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What is the best internet provider in Roanoke?
CNET recommends Cox as the best Internet provider for most households in Roanoke, Virginia. With widespread coverage and budget-friendly plans starting at just $30 a month, Cox provides reliable cable Internet to nearly every home in the area. It is also linked with T-Mobile Home Internet for the lowest starting price in the area. However, Cox’s service comes with a few trade-offs, including a 1.25TB monthly data cap on select plans and slower upload speeds typical of cable connections.
If you’re looking for the fastest internet in Roanoke, Glo Fiber is a strong contender. This local fiber provider offers a symmetrical speed of up to 5,000 Mbps and unlimited data. Plans start at $55 a month, with premium options starting at $290.
For a more flexible alternative, T-Mobile Home Internet provides unlimited data and includes free equipment rental, saving you $12 to $15 per month compared to Cox or Glo Fiber. Although the speeds vary from 72 to 245 Mbps, it is a problem-free solution that could meet the needs of your family.
The best Internet in Roanoke, Virginia
Roanoke, Virginia internet providers compared
| Supplier | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Head of data | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cox Read a full review |
Cable | $30 – $120 | 100-2,000 Mbps | $15 (optional) | 1.25TB on select plans | No one | 6.2 |
| Glo Fiber | Fiber | $55 – $290 | 300-5,000 Mbps | $12 (optional) | No one | No one | N/A |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read a full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($40-$50 with eligible mobile plans) | 72-245 Mbps | No one | No one | No one | 7.4 |
| Cellular US | Fixed Wireless | $60 | 25-100Mbps | It varies | 600 GB | No one | N/A |
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Business suppliers to my address
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Cheap internet options in Roanoke
| floor | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cox ConnectAssist Read a full review |
$30 | 100 Mbps | $15 (optional) |
| Cox go faster Read a full review |
$50 | 250Mbps | $15 (optional) |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read a full review |
$50 ($40 with eligible mobile plans) | 72-245 Mbps | No one |
| Glo Fiber 300 | $55 | 300Mbps | $12 (optional) |
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Business suppliers to my address
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find Internet deals and promotions in Roanoke
The best deals on the Internet and the best promotions in Roanoke depend on what discounts are available during a certain time. Most offers are short-lived, but we often look for the latest offers.
Roanoke Internet providers, such as Cox, may offer a lower introductory price or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many providers, including Glo Fiber and T-Mobile Home Internet, run the same standard prices throughout the year.
For a more extensive list of promotions, check out our guide on the best deals on the internet.
The fastest internet plans in Roanoke
| floor | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | Head of data | Type of connection |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glo Fiber 5 Gbps | $290 | 5,000 Mbps | 5,000 Mbps | No one | Fiber |
| Glo Fiber 2.4 Gbps | $140 | 2,400 Mbps | 2,400 Mbps | No one | Fiber |
| Cox goes beyond fast Read a full review |
$120 | 2,000 Mbps | 100 Mbps | 1.28 TB | Cable |
| Glo Fiber 1.2 Gbps | $85 | 1,200 Mbps | 1,200 Mbps | No one | Fiber |
| Cox Go Super Fast Read a full review |
$80 | 1,000 Mbps | 35 Mbps | 1.28 TB | Cable |
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Business suppliers to my address
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is 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, video streaming or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here is an overview of the minimum recommended download speed for different applications, according to the Federal Communications Commission. Note that these are only guidelines and that Internet speed, service and performance will vary by connection type, provider and address.
For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed do you really need.
- From 0 to 5 Mbps lets you tackle the basics: surfing the Internet, sending and receiving emails, streaming low-quality video.
- 5 to 40 Mbps gives you high quality video streaming and video conferencing.
- From 40 to 100 Mbps should give a user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
- 100 to 500 Mbps allows one to two users simultaneously to engage in high-bandwidth activities such as video conferencing, streaming and online gaming.
- 500 to 1,000 Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET picked the best Internet providers in Roanoke
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latter smartphones, laptop, router o kitchen toolit is impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What is our approach? We begin by researching pricing, availability, and speed information based on our historical ISP data, provider sites, and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
It doesn’t end there: We go to the FCC website to check our data and make sure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also gather local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power, to gauge 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 information located, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider offer access to a reasonably fast internet speed?
- Are customers getting decent value for what they are paying for?
- Are customers happy with their service?
While the answer to these questions is often layered and complex, the providers who are 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 simple. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources such as Ookla and FCC reports. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test the ISP page
Internet Providers in Roanoke, Virginia FAQ
What is the best Internet service provider in Roanoke?
Cox is the best Internet service provider in Roanoke. The cable ISP has the best high-speed coverage in the area and a decent selection of plans, including one that starts at $30 per month, the lowest rate for home internet in the area.
Is fiber internet available in Roanoke?
Six in ten Roanoke households are eligible for fiber internet, according to the FCC. Service is greatest in the communities of Raleigh Court, Morningside and Villa Heights, although fiber service can be found in random neighborhoods throughout Roanoke. Glo Fiber is the largest fiber internet provider in Roanoke, although Cox also has a small fiber presence in the area.
Who is the cheapest Internet provider in Roanoke?
Cox has the cheapest plan in the area at $30 per month for 100 Mbps, if you qualify for the plan. Otherwise, Cox and T-Mobile Home Internet share the lowest starting price for home internet in Roanoke at about $50 a month. Cox offers slightly faster speeds for the price (up to 250 Mbps compared to a range of 72 to 245 Mbps from T-Mobile) but comes with a 1.25 TB monthly data limit and a $15 rental fee of the equipment. T-Mobile Home Internet has no data cap or equipment fee and there is no set price increase, not to mention a $10 discount for qualified mobile customers.
US Cellular also offers a $60 plan, but with a maximum download speed of 25 Mbps, there are other better and faster options available in Roanoke.
Which Internet provider in Roanoke offers the fastest plan?
Local fiber ISP Glo Fiber offers the fastest Internet plans in Roanoke, with speeds of 5, 2.4 and 1.2 Gbps starting at $290, $140 and $85 per month, respectively. As a 100% fiber optic service, Glo Fiber offers symmetrical (or close to) upload and download speeds, giving it another advantage over local providers Cox and T-Mobile Home Internet.
