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Best internet providers in Grand Rapids, Michigan

AT&T fiber is our top internet service provider in Grand Rapids, offering the highest value and most accessibility. However, Grand Rapids, MI is still expanding its fiber internet network and deploying high-speed internet more equally across the city.

For people who can’t get AT&T fiber where they live, we recommend Xfinity internet and T-Mobile 5G Home Internet as fast alternatives with good value.

EDITOR'S CHOICE
AT&T
AT&T logo
Staff rating
4.5
Customer rating
4.1

  • Plans starting at $55.00 - $180.00
  • Download speeds up to 5000Mbps
  • Upload speeds up to 5000Mbps

Click below for all current AT&T deals

Disclaimer: Availability and pricing are subject to location. Conditions apply. For offer details, view disclaimers

RUNNER-UP
Xfinity
Xfinity brand
Staff rating
3.8
Customer rating
4.2

  • Plans starting at $19.99 - $600.00
  • Download speeds up to 6000 Mbps
  • Upload speeds up to 6000 Mbps

Click below for all current Xfinity deals

Disclaimer: Availability and pricing are subject to location. Conditions apply. For offer details, visit the provider's website.

RUNNER-UP
T-Mobile
T-Mobile brand
Staff rating
3.7
Customer rating
4.2

  • Plans starting at $50.00
  • Download speeds up to 182 Mbps
  • Upload speeds up to 23 Mbps

Click below for all current T-Mobile deals

Disclaimer: Availability and pricing are subject to location. Conditions apply.

How we rank internet providers
We have a robust rating system to score internet service providers overall, but the quality of service could vary city to city. When narrowing down the best providers specific to Grand Rapids, we considered factors like availability, value, performance, and customer experience. We source information directly from the ISP's themselves, the FCC, and first-hand insights from residents of Grand Rapids.
Mindy Woodall headshot
Researched by
Mindy WoodallContributing Writer
Headshot of Vilja Johnson
Reviewed by
Vilja JohnsonEditor-in-Chief
Updated 5/10/23

Our top 3 ISP choices in Grand Rapids, MI

Our top recommendations for Grand Rapids include AT&T fiber, Xfinity internet, and T-Mobile 5G Home Internet. These providers represent a range of internet connection types, and they have varying levels of availability throughout the city.

#1: AT&T fiber internet

AT&T fiber is Grand Rapids’ most accessible fiber internet connection. We recommend it for its reliability and value, but availability can be more difficult. AT&T fiber has some coverage throughout Grand Rapids, but you can’t just assume you’ll have access to it. You’ll need to double-check your ZIP code.

Read our full AT&T fiber internet review.

#2: Xfinity internet

Xfinity internet, a.k.a. Comcast, has been around for a long time, and it’s still a primary cable internet provider for people around Michigan—including in Grand Rapids. Xfinity has impressively high-speed plans available here that no competitor in the area can beat—other than AT&T fiber.

Read our full Xfinity internet review.

#3: T-Mobile 5G Home Internet

T-Mobile 5G Home Internet lets you skip some of the usual costs of internet setup, namely installation and equipment fees. Assuming you live in a neighborhood with good cell coverage, it’s easy to set up T-Mobile’s Gateway unit yourself and get online.

Read our full T-Mobile 5G Home Internet review.

All internet providers in Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids has all different kinds of internet connections spread throughout the city, including cable from providers like Xfinity and Spectrum and fiber from AT&T and other providers. You can also get satellite internet in Grand Rapids, but we don’t recommend it due to lackluster marks in speed, reliability, and latency.

The most popular providers in Grand Rapids are fiber and cable, thanks to their speed and reliability. But Grand Rapids also has widespread fixed wireless coverage from T-Mobile, and (to a lesser extent) Verizon Home Internet.

Fastest internet providers in Grand Rapids

AT&T fiber, Xfinity, and Metronet offer the fastest speeds in Grand Rapids—all three have plans with speeds at or above 1 gig. AT&T fiber goes as high as 5 gigs, and Xfinity plans go as high as 2 gigs.


These speeds aren’t available everywhere, and only a small minority of people could possibly need ultra-fast plans like these. Gig-level speeds are far too much for most of us.

How much speed do you need?

When choosing an internet plan, you want to keep all of your activities running smoothly without paying extra for speeds you don't need. At the bare minimum, you need 25 Mbps to do light browsing on one or two devices. Most households with multiple people and multiple devices will want to look for speeds in the 100–500 Mbps range. Learn how much speed your household needs in our guide to internet speed.
Illustration showing how much internet speed you may need

Cheapest internet providers in Grand Rapids

Fixed wireless providers like T-Mobile 5G Home Internet and Verizon Home Internet tend to be the cheapest, especially if you already have cell phone service from one company or the other. Plus, prices are steady with T-Mobile and Verizon Home Internet—your monthly cost doesn’t suddenly skyrocket after your first year.


Xfinity can be an affordable internet provider in Grand Rapids, depending on which plan you choose and whether or not you have to pay installation and equipment fees. Keep in mind that Xfinity prices also tend to go up after one or two years, at which point its plans become much more expensive.

Internet options in nearby cities

Internet options in towns near Grand Rapids are pretty similar to the city itself. Suburbs like Kentwood and Wyoming also have moderate access to AT&T fiber and more widespread coverage from Xfinity and T-Mobile Home Internet. Nearby cities don’t have much access to Spectrum internet, which makes Xfinity the biggest cable internet provider in the area.

To see more details, check out what’s available in these cities:

city map lines pattern
Providers near you
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What Grand Rapids residents are saying on Reddit

Grand Rapids residents on social media are not big fans of Xfinity, but they tend to love AT&T fiber. People also report good experiences with T-Mobile 5G Home Internet and Verizon Home Internet. Verizon Home Internet is not as widely available in Grand Rapids as T-Mobile, but it seems to get good speeds in its coverage areas.

Post by u/mdehevilland
02/25/2023
Fast internet GR? Moving to bridge street area. Currently have Xfinity and it’s ok. I was wondering if anyone knew of something coming to GR like google fiber etc..Any help would be much appreciated.

Currently live in GR as well. Not new to the area

Most helpful response

AT&T Fiber is amazing. It's faster and cheaper than xfinity. If you have access to that, get it. AT&T DSL is hot garbage though, so stick with xfinity if that's all you can get.


Post by u/RyuDHG
Internet Options

Alright, Xfinity has been doing "simple upgrades" in my area all week. It was scheduled to be done 2/28 but was canceled due to weather. Then rescheduled for 3/2. Well, they've taken the network down from 9 am to 4 pm EVERY DAY this week. I work from home, and this is KILLING ME. Are there any other providers out there?

Don't say Spectrum, I'm in an Xfinity area, and that's not going to happen.

Most helpful response

ATT Fiber for $80 month. Gig speed


Post by u/outside-guy
11/24/2022
Advice on internet providers

Plan on moving to jenison soon, I'd like to know which internet provider to use so I need your opinions please

Most helpful response

Which services are available and what prices/packages they offer is going to be entirely dependent on the specific location.

If you're lucky you'll have two choices for hard-line providers - one "cable company" and one "telephone company" - the latter will most likely be AT&T. To find what packages/prices are available at your new location, you'd need to go to AT&T's website and enter the specific street address.

The cable company might be either Charter/Spectrum, or Comcast/Xfinity. To see which, and what their packages/prices are, you'd need to go to their websites and enter the specific address.

There are of course also options for cellular service through any of the national cellular companies - T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon (or their resellers/sub-brands)

There may also be other land-based wireless options, as well as satellite, including both something like Hughesnet, as well as Starlink. Availablity of those options may be limited by obstructions such as trees, nearby tall buildings, etc.

edit: URL's for those services added:

https://www.att.com/internet/fiber/

https://www.xfinity.com/learn/internet-service

https://www.spectrum.com/internet


Post by u/VicBird
10/12/2023
AT&T Fiber

Hey everyone! I live on the NE side and have used AT&T for internet... forever. I know they were upgrading "stuff" over the summer but I ignored it because I don't like change. My internet service is not great but good enough. I got a letter that my current service will be discontinued and to call to upgrade. I'm actually ok because I know I need to upgrade, but? Has anyone done this yet? I'm thinking I just need 300Mbps. I basically watch cat videos online and stream crap on Netflix and Hulu. No gaming, remote work is not likely but it worked ok when I worked from home. Is there a huge diff b/w 300 and 500 Mbps?

Also - no joke - I still have a landline. I assume I could keep that and there would be no change but I am so stooooopit about this stuff. Anyone know if dinosaur phones are impacted?

And, lastly, it says you have to be home. So they come in the house? To do what exactly? Would just like to be prepared before I call. On my landline. Thank you!

Most helpful response

I switched from ATT standard to ATT fiber, 100mbps to 300mbps and my bill went from $64 to $55 a month.


Post by u/Cricket17521
02/03/2023
Internet prices

I’m paying $127 a month for JUST internet- is that normal? It xfinity- for more context I’m on the lakeshore (grand haven area) What do you all pay??

Most helpful response

I have my own modem and router. $55 per month total for internet only with Xfinity/Comcast.

Internet news and infrastructure in Grand Rapids, MI

Kent County announced plans in November 2022 to build out broadband access in the county, specifically in places where it was either not already available or where its service was not up to par. Many people would like to see fiber internet expand faster, but this move is about broadband quality overall and not a fiber expansion project specifically.(1)

Frequently asked internet questions in Grand Rapids


Yes, Grand Rapids has moderate fiber internet coverage throughout the city, primarily from AT&T fiber. Not every neighborhood is covered yet, but AT&T and other internet providers are still in the process of building out their networks, so Grand Rapids’ fiber coverage will likely continue to expand.



Spectrum is available in some small parts of Grand Rapids, but it’s not a primary internet provider in the area. You’ll have better luck finding coverage from AT&T fiber, Xfinity internet, or T-Mobile Home Internet.


The main difference is that AT&T fiber uses a fiber-optic internet connection and Xfinity uses a cable internet connection. Cable internet often has download speeds that rival fiber, but fiber is more reliable and has faster upload speeds. If you don’t have access to AT&T fiber in your neighborhood yet, then Xfinity’s still a good choice for most people.

Compare AT&T and Xfinity internet side by side.


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