What is the best internet provider in Longview?
Sparklight is CNET’s top pick for the best home internet provider in Longview, Texas. It tops the list for its wide availability, simple plans with no data caps and no required contracts. If you’re somehow outside Sparklight’s coverage area, Cablelynx and AT&T Fiber are both solid picks for residential broadband.
Looking to get the cheapest internet plan in Longview? Cablelynx’s standard plan offers download speeds of up to 100 megabits per second for just $30 per month. If you want to spend a little more, Cablelynx also has a 150Mbps plan for $40.
If you’re looking for the fastest internet connection in the area, Sparklight is also Longview’s fastest internet service provider. You can get symmetrical speeds going up to 6 gigabits — or 6,000Mbps — for $155 per month. Other providers, like Cablelynx, Etex and Zito Media, offer single gigabit plans, but only Sparklight and AT&T Fiber offer multi-gigabit plans.
Longview internet providers compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Home Internet Read full review |
DSL hybrid | $55 | 10-100Mbps | None | 1.5TB | None | 7.4 |
| AT&T Fiber Read full review |
Fiber | $55-$245 | 300-5,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Cablelynx | Cable | $35-$75 | 100-1,000Mbps | None | 1.5TB-3TB on some plans | Varies | N/A |
| Etex | DSL/Fiber | $63-$134 | 100-1,000Mbps | None | None | 2 years | N/A |
| Skynet Country | Fixed wireless | $40-$120 | 1-75Mbps | None | None | None | N/A |
| Sparklight Read full review |
Cable/Fiber | $40-$155 | 300-6,000Mbps | $12.50 (optional) | None | None | 6.9 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$55 for eligible Go5G Plus and Magenta Max mobile customers) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Zito Media | Cable/Fiber | $50-$75 | 100-1,000Mbps | None | Varies | 2 years (optional) | N/A |
Show more (4 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Longview?
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cablelynx Standard | $35 | 100Mbps | None |
| Skynet Standard 1Mbps | $40 | 1Mbps | None |
| Zito Super Speed | $40 | 100Mbps | None |
| Sparklight 300 Read full review |
$40 | 300Mbps | $12.50 (optional) |
| Zito Ultra Speed | $50 | 200Mbps | None |
| Cablelynx Enhanced | $55 | 500Mbps | None |
| AT&T Fiber 300 Read full review |
$55 | 300Mbps | None |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
$50 ($35 for eligible mobile customers) | 245Mbps | None |
| Skynet Standard 3Mbps | $60 | 3Mbps | None |
| Etex 100Mbps | $63 | 100Mbps | None |
Show more (6 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Longview
The best internet deals and top promotions in Longview depend on what discounts are available during that period. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Longview internet providers, such as Sparklight, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, such as AT&T, run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
Photo by Marti157900/Getty Images
Fastest internet plans in Longview
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sparklight 6 Gig Read full review |
$155 | 6,000Mbps | 6,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| AT&T Fiber 5000 Read full review |
$245 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Sparklight 3 Gig Read full review |
$105 | 3,000Mbps | 3,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| AT&T Fiber 2000 Read full review |
$145 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| AT&T Fiber 1000 Read full review |
$80 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Cablelynx Gig | $75 | 1,000Mbps | Varies | None | Cable |
| Etex 1Gbps | $134 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Sparklight Gig Read full review |
$60 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Zito Light Speed | $50 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
Show more (5 items)
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 video conferencing, 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 and streaming low-quality video.
- 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and video conferencing.
- 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 video conferencing, 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 Longview
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. 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.
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 answers to those questions are often layered and complex, the providers that 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, although 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 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 Longview FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Longview?
Thanks to its large coverage map, reasonable prices and speedy connectivity, Sparklight is the best internet provider for most homes in Longview, Texas.
Is fiber internet available in Longview?
Longview has many fiber providers, with fiber internet being available to over 99% of addresses. Sparklight offers the widest fiber coverage, but select households may also be serviceable for fiber under AT&T Fiber or Etex.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Longview?
Cablelynx offers the cheapest plan in Longview, costing $35 monthly for 100Mbps of speed.
Which internet provider in Longview offers the fastest plan?
Sparklight is Longview’s fastest internet provider. Serviceable customers can reach symmetrical speeds up to 6,000Mbps for $155 monthly.