Best ISPs in Orange, CA

What is the best ISP in Orange?

CNET recommends AT&T Fiber as the best internet provider in Orangethanks to the unmatched speed of fiber. As the only fiber option in the area, AT&T Fiber provides top-notch performance, although its availability is somewhat limited, so it may not cover all addresses.

For those outside the AT&T Fiber service area, Spectrum is a solid alternative. It offers one of the most budget plans in Orange, starting at $30 for speeds up to 100Mbps. Note that prices increase by $30 after the first year, but the no-contract policy allows you to switch providers if needed.

T-Mobile Home Internet is another option worth considering. With $50 and $70 per month plans, it provides speeds suitable for small to medium households. In addition, T-Mobile includes a price-fixing guarantee and discounts when bundled with a cell phone plan, making it an attractive choice for many.

The best internet in Orange, CA

Source: CNET analysis of vendor data.

Source: CNET analysis of vendor data.

How to find internet deals and promotions at Orange

The best Internet offers and top promotions in Orange depend on what discounts are available during a given time period. Most deals are short-lived, but we’re often on the lookout for the latest deals.

Orange ISPs like Verizon may offer lower introductory prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, including AT&T Fiber, Spectrum and T-Mobile Home Internet, offer the same standard rates year-round.

For a more extensive list of promotions, see our guide to the best internet deals.

Source: CNET analysis of vendor 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 include video conferencing, streaming video, or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a more stable connection. Here’s an overview of recommended minimum download speeds for different apps, according to the Federal Communications Commission. Note that these are guidelines only and that internet speed, service and performance will vary by connection type, provider and address.

For more information, see our guide to how much internet speed do you really need?.

• 0 to 5 Mbps lets you handle the basics: surfing the web, sending and receiving email, and streaming low-quality video.
• 5 to 40 Mbps gives you higher quality video streaming and video conferencing.
• 40 to 100 Mbps should provide a single user with enough bandwidth to meet the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
• 100 to 500Mbps allows one or two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities such as video conferencing, streaming and gaming.
• 500 to 1000 Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities simultaneously.

How CNET picked the best ISPs in Orange

Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest ones smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen toolit is not practical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What is our approach? We start by researching pricing, availability, and speed information, drawing on our own historical data from ISPs, provider sites, and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission on FCC.gov.

It doesn’t stop there: We go to the FCC website to check our data and make sure we account for every ISP that provides service in an area. We also enter local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at 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 at the time of publication.

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

1. Does the provider offer relatively fast internet access?
2. Are customers getting decent value for what they pay?
3. Are customers satisfied with their service?

The answer to these questions is often layered and complex, but the vendors that come closest to saying yes to all three are the ones we recommend. When it comes to choosing the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also take into account things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively easy. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and also consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)

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

Internet providers in Orange FAQ