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Fast internet is readily available in Milwaukee, and our nationally top-ranked provider offers fiber internet to more than 9 in 10 homes. (1) If you can’t get fiber from AT&T or want less speed for less money, there’s a good chance you can get cable internet from Spectrum. If you want to bundle with your home internet, you can get fixed wireless internet from T-Mobile for around $25 per month.
If you need fast upload speeds, we generally recommend AT&T in Milwaukee. If you want to bundle with TV, Spectrum is a nice choice. If you want to bundle with your mobile phone, T-Mobile will be your best option.
EDITOR'S CHOICE
AT&T
Staff rating
4.5
Customer rating
4.1
- Plans starting at $55.00 - $180.00
- Download speeds up to 5000Mbps
- Upload speeds up to 5000Mbps
Click below for all current AT&T deals
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Disclaimer: Availability and pricing are subject to location. Conditions apply. For offer details, view disclaimers
RUNNER-UP
Spectrum
Staff rating
3.5
Customer rating
4.0
- Plans starting at $29.99 - $169.97
- Download speeds up to 1 Gbps
- Upload speeds up to 35 Mbps
Click below for all current Spectrum deals
Read reviews
Disclaimer: Availability and pricing are subject to location. Conditions apply. For offer details, view disclaimers
T-Mobile
Staff rating
3.7
Customer rating
4.2
- Plans starting at $50.00
- Download speeds up to 182 Mbps
- Upload speeds up to 23 Mbps
Click below for all current T-Mobile deals
Read reviews
Disclaimer: Availability and pricing are subject to location. Conditions apply.
How we rank internet providers
We have a robust rating system to score internet service providers overall, but the quality of service could vary city to city. When narrowing down the best providers specific to Milwaukee, we considered factors like availability, value, performance, and customer experience. We source information directly from the ISP's themselves, the FCC, and first-hand insights from residents of Milwaukee.
Researched by
Rebecca PalmerSenior Staff Writer
Reviewed by
Vilja JohnsonEditor-in-Chief
Updated 5/8/23
Our top 3 ISP choices in Milwaukee, WI
Fast speeds are available for home internet throughout the city, but different connection types have different advantages.
#1: AT&T internet
Our team of expert reviewers has chosen AT&T fiber as the best internet provider in the US, and it’s also our top choice in the Milwaukee metropolitan area. There’s a range of plans available, from 300 Mbps all the way up to 5 Gbps (5,000 Mbps). You get great customer service (2) and free Wi-Fi equipment, and you won’t have to worry about contracts. You may have to pay up front for installation, though. The best part? AT&T has announced it will cover cancelation costs in Wisconsin if you switch.
Read our full AT&T internet review.
#2: Spectrum internet
Cable internet from Spectrum is nearly as good as fiber internet, but you won’t get upload speeds as fast and there may be a little variance in bandwidth if you and all your neighbors are trying to get online at the same time. That said, 1 Gbps plans from Spectrum are still very, very fast, and we love that unlimited data is included on all plans. We’re also big fans of Spectrum’s budget plans, which offer internet fast enough for a small household for around $30 per month. The company no longer requires contracts, but watch out for price hikes after your first one to two years of service.
Read our full Spectrum internet review.
#3: T-Mobile internet
Fixed wireless internet from companies like T-Mobile won’t be as fast or as reliable as what you would get with cable or fiber internet, but the latest 5G Ultra Capacity coverage is faster than ever, and probably fast enough for most homes. Bandwidth will suffer the farther you are from a cell tower and the more people on the network at once, but plans as low as $25 per month with bundle pricing are a breath of fresh air in Brew City.
Read our full T-Mobile 5G Home Internet review.
All internet providers in Milwaukee
In addition to the three top providers listed above, other companies compete for your home internet dollar in Milwaukee. You can get fixed wireless in some areas from US Cellular, which offers 5G coverage, or PCs for People, which offers 4G LTE coverage with plans as low as $15 per month. Verizon’s also an option, and offers its best 5G coverage throughout the region.
It’s worth noting that satellite internet is also available to virtually all homes within the Milwaukee metro, but we almost never recommend it if you have any other options. It’s slow, it’s spendy, and even the best satellite internet is not a great investment.
Fastest internet providers in Milwaukee
No doubt about it, AT&T fiber is the fastest home internet in Milwaukee. If your home is wired for fiber, you can pay for speeds up to 5 Gbps. That’s crazy fast, and more than almost any home would need. However, we like that AT&T is building a network that’s ready for whatever internet speeds the future may bring. You can also get speeds of up to 1 Gbps from Spectrum, but you’ll pay a lot more and won’t have access to the fast upload speeds you can get from fiber.
How much speed do you need?
When choosing an internet plan, you want to keep all of your activities running smoothly without paying extra for speeds you don't need. At the bare minimum, you need 25 Mbps to do light browsing on one or two devices. Most households with multiple people and multiple devices will want to look for speeds in the 100–500 Mbps range. Learn how much speed your household needs in our guide to internet speed.
Cheapest internet providers in Milwaukee
The cheapest internet provider in Milwaukee is PCs for People, which offers pay-as-you go plans for $15 per month. You’ll be limited to 4G LTE coverage, though, and that means max speeds of about 50 Mbps (if you’re really close to a cell tower and you’re the only one trying to connect). You can get 5G speeds for as little as about $25 per month if you bundle mobile phone and home internet with either Verizon or T-Mobile.
Internet options in nearby cities
Spectrum and AT&T are widely available throughout the Milwaukee metro area, and T-Mobile provides its best 5G coverage to most areas. There are also other internet options in some spots. A tiny part of Brookfield, for example, can get fiber from Bertram internet, and a tiny part of West Allis has fiber internet from TDS.
Learn more about home internet options throughout the area:
BrookfieldNew BerlinRacineWaukeshaWauwatosaWest Allis
Providers near you
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What Milwaukee residents are saying on Reddit
Milwaukee residents are big proponents of fiber internet, and most of them say they have been treated very well by AT&T fiber. If there are AT&T complaints, it’s most likely they’re from users who have the legacy DSL service (which is no longer available for new connections). Some users miss out on having a live TV bundle with their internet service, but recommend streaming services or DIRECTV as a nice alternative.
Post by u/superdownvotemaster
03/16/2022
AT&T fiber? Or stay with Spectrum?
People who’ve switched from Spectrum to AT&T fiber for internet and TV, what are your thoughts? Fiber just became available in my area and it’s cheaper and faster than Spectrum, but I’ve heard some people say that AT&T is worse than spectrum (if that’s even possible!). I have a feeling that the people who say this are comparing spectrum to AT&T when it was DSL/dish and not now that it’s fiber. Please help me make an informed decision here. Thanks! EDIT: It sounds like fiber is the clear winner for internet. Now please forgive me but I still enjoy cable TV too. Would you say that AT&T’s TV service is better than Spectrum’s as well? I have to assume AT&T’s TV service is also being piped in via the fiber and is no longer the DSL or dish BS? EDIT 2: Thanks again for all the input and info. But, I’m not giving up cable or whatever the AT&T version of it is. I enjoy just flipping and seeing what’s on. I find so much interesting stuff that way. For example, I fell in love with Gunsmoke this way and can guarantee I never would have picked up Paramount + to stream it intentionally. Im very fortunate in that I have a well paying job that allows me to get basically all the streaming services I want and still enjoy the randomness of cable. Plus the DVR is nice.
Most helpful response
Just one data point but I’ve had ATT fiber for a couple years and it’s been outstanding as far as lack of outages. On the other hand I’m also an ATT mobile service user and their customer service is awful. In the event that my fiber is down I’m fully mentally prepared for the frustration. Haven’t used Spectrum or ATT’s TV services so can’t add my $0.02 on those features but for broadband I’ve been pleasantly surprised.
Post by u/ChainsawAndDave
10/16/2022
What do you pay for internet?
I'm currently at about 63.99 for internet only on a "promotion" from Spectrum. My equipment. I really hate calling to haggle for a new deal because they put up such a fight and I'm terrible at it. What's everyone's rates look like? Suggestions?
Most helpful response
Just had AT&T fiber installed, $30 for 300/300. Unlimited data and equipment included, no extra fees. Best internet quality I've ever had.
Post by u/sp4nky86
01/19/2023
Cheapest Cable/Fiber/LTE internet in Milwaukee
Just got an alert from ATT that I had used 65% of my data cap, I had specifically negotiated out of a data cap 2 years ago, and our service has been horrible the last 6 months. What's everybody using/paying for internet, and do you like it?
Most helpful response
Are you in the city? Can you point to a cell phone tower from your house? If so, get t-mobile internet.
Post by u/arisendonger
03/10/2022
Internet Providers
Hello fellow Milwaukeeans! I recently moved back into the area and I currently have Spectrum which has been absolutely terrible. What internet providers have you had the best experience with?
Most helpful response
Switched to ATT fiber over the summer and it’s great. Faster and way more reliable than spectrum. Good luck canceling spectrum though, it will likely take hours and that’s not an exaggeration.
Post by u/crankbaiter11
08/29/2022
Internet Recommendation
Looking for very good internet speed 300+, no land line, with TV that covers premium TV and Bally What combination of providers is best? The ATT/DirectTV, Spectrum, YouTubeTV, etc.... sites too confusing for me. I need strong internet and most TV networks but not high on Spectrum, my current provider. I feel I'm paying way too much for the service referenced above. Thanks to all who help!
Most helpful response
Spectrum and ATT basically have a monopoly in Milwaukee. Can't get Verizon, etc because they don't have contracts.
Internet news and infrastructure in Milwaukee, WI
Almost all households in Milwaukee (96%) can get internet speeds of at least 100 Mbps, and a total 44% can get speeds of 1 Gbps or faster. (1) Cable internet from Spectrum is easiest to get, with coverage of nearly 70%. There’s also a lot of fiber internet in the city, though, and we expect AT&T to build out its fiber network even further in coming years.
Coverage from fixed wireless providers is also good, and is likely to get even better. US Cellular inked a deal with the Connected Systems Institute (CSI) manufacturing research facility at the University of Wisconsin to provide 5G and 4G to students, faculty, and business partners to develop manufacturing solutions, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see more institutional deals like this in the future. (4)
In addition, the federal government has pledged nearly $6 billion to help Wisconsin build out internet access to communities that don’t yet have broadband access. (5) The funding will include planning, staffing, and outreach, meaning a lot of families who don’t yet know about available broadband will have the resources they need to get connected.
All our top providers in Milwaukee, plus the smaller ones like PCs for People, participate in the Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides up to $30 off home internet access each month for certain seniors and families with students. Milwaukee City has published a list of additional ways to get help with internet access in the city, (6) and many providers offer their own ways to get free or cheap internet to underserved folks in their coverage areas.
Frequently asked internet questions in Milwaukee
Yes, many neighborhoods in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, have fiber-optic internet access. If you can sign up for a new internet connection from AT&T, that means fiber internet laid all the way to your doorstep, with download and upload speeds as fast as 5 Gpbs.
If that’s not available, you can almost certainly get cable internet from Spectrum. It’s not fiber to the home, but the network is built on a fiber-optic backbone, so you’ll still see a lot of the advantages you would from fiber-to-the-home, but you’ll miss out on the lightning-fast synchronous speeds.
Compare home internet plans from using the Switchful comparison tool.
You can get home internet from PCs for People for as little as $15 per month in Wisconsin on the low end, with speeds that don’t ever exceed 50 Mbps (and are often slower). On the high end, you can pay up to $180 per month if you want amazingly fast 5 Gbps speeds from AT&T.
Most providers today no longer require annual contracts, including our top three providers in the area. You may be on the hook for installation or equipment, though, so get all the details before you decide.
Learn how to read your internet bill.
Our top pick for home internet in Milwaukee is AT&T, which offers fiber internet equipped with top-of-the-line Wi-Fi gear to homes throughout the region. If you can’t get AT&T, our team of expert reviewers also likes Spectrum (which also offers Wi-Fi equipment as part of its service). You’ll have to pay $5 per month to rent the Spectrum router, though, and an additional $3 per month for each Wi-Fi extender.
Learn more about using home Wi-Fi equipment to keep you safe online.
Sources
(1) “FCC Broadband Map,” Federal Communications Commission. Accessed 9 March 2023.(2) "US Residential Internet Provider Satisfaction Study," J.D. Power. Accessed 15 October 2022.(3) “Explore Verizon 5G and 4G LTE network coverage in your area,” Verizon. Accessed 11 March 2023.(4) “Wisconsin university selects US Cellular for 5G private network,” RCR Wireless News. Accessed 11 March, 2023.(5) “Biden-Harris Administration Awards More Than $5.9 Million to Wisconsin in ‘Internet for All’ Planning Grants,” Broadband USA: National telecommunications and Information Administration.” Accessed 11 March 2023.(6) “Low-cost Internet, Computers & Computer Training for Milwaukee Residents,” City of Milwaukee. Accessed 11 March 2023.
