In a high-speed city that never stops, it is only fitting that the availability of high-speed internet is imperative to keep things moving. As a result, there are numerous internet service providers in Illinois, many of which are available in Chicago. Factors to consider include location, type of internet connections available, download and upload speeds required to fit your needs, reliability, and what you’re willing and able to pay for monthly. With a multitude of internet provider options in Chicago, we’re here to help narrow down the choices. We’ve reviewed more than 20 of the top providers in Chicago, including each company’s coverage area, connection types, speeds, and customer service, to help you make your decision. All information accurate as of 02/24/2020. Everywhere Wireless is one of the only Chicago internet providers that are only available in Chicago. The company is locally-owned and operated with a sole focus on providing high-speed internet to the city’s residents. While there are subscription options available, customers enjoy the no-strings-attached, month-to-month options with Everywhere Wireless. Everywhere Wireless promises a unique Gigabit Internet Network experience, which means faster speeds than any other provider in the Chicago area, some coming in at up to 1,000Mbps. It is important to note that the lower cost packages (starting at $19 per month) do not offer speeds up to 1,000Mbps. Everywhere Wireless will recommend a package option applicable to your specific internet needs. Its packages include Basic, Turbo, Extreme, and Gigabit, from lowest to highest cost and speed. By earning nearly five-star reviews on Google Reviews, it is abundantly clear that Everywhere Wireless users are generally happy customers. AT&T’s Chicago Fiber packages start at $50 per month with a 1-year contract, 1TB data, and 100Mbps speeds, and goes up to $70 per month with a 1-year contract, 1,000Mbps speeds, and unlimited data. Because of AT&T’s wide variety of service options, it also offers customers bundling opportunities for internet, phone, or television packages. Yelp’s customers don’t appear to favor AT&T Internet, which includes its fiber and DSL options, indicated by a less than two-star rating. However, because the fiber and DSL reviews are combined, it appears that many of the not-so-stellar reviews are related to slow DSL speeds. The $20 per month package offers up to 25Mbps download speeds, which will be more than sufficient for some customers, while other customers will need their $80 per month package with up to 1,000Mbps download speeds. All packages are based on a 1-year contract. There are many Xfinity stores in Chicago, and the customer reviews on each vary widely. This is because Xfinity, like AT&T, offers a wide variety of services and equipment to customers. Because its high-performing broadband internet is one of many services offered by Xfinity, Yelp reviews are reflective of that, resulting in somewhere around a mid-tier ranking. Setting them apart from any other internet provider we reviewed, WebPass offers one single package with download speeds ranging from 100 to 1,000Mbps, depending on where you’re located and your home’s infrastructure. The company is currently available in seven U.S. states, including Illinois. Customers have indicated favorable views of WebPass, resulting in a 4.5 out of five star review on Yelp. The reviews are full of high praise for the excellent customer service, quick and easy installation, and reliable high-speed internet service.
Coverage: We delved into the providers that offer wide coverage areas in Chicago. While no single provider seems to offer 100% Chicago coverage, the providers we’ve chosen offer the largest percentage of coverage in Chicago.Value: We researched each provider’s offerings and the value it provides consumers. We assessed aspects like the range of speeds, contract lengths, data caps, and special offers. The best internet providers in Chicago will come with reliable speeds, fair prices, generous data caps, no hidden fees, and concise agreements.Customer Satisfaction: We used customer satisfaction ratings from the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) and J.D. Power to use company reputation as a factor in our evaluation. Higher scoring companies in metrics like reliability, billing, communication, and value were viewed more favorably.
Upon assessment of these rankings and reviews, it is clear that internet service providers predominantly face negative customer reviews. This is sometimes a reflection of the company, but it should also be considered that customers who live outside or on the outskirts of coverage areas may not receive the same speeds as others, leaving them unsatisfied. It is also important to remember that in most cases, download speeds will be directly proportional to cost. Lower cost packages tend to offer lower download speeds, while higher-cost packages tend to offer better download speeds. However, this is not always the case and should be reviewed on an individual basis, and based on your own internet and pricing needs.
