What is the best internet provider in Sandy Springs?
AT&T Fiber is CNET’s pick for the best internet service provider in Sandy Springs because the fiber internet provider offers a variety of competitively priced plans. These come with speeds ranging from 300 megabits per second to 5,000Mbps, the fastest available in Sandy Springs. Moreover, all of these plans include free equipment rental, unlimited data and no contract requirements; benefits that helped AT&T Fiber earn high marks for customer satisfaction.
Fiber internet, like AT&T Fiber and Google Fiber, is a great choice for speed and reliability, but if you’re looking for cheap internet, Xfinity offers the lowest introductory rates in Sandy Springs. Xfinity offers three plans priced at or below the cheapest plan from AT&T Fiber. Its cheapest plan, Xfinity Connect, offers speeds up to 150Mbps starting at $20 a month, the cheapest in the area.
Aside from AT&T and Xfinity, fixed wireless providers Verizon 5G Home Internet and T-Mobile Home Internet are top options for broadband in Sandy Springs. T-Mobile has better local coverage, but Verizon has the faster speed potential while both offer unlimited data, free equipment and a mobile bundle discount.
Best internet in Sandy Springs, Georgia
Sandy Springs, Georgia, internet providers compared
Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AT&T Fiber Read full review |
Fiber | $55-$245 | 300-5,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
Google Fiber Read full review |
Fiber | $70-$100 | 1,000-2,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.5 |
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $55-$75 ($40-$50 with eligible mobile plans) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 with eligible mobile plans) | 50-1,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
Xfinity Read full review |
Cable | $20-$100 | 150-2,000Mbps | $15 (included in most plans) | 1.2TB or none | 1-2 years (optional) | 7 |
Show more (0 item)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Sandy Springs
The best internet deals and the top promotions in Sandy Springs depend on what discounts are available during that time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Sandy Springs internet providers, such as Xfinity, may offer lower introductory pricing or other perks, including free equipment rental, for a limited time. Many, including AT&T Fiber, Google Fiber and Verizon 5G Home Internet, run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
Fastest internet plans in Sandy Springs
Plan | Starting price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
AT&T Internet 5000 Read full review |
$245 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
AT&T Internet 2000 Read full review |
$145 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
Google Fiber 2 Gig Read full review |
$100 | 2,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
Xfinity Gigabit x2 Read full review |
$100 | 2,000Mbps | 200Mbps | None | Cable |
Xfinity Gigabit Extra Read full review |
$85 | 1,200Mbps | 35Mbps | 1.2TB | Cable |
AT&T Internet 1000 Read full review |
$80 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
Google Fiber 1 Gig Read full review |
$70 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
Xfinity Gigabit Read full review |
$65 | 1,000Mbps | 20Mbps | 1.2TB | Cable |
Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read full review |
$70 ($45 with eligible mobile plans) | 1,000Mbps | 75Mbps | None | Fixed wireless |
Show more (4 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 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 Federal Communications Commission. 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 videoconferencing.
- 40 to 100Mbps should give one person sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
- 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two people to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming.
- 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more people to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Sandy Springs, Georgia
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 the time 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 it comes to 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 take into account 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.
Internet providers in Sandy Springs, Georgia, FAQs
What is the best internet provider in Sandy Springs?
AT&T Fiber is the best internet service provider in Sandy Springs. While not the cheapest ISP in the area, AT&T Fiber offers plenty of value with fast upload and download speeds, free equipment rental, unlimited data and no set price increases. AT&T Fiber’s speeds, stable pricing and simple service terms have earned the ISP high marks for customer satisfaction from the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power in recent years.
Is fiber internet available in Sandy Springs?
According to recent FCC data, nearly half of Sandy Springs residential addresses are serviceable for fiber internet. Serviceability is greatest in The Oaks, Forestdale Estates and Rivergate communities, although fiber service can be found in random neighborhoods throughout the city. AT&T Fiber is the largest fiber internet provider in Sandy Springs while Google Fiber is available to around 2,400 households in the area.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Sandy Springs?
Xfinity has the lowest introductory rate on home internet in Sandy Springs, with service starting at $20 a month for download speeds up to 150Mbps. Other low-cost Xfinity plans start at $35 and $45 for speeds up to 300 and 500Mbps, respectively. The cheap pricing is tempting, but you should be aware that equipment fees, data caps and contracts may apply. Additionally, pricing on Xfinity plans is set to increase after a year or two of service.
Which internet provider in Sandy Springs offers the fastest plan?
AT&T Fiber offers the fastest internet plan in Sandy Springs with symmetrical speeds up to 5,000Mbps available starting at $245 a month. AT&T Fiber also offers a 2,000Mbps plan in Sandy Springs along with Google Fiber and Xfinity. AT&T Fiber is the only local ISP to offer 2,000Mbps up and down. Google Fiber’s 2-gig plan comes with upload speeds of 1,000Mbps (which is still plenty of speed), and Xfinity’s upload speeds top out at 200Mbps.