12 Best Internet Providers in Santa Cruz County, CA
Find internet availability by address in Santa Cruz County, CA
Jump to: Best Internet Provider | Availability Maps | Customer Reviews | Santa Cruz County ISP Report Card | Business Internet in Santa Cruz County
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Santa Cruz County ISP Report Card | B |
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Download Speed for Most Households | 2,967 Mbps |
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Number of Internet Service Providers | 12 |
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Real Santa Cruz County Customer Ratings | 7 |
This page reflects the most recent FCC update from January 06, 2026, based on the Broadband Data Collection as of June 30, 2025.
This page reflects the most recent FCC update from January 06, 2026, based on the Broadband Data Collection as of June 30, 2025.
Santa Cruz County has 12 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 Santa Cruz County.
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Santa Cruz County has 12 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 Santa Cruz County.
Compare Providers Ranked by Coverage, Speed, and Customer Ratings
EarthLink
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
DSL
Fixed Wireless
AT&T
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
DSL
Fixed Wireless
XFINITY
Connection
Customer Rating
Cable
Spectrum
Connection
Customer Rating
Cable
Above are the top 4 providers in Santa Cruz County, CA for most people based on high speed internet coverage, speeds, and customer reviews. Click below to see all providers in your county.
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 Cruz County ratings may vary and are shown below.
Who is the Best Internet Provider in Santa Cruz County, CA?
T-Mobile Home Internet is the highest-rated internet provider in Santa Cruz County based on 595 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. The chart and table below show average customer ratings from customers in Santa Cruz County, California, and customers throughout the country.
Top Rated Internet Providers in Santa Cruz County
Local, State, and National Ratings for all Santa Cruz County Internet Providers
| ISP / Tech Type | Santa Cruz County Overall | California Overall | National Overall | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile Home Internet |  (1) | (22) | (284) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (1) | (107) | (924) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (1) | (1) |  (11) | View Plans | ||
| XFINITY | (3) | (193) | (2164) | View Plans | ||
| Spectrum | (1) | (203) | (1738) | View Plans | ||
| Frontier | (0) | (42) | (143) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (24) | (723) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (1) |  (18) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (2) | (12) | View Plans | ||
| Ridge Wireless | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| surfnet communications | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| RAZZOLINK | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| Etheric Networks | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| Cruzio Internet | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans |
Based on 595 reviews from California internet customers, T-Mobile Home Internet is the best internet service provider for Santa Cruz County residents. T-Mobile Home Internet was rated at an average of 4.00 out of 5 in our report for overall customer satisfaction. XFINITY from Comcast wins for second-place in California, with 3.00 out of 5 stars and 64.7% coverage in Santa Cruz County.
At a national level, based on 6017 national reviews for any of the providers listed above, T-Mobile Home Internet is rated higher than any other provider, with a rating of 4.04 out of 5.
Which Providers are Available at my Home in Santa Cruz County?
a different provider.
Internet Availability Key
Speeds and coverage vary within the county, and sometimes even from block to block. The map shows speeds per provider and where each provider is available.
Who is the Fastest Internet Provider in Santa Cruz County?
According to unbiased feedback from real internet customers in the county, they reported being happiest with speeds provided by T-Mobile Home Internet. On the other hand, based on data provided by the internet providers to the FCC, Frontier Communications 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 Santa Cruz County
| ISP / Tech Type | Max Advertised Speed | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Frontier Communications | 7,000 Mbps | ||
| AT&T | 5,000 Mbps | ||
| EarthLink | 5,000 Mbps | ||
| XFINITY from Comcast | 2,000 Mbps | ||
| Spectrum | 1,000 Mbps | ||
| Cruzio Internet | 1,000 Mbps | ||
| Verizon | 300 Mbps | ||
| Etheric Networks | 250 Mbps | ||
| RAZZOLINK | 150 Mbps | ||
| Ridge Wireless | 100 Mbps | ||
| surfnet communications | 100 Mbps | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | 100 Mbps | ||
| Viasat | 100 Mbps | ||
| HughesNet | 25 Mbps |
Customer Ratings for Internet Provider Speeds in Santa Cruz County
| ISP / Tech Type | Santa Cruz County Speed | California Speed | National Speed | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (1) | (22) | (284) | View Plans | ||
| XFINITY | (3) | (193) | (2164) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (1) | (107) | (924) | View Plans | ||
| Spectrum |  (1) | (203) | (1738) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (1) | (1) |  (11) | View Plans | ||
| Frontier | (0) | (42) | (143) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (24) | (723) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (1) | (18) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (2) | (12) | View Plans | ||
| Ridge Wireless | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| surfnet communications | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| RAZZOLINK | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| Etheric Networks | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| Cruzio Internet | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans |
Based on data reported by Santa Cruz County ISPs to the FCC, the fastest speeds in the county are available through Frontier Communications. The company offers speeds up to 7,000 Mbps in Santa Cruz County. Therefore, the average customer can get up to 4,974 Mbps if they're willing to purchase the fastest subscription tier available at their homes.
Additionally, actual customers in the county rated their satisfaction with internet speed highest with T-Mobile Home Internet. This indicates T-Mobile Home Internet reliably delivers speeds expected by the customer based on the plan they are paying for.
Who is the Cheapest Internet Provider in Santa Cruz County?
California customers rate T-Mobile Home Internet as the cheapest internet service provider in state. Data comes from customers in the state rating their satisfaction with pricing. This feedback is valuable because it considers price changes and whether the speeds paid for are worth it.
T-Mobile Home Internet received a local rating of 5.00 out of 5, which is higher than the average across all internet providers in the country. XFINITY from Comcast is rated in second place for affordability by the company’s Santa Cruz County customers with an average price rating of 3.00 out of 5.
The chart and graph below show how customers in Santa Cruz County, California, and the United States rated the affordability of their internet service.
Rated Affordability in Santa Cruz County
| ISP / Tech Type | Santa Cruz County Affordability | California Affordability | National Affordability | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (1) | (22) | (284) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (1) | (107) | (924) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (1) | (1) | (11) | View Plans | ||
| XFINITY | (3) | (193) | (2164) | View Plans | ||
| Spectrum | (1) | (203) | (1738) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (24) | (723) | View Plans | ||
| Frontier | (0) | (42) | (143) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (1) | (18) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (2) | (12) | View Plans | ||
| Ridge Wireless | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| surfnet communications | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| RAZZOLINK | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| Etheric Networks | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| Cruzio Internet | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans |
Santa Cruz County Internet Health Assessment
ISP Reports evaluates the technological infrastructure across the United States. This includes assessing a grade for ISP providers and infrastructure in the county and setting an index number for the digital connectivity of its residents. You can view the ISP Report Card and the Digital Connectivity Index for Santa Cruz County below, including the metrics used and how Santa Cruz County compares to the rest of California and nation.
| Metric
(hover for details)
|
Santa Cruz County | California | USA | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiber Availability Percent The percentage of households in Santa Cruz County that have a Fiber internet connection available to their home. | 46.93% | 56.12% | 67.25% | ||
| Average Download SpeedThe maximum download speed most households can get on average. This is measured by availability in a block group and weighted by the population in that area. | 2,967 Mbps | 3,631 Mbps | 3,293 Mbps | ||
| Provider CountThe number of providers available for most people. This is a weighted average by block rather than a total for Santa Cruz County. | 7.7 | 7.4 | 6.8 |
| Average Household SizeA larger household size in a county indicates that there will be a greater need for bandwidth due to simultaneous usage, multiple devices, and network congestion. | 2.7 | 3.0 | 2.7 | ||
| Work From Home PercentA higher percent of the population working from home indicates bandwidth requirements being more widely needed rather than consolidated to commercial portions of the city. | 17% | 15% | 14% | ||
| Households with DevicesA higher percentage of households with computing devices in the home indicates a higher level of infrastructure needed to support those households. | 97% | 96% | 95% | ||
| Households with InternetA higher percentage of households with internet indicates a higher need for usage and connectivity in people’s daily lives. | 93% | 93% | 90% | ||
| Households with BroadbandA higher percentage of households with a broadband connection (defined as speeds above 25 Mbps) indicates heavier usage needs within these households. | 78% | 78% | 75% | ||
| Broadband Usage vs. AvailabilityThis measures what percentage of households who have a broadband connection to their home actually have an active subscription to that service. | 81% | 79% | 76% |
Our demographic data is sourced from the latest 5-year release of the American Community Survey by the US Census Bureau.
Santa Cruz County ISP Report Card & Digital Connectivity Index
The ISP Report Card in Santa Cruz County is B, which is much better than other counties. The local demand for broadband internet connectivity in Santa Cruz County is high with a score of 79 / 100 in our Digital Connectivity Index. This means that internet service providers operating in Santa Cruz County have done a good job meeting the needs of its residents.
The Santa Cruz County ISP Report Card evaluates the county on availability and speed metrics compared to other counties in the United States. ISP Infrastructure can vary greatly and on its own isn’t a perfect measure of what a county needs. Please see our ISP Report Card along with the Digital Connectivity Index above to evaluate how well the connectivity demand is met by the existing infrastructure.
93% of Santa Cruz County households have an internet connection despite having 96.12% availability. 78% of households have fiber, cable, or DSL, 8% have satellite, 0% are still on dial-up, and 3% of households have internet but don’t pay for a subscription because it’s subsidized by the Affordable Connectivity Program.
As you can see in the table above, while 78% of households have a broadband connection such as fiber, cable or DSL available to their home, 81% subscribe to it. A very large amount of Santa Cruz County residents are taking advantage of the available internet infrastructure.
For more details, please visit our ISP Report Card and Digital Connectivity Index pages.
How do Neighboring Counties Compare to Santa Cruz County?
- ISP Report Card: B-
- Digital Connectivity Index: 78 / 100
- ISP Report Card: C+
- Digital Connectivity Index: 65 / 100
- ISP Report Card: C
- Digital Connectivity Index: 59 / 100
- ISP Report Card: B+
- Digital Connectivity Index: 50 / 100
- ISP Report Card: C-
- Digital Connectivity Index: 55 / 100
- ISP Report Card: C+
- Digital Connectivity Index: 31 / 100
- ISP Report Card: C
- Digital Connectivity Index: 42 / 100
- ISP Report Card: C+
- Digital Connectivity Index: 41 / 100
- ISP Report Card: B
- Digital Connectivity Index: 63 / 100
How Much Speed does a Santa Cruz County Household Need?
Higher speed is typically preferred, but that comes at a higher price. The average size of a household in Santa Cruz County is 2.7, which is smaller than the California average of 3.0 and larger than the national average of 2.7. Santa Cruz County's average household income is $114,462 which is higher than the California average of $108,618 and much higher than the national average of $90,606. Homes with more people living in them and with higher incomes tend to indicate more devices being used more often.
Santa Cruz County also has 21% of its population enrolled in school between the 6th grade and college level, this is higher than the California average of 17%. Additionally, 17% of residents work from home, which is higher than the 15% of residents in California who work from home. This and other factors you can see above show us that the community of Santa Cruz County has a very high need for internet connectivity and speeds.
Compared to the rest of the country, Santa Cruz County households are more technology-engaged. 97% of households have some sort of computing device, 88% have desktops or laptops in the home, and 94% have smartphones. To see what speeds you are currently getting, please visit our internet speed test tool.
Which Fiber Internet Providers are Available in Santa Cruz County?
EarthLink Fiber in Santa Cruz County, CA
Availability:
45.0%
Customer Rating:
(5)
Avg. Download Speed
4,764 Mbps
EarthLink offers Fiber service to 45.0% of Santa Cruz County homes. Across the county, EarthLink Fiber has speeds up to 4,764 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 Santa Cruz County from EarthLink in terms of customer satisfaction.
AT&T Fiber in Santa Cruz County, CA
Availability:
45.0%
Customer Rating:
(544)
Avg. Download Speed
4,764 Mbps
AT&T offers Fiber service to 45.0% of Santa Cruz County homes. Across the county, AT&T Fiber has speeds up to 4,764 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 higher than other types of internet service available in Santa Cruz County from AT&T in terms of customer satisfaction.
Frontier Fiber in Santa Cruz County, CA
Availability:
1.5%
Customer Rating:
(110)
Avg. Download Speed
7,000 Mbps
Frontier Communications offers Fiber service to 1.5% of Santa Cruz County homes. Across the county, Frontier Fiber has speeds up to 7,000 Mbps
Which Cable Internet Providers are Available in Santa Cruz County?
XFINITY Cable in Santa Cruz County, CA
Availability:
64.7%
Customer Rating:
(1,910)
Avg. Download Speed
1,354 Mbps
XFINITY from Comcast offers Cable service to 64.7% of Santa Cruz County homes. Across the county, XFINITY Cable is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 1,354 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 76 Mbps throughout the county.
Spectrum Cable in Santa Cruz County, CA
Availability:
34.7%
Customer Rating:
(1,618)
Avg. Download Speed
1,000 Mbps
Spectrum offers Cable service to 34.7% of Santa Cruz County homes. Across the county, Spectrum Cable is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
Which DSL Internet Providers are Available in Santa Cruz County?
EarthLink DSL in Santa Cruz County, CA
Availability:
78.9%
Customer Rating:
(4)
Avg. Download Speed
48 Mbps
EarthLink offers DSL service to 78.9% of Santa Cruz County homes. Across the county, EarthLink DSL has speeds up to 48 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 9.5 Mbps throughout the county. EarthLink DSL is rated the same as other types of internet service available in Santa Cruz County from EarthLink in terms of customer satisfaction.
AT&T DSL in Santa Cruz County, CA
Availability:
78.9%
Customer Rating:
(304)
Avg. Download Speed
48 Mbps
AT&T offers DSL service to 78.9% of Santa Cruz County homes. Across the county, AT&T DSL has speeds up to 48 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 9.5 Mbps throughout the county. AT&T DSL is rated about the same as other types of internet service available in Santa Cruz County from AT&T in terms of customer satisfaction.
Frontier DSL in Santa Cruz County, CA
Availability:
1.6%
Customer Rating:
(46)
Avg. Download Speed
74 Mbps
Frontier Communications offers DSL service to 1.6% of Santa Cruz County homes. Across the county, Frontier DSL has speeds up to 74 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 12, with an average of 4.9 Mbps throughout the county. Frontier DSL is rated lower than other types of internet service available in Santa Cruz County from Frontier in terms of customer satisfaction.
Which Fixed Wireless and LTE Internet Providers are Available in Santa Cruz County?
Cruzio Internet Fixed Wireless in Santa Cruz County, CA
Availability:
80.3%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
641 Mbps
Cruzio Internet offers Fixed Wireless service to 80.3% of Santa Cruz County homes. Across the county, Cruzio Internet Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 641 Mbps, with speeds from 50 Mpbs up to 1,000 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 50 and as high as 1,000, with an average of 384 Mbps throughout the county.
T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed Wireless in Santa Cruz County, CA
Availability:
71.3%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
65 Mbps
T-Mobile Home Internet offers Fixed Wireless service to 71.3% of Santa Cruz 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 65 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 12 Mbps throughout the county.
Verizon Fixed Wireless in Santa Cruz County, CA
Availability:
52.4%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
300 Mbps
Verizon offers Fixed Wireless service to 52.4% of Santa Cruz County homes. Across the county, Verizon Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 300 Mbps
RAZZOLINK Fixed Wireless in Santa Cruz County, CA
Availability:
42.7%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
150 Mbps
RAZZOLINK offers Fixed Wireless service to 42.7% of Santa Cruz County homes. Across the county, RAZZOLINK Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 150 Mbps
Etheric Networks Fixed Wireless in Santa Cruz County, CA
Availability:
37.2%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
250 Mbps
Etheric Networks offers Fixed Wireless service to 37.2% of Santa Cruz County homes. Across the county, Etheric Networks Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 250 Mbps
EarthLink Fixed Wireless in Santa Cruz County, CA
Availability:
36.6%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
39 Mbps
EarthLink offers Fixed Wireless service to 36.6% of Santa Cruz County homes. Across the county, EarthLink Fixed Wireless has speeds up to 39 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 6.1 Mbps throughout the county.
AT&T Fixed Wireless in Santa Cruz County, CA
Availability:
36.6%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
39 Mbps
AT&T offers Fixed Wireless service to 36.6% of Santa Cruz County homes. Across the county, AT&T Fixed Wireless has speeds up to 39 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 6.1 Mbps throughout the county.
surfnet communications Fixed Wireless in Santa Cruz County, CA
Availability:
26.2%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
100 Mbps
surfnet communications offers Fixed Wireless service to 26.2% of Santa Cruz County homes. Across the county, surfnet communications Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 100 Mbps
Ridge Wireless Fixed Wireless in Santa Cruz County, CA
Availability:
7.0%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
71 Mbps
Ridge Wireless offers Fixed Wireless service to 7.0% of Santa Cruz County homes. Across the county, Ridge Wireless Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 71 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 60, with an average of 32 Mbps throughout the county.
Which ISP Should You Choose in Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz County is T-Mobile Home Internet.
- The fastest internet provider should be Frontier Communications. Considering speed for the money and reliability in speeds, T-Mobile Home Internet may be a better choice based on real-world local customer feedback.
- The most affordable internet provider in Santa Cruz County is T-Mobile Home Internet.
- AT&T, HughesNet, Viasat, and EarthLink has the broadest coverage in Santa Cruz County, and is most likely to cover your home. To find out exactly what's available at your home, please use our address search tool.
How does Santa Cruz County compare to other cities with a similar population?
To see how Santa Cruz County stacks up on the national level, it's useful to look at some other cities with similarly sized populations. Below you can see a list of these cities and how they compare to Santa Cruz County's B ISP Report Card and 79 / 100 Digital Connectivity Index.
- ISP Report Card: B
- Digital Connectivity Index: 61 / 100
- ISP Report Card: A-
- Digital Connectivity Index: 57 / 100
- ISP Report Card: C+
- Digital Connectivity Index: 70 / 100
- ISP Report Card: C
- Digital Connectivity Index: 49 / 100
- ISP Report Card: A-
- Digital Connectivity Index: 77 / 100
- ISP Report Card: C
- Digital Connectivity Index: 60 / 100
- ISP Report Card: B-
- Digital Connectivity Index: 42 / 100
- ISP Report Card: B
- Digital Connectivity Index: 54 / 100
- ISP Report Card: B
- Digital Connectivity Index: 42 / 100