Best Internet Providers in Carmel, Indiana
What is the best internet provider in Carmel, Indiana?
AT&T Fiber is CNET’s pick for the best internet provider in Carmel. The service is the gold standard for internet connections, and in Carmel, you have your pick of a couple of different fiber providers. We recommend AT&T Fiber for its straightforward pricing (equipment is included and your bill won’t suddenly double after a year or two) and excellent speeds.
However, it’s not the cheapest. If you’re looking to pay the lowest prices possible, Metronet is the cheapest internet provider in Carmel. The fiber provider’s plans start at just $35 per month, but fees add on another $12.95, and the prices increase in the second and third years. Xfinity also offers ultra-cheap plans in the area, but only about one in 10 households can access them.
Best internet in Carmel, Indiana
Carmel internet providers compared
Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AT&T Fiber Read full review |
Fiber | $55-$245 | 300-5,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
AT&T Internet Read full review |
DSL | $60 | Up to 140Mbps | None | 1.5TB on some plans | None | 7.4 |
Metronet Read full review |
Fiber | $35-$75 | 100-2,000Mbps | $12.95 | None | None | 6.9 |
Spectrum Read full review |
Cable | $50-$70 | 500-1,000Mbps | $10 (optional) | None | None | 7.2 |
Starlink Read full review |
Satellite | $120 | 25-220Mbps | $349 upfront | None | None | 6.5 |
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($40-$50 with mobile plans) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers) | 100-300Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
Xfinity Read full review |
Cable | $20-$100 | 150-2,000Mbps | $15 (included in most plans) | 1.2TB | Optional | 7 |
Show more (3 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Carmel
The best internet deals and top promotions in Carmel depend on what discounts are available during a given time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Carmel internet providers, such as Metronet and Spectrum, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, including AT&T Fiber, run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
Fastest internet plans in Carmel
Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
AT&T Internet 5000 Read full review |
$245 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
AT&T Internet 2000 Read full review |
$145 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
Metronet 2 Gb Read full review |
$70 | 2,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
Xfinity Gigabit X2 Read full review |
$100 | 2,000Mbps | 200Mbps | None | Cable |
Xfinity Gigabit Extra Read full review |
$85 | 1,200Mbps | 35Mbps | 1.2TB | Cable |
AT&T Internet 1000 Read full review |
$80 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
Spectrum Internet Gig Read full review |
$70 | 1,000Mbps | 35Mbps | None | Cable |
Metronet 1 Gb Read full review |
$50 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
Xfinity Gigabit Read full review |
$60 | 1,000Mbps | 20Mbps | 1.2TB | Cable |
Show more (4 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s a good internet speed?
Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here’s an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.
For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.
- 0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics: browsing the internet, sending and receiving email and streaming low-quality video.
- 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
- 40 to 100Mbps should give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
- 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming.
- 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Carmel
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information, drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
It doesn’t end there: We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes, and all information provided is accurate as of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
- Are customers happy with their service?
The answers to those questions are often layered and complex, but the providers that come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
Internet providers in Carmel FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Carmel?
AT&T Fiber is the best internet service provider in Carmel, offering the fastest speeds and highest customer satisfaction scores of any provider in the area.
Is fiber internet available in Carmel?
Yes, fiber internet is available to 76% of Carmel households, according to FCC data. AT&T Fiber and Metronet both offer fiber service in the city.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Carmel?
Metronet is the cheapest internet provider in Carmel, offering plans that start at just $35 per month. Xfinity technically has a cheaper plan at $20 monthly, but it’s available to only 12% of Carmel residents.
Which internet provider in Carmel offers the fastest plan?
AT&T Fiber offers the fastest internet plan in Carmel, with upload and download speeds up to 5,000Mbps.