Best Internet Providers in Wichita, Kansas - CNET
- Prices from $55 – $180 per month
- Speeds from 300 – 5,000Mbps
- Unlimited data
- Prices from $40 – $100 per month
- Speeds from 25 – 940Mbps
- 1.25TB monthly data allowance
- Prices from $50 per month
- Speeds from 72 – 245Mbps
- Unlimited data
Wichita residents have benefited from a big upgrade to their internet options. Until recently, there was basically just Cox and a slew of slower options. But over the past few years, AT&T has significantly expanded its fiber service in the area. That’s good news if you find yourself within its recently expanded coverage area — AT&T is the best fiber provider in the country, according to our analysis.
In 2020, Wichita residents received an average download speed of 94Mbps (the number typically used when referring to internet speed); today, that number is up to 219Mbps, according to Ookla’s latest list of the cities with the fastest internet speed. That’s still behind neighboring metros Oklahoma City and Kansas City but good enough to rank above the national average for connection speed. Internet speed in Wichita may continue to increase as AT&T fulfills its plan to expand its fiber service to 10,000 more Wichita residents by the end of 2024, targeting multidwelling units.
Our team considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service in Wichita across a variety of categories. Our evaluation includes referencing a proprietary database built over years of reviewing internet services. We validate that against provider information by spot-checking local addresses for service availability. We also do a close read of providers’ terms and conditions and, when needed, will call ISPs to verify the details.
Despite our efforts to find the most recent and accurate information, our process has some limitations you should know about. Pricing and speed data is variable: Certain addresses may qualify for different tiers of service and monthly costs may vary, even within a city. The best way to identify your particular options is to plug your address into a provider’s website.
Note that the prices, speed and other information listed above and in the provider cards below may differ from what we found in our research. The cards display the full range of a provider’s pricing and speed across the US, according to our database of plan information provided directly by ISPs, while the text is specific to what’s available in Wichita. The prices referenced within this article’s text come from our research and include applicable discounts for setting up automatic payments each month — a standard industry offering. Other discounts and promotions might be available as well, for things like committing to a contract or bundling with a cellphone plan.
To learn more about how we review internet providers, visit our full methodology page.
Best internet options in Wichita
Wichita residents have several solid options, whether ultrafast gig speeds or inexpensive service is the priority. We think AT&T Fiber is the best option for most people, but Cox and T-Mobile are both solid backup options.
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AT&T Fiber
Best overall internet provider in Wichita
Product details
CNET’s pick for the best fiber internet provider in the US, AT&T, offers Wichita customers symmetrical upload and download speeds, no contracts and unlimited data.
Availability: AT&T is available to approximately 77% of Wichita households, but some will have access only to AT&T’s slower DSL service. Fiber coverage is most prevalent in the city center and less common in neighborhoods on the outskirts, like Minneha, The Dell and Springdale, according to Federal Communications Commission mapping data.
Plans and pricing: AT&T Fiber offers its three flagship plans throughout most of Wichita. You can get 940 megabits per second for $80 per month, 500Mbps for $65 and 300Mbps for $55. Some addresses may have access to AT&T’s 2,000 and 5,000Mbps plans, which cost $110 and $180, respectively.
Fees and service details: AT&T offers unlimited data, discounted TV bundles and no equipment fees. There are no commitment requirements — even for higher-end tiers of service.
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Cox
Best availability in Wichita
Product details
Cox Communications’ cable internet features fast speeds and extremely low prices for the first year or two of service; after that, the monthly price jumps by as much as $80 per month on some plans. The aggressive pricing comes with some potential drawbacks: Cox’s American Customer Satisfaction Index rating was below the industry average in 2023. According to J.D. Power, Cox also ranked below average for overall satisfaction in Wichita’s region. It’s also one of the few ISPs still including data caps on its internet plans.
Availability: Cox is available almost everywhere in Wichita, with coverage extending to 99.6% of households in the city, according to FCC data.
Plans and pricing: Download speeds range from 100Mbps to 2,000Mbps. Monthly prices are between $60 and $110, but those costs increase significantly after the promotional period expires. Nailing down prices on Cox’s website is a head-spinning experience. Some Cox plans require a contract to get the best price. And the prices Cox shows include a $30 monthly discount for enrollment in the Affordable Connectivity Program, even though only low-income households qualify for the subsidy. So if you’re comparing Cox with other options, the price you see initially may not be what you’d see on your monthly bill. It’s worth a few extra minutes to dig into the fine print.
Fees and service details: Cox includes free installation, free modem and router and discounted cable TV bundles. Cox is also one of the few ISPs to still have data caps. You’ll get 1.25TB per month on all plans — far more than the 514GB that the average household uses, but still something we’d rather not worry about.