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The Best San Francisco Internet Providers
San Francisco is in a unique position when it comes to internet access. The widely cited $1.5 billion citywide municipal fiber concept evaluated in past years has not been funded or built. Current City documents do not show an active, universal, residential FTTP project; instead, San Francisco’s capital priorities emphasize municipal backbone upgrades and targeted digital-equity deployments like free broadband in affordable and supportive housing (Ten-Year Capital Plan; Digital Equity). In parallel, California’s open-access Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative is adding regional transport capacity that lowers backhaul costs for last‑mile providers but does not itself connect individual homes.
If you’re new or moving to town, you’ll find competitive fiber, cable and fixed wireless options in many neighborhoods, plus satellite as a fallback. Because availability, speeds and pricing are now address-specific, start with the FCC National Broadband Map to see which ISPs serve your location, then review each plan’s standardized Broadband Facts label for exact monthly price, typical speeds, data policies and any term commitments. Fixed wireless (5G Home Internet) from T-Mobile and Verizon has become a strong alternative in San Francisco since 2020, often delivering hundreds of Mbps with simple, contract-free pricing.
The 4 Best Internet Providers in San Francisco
- Xfinity – Best for City-Wide Coverage
- Viasat – Best for Satellite Internet
- AT&T Fiber – Best for Fiber
- Sonic – Best for Speed
The Best San Francisco Internet Providers: Summed Up
Copper and Fiber Hybrid | ||||
Copper and Fiber/Copper Hybrid: speeds vary by address | ||||
All information accurate as of 2025. For exact availability, pricing, data policies and promo terms at your address, review each plan’s standardized Broadband Facts label. Fixed wireless options from T-Mobile and Verizon are widely available in San Francisco; satellite is generally a fallback where cable, fiber or fixed wireless aren’t available.
Xfinity – Best for City-Wide Coverage
Xfinity is at the top of the best San Francisco internet providers list for its wide coverage area, and its cable network is being upgraded to improve upload performance in many markets. Typical tiers reach up to around 1.2 Gbps download (address-dependent). Many areas still use a 1.2 TB monthly data plan unless you add an unlimited option like xFi Complete (policy details). To see exactly what’s offered at your home, use the FCC National Broadband Map and review the plan’s Broadband Facts label.
- Price: Plan prices and promos vary by address; confirm current monthly pricing, fees and promo lengths on Xfinity’s address-specific Broadband Facts label or the Xfinity Internet plans page.
- Speed and Data: Multiple cable tiers are available (commonly up to ~1200 Mbps download; uploads vary by area as upgrades roll out). In many regions, a 1.2 TB monthly data plan applies with overage charges; unlimited data is available as an add-on or with certain bundles (learn more).
- Plans/Packages: Bundles with internet, phone, TV and home security/automation are available in San Francisco; see current bundle offers and verify details on the Broadband Facts label.
- Contract Options: Terms vary by plan and market; many offers are available without a long-term contract. Always review the plan’s Broadband Facts label for any term agreements and early termination fees.
Viasat – Best for Satellite Internet
In a dense urban market like San Francisco, satellite is typically a fallback where cable, fiber, or fixed wireless aren’t available. Viasat’s satellite internet service is available citywide, with plan options that depend on your address and satellite capacity. Viasat does not enforce a hard data cap; instead, plans include a set amount of “Priority Data,” after which traffic may be deprioritized during congestion (Network Management Policy).
- Price: Pricing is location- and capacity-dependent; check Viasat’s site for current offers and review the plan’s Broadband Facts label at checkout (see current pricing).
- Speed and Data: Speeds vary by beam and address and commonly top out in the ~50–100+ Mbps range. There are no hard caps; plans include “Priority Data” thresholds with deprioritization possible during congestion (policy).
- Plans/Packages: Plan structures revolve around Priority Data amounts and location-based speeds; optional voice service may be available. Review specifics and any equipment fees during the online order flow.
- Contract Options: Viasat packages typically include a 24-month term; month-to-month options may differ by market and fees. Confirm the latest terms during checkout and in Viasat’s posted details.
AT&T Fiber – Best for Fiber
While San Francisco did not fund a universal municipal fiber build, private FTTP has expanded. AT&T offers one of the broadest fiber footprints in the city today, with symmetrical tiers favored by remote workers and creators for video meetings, cloud backup and uploads. Explore AT&T’s San Francisco internet packages and check availability at your address.
- Price: Typical national pricing for AT&T Fiber is Internet 300 at $55/mo, Internet 500 at $65/mo, and 1 Gig at $80/mo. Actual offers and promos vary by address — confirm on the AT&T Fiber plans page and the plan’s Broadband Facts label.
- Speed and Data: AT&T Fiber offers 300 Mbps, 500 Mbps and 1 Gig in many areas, with 2–5 Gig multi-gig tiers in select locations. Fiber plans include unlimited data (plans; data policy).
- Plans/Packages: You can bundle fiber internet with TV and other services; pricing and availability vary by address. See current bundle pricing and verify terms on the Broadband Facts label.
- Contract Options: AT&T Fiber plans are generally offered without long-term contracts; confirm term details and any fees on the provider’s Broadband Facts label for your address.
Sonic – Best for Speed
If you need the highest speeds possible, Sonic is a strong contender. Sonic offers symmetrical Gigabit fiber and, in select areas, 10 Gig service over XGS-PON — fast enough for 4K video calls, large cloud backups and low-latency gaming across multiple devices.
- Price: Sonic’s internet package uses address-specific pricing; check your location for current monthly rates and promos. Installation is often included, and Sonic emphasizes straightforward, all-in pricing in many areas. Use the availability tool to see current offers.
- *Sample addressed used for this information. Actual price and discounts may vary.
- Speed and Data: Sonic’s San Francisco footprint includes 1 Gbps symmetrical service and, in some areas, 10 Gbps symmetrical over XGS-PON. Sonic advertises unlimited data with no caps (learn more).
- Plans/Packages: When you bundle phone service with your internet plan, Sonic includes extras such as a personal VPN and web hosting; check your address for plan specifics and included features.
- Contract Options: Sonic emphasizes simple terms and a 30-day risk-free trial in many areas; confirm any ongoing commitments or fees for your address during checkout.
How We Found the Best Internet Providers in San Francisco
We analyzed multiple companies to find the best internet providers in San Francisco, focusing on what’s changed since 2020: multi-gig fiber expansion, cable upload upgrades, and rapid growth of fixed wireless (5G Home Internet). We verified current offerings using the FCC National Broadband Map and each provider’s standardized Broadband Facts label. We also considered the City’s shift toward targeted digital equity programs (e.g., Digital Equity) and the state’s Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative, which improves regional backhaul economics.
- Coverage: The finalists in our San Francisco broadband review offer strong coverage in the city. Start with the FCC National Broadband Map to confirm which providers actually serve your address.
- Value. We compared speeds (including upload performance), data policies, contract terms, bundle options and equipment costs — using each plan’s Broadband Facts label — to determine which internet providers in San Francisco deliver the best overall value.
- Customer Satisfaction. At Reviews.com, satisfaction ratings from the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) and J.D. Power inform our view of service quality. Recent cycles (2024–2025) continue to show ISPs trailing many industries on value and support; we pair those indices with current plan data and Broadband Facts labels to assess real-world fit for SF households.
San Francisco Internet FAQ
How Much Speed Do I Need to Stream Movies and for Online Gaming?
Most households that stream in 4K, video conference and game online fit comfortably on 300–500 Mbps plans. Larger households, creators or anyone doing frequent uploads/backups may benefit from 1 Gbps or faster — ideally on symmetrical fiber for better uploads and lower latency. San Francisco’s remote/hybrid profile keeps daytime home usage high, with office occupancy hovering far below pre‑pandemic norms through 2024 (Kastle), and about 95% of SF County households report a broadband subscription (ACS 2023). Usage trends show rising data consumption and gigabit adoption (OpenVault OVBI). Always confirm typical speeds at your address on the plan’s Broadband Facts label.
How Fast is Internet Service in San Francisco?
Many addresses can get cable up to around 1.2 Gbps download, with fiber options from major and competitive providers offering 1–5 Gbps (and in some locations, up to 10 Gbps from Sonic). Fixed wireless (5G Home Internet) from T-Mobile and Verizon is widely available and can deliver typical speeds ranging from tens to hundreds of Mbps depending on coverage. Availability is address-specific; verify via the FCC map and providers’ Broadband Facts labels.
Is Fiber Internet Faster than Broadband Cable?
Yes — fiber generally delivers symmetric multi‑gig speeds, higher upload throughput and lower latency. Cable has narrowed the gap with high‑split upgrades and early DOCSIS 4.0 rollouts that boost uploads and, in some markets, enable symmetric tiers (DOCSIS 4.0; Low Latency DOCSIS). Independent testing from the FCC’s Measuring Broadband America program shows fiber typically has lower latency and less variation under load. If available, prioritize fiber for uploads and real‑time apps; otherwise, modernized cable can still deliver excellent performance.
