What is the best internet provider in Aiken?
The fiber internet coverage in Aiken is increasing and if your home has access to it, fiber internet is the best choice for most. AT&T Fiber is CNET’s pick for the best internet service provider in Aiken. It gets the top spot because it offers speeds going up to 5,000Mbps at reasonable prices, and also has high reliability. You also don’t have to face the hassles of contracts or data limits, nor do you have to pay for equipment rental, making it a great deal.
If you live outside the coverage areas of AT&T, you can opt for one of the other options like Breezeline, Xfinity or T-Mobile, especially if affordability is a factor. Breezeline and Xfinity have some affordable internet plans starting at just $20 and $30, respectively. Xfinity offers a slightly higher speed of 150Mbps compared to 100Mbps from Breezeline, but equipment costs may be higher with Xfinity and a 1.2TB data cap may apply.
Aiken, South Carolina, internet providers compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Read full review |
DSL, fiber | $60 DSL, $55-$245 fiber | 10-100Mbps DSL, 300-5,000Mbps fiber | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Breezeline | Cable | $25-$60 | 100-1,000Mbps | Free for 12 months, $18 after (optional) | None | None | N/A |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$55 with eligible mobile plans) | 87-415Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 with eligible mobile plans) | 50-1,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
| Xfinity Read full review |
Cable | $30-$95 | 150-2,000Mbps | $15 (optional) | 1.2TB | 1-2 years (optional) | 7 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Aiken?
| Plan | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breezeline Core | $25 | 100Mbps | Free for 12 months, $18 after (optional) |
| Xfinity Connect Read full review |
$30 | 150Mbps | $15 (optional) |
| Breezeline Fast | $30 | 200Mbps | Free for 12 months, $18 after (optional) |
| Xfinity Connect More Read full review |
$35 | 300Mbps | $15 (optional) |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 300Mbps | None |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 318Mbps | None |
| AT&T Fiber 300 Read full review |
$55 | 300Mbps | None |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Aiken
The best internet deals and top promotions in Aiken depend on what discounts are available at the time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Aiken internet providers, such as Xfinity, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, including AT&T Fiber, Breezeline and T-Mobile Home Internet, run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of deals, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
Fastest internet plans in Aiken
| Plan | 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 |
| Xfinity Gigabit x2 Read full review |
$95 | 2,000Mbps | 200Mbps | 1.2TB | Cable |
| AT&T Internet 1000 Read full review |
$60 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Breezeline GigaFast | $60 | 1,000Mbps | 50Mbps | None | Cable |
| Xfinity Gigabit Read full review |
$65 | 1,000Mbps | 20Mbps | 1.2TB | Cable |
| Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read full review |
$70 ($45 with eligible mobile plans) | 85-1,000Mbps | 50-75Mbps | None | Fixed wireless |
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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 video conferencing, 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 Federal Communications Commission. 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 video conferencing.
- 40 to 100Mbps should give one person sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
- 100 to 500Mbps allows one or two people to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like video conferencing, streaming and online gaming.
- 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more people to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Aiken, South Carolina
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; 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 answer to those questions is often layered and complex, but the providers who 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 Aiken, South Carolina, FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Aiken?
AT&T Fiber is the best internet service provider in Aiken. Although not the cheapest internet provider in Aiken, AT&T Fiber presents the best overall value by offering fast, symmetrical speeds and service free of contracts, data caps, equipment fees and set price increases.
Is fiber internet available in Aiken?
According to the most recent FCC data, approximately 28% of Aiken residential addresses were serviceable for fiber internet as of July 2024. Serviceability is greatest in the Pinecrest and Aiken Estates communities, although fiber internet is available in random neighborhoods throughout the city. AT&T Fiber is Aiken’s largest fiber internet provider, while Breezeline also has a small fiber presence in the area.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Aiken?
Breezeline has the lowest starting price for internet in Aiken: $205a month for 100Mbps. Xfinity offers a bit more speed, with maximum downloads of 150Mbps at $30 monthly. Despite the speed difference, Breezeline’s cheapest plan is the better deal, as it comes with free equipment rental for one year and unlimited data. Xfinity, on the other hand, has a $15 equipment rental fee (optional) and a 1.2TB monthly data cap.
Which internet provider in Aiken offers the fastest plan?
AT&T Fiber offers the fastest internet in Aiken with maximum upload and download speeds of 5,000Mbps. AT&T Fiber and Xfinity offer a 2,000Mbps plan in Aiken, although Xfinity’s maximum upload speeds are significantly slower at 200Mbps.