What is the best internet provider in Melbourne?
Spectrum is the top internet service provider for most households in Melbourne recommended by CNET. Spectrum offers some of the cheapest home internet service prices, providing wide coverage and unlimited data on all plans. If Spectrum isn’t available at your address, AT&T Fiber and T-Mobile Home Internet are also solid options.
We’ve also found the cheapest plans and fastest speeds for Melbourne residents. Although Spectrum offers a $25 plan for select addresses, many will only be able to get Spectrum’s Internet Ultra plan, costing $40 per month. For speed, consider AT&T Fiber, which offers 2 gigabits and 5 gigabits of symmetrical speed for $145 and $245, respectively.
Best internet in Melbourne, Florida, in 2024
Melbourne internet providers compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Home Internet Read full review |
DSL | $55 | 10-100Mbps | None | 1.5TB | None | 7.4 |
| AT&T Fiber Read full review |
Fiber | $55-$245 | 300-5,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Spectrum Read full review |
Cable | $30-$70 | 100-1,000Mbps | Free modem; $10 router (optional) | None | None | 7.2 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($30 for eligible Go5G Plus and Magenta Max mobile customers) | 87-415Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 with qualifying Verizon 5G mobile plans) | 50-1,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Melbourne?
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Melbourne
The best internet deals and top promotions in Melbourne depend on what discounts are available during that period. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Melbourne internet providers, such as Spectrum, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, including AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon, run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
Photo by Mbell/Getty Images
Fastest internet plans in Melbourne
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Fiber 5000 Read full review |
$245 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| AT&T Fiber 2000 Read full review |
$145 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| AT&T Fiber 1000 Read full review |
$80 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Spectrum Internet Gig Read full review |
$70 | 1,000Mbps | 35Mbps | None | Cable |
| Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read full review |
$70 ($45 with eligible mobile plan) | 1,000Mbps | 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 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 Melbourne
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 including price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and also consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
Internet providers in Melbourne FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Melbourne?
Wide availability and cheap plans make Spectrum Melbourne’s top internet service provider. This cable ISP offers plans ranging from 30Mbps to 1 gigabit, all including unlimited data.
Is fiber internet available in Melbourne?
Yes, but AT&T Fiber is Melbourne’s only fiber provider. If AT&T Fiber isn’t available at your address, cable connectivity should be your next pick.
Who is the cheapest internet provider in Melbourne?
Although Spectrum offers the cheapest plan in Melbourne — $30 for up to100Mbps — most households won’t be serviceable. Spectrum’s 500Mbps service is more readily available, costing $50 monthly.
Which internet provider in Melbourne offers the fastest plan?
AT&T Fiber easily takes the gold for the fastest plan in Melbourne. This fiber provider offers 2 gigabits for $145 and 5 gigabits for $245.
