internet Providers are Available in Lake Forest?
Cityside Fiber in Lake Forest, CA
Availability:
23.9%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
5,000 Mbps
Cityside Fiber offers Fiber service to 23.9% of Lake Forest homes. Across the city, Cityside Fiber is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 5,000 Mbps
Cox Fiber in Lake Forest, CA
Availability:
15.0%
Customer Rating:
(54)
Avg. Download Speed
2,000 Mbps
Cox Communications offers Fiber service to 15.0% of Lake Forest homes. Across the city, Cox Fiber has speeds up to 2,000 Mbps
EarthLink Fiber in Lake Forest, CA
Availability:
12.6%
Customer Rating:
(6)
Avg. Download Speed
2,700 Mbps
EarthLink offers Fiber service to 12.6% of Lake Forest homes. Across the city, EarthLink Fiber has speeds up to 2,700 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 Lake Forest from EarthLink in terms of customer satisfaction.
AT&T Fiber in Lake Forest, CA
Availability:
12.6%
Customer Rating:
(542)
Avg. Download Speed
2,700 Mbps
AT&T offers Fiber service to 12.6% of Lake Forest homes. Across the city, AT&T Fiber has speeds up to 2,700 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 Lake Forest from AT&T in terms of customer satisfaction.
Which Fixed Wireless and LTE Internet Providers are Available in Lake Forest?
T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed Wireless in Lake Forest, CA
Availability:
96.5%
Customer Rating:
(342)
Avg. Download Speed
69 Mbps
T-Mobile Home Internet offers Fixed Wireless service to 96.5% of Lake Forest homes. Across the city, T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 69 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 13 Mbps throughout the city.
Verizon Fixed Wireless in Lake Forest, CA
Availability:
93.9%
Customer Rating:
(362)
Avg. Download Speed
265 Mbps
Verizon offers Fixed Wireless service to 93.9% of Lake Forest homes. Across the city, Verizon Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 265 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 18 Mbps throughout the city.
EarthLink Fixed Wireless in Lake Forest, CA
Availability:
72.1%
Customer Rating:
(4)
Avg. Download Speed
51 Mbps
EarthLink offers Fixed Wireless service to 72.1% of Lake Forest homes. Across the city, EarthLink Fixed Wireless has speeds up to 51 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 8.9 Mbps throughout the city.
AT&T Fixed Wireless in Lake Forest, CA
Availability:
72.1%
Customer Rating:
(205)
Avg. Download Speed
51 Mbps
AT&T offers Fixed Wireless service to 72.1% of Lake Forest homes. Across the city, AT&T Fixed Wireless has speeds up to 51 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 8.9 Mbps throughout the city.
GeoLinks Fixed Wireless in Lake Forest, CA
Availability:
37.2%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
894 Mbps
GeoLinks offers Fixed Wireless service to 37.2% of Lake Forest homes. Across the city, GeoLinks Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 894 Mbps, with speeds from 200 Mpbs up to 1,000 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds are symmetrical, meaning they are exactly the same as download speeds for GeoLinks Fixed Wireless.
Which Cable Internet Providers are Available in Lake Forest?
Cox Cable in Lake Forest, CA
Availability:
95.3%
Customer Rating:
(399)
Avg. Download Speed
2,000 Mbps
Cox Communications offers Cable service to 95.3% of Lake Forest homes. Across the city, Cox Cable has speeds up to 2,000 Mbps
Which DSL Internet Providers are Available in Lake Forest?
EarthLink DSL in Lake Forest, CA
Availability:
91.5%
Customer Rating:
(5)
Avg. Download Speed
69 Mbps
EarthLink offers DSL service to 91.5% of Lake Forest homes. Across the city, EarthLink DSL has speeds up to 69 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 14 Mbps throughout the city. EarthLink DSL is rated higher than other types of internet service available in Lake Forest from EarthLink in terms of customer satisfaction.
AT&T DSL in Lake Forest, CA
Availability:
91.5%
Customer Rating:
(304)
Avg. Download Speed
69 Mbps
AT&T offers DSL service to 91.5% of Lake Forest homes. Across the city, AT&T DSL has speeds up to 69 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 14 Mbps throughout the city. AT&T DSL is rated about the same as other types of internet service available in Lake Forest from AT&T in terms of customer satisfaction.
Internet in Lake Forest by Neighborhood and ZIP Code
Lake Forest has 1 ZIP code with its own page. Each row links to that place’s page.
Neighborhoods in Lake Forest
| Neighborhood | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|
ZIP codes in Lake Forest
| ZIP code | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 92630 | 64,042 | 40.7% | 2,933 Mbps | 7.3 | B- | 90/100 |
How Lake Forest Compares to Nearby Places
The 10 places nearest to Lake Forest that have their own pages are all within 6 miles. Among them, Foothill Ranch has the most homes with fiber (47.4%) and Rancho Santa Margarita the fewest (14.7%); Lake Forest has 36.1%.
| Place | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Forest (this page) | 65,506 | 36.1% | 2,794 Mbps | 7.2 | B- | 89/100 |
| Mission Viejo | 85,081 | 35.8% | 2,757 Mbps | 6.6 | B- | 91/100 |
| Aliso Viejo | 50,737 | 26.6% | 2,224 Mbps | 6.5 | C+ | 89/100 |
| Rancho Santa Margarita | 47,941 | 14.7% | 2,240 Mbps | 6.6 | C+ | 91/100 |
| Laguna Hills | 32,625 | 23.1% | 2,472 Mbps | 7.1 | B- | 86/100 |
| Foothill Ranch | 18,614 | 47.4% | 3,189 Mbps | 7 | B- | 97/100 |
| Laguna Woods | 18,197 | 41.8% | 1,321 Mbps | 7.6 | B- | 62/100 |
| Trabuco Canyon | 17,581 | 21.3% | 2,274 Mbps | 6.4 | C+ | 92/100 |
| Silverado | 1,811 | 22.5% | 2,506 Mbps | 6.2 | C+ | 77/100 |
| Top-of-the-World | 782 | 0.0% | 2,000 Mbps | 8 | C+ | 95/100 |
| Modjeska | 772 | 32.8% | 2,756 Mbps | 5.2 | C+ | 95/100 |
Who is the Fastest Internet Provider in Lake Forest?
Based on both FCC data and unbiased customer ratings, the fastest internet in the city comes from Cox Communications.
Data Reported to FCC by ISPs: Average Maximum Available in Lake Forest
| AT&T | 5,000 |
|---|---|
| EarthLink | 5,000 |
| Cityside Fiber | 5,000 |
| Cox Communications | 2,000 |
| GeoLinks | 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 Lake Forest. It takes about 20 seconds and, on a fast line, can move a few hundred MB of data.
Customer Ratings for Lake Forest Internet Providers
Based on 231 reviews from California internet customers, AT&T is the best internet service provider for Lake Forest residents. AT&T was rated at an average of 3.34 out of 5 in our report for overall customer satisfaction. EarthLink wins for second-place in California, with 2.50 out of 5 stars and 98.1% coverage in Lake Forest.
At a national level, based on 2677 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 Lake Forest Internet Providers
The table below shows average customer ratings from customers in Lake Forest, California, and customers throughout the country.
| ISP / Tech Type | Lake Forest Overall | California Overall | National Overall | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | (1) | (119) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) |  (2) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (1) | (25) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (27) | (342) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (28) | (816) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (1) |  (12) | View Plans | ||
| Cox | (3) | (55) | (453) | View Plans | ||
| GeoLinks | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| Cityside Fiber | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans |
Customer Ratings for Internet Provider Speeds in Lake Forest
Based on data reported by Lake Forest ISPs to the FCC, the fastest speeds in the city are available through Cox Communications. The company offers speeds up to 2,000 Mbps in Lake Forest. Therefore, the average customer can get up to 2,000 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 Cox Communications. This indicates Cox reliably delivers speeds expected by the customer based on the plan they are paying for.
| ISP / Tech Type | Lake Forest Speed | California Speed | National Speed | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cox |  (3) | (55) | (453) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) |  (2) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) |  (1) | (25) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (27) | (342) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (28) | (816) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (1) | (12) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (1) | (119) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| GeoLinks | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| Cityside Fiber | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans |
Who is the Cheapest Internet Provider in Lake Forest?
Of the providers in Lake Forest, customers rate EarthLink the best for price. Data comes from customers rating their satisfaction with pricing: in Lake Forest where enough of them have reviewed a provider, otherwise across California or the country. This feedback is valuable because it considers price changes and whether the speeds paid for are worth it.
EarthLink is rated 2.00 out of 5 for price, which is much lower than the average across all internet providers in the country. T-Mobile Home Internet is rated second for affordability, with an average price rating of 4.26 out of 5.
The table below shows how customers in Lake Forest, California, and the United States rated the affordability of their internet service.
Rated Affordability in Lake Forest
| ISP / Tech Type | Lake Forest Affordability | California Affordability | National Affordability | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EarthLink | (0) | (2) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (1) | (25) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (27) | (342) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (28) | (816) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (1) | (12) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (1) | (119) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| Cox | (3) | (55) | (453) | View Plans | ||
| GeoLinks | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| Cityside Fiber | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans |
Customer Reviews for Internet Service Providers in California
Customer Reviews
A Lake Forest, CA Customer
AT&T DSL
May 05, 2023 A Mission Viejo, CA Customer
Cox Cable
April 02, 2023 
A Mission Viejo, CA Customer
Cox Cable
February 03, 2023 I have been satisfied with my cable provider during the pandemic. I work at home full time and require access to the internet to perform my job duties. The internet in my area has only been down a few times over the last two years, but I've heard complaints from other users about more frequent outages. The speed has been sufficient for my needs.
A Mission Viejo, CA Customer
Cox Fiber
February 03, 2023 When I purchased the cheapest option for internet, it was a nightmare. There were frequent disconnections or extremely slow connections that would take forever to restart and work again. Calling customer service to update or consider upgrading was also terrible. Sometimes the representative would say one thing and then the bill will be charged differently and then trying to negotiate with a different representative based on what the prior representative said is difficult since there is no written proof. Once I finally upgraded with a stable monthly price, there were less disconnections and the internet was bearable.
Steve
ting Fiber
November 13, 2026 Slow, 1/10th the speed they advertised
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Which ISP Should You Choose in Lake Forest?
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 Lake Forest is AT&T.
- The fastest internet provider should be Cox Communications. Considering speed for the money and reliability in speeds, Cox Communications may be a better choice based on real-world local customer feedback.
- The most affordable internet provider in Lake Forest is EarthLink.
- Viasat, HughesNet, and Cox Communications has the broadest coverage in Lake Forest, available to 98.6% 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.