Best Internet Providers in Lincoln County, NC
All 6 providers, ranked by coverage, speed and customer ratings
Find internet availability by address in Lincoln County, NC
Lincoln County has 6 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 county. Reviews are grouped by provider and the type of service they offer, covering all 4 available internet technologies in Lincoln County.
Ranks compare Lincoln County with the 100 North Carolina counties.
The Best Internet in Lincoln County, NC at a Glance
Lincoln County Internet Providers, Ranked by Coverage, Speed and Customer Ratings
Spectrum
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
Cable
EarthLink
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
DSL
Fixed Wireless
AT&T
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
DSL
Fixed Wireless
Providers with less than 1% coverage in this county 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 Lincoln County ratings may vary and are shown below.
Who is the Best Internet Provider in Lincoln County, NC?
Spectrum is the highest-rated internet provider in Lincoln County based on 297 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 1-877-411-1381
Which Providers are Available at my Home in Lincoln County?
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 Lincoln County
- AT&T - fiber coverage map
- EarthLink - fiber coverage map
- Spectrum - cable coverage map
- Verizon - fixed wireless coverage map
- Spectrum - fiber 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
- River Street - fixed wireless coverage map
How Lincoln County Compares to the Rest of North Carolina
Lincoln County's report card score is tied 49th of 100 and its connectivity index is tied 9th of 100.
| Measure | Lincoln County | Rank among North Carolina counties | North Carolina | US | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISP Report Card inputs: what providers offer here | |||||
| Fiber availability | 48.7% | 89th of 100 | 78.0% | 71.5% | Davie County (99.8%) |
| Average top speed | 2,019 Mbps | 43rd of 100 | 3,577 Mbps | 3,486 Mbps | Greene County (8,030 Mbps) |
| Providers at a typical address | 7.3 | Tied 22nd of 100 | 7.3 | 7.1 | Buncombe County (9.2) |
| Connectivity index inputs: how much households need and use the internet | |||||
| People per household | 2.6 | Tied 12th of 100 | 2.5 | 2.7 | Union County (3.0) |
| Workers who work from home | 15% | Tied 12th of 100 | 16% | 15% | Mecklenburg County and Wake County (29%) |
| Homes with a computer, tablet or phone | 95% | Tied 21st of 100 | 95% | 96% | Carteret County and Dare County and 3 more (98%) |
| Homes with internet | 92% | Tied 13th of 100 | 91% | 91% | Wake County (96%) |
| Homes on fiber, cable or DSL | 81% | Tied 10th of 100 | 77% | 76% | Wake County (86%) |
| More about the households here | |||||
| Homes with a desktop or laptop | 81% | Tied 18th of 100 | 80% | 81% | Orange County and Wake County (90%) |
| Median household income | $89,360 | 14th of 100 | $83,207 | $93,246 | Union County ($119,553) |
| Residents in school (6th grade to college) | 13% | Tied 46th of 100 | 16% | 16% | Watauga County (36%) |
Fiber reaches 48.7% of homes in Lincoln County, against 78.0% across North Carolina. Households in Lincoln County are smaller than the US average (2.6 people against 2.7); 15% of workers work from home (US 15%); and the median household income is $89,360 (US $93,246).
Our demographic data is sourced from the latest 5-year release of the American Community Survey by the US Census Bureau.
How Lincoln County Compares to Its Neighbors
Lincoln County has 6 neighbors. Among them, Mecklenburg County has the most homes with fiber (89.4%) and Catawba County the fewest (43.2%); Lincoln County has 48.7%.
Map of Lincoln County and its neighbors by ISP Report Card grade
Hover over or tap a county for its numbers, and click through to its page.
Lincoln County and its neighbors
| County | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County (this page) | 86,810 | 48.7% | 2,019 Mbps | 7.3 | B- | 71/100 |
| Mecklenburg County | 1,115,482 | 89.4% | 4,953 Mbps | 8.5 | A- | 80/100 |
| Gaston County | 227,943 | 69.2% | 3,376 Mbps | 7.9 | B | 62/100 |
| Iredell County | 186,693 | 73.5% | 3,483 Mbps | 7.5 | B | 75/100 |
| Catawba County | 160,610 | 43.2% | 2,124 Mbps | 7.8 | B- | 55/100 |
| Cleveland County | 99,519 | 47.3% | 1,926 Mbps | 7.4 | B- | 48/100 |
| Burke County | 87,570 | 48.4% | 2,311 Mbps | 8.6 | B | 41/100 |
Internet in Lincoln County by City and ZIP Code
Fiber reaches from 22.5% of homes in Iron Station to 68.7% in Denver; by ZIP code, from 31.7% in 28080 (Iron Station) to 67.6% in 28037 (Denver). Each row links to that place’s page.
Cities and towns in Lincoln County
| City or town | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincolnton | 36,909 | 40.8% | 1,982 Mbps | 7.2 | B- | 58/100 |
| Denver | 26,141 | 68.7% | 2,775 Mbps | 7.8 | B | 87/100 |
| Vale | 9,790 | 34.6% | 993 Mbps | 6.9 | C | 48/100 |
| Iron Station | 7,549 | 22.5% | 993 Mbps | 6.1 | C | 68/100 |
| Crouse | 3,281 | 51.1% | 1,019 Mbps | 6.9 | C+ | 38/100 |
| Alexis | 1,646 | 58.4% | 2,129 Mbps | 7.6 | B | 57/100 |
| Machpelah | 760 | 82.2% | 3,179 Mbps | 8.4 | B+ | 69/100 |
| Reepsville | 417 | 37.2% | 1,796 Mbps | 7.5 | B- | 39/100 |
ZIP codes in Lincoln County
| ZIP code | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28092 (Lincolnton) | 38,424 | 41.2% | 1,966 Mbps | 7.2 | B- | 57/100 |
| 28037 (Denver) | 25,432 | 67.6% | 2,784 Mbps | 7.7 | B | 87/100 |
| 28168 (Vale) | 10,373 | 32.4% | 986 Mbps | 6.9 | C | 48/100 |
| 28080 (Iron Station) | 7,983 | 31.7% | 1,061 Mbps | 6.4 | C | 66/100 |
| 28033 (Crouse) | 2,859 | 52.3% | 1,043 Mbps | 6.9 | C+ | 39/100 |
Who is the Fastest Internet Provider in Lincoln County?
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, AT&T and EarthLink 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 Lincoln County
| AT&T | 5,000 |
|---|---|
| EarthLink | 5,000 |
| Spectrum | 1,000 |
| Verizon | 300 |
| Viasat | 100 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet | 100 |
| HughesNet | 25 |
| River Street Networks | 25 |
How fast is your internet?
Test your connection here and see it next to the speeds providers advertise in Lincoln County. It takes about 20 seconds and, on a fast line, can move a few hundred MB of data.
Customer Ratings for Lincoln County Internet Providers
Based on 297 reviews from North Carolina internet customers, Spectrum is the best internet service provider for Lincoln County residents. Spectrum was rated at an average of 3.35 out of 5 in our report for overall customer satisfaction. AT&T wins for second-place in North Carolina, with 4.00 out of 5 stars and 97.8% coverage in Lincoln County.
At a national level, based on 4175 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 Lincoln County Internet Providers
The table below shows average customer ratings from customers in Lincoln County, North Carolina, and customers throughout the country.
| ISP / Tech Type | Lincoln County Overall | North Carolina Overall | National Overall | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | (1) | (59) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| Spectrum | (1) | (214) | (1949) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink |  (0) | (1) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| River Street | (0) |  (1) |  (2) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (13) | (342) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (9) | (816) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) |  (25) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) |  (12) | View Plans |
Customer Ratings for Internet Provider Speeds in Lincoln County
Based on data reported by Lincoln County ISPs to the FCC, the fastest speeds in the county are available through AT&T and EarthLink. These internet providers offer speeds up to 5,000 Mbps in Lincoln County. Therefore, the average customer can get up to 1,470 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 | Lincoln County Speed | North Carolina Speed | National Speed | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum |  (1) | (214) | (1949) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (1) | (59) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (1) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| River Street | (0) | (1) | (2) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (13) | (342) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (9) | (816) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) | (25) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) | (12) | View Plans |
Who is the Cheapest Internet Provider in Lincoln County?
Of the providers in Lincoln County, customers rate Spectrum the best for price. Data comes from customers rating their satisfaction with pricing: in Lincoln County 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.
Spectrum is rated 4.00 out of 5 for price, which is higher than the average across all internet providers in the country. AT&T is rated second for affordability, with an average price rating of 4.00 out of 5.
The table below shows how customers in Lincoln County, North Carolina, and the United States rated the affordability of their internet service.
Rated Affordability in Lincoln County
| ISP / Tech Type | Lincoln County Affordability | North Carolina Affordability | National Affordability | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | (1) | (59) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| Spectrum | (1) | (214) | (1949) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (1) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| River Street | (0) | (1) | (2) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (13) | (342) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (9) | (816) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) | (25) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) | (12) | View Plans |
Fiber, 5G, Cable and DSL Internet in Lincoln County
Which Fiber Internet Providers are Available in Lincoln County?
EarthLink Fiber in Lincoln County, NC
Availability:
38.3%
Customer Rating:
(6)
Avg. Download Speed
3,668 Mbps
EarthLink offers Fiber service to 38.3% of Lincoln County homes. Across the county, EarthLink Fiber has speeds up to 3,668 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 Lincoln County from EarthLink in terms of customer satisfaction.
AT&T Fiber in Lincoln County, NC
Availability:
38.3%
Customer Rating:
(542)
Avg. Download Speed
3,668 Mbps
AT&T offers Fiber service to 38.3% of Lincoln County homes. Across the county, AT&T Fiber has speeds up to 3,668 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 Lincoln County from AT&T in terms of customer satisfaction.
Spectrum Fiber in Lincoln County, NC
Availability:
16.0%
Customer Rating:
(207)
Avg. Download Speed
1,000 Mbps
Spectrum offers Fiber service to 16.0% of Lincoln County homes. Across the county, Spectrum Fiber has speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
Which Fixed Wireless and LTE Internet Providers are Available in Lincoln County?
Verizon Fixed Wireless in Lincoln County, NC
Availability:
95.9%
Customer Rating:
(362)
Avg. Download Speed
229 Mbps
Verizon offers Fixed Wireless service to 95.9% of Lincoln County homes. Across the county, Verizon Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 229 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 county.
T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed Wireless in Lincoln County, NC
Availability:
95.4%
Customer Rating:
(342)
Avg. Download Speed
72 Mbps
T-Mobile Home Internet offers Fixed Wireless service to 95.4% of Lincoln County homes. Across the county, T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 72 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 14 Mbps throughout the county.
EarthLink Fixed Wireless in Lincoln County, NC
Availability:
79.8%
Customer Rating:
(4)
Avg. Download Speed
34 Mbps
EarthLink offers Fixed Wireless service to 79.8% of Lincoln County homes. Across the county, 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 county.
AT&T Fixed Wireless in Lincoln County, NC
Availability:
79.8%
Customer Rating:
(205)
Avg. Download Speed
34 Mbps
AT&T offers Fixed Wireless service to 79.8% of Lincoln County homes. Across the county, 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 county.
River Street Fixed Wireless in Lincoln County, NC
Availability:
8.6%
Customer Rating:
(1)
Avg. Download Speed
15 Mbps
River Street Networks offers Fixed Wireless service to 8.6% of Lincoln County homes. Across the county, River Street Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 15 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 1.7 Mbps throughout the county.
Which Cable Internet Providers are Available in Lincoln County?
Spectrum Cable in Lincoln County, NC
Availability:
97.6%
Customer Rating:
(1739)
Avg. Download Speed
1,000 Mbps
Spectrum offers Cable service to 97.6% of Lincoln County homes. Across the county, Spectrum Cable has speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
Which DSL Internet Providers are Available in Lincoln County?
EarthLink DSL in Lincoln County, NC
Availability:
90.5%
Customer Rating:
(5)
Avg. Download Speed
58 Mbps
EarthLink offers DSL service to 90.5% of Lincoln County homes. Across the county, EarthLink DSL has speeds up to 58 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 county. EarthLink DSL is rated higher than other types of internet service available in Lincoln County from EarthLink in terms of customer satisfaction.
AT&T DSL in Lincoln County, NC
Availability:
90.5%
Customer Rating:
(304)
Avg. Download Speed
58 Mbps
AT&T offers DSL service to 90.5% of Lincoln County homes. Across the county, AT&T DSL has speeds up to 58 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 county. AT&T DSL is rated about the same as other types of internet service available in Lincoln County from AT&T in terms of customer satisfaction.
Customer Reviews for Internet Service Providers in North Carolina
Customer Reviews
Cherie S
Spectrum Cable
December 01, 2025 My internet provider recently went up on prices. When I was not happy and considered canceling with their services, they suddenly came up with a better price. I think all internet services do this to keep their employees, so I don't look at it as a really considerate thing. I just wish that internet services would keep their prices reasonable and not raise them without talking to their customers about it and telling why they are raising them.
I like that I get a real person to talk to, and they are always helpful and friendly without any attitude and come across as if they care about my personal situation.
My internet speed is usually good, and I have lots of children on at the same time I am. Occasionally there are temporary glitches or a problem from a storm interfering. For the most part, they are quick to resolve the issue and give me a time estimate on when it should be back on. They even will text me to let me know when the issue has been resolved. I like that.
A Lincolnton, NC Customer
AT&T DSL
March 30, 2023 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.
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Which ISP Should You Choose in Lincoln County?
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 Lincoln County is Spectrum.
- The fastest internet provider should be AT&T and EarthLink. 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 Lincoln County is Spectrum.
- Viasat, Spectrum, and HughesNet has the broadest coverage in Lincoln County, available to 99.3% 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.