Best Internet Providers in Santa Cruz, CA
Santa Cruz has 8 internet providers serving this coastal California college town. Xfinity covers 71% of the city while AT&T fiber reaches 70%, giving most residents strong wired broadband competition.
Check availability: 1-844-963-0138 (Xfinity)
Quick Answer: Best Internet in Santa Cruz, CA
Xfinity and AT&T are the dominant providers in Santa Cruz with similar coverage levels. AT&T fiber is the premium pick for symmetrical speeds and no data caps, while Xfinity offers the lowest starting price at $35/month.
- Best fiber: AT&T Internet -- 70% coverage, symmetrical speeds to 5 Gbps
- Best cable: Xfinity -- 71% coverage, plans from $35/mo
- Best budget: T-Mobile 5G -- $50/mo, no contract, 36% coverage
- Best no-contract cable: Spectrum -- 24% coverage, no caps or contracts
Internet Providers in Santa Cruz, CA -- Full Comparison
| Provider | Technology | Max Speed | Starting Price | Data Cap | Contract | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xfinity | Cable / Fiber | 2 Gbps | $35.00/mo | 1.2 TB | No | 1-844-963-0138 |
| AT&T Internet | Fiber / DSL | 5 Gbps | $55.00/mo | None | No | 1-855-850-5977 |
| T-Mobile | 5G / Fixed Wireless | 245 Mbps | $50.00/mo | None | No | 1-844-275-9311 |
| Spectrum | Cable | 1 Gbps | $49.99/mo | None | No | 1-844-481-5997 |
| Verizon 5G Home | 5G | 300 Mbps | $60.00/mo | None | No | 1-855-387-1456 |
| HughesNet | Satellite | 100 Mbps | $49.99/mo | 100 GB | Yes | 1-855-543-5405 |
| Viasat | Satellite | 150 Mbps | $49.99/mo | Varies | Yes | 1-855-463-9333 |
| Starlink | Satellite | 220 Mbps | $120.00/mo | 1 TB | No | Online only |
Top Internet Providers in Santa Cruz -- Detailed Reviews
Xfinity
Xfinity leads Santa Cruz with 71% coverage, offering cable and fiber-hybrid service. Their tiered plans range from basic browsing speeds to multi-gigabit connections for power users and tech professionals working from this coastal city.
Plans: Connect (150 Mbps, $35), Connect More (300 Mbps, $55), Fast (600 Mbps, $65), Gigabit (1.2 Gbps, $80)
Choose if: You want the widest cable coverage and the lowest entry price in Santa Cruz.
Avoid if: You need unlimited data -- Xfinity enforces a 1.2 TB monthly cap.
Call: 1-844-963-0138
AT&T Internet
AT&T covers 70% of Santa Cruz with fiber and DSL options. Their fiber plans deliver symmetrical speeds with no data caps, making AT&T the top pick for remote tech workers and UCSC researchers who need reliable upstream bandwidth.
Plans: Fiber 300 ($55/mo), Fiber 500 ($65/mo), Fiber 1 Gig ($80/mo), Fiber 2 Gig ($150/mo)
Choose if: You need symmetrical fiber speeds with no data caps for work or content creation.
Avoid if: Only DSL is available at your address, which caps around 100 Mbps.
Call: 1-855-850-5977
Spectrum
Spectrum serves 24% of Santa Cruz with cable internet. No contracts, no data caps, and a free modem make them a strong choice where available, particularly in neighborhoods not reached by Xfinity.
Plans: Internet (300 Mbps, $49.99), Ultra (500 Mbps, $69.99), Gig (1 Gbps, $89.99)
Choose if: You want no-cap, no-contract cable internet.
Avoid if: You are outside Spectrum's 24% footprint in Santa Cruz.
Call: 1-844-481-5997
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet
T-Mobile covers 36% of Santa Cruz with 5G fixed wireless. While coverage is more limited than in flatter metro areas, T-Mobile's no-contract, flat-rate pricing appeals to students and budget-conscious residents.
Plans: Home Internet ($50/mo flat)
Choose if: You want quick setup and affordable wireless broadband.
Avoid if: You are in the hilly areas of Santa Cruz where 5G signals may weaken.
Call: 1-844-275-9311
Speed Tier Comparison for Santa Cruz, CA
| Speed Tier | Xfinity | AT&T | Spectrum | T-Mobile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic (100-300 Mbps) | $35.00 | $55.00 | $49.99 | $50.00 |
| Mid (300-500 Mbps) | $55.00 | $65.00 | $69.99 | -- |
| Fast (500 Mbps-1 Gig) | $80.00 | $80.00 | $89.99 | -- |
Speed recommendation: Students and singles need 100-200 Mbps. Shared houses with 3-5 roommates should target 300-500 Mbps. Remote tech workers and content creators benefit from AT&T symmetrical fiber at 500+ Mbps.
Internet Coverage in Santa Cruz, CA
Santa Cruz is a coastal city of about 63,000 residents in Santa Cruz County, home to UC Santa Cruz and a thriving tech-adjacent workforce. The city's hilly terrain and forested areas create variable coverage zones, making provider selection location-dependent.
Xfinity (71%) and AT&T (70%) provide the broadest wired coverage. Spectrum adds a 24% cable alternative, while T-Mobile 5G reaches 36% of the city. Satellite providers including Starlink offer full coverage for addresses in the Santa Cruz Mountains and outlying areas.
Coverage by Neighborhood
- Downtown / Pacific Avenue: Full Xfinity and AT&T fiber coverage
- Westside / UCSC area: Xfinity and AT&T available, T-Mobile 5G varies
- East Santa Cruz / Seabright: AT&T fiber and Xfinity strong
- Santa Cruz Mountains / Upper campus: Satellite providers most reliable
- Capitola border / 41st Avenue: Multi-provider coverage including Spectrum
Nearby Cities
Internet Speed Requirements for Santa Cruz Households
The speed you need in Santa Cruz 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 Cruz 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 Cruz Internet
What is the best internet provider in Santa Cruz, CA?
Xfinity is the most widely available at 71% coverage with cable speeds up to 2 Gbps. AT&T fiber covers 70% with symmetrical gigabit speeds and no data caps.
Is fiber internet available in Santa Cruz?
Yes. AT&T delivers fiber to about 70% of Santa Cruz with symmetrical speeds up to 5 Gbps. Xfinity also has fiber-hybrid plans in select areas.
What is the cheapest internet in Santa Cruz, CA?
Xfinity offers plans starting around $35/month. Spectrum starts at $49.99/month with no contract. T-Mobile 5G is $50/month flat.
Can I get cable internet in Santa Cruz?
Yes. Xfinity covers 71% and Spectrum covers 24% of Santa Cruz with cable internet. Both offer no-contract plans.
What internet works best for UCSC students in Santa Cruz?
For off-campus UCSC students, Xfinity or AT&T fiber in downtown Santa Cruz offer the best speeds. T-Mobile 5G at $50/month is a budget-friendly no-contract option.
Related Resources
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Provider Pages
Guides
Last updated: February 7, 2026
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