Best internet providers in Aurora, Illinois
AT&T, Xfinity, and T-Mobile—the best internet providers in Aurora, IL—are household names in the internet, mobile, and TV space. All three companies cover at least 85% of the Aurora area, with Xfinity and T-Mobile covering over 95% apiece. Our #1 pick in this space is AT&T; though it covers over 80% of the Aurora area, fiber isn’t available to that full footprint.
- Plans starting at $55.00 - $180.00
- Download speeds up to 5000Mbps
- Upload speeds up to 5000Mbps
Disclaimer: Availability and pricing are subject to location. Conditions apply. For offer details, view disclaimers
- Plans starting at $19.99 - $600.00
- Download speeds up to 6000 Mbps
- Upload speeds up to 6000 Mbps
Disclaimer: Availability and pricing are subject to location. Conditions apply. For offer details, visit the provider's website.
- Plans starting at $50.00
- Download speeds up to 182 Mbps
- Upload speeds up to 23 Mbps
Disclaimer: Availability and pricing are subject to location. Conditions apply.
Our top 3 ISP choices in Aurora, IL
The top contenders in Aurora are AT&T, Xfinity, and T-Mobile, each with their own unique combination that ranks them one, two, three on our list.
#1: AT&T internet
AT&T consistently ranks high on our list of the best internet providers and for good reason. Covering 86% of the Aurora area, there’s a good chance you too can enjoy the same super-speedy internet and reasonable prices that AT&T has become known for.
This does come with a caveat: new customers can no longer get DSL service from AT&T, and its current fiber network doesn’t cover the entire city footprint, so customers have to play the “viable address” game in order to get fiber hooked up to their home. With that said, fiber offers identical speeds for downloads and uploads and reliable connections, perfect for seamless streaming, gaming, and working from home.
Read our full AT&T internet review.
#2: Xfinity internet
Xfinity is the most competitive on this list as far as pricing is concerned. $30 a month gets you 75 Mbps, plenty of speed for a household of four to browse the web, game, and stream in HD. Faster speeds are possible at greater costs, but such price increases are incremental, so anyone wanting faster speeds won’t break the bank. For example, a plan offering 200 Mbps is only $5 more a month, while the fastest plan advertised on Xfinity’s website comes in at $80 a month for 1200 Mbps. Beware of data caps on slower plans, though, and Xfinity has a lukewarm customer service record, something it’s improved on year after year.
Read our full Xfinity internet review.
#3: T-Mobile internet: T-Mobile is rapidly expanding into the home internet space; it added more high-speed internet customers than its competitors did in 2022, and there’s no reason that can’t continue. It’s a great option for those looking for a fixed wireless connection, low prices, and no long-term contract commitments, but speeds and reliability may vary by the signal strength at your house. It offers a lot of goodies for new and current customers, so if you already have a T-Mobile phone plan, consider adding home internet as well.
Read our full T-Mobile 5G Home Internet review.
All internet providers in Aurora
Aside from our top choices for the City of Lights, there are several other providers in the area. Verizon 5G Home offers the next-largest coverage area after our top three and the satellite internet providers (Starlink, HughesNet, and Viasat).
Satellite internet is an evolving industry, and though they don’t crack the top three, they could provide you with what you need. Our overall impression of satellite internet is that it’s not the best choice when so many fundamentally better options are on the table. Equipment costs, high latency, contract requirements, slow speeds during peak hours (and in some cases, during low-usage hours), high prices, caps on data limits, and a host of other issues consistently keep these satellite internet providers near the bottom of our staff rankings.
Other, smaller providers include Astound Broadband, Rise Broadband, and Metronet. Combined, their coverage map is barely over 5% of the Aurora area. Of the three, Astound Broadband offers the fastest speeds at a relatively low price, but price hikes after a year or two are something to consider when you’re making a final decision. Metronet is a fiber company, but its 3% coverage map doesn’t offer much internet comfort to the community at large.
Fastest internet providers in Aurora
Combining ultra-fast speed with reasonable pricing as you ascend the Mbps scale, AT&T is far and away the best option for speed, speed, speed! Even the cheapest option at $55 a month gets you 300 Mbps, more than enough for a large household with multiple connected devices active at once, be it downloading a song, trash-talking that Call of Duty player, or streaming your favorite rom-com on Netflix or Hulu.
AT&T’s top download and upload speed is 5 Gbps, overkill for any household that isn’t running a fully operational spy ring out of their basement, but there if you want it. Xfinity and Astound Broadband also offer top-tier speeds up to 1 and 1.2 Gbps respectively, more than enough to stream in 4K or videoconference or game with low latency.
How much speed do you need?
Cheapest internet providers in Aurora
Xfinity and Astound Broadband are virtually tied for the cheapest internet providers in the area, with both offering deals at $25 a month. Xfinity’s plan is for 75 Mbps, while Astound doesn’t stipulate exactly how fast a connection that $25 will get you, but it might be worth getting a quote. Both services offer bundling options (internet, TV, home phone) for additional savings, so if you’re on a budget, or don’t want to spend your hard earned cash on a service that’s virtually identical to another, cheaper option, seeing if your address qualifies is a good start with both companies.
Internet options in nearby cities
Providers in Aurora are nearly identical to the ones offered in the greater Chicago area, with the one missing link being Zentro, a fixed wireless company with a small footprint in Chicago but not Aurora.
Google Fiber is also absent from both Chicago and Aurora…well, sort of. Google does have a service called Webpass that is available for specific addresses in Chicago and Aurora, but these seem to be limited to apartment buildings, condominiums, and businesses. If those are your current living arrangements, Zentro’s website can tell you if you qualify for its service.
Joliet, Naperville, and Elgin all have similar coverage maps to Aurora and Chicago, though Verizon is not as prevalent in Naperville. Astound Broadband, offering nearly 60% coverage in Chicago, has a minuscule presence in Aurora, but it covers nearly 100% of the Naperville and Elgin suburbs.
What Aurora residents are saying on Reddit
AT&T is pretty high on everybody’s list, and we can’t think of any reason why this wouldn’t be the case. AT&T prides itself on customer service, offers high speeds for low prices, and covers nearly the entire Chicago area and the surrounding suburbs. Metronet seems to be another favorite, and while it’s available in Aurora, its coverage map is not very large.
Xfinity has been improving its customer service, and it offers super-low prices for basic internet, though if you want faster speeds, you will have to pay extra.
Hello! My partner & I are moving cross country to Aurora in May. We're coming from a small town in the middle of Pennsylvania where I was born, raised, and rarely traveled from, so the rest of the country is still quite an adventure for me. I have a few questions about the area and how to get started settling in! For context, we'll be around Eola.
First, what's the best internet provider or the most reliable? Probably won't be able to get it set up right away, but fingers crossed!
Second, how is the LGBT scene? Are most people and businesses accepting, and are there any hotspots we should know? Any spots we should avoid?
Third and last, how accessible is the area as far as walkability and public transport? This probably seems a little vague as I know Aurora is super big, but any general response or estimation would be helpful!
Thank you everyone!
Cool!! Welcome to the neighborhood :)
I live in somewhat the same area as you. We've had Comcast for the last year with very few issues (though, funny enough, we did have some issues today). To be fair I've never had any other company while out here though. When I lived in Chicago we had AT&T and that was also fine.
As far as the LGBTQ+ community goes, I can't say for sure because I don't have firsthand experience, but I think Aurora is pretty big & pretty diverse. Meaning you'll absolutely find supportive and progressive pockets of people, but there's also plenty who are not. It's far from a super conservative town though, as far as my daily life and daily interactions have been. I would def seek out more opinions on that, hopefully you get some good responses on this thread.
And unfortunately, Aurora is not very walkable :( this is something I wish would change, not just here but all over the US lol. There are plenty of bike trails however, and there is easy public transport to and from the city via the Metra. I'm not sure if we have a robust public transit system within Aurora, I don't think so. It's definitely a need-a-car type town.
Anyway hi, I'm Tam, I run a grappling gym here in Aurora that prides itself on being inclusive and welcoming, so if you're looking for a new hobby and to meet some people through combat sports, our doors are open to you. ♥️ Pica Pau Jiu Jitsu
Good luck with the move!
Internet news and infrastructure in Aurora, IL
Aurora is making a push to expand broadband internet citywide, a sign of lawmakers and the community really coming together to get people the internet connections they need. In 2022, Aurora applied for a federal grant to advance these ends as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Acts passed by Congress and supported by President Joe Biden. Officials state that it’s “the goal of the program to reduce the cost of connecting areas that are unserved or underserved by internet access.” (2)
Bluebird Network, a company that provides fiber internet and data transport to the Midwest, has expanded into the Aurora area and connects other Illinois communities as well. The new route to Chicago “allows Bluebird to offer its data center solutions to more customers” (3) in Chicago, connecting cities and providing high-quality communications infrastructure to several communities.
All in all, we believe Aurora is committed to expanding service to its population, especially the unserved and underserved communities.
Frequently asked internet questions in Aurora
The biggest differences between Xfinity and AT&T have to do with pricing and speed. Xfinity is cheaper for basic internet, but there may be data caps on some of its budget plans, and you’ll have to pay more in order to get those removed. AT&T offers the highest speeds around, and its prices are reasonable as you ascend the Mbps scale. All things considered, it may be worth it to go with AT&T for the higher speeds, as you’ll probably pay the same (or more) for similar speeds with Xfinity. AT&T also has a great customer service record, while Xfinity’s customer service record leaves much to be desired.
Assuming your address isn’t viable for fiber at the moment, you could always go with a fixed wireless, cable, or satellite option, at least until fiber becomes available in your area. Fiber expansion is happening, but it’s not an overnight sensation. The technology is there, but the buildout of a reliable fiber network takes time, a company’s initiative and its desire to expand into more areas, and community support. Regardless, there are several great options other than fiber. Check your address in the map on this page to see all your options, and learn more about how cable internet compares to fiber.
The major benefit is in the price. Astound and Xfinity have virtually identical prices, but if your address is viable, we’d recommend Astound Broadband for the higher speeds, award-winning service, and “no contract required” perk.
Eventual price hikes can be pretty steep, but Astound’s current promotion for 300 Mbps at only $25 a month has a two-year price lock, definitely worth taking advantage of while the deal lasts.
AT&T also offers 300 Mbps for $55 a month, but if you have a viable address and want to save money while still getting great service, Astound Broadband provides a comfy landing spot.