Best Internet Providers in Bakersfield, California
Those who live in Bakersfield, California, have a mixed bag when it comes to the internet. The good? It appears that 100% of residents have access to a plan with at least 100Mbps download and 20Mbps upload speeds — the Federal Communications Commission’s proposed minimum for broadband — and it’s one of the top 50 cities in the country by median speed.
Then what’s the bad? The options for high-speed internet in Bakersfield are still very limited. While AT&T Fiber is now available to around one in five households (with prices starting at $55), Spectrum is the only option in many neighborhoods. Wireless providers like T-Mobile and Verizon also offer home internet plans now, but their speeds tend to fluctuate more than wired connections. Plans offered by both providers start at $50 and go up to $70.
On the bright side, in 2022 the Bakersfield City Council approved a deal with SiFi Networks to build and maintain a fiber network along every street in the city at no cost to taxpayers. SiFi will then sell network access to private internet providers. According to a presentation given to the Board of Supervisors, residents would pay about $60 each month for 10,000Mbps. For comparison, AT&T currently charges $245 for 5,000Mbps. But the project is currently in the design phase, with no clear timetable for construction yet.
Best internet options in Bakersfield
CNET examines customer service, speed, pricing and overall value before recommending the best broadband in your area. For a long time, Spectrum was essentially the only option for high-speed internet in Bakersfield. Then, in 2015, AT&T agreed to expand its fiber-optic network to 20 new metro areas within four years as a part of its deal to buy DirecTV. In 2017, AT&T Fiber officially launched in Bakersfield, immediately becoming the city’s best internet option. It’s currently available to 79% of Bakersfield households.
Note: The prices, speeds and features detailed in the article text may differ from those listed in the product detail cards, which represent providers’ national offerings. Your particular internet service options — including prices and speeds — depend on your address and may differ from those detailed here.
Top Bakersfield internet providers
| 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 |
| AT&T Internet Air Read full review |
Fixed Wireless | $60 | 768Kbps-100Mbps | None | 1.5TB (no data cap for 100Mbps plan) | None | 7.4 |
| Spectrum Read full review |
Cable | $50-$70 | 500-1,000Mbps | $10 | None | None | 7.2 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($30-$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 phone plan) | 50-250Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
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What other internet options are there in Bakersfield?
We think the three providers highlighted above are your best options for internet in Bakersfield, but there are a few other ISPs you can consider:
- Applied Technology Group: For residents in rural areas around Bakersfield, Applied Technology Group offers fixed wireless internet plans with speeds up to 35Mbps. If the choice is between Applied and satellite internet, we’d probably go with Applied. But in every other situation, there’s probably a better option.
- unWired Broadband: This is another fixed wireless provider in the area, with plans starting at $60 monthly. It’s targeted towards people living in rural areas; when we asked them for a quote for an address in the city, they actually recommended we look into Spectrum or AT&T instead. If you can’t get anything else, unWired may be worth a look.
- Satellite internet: Companies like Hughesnet and Viasat offer internet service at virtually every address in the country, but it’s only your best option if it’s your only option. Satellite internet comes with slow speeds, low data caps and high prices. One exception is Starlink, which provides significantly faster speeds but costs $120 a month with a $349 equipment fee upfront.
- Verizon 5G Home Internet: Like T-Mobile, Verizon’s home internet service offers wireless internet throughout Bakersfield. It has two plans: $50 a month for download speeds up to 85Mbps or $70 for speeds up to 250Mbps. Both plans get a decent discount when bundled with qualifying Verizon 5G mobile plans.
Pricing details on Bakersfield home internet service
Bakersfield residents can expect to pay between $50 and $90 a month for internet service, which is about average for cities across the country. That said, there is a lack of truly cheap internet plans in the city, with starting prices around $50 monthly.
Cheapest internet plans in Bakersfield
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum Read full review |
$50 | 500Mbps | $10 | None |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 85Mbps | None | None |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
$50 ($30 with eligible mobile plans) | 245Mbps | None | None |
| AT&T Fiber Read full review |
$55 | 300Mbps | None | None |
