Columbus, Georgia internet providers compared

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What’s the cheapest internet plan in Columbus?

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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

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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 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, streaming low-quality video.
• 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
• 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 to two people to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, 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 Columbus

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. So 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.

But 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 the time of publication.

Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:

1. Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
2. Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
3. Are customers happy with their service?

While the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, 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, though 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.

To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.

Internet providers in Columbus FAQs

What is the best internet service provider in Columbus, Georgia?

WideOpenWest, or WOW, is the best internet service provider in Columbus, Georgia, due to its broad high-speed coverage, low pricing and fast download speeds. The contract-free service includes free equipment rental for one year with select plans, while the 1.2-gig plan comes with ongoing free equipment rental and unlimited data.

Is fiber internet available in Columbus?

Fiber internet is available to a little more than a quarter of Columbus households, according to the FCC. Serviceability is greatest in the Castlewood, Northstar and Hillside Terrace communities, though fiber coverage can be found in random pockets throughout Columbus.

AT&T Fiber is the largest fiber internet provider in Columbus, though Public Service Communications also has a small fiber presence in the area. Beamspeed has recently emerged as a fiber provider in the Columbus area as well, but service appears to be in beta as of this writing.

Who is the cheapest internet provider in Columbus?

WideOpenWest has the lowest starting price of any major internet service provider in Columbus at $20 monthly for download speeds up to 100Mbps. The provider’s faster plans are also priced on par with or lower than the local competition, as well. WOW’s 500Mbps plan, for example, starts at $40 a month, $25 lower than AT&T Fiber for the same download speed potential, and $30 lower than Spectrum’s 500Mbps plan.

Which internet provider in Columbus offers the fastest plan?

AT&T Fiber offers the fastest internet plan in Columbus, Georgia, with speeds up to 5,000Mbps starting at $250 monthly. The plan features symmetrical upload and download speeds, one of the biggest benefits of using a 100% fiber-optic connection.

AT&T Fiber also has the second fastest plan in Columbus — 2,000Mbps starting at $150 a month — while download speeds from cable providers WOW, Mediacom and Spectrum top out at around 1,000 to 1,200Mbps.

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