What is the best internet provider in Eau Claire?
If broad coverage and reasonable prices are what you're looking for in an Internet service provider, CNET recommends Spectrum as the best Internet service provider in Eau Claire. Spectrum offers plans ranging from $50 to $70, plus speeds up to 1 gigabit and a free modem at every level.
AT&T Fiber and T-Mobile Home Internet are also available in select homes in Eau Claire, and it's worth checking both out if Spectrum doesn't serve your address or simply isn't the right ISP for you. If you live in the more rural portions of the area and are unable to access these reputable providers, we recommend West Wisconsin Telecom. It's another solid internet provider for home broadband.
The average starting cost for home Internet in Eau Claire is $56 per month, but some ISPs offer plans cheaper than that. Mediacom's Prime Internet 100 is the region's most affordable service, costing just $35 a month, but is only offered to a limited percentage of the city. You'll be better off with Spectrum or Verizon 5G Home Internet, both of which offer $50 plans with download speeds of up to 500 and 300 megabits per second, respectively.
If you're looking for the fastest connection, AT&T Fiber is the fastest provider in this small Wisconsin town. AT&T Fiber offers two multi-gigabit plans: 2,000 Mbps for $125 or 5,000 Mbps for $225 monthly.
Best internet in Eau Claire, Wisconsin in 2024
Eau Claire Internet Providers Compared
| Provider | Internet Technology | Monthly price range | speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data limit | Contract | CNET Review Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Home Internet Read the full review |
DSL Hybrid | $55 | 10-100Mbps | None | 1.5TB | None | 7.4 |
| AT&T Fiber Read the full review |
Fiber | $55 to $225 | 300-5,000 Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Mediacom Read the full review |
Cable | $35-$70 | 100-1,000 Mbps | Modem $14 | 350-3000GB | None | 6.4 |
| Spectrum Read the full review |
Cable | $50 to $70 | 500-1,000 Mbps | Free modem; Router $10 (optional) | None | None | 7.2 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $60 ($40 for eligible Go5G Plus and Magenta Max mobile customers) | 72-245 Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50 to $70 ($35 to $45 with eligible Verizon 5G mobile plans) | 50-1,000 Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
| Western Wisconsin Telecommunications | Fiber | $89 to $159 | 300-1,000 Mbps | None | None | None | N/A |
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Supplier store at my address
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Eau Claire?
| Provider | Initial monthly price | Maximum download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mediacom Prime Internet 100 Read the full review |
$35 | 100Mbps | $14 |
| Internet Spectrum Read the full review |
$50 | 500Mbps | $10 (optional) |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plan) | 300Mbps | None |
| AT&T Home Internet Read the full review |
$55 | 100Mbps | None |
| AT&T Fiber Read the full review |
$55 | 300Mbps | None |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
$60 ($40 with eligible mobile plan) | 245 Mbps | None |
| Western Wisconsin Telecommunications Internet 300 | $89 | 300Mbps | None |
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Supplier store at my address
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find deals and promotions on the Internet in Eau Claire
The best Internet deals and top promotions in Eau Claire depend on the discounts available during this time. Most deals are short-lived, but we often look for the latest deals.
Eau Claire Internet providers like Spectrum and Mediacom may offer lower introductory prices or limited-time streaming add-ons. Others, like AT&T and Verizon, apply the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promotions, check out our guide to the best deals on the internet.
Photo by William Reagan/Getty Images
Fastest Internet Plans in Eau Claire
| Provider | Initial monthly price | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | Data limit | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Fiber 5000 Read the full review |
$225 | 5,000 Mbps | 5,000 Mbps | None | Fiber |
| AT&T Fiber 2000 Read the full review |
$125 | 2,000 Mbps | 2,000 Mbps | None | Fiber |
| AT&T Fiber 1000 Read the full review |
$80 | 1,000 Mbps | 1,000 Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Mediacom 1 gig Read the full review |
$70 | 1,000 Mbps | 50Mbps | 3,000 GB | Cable |
| Internet spectrum show Read the full review |
$70 | 1,000 Mbps | 35Mbps | None | Cable |
| Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read the full review |
$70 ($45 with eligible mobile plan) | 1,000 Mbps | 75 Mbps | None | Fixed wireless |
| West Wisconsin Telecom Internet 1 gig | $159 | 1,000 Mbps | 1,000 Mbps | None | Fiber |
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Supplier store at my address
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is 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 video conferencing, video streaming, or gaming, you'll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here's an overview of the minimum recommended download speeds for various apps, according to the FCC. Please note that these are guidelines only and that Internet speed, service and performance vary depending on connection type, provider and address.
For more information, see our guide on how much internet speed you really need.
- 0 to 5 Mbps lets you do the basics: surf the Internet, send and receive emails, and stream low-quality videos.
- 5 to 40 Mbps offers high-quality video streaming and video conferencing.
- 40 to 100 Mbps should provide enough bandwidth for a user to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming, and online gaming.
- 100 to 500 Mbps allows one or two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities such as video conferencing, streaming, and online gaming.
- 500 to 1,000 Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Eau Claire
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphones, laptops, routers, or kitchen tools, it's impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What is our approach? We started by researching pricing, availability, and speed information, based on our own historical ISP data, provider websites, and Federal Communications Commission mapping information at FCC.gov.
It doesn't end there: we go to the FCC website to check our data and ensure we have considered all ISPs providing service in an area. We also enter local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We analyze sources including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power to gauge how satisfied customers are with an ISP's service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent change; All information provided is accurate as of the date of publication.
Once we have this information located, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Do customers get decent value for what they are paying?
- Are customers satisfied with your service?
The answers to these questions are often complex and layered, but the providers that come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for plans with the lowest monthly fees, although we also take into account things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest Internet service is relatively simple. We looked at advertised upload and download speeds, and also considered real-world speed data from sources like Ookla (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis) and FCC Reports.
To explore our process in more detail, visit our how we test ISPs page.
Internet Providers in Eau Claire, Wisconsin FAQs
What is the best Internet service provider in Eau Claire?
Spectrum is Eau Claire's best Internet provider thanks to its extensive coverage map and simple service details. Spectrum also offers some of the region's lowest prices for home internet.
Is fiber internet available in Eau Claire?
Fiber connectivity is available to about 18% of households in Eau Claire. AT&T Fiber is the largest fiber provider in the area, but select homes can also access fiber Internet under local provider West Wisconsin Telecom.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Eau Claire?
Technically, Mediacom offers the cheapest plan in Eau Claire, costing $35 per month for 100 Mbps of speed. Maintenance capacity is limited; only 11% of addresses can access the Mediacom network. Spectrum and Verizon 5G Home Internet are much more available in Eau Claire, and both ISPs offer $50 plans for 500 Mbps and 300 Mbps.
Which internet provider in Eau Claire offers the fastest plan?
AT&T Fiber is the largest fiber provider and the fastest ISP in Eau Claire. Most customers can get 5 gigabits of speed – or 5,000 Mbps – for $225 per month.
