What is the best internet provider in Las Vegas?
Considering its wide coverage and selection of plans, Cox is CNET’s choice for the best internet service provider overall in Las Vegas. Quantum Fiber is also a good option, especially if you’re looking for a high-speed connection and its fiber service is available at your address. For additional internet choices, you’ll likely have to turn to wireless service — Verizon or T-Mobile may be the perfect alternative to a wired home internet connection.
For those hunting for the cheapest internet plan in the city, Quantum Fiber’s 500 megabits per second plan costs $50 per month and offers symmetrical speeds. However, T-Mobile and Verizon also offer a $50 monthly plan, and eligible mobile users can receive a discount on both. Overall, the cheapest plan might come down to what’s available at your address. If you want the fastest speeds in Las Vegas, check out Cox’s 2-gigabit plan, which costs $150 monthly.
CNET considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service in Las Vegas across several 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 are variable: certain addresses may qualify for different service tiers, 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.
Also, 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. At the same time, the text is specific to what’s available in Las Vegas. 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. Discounts and promotions might also be available for signing a term contract or bundling multiple services.
To learn more about how we review internet providers, visit our full methodology page.
Best internet in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2024
Cable, some fiber
25 – 2,000 Mbps
$40 – $100 per month
Our take – Cable internet wouldn’t be our first choice for home internet (that’d be fiber), and Cox probably wouldn’t be our first pick for cable internet service either. That said, the provider does have the best broadband coverage and plan selection in the Vegas area.
Cable, some fiber
25 – 2,000 Mbps
$40 – $100 per month
200 – 8,000 Mbps
$30 – $165 per month
Our take – Quantum Fiber is the other top contender for internet service in Las Vegas. If you’re wondering what Quantum Fiber is and what it has to do with CenturyLink, it’s a sibling company to CenturyLink’s DSL internet service.
200 – 8,000 Mbps
$30 – $165 per month
Fixed wireless
85 – 1,000 Mbps
$50 – $70 per month
Our take – 5G is adding some much-needed competition to the home broadband space, but it’s probably not ready to replace your cable or fiber internet connection just yet. That said, Verizon’s speed potential and low pricing, particularly for qualifying Verizon mobile customers, make it worth trying.
Fixed wireless
85 – 1,000 Mbps
$50 – $70 per month
Las Vegas internet providers compared
Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CenturyLink | DSL | $50 | 20-100Mbps | $15 (optional) | None | None | 6.7 |
Cox Communications | Cable | $50-$150 | 25-2,000Mbps | $13 (optional) | 1.25TB | None | 6.2 |
LV.net | Fixed wireless | $65-$150 | 25-90Mbps | $25 one time fee | None | 1 year | N/A |
Quantum Fiber | Fiber | $50-$75 | 500-940Mbps | None | None | None | 6.7 |
Rise Broadband | Fixed wireless | $45-$65 | 25-100Mbps | $10 modem; $5-$15 router (optional) | None | None, but required for some promotions | 6.2 |
T-Mobile Home Internet | Fixed wireless | $50 ($30 for eligible Go5G Plus and Magenta Max mobile customers) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
Valley Communications Association | Fixed wireless/Fiber | $55-$150 | 40-1,000Mbps | $30 one time fee | None | None | N/A |
Verizon 5G Home Internet | Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 with qualifying Verizon 5G mobile plans) | 50-1,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Other available internet providers in Las Vegas
- CenturyLink: As a DSL internet provider, CenturyLink is better than most, with max speeds of up to 100Mbps for $50 per month. However, speeds will vary widely with a DSL connection, and speeds around 60Mbps or below are much more likely with CenturyLink in Las Vegas. In that case, your dollar will go farther with Cox versus CenturyLink.
- LV.net A local fixed wireless provider, LV.net broadcasts broadband signals throughout much of the city. While the availability is convenient, and the name nod to Las Vegas is nice, prices are too high, and speeds are too slow for the provider to be considered a viable alternative to Cox, Quantum Fiber, Verizon 5G or even CenturyLink’s DSL service.
- Rise Broadband: Another fixed wireless provider, Rise Broadband is an excellent choice for internet in rural areas. But if you’re in Las Vegas, the 26th largest city in the US, you aren’t exactly in a rural area. Considering the speeds you get for the price, there are better ISPs in the Vegas vicinity than Rise. On the other hand, if you’re just outside the city limits and on the edge of rural desert territory, Rise Broadband is definitely worth checking out.
- T-Mobile Home Internet: T-Mobile has the advantage over Verizon regarding nationwide 5G home internet availability, but not in Las Vegas. Not only does T-Mobile have less availability than Verizon 5G in the Vegas area, but speeds are slightly slower (72 to 245Mbps compared to 50 to 300Mbps) for roughly the same starting price.
- Valley Communications Association: This regional provider offers fixed wireless and fiber connections in parts of Las Vegas and surrounding communities. Plans on either side of the service are priced slightly higher than comparable plans from competing providers like Cox, Quantum Fiber and Verizon 5G, so I recommend going with them over Valley Communications Association.
- Satellite internet: In an honest effort to cover all your internet options in Las Vegas, we have to include satellite internet from Hughesnet, Viasat and Starlink. Speeds are relatively slow, and pricing is high, so I’d only recommend satellite internet if you’re in a rural area with no other practical internet options.
Cheap internet options in Las Vegas
If you’re looking for the cheapest internet plan in Las Vegas, start by seeing if you’re eligible for either T-Mobile or Verizon’s discount for qualifying mobile customers, putting your monthly internet bill around $30 to $45 per month. Otherwise, Quantum Fiber’s base plan will be your best option. For $50 per month, customers can get symmetrical speeds up to 500Mbps with no data cap, monthly equipment fee or required contract.
Most providers we’ve mentioned also participate in the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program, which gives eligible low-income households a $30 monthly discount (or up to $75 for households on tribal lands) for high-speed internet. You can use the ACP toward any internet plan — not just the cheapest ones — from participating providers.
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Las Vegas
The best internet deals and top promotions in Las Vegas depend on what discounts are available during that time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Las Vegas internet providers, such as Cox and Rise Broadand, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, however, including Quantum Fiber, T-Mobile and Verizon, run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promotions, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
How fast is Las Vegas broadband?
Average tested internet speeds are on par with the rest of Nevada and the US. If you’d like faster-than-average speeds for your home, Cox, Quantum Fiber and Verizon 5G Home Internet offer download speeds up to 940Mbps or higher.
If you’re looking for high-speed internet in Las Vegas, Cox will be your best option. It’s one of the only providers that offers gig speeds throughout the entire region, and some neighborhoods may be eligible for fiber service, which can deliver equally fast upload speeds. Cox’s 2-gigabit plan is also available to select households in the area, which is the fastest speed offered in Las Vegas.
Fastest internet plans in Las Vegas
Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cox 2 Gig | $150 | 2,000Mbps | 100Mbps | 1.25TB | Cable |
Cox 1 Gig | $110 | 1,000Mbps | 100Mbps | 1.25TB | Cable |
Valley Communications Platinum | $150 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
Verizon 5G Home Plus | $70 ($45 for eligible mobile customers) | 1,000Mbps | 75Mbps | None | Fixed wireless |
Quantum Fiber 1 Gig | $75 | 940Mbps | 940Mbps | None | Fiber |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s 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 videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here’s an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines — and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.
For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.
- 0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics — browsing the internet, sending and receiving email, streaming low-quality video.
- 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
- 40 to 100Mbps should give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
- 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming.
- 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Las Vegas
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information, drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
But it doesn’t end there. We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
- Are customers happy with their service?
While the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, though we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
What’s the final word on internet providers in Las Vegas?
Cox, Quantum Fiber and Verizon 5G will be your three best bets for high-speed internet in Las Vegas. Cox boasts the greatest coverage in the area and the best plan selection around, but all plans come with a data cap and possibly a one-year contract. However, the contract is no big deal if you plan to stay in the area and keep your service for a year or longer.
Internet providers in Las Vegas FAQs
Does Las Vegas have fiber internet?
Yes. Roughly a third of Las Vegas households are eligible for fiber-optic internet service. Quantum Fiber offers the greatest fiber internet coverage in Las Vegas and surrounding areas, but Cox and Valley Communications also have a small fiber presence in Las Vegas.
Is Cox or CenturyLink better?
Both providers have their pros and cons, but the better provider will ultimately come down to which service type is available at your address. Cox’s cable connection offers faster speeds and more variety than CenturyLink’s DSL service. On the other hand, while CenturyLink’s sibling company, Quantum Fiber, only presents two plan options, both are a better value than similar speed tiers from Cox.
Can I get free Wi-Fi in Las Vegas?
Free Wi-Fi is available in many public places throughout Las Vegas, including most local restaurants, hotels and casinos. Free Wi-Fi for your home is more difficult to come by as you’ll need a home internet connection to get Wi-Fi. Cox’s Connect2Compete is the cheapest internet service in the Vegas area, starting at $10 per month and comes with free Wi-Fi equipment, but is only available to qualifying households.