Internet Service Providers in
Santa Barbara, CA

Compare the top internet providers in Santa Barbara, CA.
Providers in Santa Barbara, CA

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T-Mobile Home Internet — 5G Home internet
Speeds up to
Pricing
46% coverage in Santa Barbara, CA Very Reliable Icon Tooltip  Dark bit/icon/system/pros No cancellation fee bit/icon/system/pros No required contract
$50/mo. *
Speeds up to 245 Mbps
$70/mo.
Speeds up to 245 Mbps
$110/mo.
Speeds up to 292 Mbps
$160/mo.
Speeds up to 292 Mbps
4 plans
See more
Cox Communications — Fiber internet
Speeds up to
Pricing
99% coverage in Santa Barbara, CA Very Reliable Icon Tooltip  Dark bit/icon/system/pros No cancellation fee bit/icon/system/pros No required contract
$9.95/mo. *
Speeds up to 100 Mbps
$30/mo.
Speeds up to 100 Mbps
$50/mo.
Speeds up to 100 Mbps
$50/mo. ^
Speeds up to 100 Mbps
$70/mo. °
Speeds up to 250 Mbps
$90/mo. **
Speeds up to 500 Mbps
$110/mo. ††
Speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
$150/mo. ‡‡
Speeds up to 2,000 Mbps
3 Bundles
$80/mo.
Speeds up to 2,000 Mbps
$140/mo.
Speeds up to 2,000 Mbps
8 plans + 3 bundles
See more
Frontier — DSL & Fiber internet
Speeds up to
Pricing
99% coverage in Santa Barbara, CA Very Reliable Icon Tooltip  Dark bit/icon/system/cons Cancellation fee bit/icon/system/pros No required contract
$29.99/mo. *
Speeds up to 200 Mbps
$44.99/mo.
Speeds up to 500 Mbps
$64.99/mo.
Speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
$64.99/mo. ^
Speeds up to -1 Mbps
$99.99/mo. °
Speeds up to 2,000 Mbps
$129.99/mo. **
Speeds up to 5,000 Mbps
$299.99/mo. ††
Speeds up to 7,000 Mbps
7 plans
See more
Verizon Home Internet — 5G Home internet
Speeds up to
Pricing
54% coverage in Santa Barbara, CA Very Reliable Icon Tooltip  Dark bit/icon/system/pros No cancellation fee bit/icon/system/pros No required contract
$35/mo. *
Speeds up to 300 Mbps
$45/mo.
Speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
$49.99/mo.
Speeds up to 300 Mbps
$50/mo. ^
Speeds up to 300 Mbps
$60/mo. °
Speeds up to 50 Mbps
$70/mo. **
Speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
$74.99/mo. ††
Speeds up to 500 Mbps
$80/mo. ‡‡
Speeds up to 50 Mbps
$89.99/mo. ^^
Speeds up to 940 Mbps
$109.99/mo. °°
Speeds up to 2,300 Mbps
10 plans
See more
Hughesnet — Satellite internet
Speeds up to
Pricing
99% coverage in Santa Barbara, CA Reliable Icon Tooltip  Dark bit/icon/system/cons Cancellation fee bit/icon/system/cons Requires contract
$49.99/mo. *
Speeds up to 50 Mbps
$64.99/mo.
Speeds up to 100 Mbps
$94.99/mo.
Speeds up to 100 Mbps
3 plans
See more
Viasat — Satellite internet
Speeds up to
Pricing
99% coverage in Santa Barbara, CA Reliable Icon Tooltip  Dark bit/icon/system/cons Cancellation fee bit/icon/system/cons Requires contract
$69.99/mo. *
Speeds up to 12 Mbps
$99.99/mo.
Speeds up to 12 Mbps
$119.99/mo.
Speeds up to 150 Mbps
$149.99/mo. ^
Speeds up to 12 Mbps
4 plans
See more
Ranch WiFi — Fiber & Fixed Wireless internet
Speeds up to
Pricing Pricing not available
99% coverage in Santa Barbara, CA
Link not provided
Cox Communications — Fiber internet
Speeds up to
99% coverage in Santa Barbara, CA
Hughesnet — Satellite internet
Speeds up to
99% coverage in Santa Barbara, CA
Viasat — Satellite internet
Speeds up to
99% coverage in Santa Barbara, CA
Ooma — Wireless LTE internet
Speeds up to
80% coverage in Santa Barbara, CA
Frontier — DSL & Fiber internet
Speeds may vary
15% coverage in Santa Barbara, CA
Ranch WiFi — Fiber & Fixed Wireless internet
Speeds up to
99% coverage in Santa Barbara, CA
Link not provided
Visible— Mobile internet
Speeds may vary
Starting at
bit/icon/system/pros No cancellation fee bit/icon/system/pros No required contract
Mint— Mobile internet
Speeds may vary
Starting at
bit/icon/system/pros No cancellation fee bit/icon/system/cons Requires contract
T-Mobile— Mobile internet
Speeds may vary
Starting at
bit/icon/system/pros No cancellation fee
AT&T Wireless— Mobile internet
Max network speed
Starting at
bit/icon/system/pros No cancellation fee bit/icon/system/pros No required contract
Verizon Wireless— Mobile internet
Speeds may vary
Starting at
bit/icon/system/pros No cancellation fee bit/icon/system/pros No required contract
Cox Mobile— Mobile internet
Max network speed
Starting at Pricing not available
Link not provided
Tello Mobile— Mobile internet
Speeds may vary
Starting at
bit/icon/system/pros No cancellation fee bit/icon/system/pros No required contract
Link not provided

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Our team takes its editorial independence seriously as we determine the order for listing internet providers and highlight the best services on these pages. We make a commission if you click an affiliate link, and our brand partners work with us to ensure the accuracy of our data. But they do not see or approve these pages before they are published. Learn more about Reviews.org on our About Us page.

Best internet providers in Santa Barbara, CA

Frontier and Cox are the two best internet providers folks living in Santa Barbara. Frontier has low prices on its fiber internet plans for the first year of service, and it also delivers symmetrical speeds and unlimited data—making Frontier a great whether you’re a budget-conscious UCSB student or a family nestled in Mission Canyon. If you’re not a student and live year-round in areas like the Mesa, Cox also makes for a solid pick. The cable provider offers a range of reliable, affordable internet plans, including a gigabit option. Whether you go with Frontier or Cox, you can get plenty of bandwidth for streaming Lakers and Dodgers games.

Cheapest internet providers in Santa Barbara, CA

The cheapest internet providers get you a reliable connection at an affordable price. You may have to settle for slower speeds, but you can also find promos and discounts. Hot tip: Look for providers with unlimited data and no extra fees to save even further.

Provider
Price starting at
Connection Type
Learn More
Cox
$9.95Fiber
Frontier
$29.99DSL + Fiber
Verizon
$355G Home

Fastest internet plans and providers in Santa Barbara, CA

The fastest internet providers can get you gigabit or even multi-gigabit speeds. Not everyone needs a 1,000Mbps connection or faster, but it’s worth the investment if you’re a power user or live in a large household.

Provider
Max Download Speed
Connection Type
Learn More
Frontier
5000 MbpsDSL + Fiber
Cox
2000 MbpsFiber
Ranch WiFi
2000 MbpsFiber + Fixed Wireless

Most reliable internet plans in Santa Barbara, CA

A reliable internet connection means you get a stable connection and consistent speeds day in, day out, without the worry of sudden slowdowns or outages. You also get top-rated customer service and technical support in case things do go awry. Fiber is the most reliable internet you can get, so we recommend that if it’s available.

Provider
Reliability rating
Connection Type
Learn More
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet
3.9 out of 5 stars3.935G Home
Verizon
3.9 out of 5 stars3.925G Home
Cox
3.7 out of 5 stars3.69Fiber

Test your internet speed

Is your home internet fast enough to meet your daily Wi-Fi needs? The best way to find out is by running a speed test, which gives you a snapshot of how much bandwidth you’re getting from your internet provider. Run the test over a hardwired ethernet connection for the most accurate results, and try taking the test at different times throughout the day to measure possible fluctuations in your download speed, upload speed, and latency.

If you have trouble getting things done online with the speed-test results you’re getting, consider upgrading to a faster plan or switching internet providers.

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How much speed do you need?

Take a look below at what you can do with different speeds commonly offered by internet service providers (ISPs). You can read more about the average user’s speed needs in our internet speed guide.

Internet Speed
No. of people
No. of devices
Activities
5–25Mbps 1–2 1–5 Casual web browsing • Emails • Social media • Streaming SD video • Streaming music
25–50Mbps 2–4 4–7 Streaming HD and 4K video • Streaming music • Online gaming • Light work from home
50–100Mbps 4–6 7–10 Streaming 4K video • Online gaming • Working from home • Using home security devices
100–500Mbps 6+ 10+ Streaming 4K video • Online gaming • Running a home office • Using home security and smart home devices
500–1,000Mbps 10+ 15+ Running a home office or creative profession • Streaming in 4K • Live streaming • Online gaming • Using home security and smart home devices

To get these numbers, we used the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) broadband speed guide, our streaming internet speed guide, and our Zoom internet speed guide.

Frequently asked questions about internet in Santa Barbara, CA

The fastest internet in Santa Barbara is Frontier with speeds up to 5000Mbps.

The cheapest internet in Santa Barbara is Cox Communications with prices starting at $9.95.

Fiber internet is available in Santa Barbara, Cox Communications has 99.00% in Santa Barbara.

Internet connection options in Santa Barbara, CA

four fiber cables curving upward from bottom left
Fiber Availability

99%

Renowned for its reliability, fiber can reach download and upload speeds up to 10,000Mbps. While it isn’t available everywhere, it’s the best internet you can get.

vertically upright cable
Cable Availability

95%

Cable is bread-and-butter internet—widely available, often affordable, and very fast, delivering download speeds that range anywhere from 25Mbps to 1,200Mbps

internet cable protruding diagonally
DSL Availability

99%

DSL maxes out at 100Mbps, but many DSL customers get much slower speeds than that. DSL is becoming obsolete, but it’s still a solid option in rural areas.

satellite facing left emitting radio waves
Satellite Availability

94%

Satellite is available practically everywhere, even in the most remote parts of the country. It’s costly and comes with strict data limits and slow speeds, so use it as a last resort.

Internet in Santa Barbara, CA at a glance

Internet provider averages in
Santa Barbara, CA
download icon

Average download speed

205 Mbps

upload icon

Average upload speed

69 Mbps

analog clock set to the time of twelve twenty-five

Average latency time

12.18 ms

dollar sign icon

Average cost of internet

$101/mo

several stacked pages of paper with lines of text on them

Number of internet providers

18

Internet availability faster than 100 Mbps

The number of households in each region that have access to 100 Mbps internet.

California

98%

U.S.A.

92%

Santa Barbara Internet Value Score

We came up with this score by dividing the average cost of each provider in Santa Barbara, CA with the average speeds they offered.

$0.49 per Mbps

National average: $0.63

Find internet providers in cities near Santa Barbara, CA

Browse all cities in California

Internet reviews and resources

T-Mobile Home Internet

*w/ Auto Pay. Regulatory fees included in monthly price for qualified accounts. See full terms.

Cox Communications

*Not available in all areas. No term agreement. Same price for 2 yrs. Pricing, packages, and policies are subject to change, including when adjusting or removing services or equipment.

†Not available in all areas. No term agreement. Same price for 2 yrs. Pricing, packages, and policies are subject to change, including when adjusting or removing services or equipment.

‡Not available in all areas. No term agreement. Same price for 2 yrs. Pricing, packages, and policies are subject to change, including when adjusting or removing services or equipment.

^Available in select markets only. No annual contract or cancellation fees.

°Available in select markets only. No annual contract or cancellation fees.

**Available in select markets only. No annual contract or cancellation fees.

††Available in select markets only. No annual contract or cancellation fees.

‡‡Available in select markets only. No annual contract or cancellation fees.

Frontier

*w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Max wired speed 200/200 Mbps. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary. One-time charges apply.

†w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Max wired speed 500/500 Mbps. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary. One-time charges apply.

‡w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Max wired speed 1000/1000 Mbps. Location dependent. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary. One-time charges apply.

^w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill per month for 24 mos. One-time charge on disconnect applies.

°w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Max wired speed 2000/2000 Mbps. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary. One-time charges apply.

**w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Max wired speed 5000/5000. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary. One-time charges apply.

††w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Max wired speed 7000/7000. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary. One-time charges apply.

Verizon Home Internet

*w/ Auto Pay and select 5G mobile plans. Consumer data usage is subject to the usage restrictions set forth in Verizon's terms of service; visit: https://www.verizon.com/support/customer-agreement/ for more information about 5G Home and LTE Home Internet or https://www.verizon.com/about/terms-conditions/verizon-customer-agreement for Fios internet.

†w/ Auto Pay and select 5G mobile plans. Consumer data usage is subject to the usage restrictions set forth in Verizon's terms of service; visit: https://www.verizon.com/support/customer-agreement/ for more information about 5G Home and LTE Home Internet or https://www.verizon.com/about/terms-conditions/verizon-customer-agreement for Fios internet.

‡Price per month with Auto Pay & without select 5G mobile plans.Consumer data usage is subject to the usage restrictions set forth in Verizon's terms of service; visit: https://www.verizon.com/support/customer-agreement/ for more information about 5G Home and LTE Home Internet or https://www.verizon.com/about/terms-conditions/verizon-customer-agreement for Fios internet.

^w/ Auto Pay. Consumer data usage is subject to the usage restrictions set forth in Verizon's terms of service; visit: https://www.verizon.com/support/customer-agreement/ for more information about 5G Home and LTE Home Internet or https://www.verizon.com/about/terms-conditions/verizon-customer-agreement for Fios internet.

°Price per month with Auto Pay & without select 5G mobile plans. Consumer data usage is subject to the usage restrictions set forth in Verizon's terms of service; visit: https://www.verizon.com/support/customer-agreement/ for more information about 5G Home and LTE Home Internet or https://www.verizon.com/about/terms-conditions/verizon-customer-agreement for Fios internet.

**w/ Auto Pay. Consumer data usage is subject to the usage restrictions set forth in Verizon's terms of service; visit: https://www.verizon.com/support/customer-agreement/ for more information about 5G Home and LTE Home Internet or https://www.verizon.com/about/terms-conditions/verizon-customer-agreement for Fios internet.

††Price per month with Auto Pay & without select 5G mobile plans. Consumer data usage is subject to the usage restrictions set forth in Verizon's terms of service; visit: https://www.verizon.com/support/customer-agreement/ for more information about 5G Home and LTE Home Internet or https://www.verizon.com/about/terms-conditions/verizon-customer-agreement for Fios internet.

‡‡Price per month with Auto Pay & without select 5G mobile plans. Consumer data usage is subject to the usage restrictions set forth in Verizon's terms of service; visit: https://www.verizon.com/support/customer-agreement/ for more information about 5G Home and LTE Home Internet or https://www.verizon.com/about/terms-conditions/verizon-customer-agreement for Fios internet.

^^Price per month with Auto Pay & without select 5G mobile plans. Consumer data usage is subject to the usage restrictions set forth in Verizon's terms of service; visit: https://www.verizon.com/support/customer-agreement/ for more information about 5G Home and LTE Home Internet or https://www.verizon.com/about/terms-conditions/verizon-customer-agreement for Fios internet.

°°Price per month with Auto Pay & without select 5G mobile plans.Consumer data usage is subject to the usage restrictions set forth in Verizon's terms of service; visit: https://www.verizon.com/support/customer-agreement/ for more information about 5G Home and LTE Home Internet or https://www.verizon.com/about/terms-conditions/verizon-customer-agreement for Fios internet.

Hughesnet

*Offer for 12 months. Service plans require a 24-month commitment. Equipment Lease or Purchase fees extra. Service plans require a 24-month commitment. Equipment Lease or Purchase fees extra.

†Offer for 12 months. Service plans require a 24-month commitment. Equipment Lease or Purchase fees extra. Service plans require a 24-month commitment. Equipment Lease or Purchase fees extra.

‡Offer for 12 months. Service plans require a 24-month commitment. Equipment Lease or Purchase fees extra. Service plans require a 24-month commitment. Equipment Lease or Purchase fees extra.

Viasat

*Prices and speeds vary upon location. Offer available to new qualifying customers. One-time standard installation fee may be due at checkout. Minimum 24-month service term required. Equipment lease fee is $14.99/mo. Taxes apply. Speeds are “up to,” will vary and are not guaranteed. Service is not available in all areas. Offer may be changed or withdrawn at any time.

†Prices and speeds vary upon location. Offer available to new qualifying customers. One-time standard installation fee may be due at checkout. Minimum 24-month service term required. Equipment lease fee is $14.99/mo. Taxes apply. Speeds are “up to,” will vary and are not guaranteed. Service is not available in all areas. Offer may be changed or withdrawn at any time.

‡Prices, speeds and availability vary by location. Prices are subject to change. No annual contract or installation fees are required. Monthly equipment lease fees and taxes may apply.

^Prices and speeds vary upon location. Offer available to new qualifying customers. One-time standard installation fee may be due at checkout. Minimum 24-month service term required. Equipment lease fee is $14.99/mo. Taxes apply. Speeds are “up to,” will vary and are not guaranteed. Service is not available in all areas. Offer may be changed or withdrawn at any time.