What is the best internet provider in Clearwater?
According to our CNET expert review, the best internet service provider in Clearwater, Florida, is Spectrum. The cable provider not only has the broadest coverage in Clearwater, but it also offers competitive pricing with plans as low as $30 per month. If Spectrum isn't available at your address, consider alternatives like WOW Internet or T-Mobile Home Internet.
To simplify your decision, we've identified the best budget and high-speed plans in Clearwater. Frontier Fiber and Spectrum lead with affordable $30 plans. And for those in need of maximum speeds, Frontier's 7,000Mbps plan might be the perfect choice.
Clearwater internet providers compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frontier Communications Read full review | DSL, Fiber | $30-$110 | 200-7,000Mbps | None | None | None | 6.3 |
| Rapid Systems | Fixed wireless | $79-$99 | 10-25Mbps | None | None | None | N/A |
| 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 ($35-$55 for eligible 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) | 50-250Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
| WOW Internet Read full review | Cable | $25-$90 | 300-1,200Mbps | None | 1.5-3TB on some plans | None | 7.2 |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Clearwater?
| Provider | Starting monthly price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| WOW Internet 300 Read full review | $25 | 300Mbps | None |
| Frontier Fiber 200 Read full review | $30 | 200Mbps | None |
| Spectrum Internet Advantage Read full review | $30 | 100Mbps | $10 router (optional) |
| Spectrum Internet Premier Read full review | $50 | 500Mbps | $10 router (optional) |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | $50 ($40 with eligible mobile plan) | 318Mbps | None |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | $50 ($35 with eligible mobile plan) | 300Mbps | None |
| Frontier Fiber 500 Read full review | $30 | 500Mbps | None |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Clearwater
The best internet deals and top promotions in Clearwater depend on what discounts are available during that period. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Clearwater internet providers, such as Spectrum, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many providers, including T-Mobile, Frontier 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 John Coletti/Getty Images
Fastest internet plans in Clearwater
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frontier Fiber 7 Gig Read full review | $110 | 7,000Mbps | 7,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Frontier Fiber 5 Gig Read full review | $90 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Frontier Fiber 2 Gig Read full review | $70 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| WOW Internet 1.2 Gig Read full review | $90 | 1,200Mbps | 50 Mbps | None | Cable |
| Frontier Fiber 1 Gig Read full review | $50 | 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 |
| WOW Internet 1 Gig Read full review | $55 | 1,000Mbps | 50Mbps | None | Cable |
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 Clearwater
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 Clearwater FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Clearwater?
With availability to over 90% of the area, Spectrum is Clearwater’s top internet provider. Spectrum also offers fast speeds, low prices and simple service details.
Is fiber internet available in Clearwater?
Frontier Fiber is the largest fiber provider for Clearwater residents, but select households may be serviceable under Spectrum’s fiber network.
Who is the cheapest internet provider in Clearwater?
WOW Internet offers the cheapest internet service in Clearwater: $25 per month for speeds up to 300Mbps.
Which internet provider in Clearwater offers the fastest plan?
Frontier Fiber’s 7-gigabit plan is the fastest speed offered to Clearwater households, which costs $110 monthly for symmetrical speeds and unlimited data.
