Best Internet Providers in Santa Barbara, CA (2026)
Santa Barbara residents have 9 internet providers to choose from, with T-Mobile 5G, Cox, and Xfinity leading in coverage. Multiple fiber providers add gigabit and multi-gigabit options across the city.
Check availability: 1-855-342-0684 (Cox)
Quick Answer: Best Internet in Santa Barbara
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet leads in coverage at 56.4%, while Cox and Xfinity split the cable market at 46.7% and 43% respectively. Frontier Fiber offers the best value for gigabit speeds starting at just $35/mo with no data caps.
- Best wireless coverage: T-Mobile 5G - 56.4%, from $25/mo
- Best cable: Cox Internet - 46.7%, up to 2 Gbps
- Best fiber value: Frontier Fiber - 500 Mbps at $35/mo
- Fastest max: AT&T/Frontier Fiber - up to 5 Gbps
- No data caps: T-Mobile, Frontier, AT&T, Verizon Fios
Santa Barbara Internet Providers Comparison
| Provider | Technology | Max Speed | Starting Price | Data Cap | Contract | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile | 5G, Fixed Wireless | 245 Mbps | $25/mo | None | No | 1-844-275-9311 |
| Cox Internet | Cable, Fiber | 2 Gbps | $50/mo | 1.25 TB | No | 1-855-342-0684 |
| Xfinity | Cable, Fiber | 2 Gbps | $35/mo | 1.2 TB | No | 1-844-963-0138 |
| Frontier Fiber | Fiber, DSL | 5 Gbps | $35/mo | None | No | 1-855-981-6281 |
| AT&T Internet | Fiber, DSL | 5 Gbps | $55/mo | None (Fiber) | No | 1-855-850-5977 |
| Verizon Fios | Fiber | 2 Gbps | $50/mo | None | No | 1-855-387-1456 |
| HughesNet | Satellite | 100 Mbps | $50/mo | 100-200 GB | 24 mo | 1-855-543-5405 |
| Viasat | Satellite | 150 Mbps | $70/mo | 40-300 GB | 24 mo | 1-855-463-9333 |
| Starlink | Satellite | 220 Mbps | $120/mo | None | No | Online only |
Top Internet Providers in Santa Barbara - Detailed Review
Cox Internet
Cox covers 46.7% of Santa Barbara with cable and fiber. Plans scale from 100 Mbps to 2 Gbps. A 1.25 TB data cap applies to most tiers, with unlimited available for $50/mo extra.
Plans: Go Fast (100 Mbps, $50/mo) | Essential (250 Mbps, $70/mo) | Preferred (500 Mbps, $90/mo) | Ultimate (1 Gbps, $110/mo)
Choose If: You want fast cable in Cox's coverage area of Santa Barbara.
Avoid If: The 1.25 TB data cap does not meet your usage needs.
Call: 1-855-342-0684
Frontier Fiber
Frontier covers 39% of Santa Barbara with fiber and DSL. Its fiber plans start at $35/mo for 500 Mbps with no data caps and no contracts, offering the best fiber value in the city.
Plans: Fiber 500 (500 Mbps, $35/mo) | Fiber 1 Gig (1 Gbps, $60/mo) | Fiber 2 Gig (2 Gbps, $85/mo)
Choose If: You want affordable fiber with no data caps or contracts.
Avoid If: Only Frontier DSL is available at your address.
Call: 1-855-981-6281
Xfinity
Xfinity covers 43% of Santa Barbara with cable and fiber service. Plans start at $35/mo and scale to 2 Gbps. A 1.2 TB data cap applies to most plans.
Plans: Connect (75 Mbps, $35/mo) | Connect More (200 Mbps, $55/mo) | Gigabit Extra (2 Gbps, $100/mo)
Choose If: You want the cheapest entry-level cable starting at $35/mo.
Avoid If: Data caps are an issue - fiber providers offer unlimited plans.
Call: 1-844-963-0138
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet
T-Mobile has the widest terrestrial coverage at 56.4% of Santa Barbara with 5G and fixed wireless. At $25/mo it is the cheapest broadband with no data caps or contracts.
Plans: Home Internet (110 Mbps avg, $25/mo) | All-In (245 Mbps, $35/mo)
Choose If: Budget is your top concern and moderate wireless speeds work.
Avoid If: You need wired reliability and speeds above 200 Mbps.
Call: 1-844-275-9311
Speed Tier Comparison in Santa Barbara
| Speed Tier | Cox | Xfinity | Frontier | AT&T | T-Mobile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 Mbps | $50/mo | $35/mo | - | - | $25/mo |
| 300 Mbps | $70/mo | $55/mo | - | $55/mo | - |
| 500 Mbps | $90/mo | $65/mo | $35/mo | $65/mo | - |
| 1 Gbps | $110/mo | $80/mo | $60/mo | $80/mo | - |
Speed Recommendations
- 1-2 users, browsing: 100 Mbps (T-Mobile $25/mo)
- 3-4 users, streaming: 300 Mbps (AT&T $55/mo)
- 5+ users, 4K & gaming: 500 Mbps (Frontier $35/mo - best deal)
- Remote work & uploads: 1 Gbps fiber (Frontier $60/mo)
Internet in Santa Barbara, CA - Local Market Overview
Santa Barbara, a coastal California city with a population of 88,665, is part of the Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Goleta CBSA. The city's broadband market is uniquely split between Cox and Xfinity for cable, with Frontier and AT&T expanding fiber infrastructure.
No single wired provider covers a majority of the city. T-Mobile 5G leads in terrestrial coverage at 56.4%, while satellite providers guarantee 100% availability. The fragmented market means residents should check address-level availability before choosing.
Neighborhoods & Coverage
- Downtown SB: Cox cable and Frontier fiber overlap
- Goleta border: Xfinity cable with AT&T expanding
- Riviera / Mission area: Cox and Frontier fiber availability
- Eastside: T-Mobile 5G and satellite coverage
Nearby Cities
Internet Speed Requirements for Santa Barbara Households
The speed you need in Santa Barbara depends on how many people and devices use your connection simultaneously. A single person streaming video and browsing the web can get by with 50-100 Mbps. A household of 2-3 people with regular streaming and video calls should target 200-300 Mbps. Larger families with 4 or more heavy users benefit from 500 Mbps to 1 Gbps plans, especially when multiple people are streaming in 4K, gaming online, or working from home at the same time.
Upload speed matters just as much as download speed for Santa Barbara residents who work remotely. Video conferencing platforms like Zoom and Teams require at least 5 Mbps upload for stable HD video, and 10 Mbps or more for group calls with screen sharing. If multiple household members participate in video calls simultaneously, ensure your plan provides at least 20-25 Mbps upload speed. Fiber plans offer the best upload performance with symmetrical speeds.
Frequently Asked Questions - Santa Barbara Internet
What is the fastest internet in Santa Barbara, CA?
Frontier Fiber and AT&T Fiber both offer speeds up to 5 Gbps in parts of Santa Barbara. Cox Internet provides cable and fiber speeds up to 2 Gbps covering 46.7% of the city.
Who is the cheapest internet provider in Santa Barbara?
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet starts at $25/mo with no contract or data caps. Frontier Fiber also offers competitive pricing starting at $35/mo for 500 Mbps.
Is Cox or Xfinity better in Santa Barbara?
Cox covers 46.7% while Xfinity reaches 43% of Santa Barbara. Both offer similar cable speeds, but Cox has a 1.25 TB data cap and Xfinity has a 1.2 TB cap. Choose whichever is available at your address.
Is fiber internet available in Santa Barbara?
Yes. Cox offers fiber in select areas (46.7%), Xfinity has fiber options (43%), Frontier Fiber covers 39%, AT&T Fiber reaches 28.1%, and Verizon Fios serves 23.9% of Santa Barbara.
Does Frontier Fiber serve Santa Barbara?
Yes. Frontier Fiber covers 39% of Santa Barbara with speeds up to 5 Gbps, no data caps, and no annual contracts. Plans start at $35/mo for 500 Mbps.
Related Internet Resources
California Internet
Provider Pages
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Last updated: February 7, 2026
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