Best Internet Providers in Fresno, California for 2026
Compare the Best Internet Service Providers in Fresno, CA
Not all plans are available in all areas. Provider plan, availability, and speed tier data provided by BroadbandNow.com. Speedtest real-world data is only present where sample size has reached significance within a region. Additionally, averages may include aggregated tests across multiple Internet Types (Fiber, DSL, Cable, etc.).
Fresno doesn’t always get the same attention as LA or San Francisco, but it’s one of those places that sneaks up on you. There’s a vibe that combines the conveniences of a mid-sized city with the laid-back feel of a smaller, family-oriented community. It’s known for its agricultural roots, growing arts and culture scene, and a blend of “big city” amenities like diverse dining and shopping with “small-town” charm, including local events and a friendly atmosphere.
Even with the small-town feel, you’ve got a huge need for fast and reliable internet. Whether you’re a content creator uploading TikToks between coffee runs, a teacher running remote classes, or a gamer whose biggest fear is lag, a strong connection keeps things moving.
Fresno’s internet scene has improved a lot over the past few years, with fiber expanding and wireless home internet catching on. Even still, choosing the right provider here is less about who’s loudest in their ads and more about who can actually deliver when your router’s working overtime.
How much speed do you really need? Let’s start with the basics. Downtown is a popular area to live in Fresno and if you’re by yourself at the moment, streaming shows, scrolling social media, and maybe gaming lightly, you can survive on 25 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload. But, that’s not the case for every household across the board. When you start adding in more people and more devices, of course your bandwidth needs go up as well.
The aforementioned figures might be good for one person, but if someone is working remotely from a home office, another bingeing “Love Is Blind” in the next room, a smart TV running in the background for the dog, and a few gadgets updating themselves at the worst possible time, suddenly, “just okay” speeds don’t cut it. For households doing all of that plus more, 200–300 Mbps feels a lot more realistic.
If you upload regularly, say, running a side hustle from your laptop or sending big files to clients, you’ll want symmetrical upload/download benefits and you might even cross into gigabit territory. And if you’re into gaming or livestreaming, low latency (under 20 ms) is your best friend. Nobody wants to get roasted mid-match because their Wi-Fi glitched.
What’s Coming Down the Pipeline?
Fresno’s digital scene is leveling up thanks to several city and state initiatives designed to close gaps in access and speed.
- Last Mile Federal Funding Grants — Fresno County: Fresno County received $16.6M in Last Mile Federal Funding grants to serve 2,751 unserved locations. Projects include AT&T Fresno—1A: $13.95M for 2,495 locations; Comcast Riverdale: $1.17M for 162 locations; Cold Springs Rancheria Tribal Digital Village: $1.48M for 94 locations.
- Riverdale Rural Broadband Expansion: A new broadband project launched in Riverdale (south of Fresno) to bring high-speed internet to underserved households. Funded by CPUC and Comcast, with completion expected in 2026.
- AT&T Fiber Expansion: AT&T continues extending its fiber network across cities within Fresno County and surrounding areas, with gigabit speeds reaching more neighborhoods each year.
How to Choose the Right Internet Plan in Fresno
Choosing the right plan comes down to how online your life really is. Keep in mind that you’ll need higher speeds if your tech devices are an integral part of your daily life, carrying out heavy-duty online activities. This is especially important if it’s not just you but also others in your home.
Aside from that, don’t forget about the perks and drawbacks of the different internet types. The quality of your internet connection depends heavily on the technology running behind it.
In rural areas, satellite internet often fills the gap where other options don’t reach, though it’s usually slower and more prone to lag. DSL connections offer steady but modest performance, enough for casual browsing and streaming. Cable internet brings faster downloads for most users but can fall short when it comes to upload speeds. Fiber optics, meanwhile, lead the pack with unmatched reliability and top-tier speed for bandwidth-heavy activities.

How Much Speed Do I Need?
Download speeds of at least 100 Mbps and upload speeds of at least 10 Mbps are widely considered fast enough to handle nearly any online activity. A quick guide to what speeds you need for different online activities is below, and you can read our full guide to internet speeds and performance for more information. Keep in mind that the numbers below are the bare minimum for one device at a time. If you’re trying to use multiple devices on a network at the same time, you’ll want higher speeds.
0–5 Mbps (Slow)
- Stream SD video
- Connect on Slack
- Use Microsoft Teams
- Write and read email
- Scroll social media
- General web browsing
5–20 Mbps (Better)
- Stream HD video at 1080p
20–40 Mbps (Solid)
- Stream 4K video
- Play games online
40–100 Mbps (Good)
- Stream HD games
100+ Mbps (Fast)
- Engage in multi-player gaming
- Download huge files
1+ Gbps (Very fast)
- Do anything you want on multiple devices
ISP Speeds in Fresno, CA
Fresno’s broadband scene is consistently improving. According to Speedtest Intelligence®, as of January 2026, the city averages median fixed broadband downloads of 335.26 Mbps, uploads near 41.99 Mbps, and latency around 16 ms. That’s a great baseline, but the real difference comes down to your specific provider.
Based on Speedtest data collected in the second half of 2025, here’s who’s running the show:
- Xfinity: The most widely available option in Fresno, reaching about 94% of homes. Xfinity’s average speeds hit 345.50 Mbps downloads, 41.43 Mbps uploads, and latency near 31 ms. It’s a great pick for streaming, working, and casual gaming, though heavy uploaders may still prefer fiber’s symmetrical speeds.
- AT&T Fiber: One of the city’s fastest-growing options, offering downloads averaging 344.79 Mbps, uploads at 293.05 Mbps, and latency at 19 ms. The symmetrical speeds make it a dream for anyone who uploads regularly. Additionally, the 87% coverage is very appealing since most people can access the service.
Cable still leads on coverage, but fiber’s slowly but surely expanding, especially in new housing developments and business districts. If fiber’s available where you live, it’s worth the jump, even if just for the peace of mind that comes with uploads that don’t crawl.
Fresno Fixed Speeds
Download Mbps
Median download speed
Upload Mbps
Median upload speed
Latency ms
Median latency
To be added to this list for mobile or fixed broadband, 75% of a city's monthly unique user totals over a 13-month period must have a minimum of 200 monthly unique user results. To be updated for mobile or fixed broadband, 75% of a city's monthly unique user totals over a 13-month period must have a minimum of 100 monthly unique user results.
An operator or ISP must account for 3% or more of total test samples in the market to be on this list. We display data if at least two operators or ISPs meet this threshold in a designated region or city.
Internet Providers in Nearby Cities
California
Home Internet in Fresno
Life in Fresno moves at its own tempo. There’s a growing crowd of remote professionals who traded Bay Area chaos for central California calm. You’ll find creators filming content in Tower District apartments, students at Fresno State cramming with a multimedia project running on one tab, a Google doc open to type up a paper, and their YouTube playlist running in the background, and small business owners downtown tracking inventory online.
For everyday users, Xfinity’s cable plans work well enough. They’re fast, reliable, and cover nearly every corner of the city. But if your household leans heavy on uploads, maybe you’re a photographer in Woodward Park sending high-res images or a Twitch streamer trying to keep your frame rate clean, fiber’s where it’s at. AT&T Fiber brings balanced, low-latency speeds that make online work and play actually enjoyable.
At the time of this writing, plans start around $30–$35/month for entry-level cable tiers, while fiber averages $65–$90/month. Always keep promotional pricing in mind, as it’s not uncommon for your monthly bill to increase about ten bucks or so after the first year, when the honeymoon period is over. Lastly, remember that various neighborhoods can have different providers, so don’t assume that you have the same options as your friend a few blocks over. Check your address on the ISP’s website to be sure.
What About Wireless and Satellite Options?
Wireless internet’s having a moment in Fresno, and it actually works pretty well. T-Mobile and Verizon both offer 5G home internet with 200–400 Mbps downloads depending on tower distance. If you hate scheduling installers or just moved into an apartment, this is the plug-and-play option for you.
Satellite’s the fallback choice, especially on the outskirts of the city or in rural parts of Fresno County. Starlink leads that pack, delivering 150–250 Mbps downloads, 20–40 Mbps uploads, and latency around 40–60 ms. It’s not perfect for hardcore gaming, but for streaming or working remotely where fiber hasn’t reached, it does the job.
How we test the speed of ISPs
Speedtest is the definitive way to test the performance and quality of an internet connection. Millions of users like you use Speedtest.net and our Android and iOS apps every day to test internet performance (including bandwidth, latency, coverage, video metrics, and more) in real world situations. We then use rigorous scientific approaches to aggregate and anonymize those results to empower people like you with content like this so you can understand and optimize your internet experience.

The data found within has not been subjected to the rigorous Speedtest marketing claims and data methodology, and therefore cannot be used in commercial applications. Additionally, promised speeds and plans offered are always subject to change.
How to test your internet speed
Speedtest can help you test the speed and overall performance of your internet for free from any device. Click here to open a new page and take a Speedtest. You can then compare your results with what you’ve learned about internet performance near you. If you aren’t getting the results you expect, you can either use this guide to use your Speedtest results to talk to your internet provider or you can shop for a new provider.







