Best Internet Providers in San Carlos, CA
All 8 providers, ranked by coverage, speed and customer ratings
Find internet availability by address in San Carlos, CA
San Carlos 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 San Carlos.
Ranks compare San Carlos 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 San Carlos, CA at a Glance
San Carlos Internet Providers, Ranked by Coverage, Speed and Customer Ratings
XFINITY
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
Cable
EarthLink
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
DSL
Fixed Wireless
AT&T
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
DSL
Fixed Wireless
Sonic
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 San Carlos ratings may vary and are shown below.
Who is the Best Internet Provider in San Carlos, CA?
Sonic is the best internet provider in San Carlos based on California customer satisfaction ratings and reviews. Based on our extensive and unbiased survey, Sonic had the best reviews at the local, state, and national levels versus all available providers in San Carlos, making it a solid recommendation among providers with reviews. Sonic is an option for 86.38% of the city.
Which Providers are Available at my Home in San Carlos?
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 San Carlos
- AT&T - fiber coverage map
- EarthLink - fiber coverage map
- XFINITY - cable coverage map
- Sonic - fiber coverage map
- Etheric Networks - fixed wireless coverage map
- Verizon - fixed wireless coverage map
- T-Mobile Home Internet - fixed wireless coverage map
- GeoLinks - fixed wireless coverage map
- AT&T - dsl coverage map
- EarthLink - dsl coverage map
- AT&T - fixed wireless coverage map
- EarthLink - fixed wireless coverage map
- XFINITY - fiber coverage map
How San Carlos Compares to Places Its Size
San Carlos's report card score is in the top 4% and its connectivity index is in the top 2%.
| Measure | San Carlos | Rank among US suburban and regional cities (25,000 to 49,999 people) | San Mateo County | California | US | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISP Report Card inputs: what providers offer here | ||||||
| Fiber availability | 97.0% | top 19% | 84.9% | 62.4% | 71.5% | 25 places at 100.0% |
| Average top speed | 4,714 Mbps | top 26% | 5,175 Mbps | 3,834 Mbps | 3,486 Mbps | Hixson, TN (25,000 Mbps) |
| Providers at a typical address | 9.8 | top 5% | 9.7 | 8 | 7.1 | San Lorenzo, CA (13) |
| Connectivity index inputs: how much households need and use the internet | ||||||
| People per household | 2.8 | top 28% | 2.9 | 3.0 | 2.7 | Kiryas Joel, NY (5.1) |
| Workers who work from home | 35% | top 2% | 25% | 17% | 15% | Venice, CA (47%) |
| Homes with a computer, tablet or phone | 100% | top 1% | 98% | 97% | 96% | Tied with 15 other places at 100% |
| Homes with internet | 99% | top 1% | 96% | 94% | 91% | Tied with 12 other places at 99% |
| Homes on fiber, cable or DSL | 93% | top 1% | 85% | 79% | 76% | Burke, VA and Colleyville, TX and 3 more (94%) |
| More about the households here | ||||||
| Homes with a desktop or laptop | 96% | top 2% | 89% | 84% | 81% | University Park, TX (99%) |
| Median household income | $226,595 | top 1% | $166,917 | $111,728 | $93,246 | Scarsdale, NY ($244,191) |
| Residents in school (6th grade to college) | 15% | top 47% | 15% | 17% | 16% | Rexburg, ID (71%) |
Fiber reaches 97.0% of homes in San Carlos, against 84.9% across San Mateo County and 62.4% across California. Households in San Carlos are larger than the US average (2.8 people against 2.7); 35% of workers work from home (US 15%); and the median household income is $226,595 (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 San Carlos
Which Fiber Internet Providers are Available in San Carlos?
EarthLink Fiber in San Carlos, CA
Availability:
92.5%
Customer Rating:
(6)
Avg. Download Speed
4,903 Mbps
EarthLink offers Fiber service to 92.5% of San Carlos homes. Across the city, EarthLink Fiber has speeds up to 4,903 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 San Carlos from EarthLink in terms of customer satisfaction.
AT&T Fiber in San Carlos, CA
Availability:
92.5%
Customer Rating:
(542)
Avg. Download Speed
4,903 Mbps
AT&T offers Fiber service to 92.5% of San Carlos homes. Across the city, AT&T Fiber has speeds up to 4,903 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 San Carlos from AT&T in terms of customer satisfaction.
Sonic Fiber in San Carlos, CA
Availability:
86.4%
Customer Rating:
(14)
Avg. Download Speed
1,018 Mbps
Sonic offers Fiber service to 86.4% of San Carlos homes. Across the city, Sonic Fiber is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 1,018 Mbps, with speeds from 1,000 Mpbs up to 10,000 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds are symmetrical, meaning they are exactly the same as download speeds for Sonic Fiber.
XFINITY Fiber in San Carlos, CA
Availability:
1.0%
Customer Rating:
(300)
Avg. Download Speed
1,936 Mbps
XFINITY from Comcast offers Fiber service to 1.0% of San Carlos homes. Across the city, XFINITY Fiber has speeds up to 1,936 Mbps, with speeds from 1,200 Mpbs up to 2,000 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 35 and as high as 250, with an average of 233 Mbps throughout the city. XFINITY Fiber is rated about the same as other types of internet service available in San Carlos from XFINITY in terms of customer satisfaction.
Which Fixed Wireless and LTE Internet Providers are Available in San Carlos?
Verizon Fixed Wireless in San Carlos, CA
Availability:
96.6%
Customer Rating:
(362)
Avg. Download Speed
231 Mbps
Verizon offers Fixed Wireless service to 96.6% of San Carlos homes. Across the city, Verizon Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 231 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 city.
T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed Wireless in San Carlos, CA
Availability:
95.0%
Customer Rating:
(342)
Avg. Download Speed
93 Mbps
T-Mobile Home Internet offers Fixed Wireless service to 95.0% of San Carlos homes. Across the city, T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 93 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 18 Mbps throughout the city.
Etheric Networks Fixed Wireless in San Carlos, CA
Availability:
92.5%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
250 Mbps
Etheric Networks offers Fixed Wireless service to 92.5% of San Carlos homes. Across the city, Etheric Networks Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 250 Mbps
EarthLink Fixed Wireless in San Carlos, CA
Availability:
90.1%
Customer Rating:
(4)
Avg. Download Speed
38 Mbps
EarthLink offers Fixed Wireless service to 90.1% of San Carlos homes. Across the city, EarthLink Fixed Wireless has speeds up to 38 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 5.9 Mbps throughout the city.
AT&T Fixed Wireless in San Carlos, CA
Availability:
90.1%
Customer Rating:
(205)
Avg. Download Speed
38 Mbps
AT&T offers Fixed Wireless service to 90.1% of San Carlos homes. Across the city, AT&T Fixed Wireless has speeds up to 38 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 5.9 Mbps throughout the city.
GeoLinks Fixed Wireless in San Carlos, CA
Availability:
27.4%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
186 Mbps
GeoLinks offers Fixed Wireless service to 27.4% of San Carlos homes. Across the city, GeoLinks Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 186 Mbps, with speeds from 100 Mpbs up to 200 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 San Carlos?
XFINITY Cable in San Carlos, CA
Availability:
99.9%
Customer Rating:
(2077)
Avg. Download Speed
2,000 Mbps
XFINITY from Comcast offers Cable service to 99.9% of San Carlos homes. Across the city, XFINITY Cable has speeds up to 2,000 Mbps
Which DSL Internet Providers are Available in San Carlos?
EarthLink DSL in San Carlos, CA
Availability:
58.4%
Customer Rating:
(5)
Avg. Download Speed
65 Mbps
EarthLink offers DSL service to 58.4% of San Carlos homes. Across the city, EarthLink DSL has speeds up to 65 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 13 Mbps throughout the city. EarthLink DSL is rated higher than other types of internet service available in San Carlos from EarthLink in terms of customer satisfaction.
AT&T DSL in San Carlos, CA
Availability:
58.4%
Customer Rating:
(304)
Avg. Download Speed
65 Mbps
AT&T offers DSL service to 58.4% of San Carlos homes. Across the city, AT&T DSL has speeds up to 65 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 13 Mbps throughout the city. AT&T DSL is rated about the same as other types of internet service available in San Carlos from AT&T in terms of customer satisfaction.
Internet in San Carlos by Neighborhood and ZIP Code
San Carlos has 1 ZIP code with its own page. Each row links to that place’s page.
Neighborhoods in San Carlos
| Neighborhood | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|
ZIP codes in San Carlos
| ZIP code | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 94070 | 31,816 | 97.4% | 4,715 Mbps | 9.8 | A | 94/100 |
How San Carlos Compares to Nearby Places
The 10 places nearest to San Carlos that have their own pages are all within 7 miles. Among them, North Fair Oaks has the most homes with fiber (100.0%) and Woodside the fewest (55.3%); San Carlos has 97.0%.
| Place | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Carlos (this page) | 32,231 | 97.0% | 4,714 Mbps | 9.8 | A | 94/100 |
| San Mateo | 107,209 | 91.0% | 5,060 Mbps | 10.4 | A- | 86/100 |
| Redwood City | 92,381 | 85.0% | 6,621 Mbps | 9.6 | A- | 89/100 |
| Menlo Park | 41,500 | 91.4% | 7,678 Mbps | 10.9 | A | 91/100 |
| Foster City | 34,060 | 68.9% | 3,849 Mbps | 9 | B+ | 89/100 |
| Belmont | 29,185 | 93.5% | 8,015 Mbps | 9.1 | A | 88/100 |
| Hillsborough | 13,810 | 72.7% | 3,606 Mbps | 7.5 | B | 96/100 |
| North Fair Oaks | 10,906 | 100.0% | 9,370 Mbps | 10.3 | A+ | 80/100 |
| Atherton | 8,885 | 86.1% | 8,455 Mbps | 9.7 | A- | 92/100 |
| Woodside | 6,288 | 55.3% | 3,755 Mbps | 8.4 | B | 96/100 |
| Highlands-Baywood Park | 486 | 100.0% | 5,000 Mbps | 10 | A | 98/100 |
Who is the Fastest Internet Provider in San Carlos?
According to unbiased feedback from real internet customers, they reported being happiest with speeds provided by Sonic. 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 San Carlos
| Sonic | 10,000 |
|---|---|
| AT&T | 5,000 |
| EarthLink | 5,000 |
| XFINITY from Comcast | 2,000 |
| Verizon | 300 |
| Etheric Networks | 250 |
| GeoLinks | 200 |
| 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 San Carlos. It takes about 20 seconds and, on a fast line, can move a few hundred MB of data.
Customer Ratings for San Carlos Internet Providers
Based on 401 reviews from California internet customers, Sonic is the best internet service provider for San Carlos residents. Sonic was rated at an average of 4.43 out of 5 in our report for overall customer satisfaction. T-Mobile Home Internet wins for second-place in California, with 4.11 out of 5 stars and 95.0% coverage in San Carlos.
At a national level, based on 4617 national reviews for any of the providers listed above, Sonic is rated higher than any other provider, with a rating of 4.43 out of 5.
Local, State, and National Ratings for all San Carlos Internet Providers
The table below shows average customer ratings from customers in San Carlos, California, and customers throughout the country.
| ISP / Tech Type | San Carlos Overall | California Overall | National Overall | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonic | (0) | (14) | (14) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (27) | (342) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (28) | (816) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (1) |  (25) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (1) |  (12) | View Plans | ||
| XFINITY | (0) | (211) | (2379) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (2) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (119) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| GeoLinks | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| Etheric Networks | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans |
Customer Ratings for Internet Provider Speeds in San Carlos
Based on data reported by San Carlos ISPs to the FCC, the fastest speeds in the city are available through AT&T and EarthLink. These internet providers offer speeds up to 5,000 Mbps in San Carlos. Therefore, the average customer can get up to 4,543 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 Sonic. This indicates Sonic reliably delivers speeds expected by the customer based on the plan they are paying for.
| ISP / Tech Type | San Carlos Speed | California Speed | National Speed | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonic | (0) | (14) | (14) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (27) | (342) | View Plans | ||
| XFINITY | (0) | (211) | (2379) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (28) | (816) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) |  (1) | (25) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) |  (1) | (12) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (119) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (2) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| GeoLinks | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| Etheric Networks | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans |
Who is the Cheapest Internet Provider in San Carlos?
Of the providers in San Carlos, customers rate T-Mobile Home Internet the best for price. Data comes from customers rating their satisfaction with pricing: in San Carlos 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.
T-Mobile Home Internet is rated 4.26 out of 5 for price, which is higher than the average across all internet providers in the country. Sonic is rated second for affordability, with an average price rating of 4.14 out of 5.
The table below shows how customers in San Carlos, California, and the United States rated the affordability of their internet service.
Rated Affordability in San Carlos
| ISP / Tech Type | San Carlos Affordability | California Affordability | National Affordability | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (27) | (342) | View Plans | ||
| Sonic | (0) | (14) | (14) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (28) | (816) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (1) | (25) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (1) | (12) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (2) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (119) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| XFINITY | (0) | (211) | (2379) | View Plans | ||
| GeoLinks | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| Etheric Networks | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans |
Customer Reviews for Internet Service Providers in California
Customer Reviews
Steve
ting Fiber
November 13, 2026 Slow, 1/10th the speed they advertised
Robert
Verizon Fixed Wireless
November 10, 2026 Was cut off with .out notice due to upgrade and was not provided connection to upgrade from the same location (tower). Causing further problems in service and added cost.
ISPReports User
AT&T DSL
November 08, 2026 Lousy
ISPReports User
Fidium
November 08, 2026 Vernice
Frontier Fiber
November 01, 2026 Horrible this is horrible. My internet has been down for two days in a half. Never again
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Which ISP Should You Choose in San Carlos?
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 San Carlos is Sonic.
- The fastest internet provider should be AT&T and EarthLink. Considering speed for the money and reliability in speeds, Sonic may be a better choice based on real-world local customer feedback.
- The most affordable internet provider in San Carlos is T-Mobile Home Internet.
- Viasat, HughesNet, EarthLink, and AT&T has the broadest coverage in San Carlos, available to 100.0% 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.