Best Internet Providers in Santa Barbara, CA
All 9 providers, ranked by coverage, speed and customer ratings
Find internet availability by address in Santa Barbara, CA
Santa Barbara has 9 internet service providers, they are sorted by coverage, available speed, and customer rating from our unbiased internet provider report. Fiber, Cable, Fixed Wireless, and DSL 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 Santa Barbara.
Ranks compare Santa Barbara with the 305 US medium cities (100,000 to 249,999 people), the tiers of our fastest-cities rankings.
The Best Internet in Santa Barbara, CA at a Glance
Santa Barbara Internet Providers, Ranked by Coverage, Speed and Customer Ratings
Cox
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
Cable
Frontier
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
DSL
EarthLink
Connection
Customer Rating
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 Santa Barbara ratings may vary and are shown below.
Who is the Best Internet Provider in Santa Barbara, CA?
Frontier Communications is the highest-rated internet provider in Santa Barbara based on 299 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.
Click here to get Frontier Communications
or call 1-866-557-9907
Which Providers are Available at my Home in Santa Barbara?
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 Santa Barbara
- Frontier - fiber coverage map
- Cox - cable coverage map
- GeoLinks - fixed wireless coverage map
- Astound Broadband - fiber coverage map
- Verizon - fixed wireless coverage map
- Cox - fiber coverage map
- T-Mobile Home Internet - fixed wireless coverage map
- AT&T - fixed wireless coverage map
- EarthLink - fixed wireless coverage map
- Frontier - dsl coverage map
- Impulse - fixed wireless coverage map
How Santa Barbara Compares to Places Its Size
Santa Barbara's report card score is tied 208th of 305 and its connectivity index is tied 116th of 305.
| Measure | Santa Barbara | Rank among US medium cities (100,000 to 249,999 people) | Santa Barbara County | California | US | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISP Report Card inputs: what providers offer here | ||||||
| Fiber availability | 85.7% | 124th of 305 | 74.5% | 62.4% | 71.5% | Overland Park, KS (99.9%) |
| Average top speed | 6,183 Mbps | 49th of 305 | 5,273 Mbps | 3,834 Mbps | 3,486 Mbps | West Valley City, UT (9,708 Mbps) |
| Providers at a typical address | 5.4 | Tied 295th of 305 | 5.2 | 8 | 7.1 | Carolina, PR (12.6) |
| Connectivity index inputs: how much households need and use the internet | ||||||
| People per household | 2.5 | Tied 192nd of 305 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.7 | Lakewood, NJ (5.1) |
| Workers who work from home | 21% | Tied 59th of 305 | 13% | 17% | 15% | Frisco, TX (38%) |
| Homes with a computer, tablet or phone | 97% | Tied 131st of 305 | 96% | 97% | 96% | 46 places at 99% |
| Homes with internet | 94% | Tied 103rd of 305 | 92% | 94% | 91% | Allen, TX and Cumming, GA and 8 more (98%) |
| Homes on fiber, cable or DSL | 83% | Tied 81st of 305 | 78% | 79% | 76% | Highlands Ranch, CO (92%) |
| More about the households here | ||||||
| Homes with a desktop or laptop | 87% | Tied 96th of 305 | 84% | 84% | 81% | Frisco, TX (96%) |
| Median household income | $131,965 | 30th of 305 | $107,563 | $111,728 | $93,246 | Sunnyvale, CA ($189,225) |
| Residents in school (6th grade to college) | 16% | Tied 146th of 305 | 21% | 17% | 16% | College Station, TX (57%) |
Fiber reaches 85.7% of homes in Santa Barbara, against 74.5% across Santa Barbara County and 62.4% across California. Households in Santa Barbara are smaller than the US average (2.5 people against 2.7); 21% of workers work from home (US 15%); and the median household income is $131,965 (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 Santa Barbara
Which Fiber Internet Providers are Available in Santa Barbara?
Frontier Fiber in Santa Barbara, CA
Availability:
83.7%
Customer Rating:
(119)
Avg. Download Speed
6,985 Mbps
Frontier Communications offers Fiber service to 83.7% of Santa Barbara homes. Across the city, Frontier Fiber has speeds up to 6,985 Mbps, with speeds from 2,000 Mpbs up to 7,000 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds are symmetrical, meaning they are exactly the same as download speeds for Frontier Fiber. Frontier Fiber is rated about the same as other types of internet service available in Santa Barbara from Frontier in terms of customer satisfaction.
Cox Fiber in Santa Barbara, CA
Availability:
15.3%
Customer Rating:
(54)
Avg. Download Speed
1,079 Mbps
Cox Communications offers Fiber service to 15.3% of Santa Barbara homes. Across the city, Cox Fiber has speeds up to 1,079 Mbps, with speeds from 1,000 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 2,000, with an average of 92 Mbps throughout the city. Cox Fiber is rated lower than other types of internet service available in Santa Barbara from Cox in terms of customer satisfaction.
Astound Broadband Fiber in Santa Barbara, CA
Availability:
5.1%
Customer Rating:
(21)
Avg. Download Speed
5,000 Mbps
Astound Broadband offers Fiber service to 5.1% of Santa Barbara homes. Across the city, Astound Broadband Fiber is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 5,000 Mbps
Which Fixed Wireless and LTE Internet Providers are Available in Santa Barbara?
T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed Wireless in Santa Barbara, CA
Availability:
86.2%
Customer Rating:
(342)
Avg. Download Speed
72 Mbps
T-Mobile Home Internet offers Fixed Wireless service to 86.2% of Santa Barbara homes. Across the city, 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 city.
Verizon Fixed Wireless in Santa Barbara, CA
Availability:
78.7%
Customer Rating:
(362)
Avg. Download Speed
211 Mbps
Verizon offers Fixed Wireless service to 78.7% of Santa Barbara homes. Across the city, Verizon Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 211 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 Santa Barbara, CA
Availability:
56.3%
Customer Rating:
(4)
Avg. Download Speed
29 Mbps
EarthLink offers Fixed Wireless service to 56.3% of Santa Barbara homes. Across the city, EarthLink Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 29 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 4.0 Mbps throughout the city.
AT&T Fixed Wireless in Santa Barbara, CA
Availability:
56.3%
Customer Rating:
(205)
Avg. Download Speed
29 Mbps
AT&T offers Fixed Wireless service to 56.3% of Santa Barbara homes. Across the city, AT&T Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 29 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 4.0 Mbps throughout the city.
GeoLinks Fixed Wireless in Santa Barbara, CA
Availability:
29.8%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
893 Mbps
GeoLinks offers Fixed Wireless service to 29.8% of Santa Barbara homes. Across the city, GeoLinks Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 893 Mbps, with speeds from 100 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.
Impulse Fixed Wireless in Santa Barbara, CA
Availability:
1.1%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
25 Mbps
Impulse offers Fixed Wireless service to 1.1% of Santa Barbara homes. Across the city, Impulse Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 25 Mbps
Which Cable Internet Providers are Available in Santa Barbara?
Cox Cable in Santa Barbara, CA
Availability:
94.2%
Customer Rating:
(399)
Avg. Download Speed
1,999 Mbps
Cox Communications offers Cable service to 94.2% of Santa Barbara homes. Across the city, Cox Cable has speeds up to 1,999 Mbps, with speeds from 1,000 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 500, with an average of 99 Mbps throughout the city. Cox Cable is rated about the same as other types of internet service available in Santa Barbara from Cox in terms of customer satisfaction.
Which DSL Internet Providers are Available in Santa Barbara?
Frontier DSL in Santa Barbara, CA
Availability:
34.3%
Customer Rating:
(58)
Avg. Download Speed
25 Mbps
Frontier Communications offers DSL service to 34.3% of Santa Barbara homes. Across the city, Frontier DSL has speeds up to 25 Mbps, with speeds from 10 Mpbs up to 115 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 1.0 and as high as 7.0, with an average of 1.8 Mbps throughout the city. Frontier DSL is rated higher than other types of internet service available in Santa Barbara from Frontier in terms of customer satisfaction.
Internet in Santa Barbara by Neighborhood and ZIP Code
Fiber reaches from 65.5% of homes in Las Positas to 100.0% in Eastside Santa Barbara; by ZIP code, from 66.4% in 93111 to 97.8% in 93101. Each row links to that place’s page.
Neighborhoods in Santa Barbara
| Neighborhood | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westside-Santa Barbara | 21,754 | 98.3% | 6,916 Mbps | 5.4 | B+ | 74/100 |
| Upper State | 19,122 | 89.8% | 6,211 Mbps | 6.1 | B+ | 75/100 |
| Riviera | 13,765 | 73.7% | 5,608 Mbps | 4.7 | B- | 83/100 |
| Mesa | 9,632 | 96.0% | 6,750 Mbps | 5.1 | B | 73/100 |
| Waterfront | 6,483 | 79.3% | 5,456 Mbps | 5.6 | B | 66/100 |
| Las Positas | 6,242 | 65.5% | 5,130 Mbps | 5.4 | B- | 84/100 |
| Lower East | 4,383 | 99.3% | 6,966 Mbps | 6 | A- | 64/100 |
| Eastside Santa Barbara | 3,434 | 100.0% | 7,000 Mbps | 4.7 | B+ | 72/100 |
ZIP codes in Santa Barbara
| ZIP code | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 93101 | 30,542 | 97.8% | 6,829 Mbps | 5.6 | B+ | 72/100 |
| 93105 | 26,546 | 85.7% | 6,107 Mbps | 5.6 | B | 78/100 |
| 93103 | 19,820 | 94.5% | 6,713 Mbps | 5.3 | B | 80/100 |
| 93111 | 18,451 | 66.4% | 5,008 Mbps | 5.6 | B- | 86/100 |
| 93110 | 15,856 | 70.0% | 5,371 Mbps | 5.5 | B- | 72/100 |
| 93109 | 11,162 | 95.0% | 6,542 Mbps | 5 | B | 74/100 |
How Santa Barbara Compares to Nearby Places
The 10 places nearest to Santa Barbara that have their own pages are all within 25 miles. Among them, Ellwood has the most homes with fiber (93.8%) and Oak View the fewest (8.0%); Santa Barbara has 85.7%.
| Place | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Barbara (this page) | 121,769 | 85.7% | 6,183 Mbps | 5.4 | B | 78/100 |
| Goleta | 58,884 | 57.3% | 4,854 Mbps | 5.1 | C+ | 74/100 |
| Carpinteria | 16,132 | 73.4% | 4,219 Mbps | 5.4 | B- | 80/100 |
| Montecito | 8,777 | 14.4% | 2,485 Mbps | 3.8 | C- | 75/100 |
| Oak View | 6,647 | 8.0% | 984 Mbps | 5.9 | C- | 80/100 |
| Santa Ynez | 5,657 | 56.3% | 4,559 Mbps | 5.5 | B- | 75/100 |
| Summerland | 1,295 | 43.5% | 3,304 Mbps | 5.1 | C+ | 63/100 |
| Ellwood | 1,036 | 93.8% | 6,573 Mbps | 5.4 | B | 88/100 |
| Isla Vista | 860 | 0.0% | 25 Mbps | 0 | F | 28/100 |
| Toro Canyon | 382 | 73.8% | 4,215 Mbps | 6 | B | 59/100 |
| Meiners Oaks | 79 | 0.0% | 970 Mbps | 3 | D- | 58/100 |
Who is the Fastest Internet Provider in Santa Barbara?
Based on both FCC data and unbiased customer ratings, the fastest internet in the city comes from Frontier Communications.
Data Reported to FCC by ISPs: Average Maximum Available in Santa Barbara
| Frontier Communications | 7,000 |
|---|---|
| Astound Broadband | 5,000 |
| Cox Communications | 2,000 |
| GeoLinks | 1,000 |
| Verizon | 300 |
| Viasat | 100 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet | 100 |
| AT&T | 100 |
| EarthLink | 100 |
| HughesNet | 25 |
| Impulse | 25 |
How fast is your internet?
Test your connection here and see it next to the speeds providers advertise in Santa Barbara. It takes about 20 seconds and, on a fast line, can move a few hundred MB of data.
Customer Ratings for Santa Barbara Internet Providers
Based on 299 reviews from California internet customers, Frontier Communications is the best internet service provider for Santa Barbara residents. Frontier Communications was rated at an average of 3.71 out of 5 in our report for overall customer satisfaction. AT&T wins for second-place in California, with 3.34 out of 5 stars and 56.3% coverage in Santa Barbara.
At a national level, based on 2976 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 Santa Barbara Internet Providers
The table below shows average customer ratings from customers in Santa Barbara, California, and customers throughout the country.
| ISP / Tech Type | Santa Barbara Overall | California Overall | National Overall | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frontier |  (1) | (51) | (177) | View Plans | ||
| Astound Broadband | (0) | (17) | (122) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (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 |  (1) | (55) | (453) | View Plans | ||
| Impulse | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| GeoLinks | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans |
Customer Ratings for Internet Provider Speeds in Santa Barbara
Based on data reported by Santa Barbara ISPs to the FCC, the fastest speeds in the city are available through Frontier Communications. The company offers speeds up to 7,000 Mbps in Santa Barbara. Therefore, the average customer can get up to 6,570 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 Frontier Communications. This indicates Frontier reliably delivers speeds expected by the customer based on the plan they are paying for.
| ISP / Tech Type | Santa Barbara Speed | California Speed | National Speed | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frontier | (1) | (51) | (177) | View Plans | ||
| Astound Broadband | (0) | (17) | (122) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (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 | (1) | (55) | (453) | View Plans | ||
| Impulse | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| GeoLinks | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans |
Who is the Cheapest Internet Provider in Santa Barbara?
Of the providers in Santa Barbara, customers rate AT&T the best for price. Data comes from customers rating their satisfaction with pricing: in Santa Barbara 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.
AT&T is rated 3.22 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 2.00 out of 5.
The table below shows how customers in Santa Barbara, California, and the United States rated the affordability of their internet service.
Rated Affordability in Santa Barbara
| ISP / Tech Type | Santa Barbara Affordability | California Affordability | National Affordability | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frontier | (1) | (51) | (177) | View Plans | ||
| Astound Broadband | (0) | (17) | (122) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (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 | (1) | (55) | (453) | View Plans | ||
| Impulse | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| GeoLinks | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans |
Customer Reviews for Internet Service Providers in California
Customer Reviews
A Santa Barbara, CA Customer
Cox Cable
May 16, 2023 I am based in the suburbs of Southern California where Cox has had a monopoly on the internet market for years. Because they have historically been the only brand available, they've monopolized the market and charged sky high prices. Their connection and speed is consistently slower than any other provider I've used and we consistently deal with unscheduled outages.
A Santa Barbara, CA Customer
Frontier Fiber
May 07, 2023 I was a little bit disappointed in how long it took Frontier to set up the internet connection at our house. However, signing up with Frontier did have some good benefits. I had used a referral code from a friend, so we both received a $200 Amazon gift card. Additionally, since I had set up the account with direct debit, they sent me a $100 Visa gift card as well. Those two bonuses basically mean that my monthly cost for my first year of service is only $15/month, which is a good deal compared to what I was paying before for cable internet with Cox.
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
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Which ISP Should You Choose in Santa Barbara?
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 Santa Barbara is Frontier.
- The fastest internet provider should be Frontier Communications. Considering speed for the money and reliability in speeds, Frontier Communications may be a better choice based on real-world local customer feedback.
- The most affordable internet provider in Santa Barbara is AT&T.
- Viasat, HughesNet, and Cox Communications has the broadest coverage in Santa Barbara, available to 98.2% 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.