Best Internet Providers in Oakland, California for 2026

Compare the Best Internet Service Providers in Oakland, CA

Real-world Speedtest results

Speedtest aggregates all of the millions of daily tests across our website and apps by users just like you. We’ve filtered those tests down to those taken in Oakland, California, to give you a real sense of what performance is like across the top providers, and to help you make a more informed ISP decision.

Sonic
Real-world Speedtest results

Speedtest aggregates all of the millions of daily tests across our website and apps by users just like you. We’ve filtered those tests down to those taken in Oakland, California, to give you a real sense of what performance is like across the top providers, and to help you make a more informed ISP decision.

Download363.84Mbps
Upload292.45Mbps
Latency9ms
AT&T Fiber
Real-world Speedtest results

Speedtest aggregates all of the millions of daily tests across our website and apps by users just like you. We’ve filtered those tests down to those taken in Oakland, California, to give you a real sense of what performance is like across the top providers, and to help you make a more informed ISP decision.

Download350.23Mbps
Upload251.55Mbps
Latency12ms
XFINITY
Real-world Speedtest results

Speedtest aggregates all of the millions of daily tests across our website and apps by users just like you. We’ve filtered those tests down to those taken in Oakland, California, to give you a real sense of what performance is like across the top providers, and to help you make a more informed ISP decision.

Download251.71Mbps
Upload40.68Mbps
Latency22ms
Etheric Networks
Real-world Speedtest results

Speedtest aggregates all of the millions of daily tests across our website and apps by users just like you. We’ve filtered those tests down to those taken in Oakland, California, to give you a real sense of what performance is like across the top providers, and to help you make a more informed ISP decision.

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T-Mobile 5G Home Internet
Real-world Speedtest results

Speedtest aggregates all of the millions of daily tests across our website and apps by users just like you. We’ve filtered those tests down to those taken in Oakland, California, to give you a real sense of what performance is like across the top providers, and to help you make a more informed ISP decision.

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Latency-ms
Starlink
Real-world Speedtest results

Speedtest aggregates all of the millions of daily tests across our website and apps by users just like you. We’ve filtered those tests down to those taken in Oakland, California, to give you a real sense of what performance is like across the top providers, and to help you make a more informed ISP decision.

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Verizon
Real-world Speedtest results

Speedtest aggregates all of the millions of daily tests across our website and apps by users just like you. We’ve filtered those tests down to those taken in Oakland, California, to give you a real sense of what performance is like across the top providers, and to help you make a more informed ISP decision.

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Unwired Ltd
Real-world Speedtest results

Speedtest aggregates all of the millions of daily tests across our website and apps by users just like you. We’ve filtered those tests down to those taken in Oakland, California, to give you a real sense of what performance is like across the top providers, and to help you make a more informed ISP decision.

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Viasat Internet
Real-world Speedtest results

Speedtest aggregates all of the millions of daily tests across our website and apps by users just like you. We’ve filtered those tests down to those taken in Oakland, California, to give you a real sense of what performance is like across the top providers, and to help you make a more informed ISP decision.

Download-Mbps
Upload-Mbps
Latency-ms
Hughesnet
Real-world Speedtest results

Speedtest aggregates all of the millions of daily tests across our website and apps by users just like you. We’ve filtered those tests down to those taken in Oakland, California, to give you a real sense of what performance is like across the top providers, and to help you make a more informed ISP decision.

Download-Mbps
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Latency-ms

Not all plans are available in all areas. Provider plan, availability, and speed tier data provided by BroadbandNow.com. Speedtest real-world data is only present where sample size has reached significance within a region. Additionally, averages may include aggregated tests across multiple Internet Types (Fiber, DSL, Cable, etc.).

Think your internet is as fast as your provider promises? You don’t have to guess. A quick Speedtest gives you the answer to how your internet really performs in just a matter of seconds. And every time you run a test, you’re not just checking your own speed. You’re adding to a global snapshot of internet performance. That collective data helps people make smarter choices about their internet service and keeps providers accountable for delivering the service they’ve promised.

When it comes to how your internet really feels, three things matter most: how quickly you can pull data down (download speed), how fast you can send it back up (upload speed), and how much delay happens in between (latency). Speedtest measures all of that, so you see the full picture of your connection without any guesswork. And because millions of people run these tests daily, the results expose your speeds and whether ISPs are performing what they advertise to current and potential customers.

The type of internet you use dictates how it performs. Fiber and cable are widespread wired options built for speed and consistency. DSL is an older technology that is still common, but it shows its age with slower speeds. In places where those wired choices aren’t available, wireless solutions bridge the gap. Satellite and fixed wireless keep rural communities connected where wired infrastructure isn’t available. Wireless internet won’t match the speeds provided by fiber or cable.

A good internet speed in Oakland should be as smooth as your morning BART ride. For most households, download speeds of around 100 Mbps and upload speeds of 10 Mbps allow you to stream, work, and video chat without lag. The plan you need will vary, whether you’re a single person living in a loft downtown or have a family of four in Redwood Heights.

Every household has unique home internet needs, and your plan should cover the activities you engage in most. Here’s a simple breakdown of common online activities and the speed required.

How Much Speed Do I Need?

Download speeds of at least 100 Mbps and upload speeds of at least 10 Mbps are widely considered fast enough to handle nearly any online activity. A quick guide to what speeds you need for different online activities is below, and you can read our full guide to internet speeds and performance for more information. Keep in mind that the numbers below are the bare minimum for one device at a time. If you’re trying to use multiple devices on a network at the same time, you’ll want higher speeds.

0–5 Mbps (Slow)

  • Stream SD video
  • Connect on Slack
  • Use Microsoft Teams
  • Write and read email
  • Scroll social media
  • General web browsing

5–20 Mbps (Better)

  • Stream HD video at 1080p

20–40 Mbps (Solid)

  • Stream 4K video
  • Play games online

40–100 Mbps (Good)

  • Stream HD games

100+ Mbps (Fast)

  • Engage in multi-player gaming
  • Download huge files

1+ Gbps (Very fast)

  • Do anything you want on multiple devices

ISP Speeds in Oakland, CA

Staying engaged to daily life in Oaktown requires an internet connection that can tackle your plans. From stream live concerts from the Fox Theater or Paramount Theatre online to taking virtual tours of the Oakland Museum of California exhibits, you’ll need a reliable ISP for an enjoyable viewing experience. Oakland residents can get fiber internet with symmetrical download and upload speeds from AT&T Fiber or Sonic. AT&T Fiber offers speeds up to 5 Gbps while Sonic’s top speeds reach 10 Gbps. Both of these max speed plans would be too much for the average household, even those with high-bandwidth needs. Households looking for gigabit-speed plans can choose AT&T Fiber’s 2 Gbps or 1 Gbps plans. The provider also offers 500 Mbps, 300 Mbps, or 100 Mbps for households that don’t need quite as much speed. Sonic doesn’t offer quite as many options as AT&T Fiber, with 1 Gbps as the only other available plan.

The Town residents have one cable provider available: Xfinity. The ISP offers speed plans up to 2 Gbps in Oakland. Similar to AT&T Fiber, the provider features a selection of plans to suit different household needs, offering 1 Gbps, 500 Mbps, 300 Mbps, or 100 Mbps plans. The city has fixed wireless providers with competitive speed plans. Etheric Networks has plans up to 1 Gbps, and Unwired offers speeds up to 300 Mbps.

Most Oakland households can get by with 100–300 Mbps plans. That’ll be enough to stream your latest series binge in your Temescal apartment while your roommate joins a Zoom call from their bedroom. If you’ve got kids gaming online in the Hills or a home office in Rockridge where work calls never stop, bumping up to 500 Mbps keeps everything running without hiccups. And for creators filming a cooking tutorial with ingredients from the Grand Lake Farmers Market or sharing a vlog of a day checking out local coffee shops and murals in Uptown, gigabit speeds make sure your uploads don’t slow you down.

Oakland Fixed Speeds

Download Mbps

308.48

Median download speed

Upload Mbps

130.94

Median upload speed

Latency ms

8

Median latency

Historical Data

To be added to this list for mobile or fixed broadband, 75% of a city's monthly unique user totals over a 13-month period must have a minimum of 200 monthly unique user results. To be updated for mobile or fixed broadband, 75% of a city's monthly unique user totals over a 13-month period must have a minimum of 100 monthly unique user results.

Expected Speed Range

Expected speed range by Provider refers to the interquartile range of median download speed.

An operator or ISP must account for 3% or more of total test samples in the market to be on this list. We display data if at least two operators or ISPs meet this threshold in a designated region or city.


Internet Providers in Nearby Cities

Home Internet in Oakland

To take advantage of fiber internet in Oaktown, AT&T Fiber offers widespread coverage to 96% of the city. From the 7th Street Historic District to Cleveland Heights, as far north as Rockridge and south across the Oakland Inner Harbor, AT&T Fiber will cover most households in the city. Sonic’s fiber service reaches 70% of residents, mostly on the outskirts of downtown and north of the Oakland Inner Harbor. The fiber provider has extensive coverage east of Lake Merritt in Clinton, Eastlake, and Highland Park. Sonic also has select coverage in Prescott and Longfellow.

The provider with the most coverage throughout Oakland is Xfinity, providing cable service to 99% of residents. With coverage on both sides of the Oakland Inner Harbor, surrounding Lake Merritt, and as far north to the borders of Emeryville and Piedmont, Xfinity’s is a near sure-thing for the city’s residents. To access fixed wireless service, Etheric Networks offers fixed wireless to 64% of Oakland residents. Unwired has a large coverage area in the city, covering 89% of Oakland, and could be suitable for the average household looking for a modest internet connection. Satellite from Starlink, HughesNet, or Viasat is available to 100% of residents, so long as the property is suitable for satellite equipment.

The average monthly starting price for internet in Oakland is $55. Wired internet starts at $41 per month, while wireless providers have an average $61 monthly starting price. These rates represent the lowest-tiered plans offered by these providers. For example, AT&T Fiber’s highest suitable home internet plan of 2 Gbps starts at $94 per month. The fiber provider’s 1 Gbps, 500 Mbps, 300 Mbps, and 100 Mbps plans feature a monthly starting price of $62, $50, $42, and $34, respectively. Sonic’s 1 Gbps plan is competitively priced with a starting monthly rate of $50. To access Xfinity’s cable internet, residents can choose from 2 Gbps, 1 Gbps, 500 Mbps, or 300 Mbps starting at $115, $85, $70, and $55 per month, respectively. While these monthly starting prices are current at the time of this article, they are subject to change. Contact your local internet service provider to take advantage of the most current rates or promotions for home internet in Oakland.

How we test the speed of ISPs

Speedtest is the definitive way to test the performance and quality of an internet connection. Millions of users like you use Speedtest.net and our Android and iOS apps every day to test internet performance (including bandwidth, latency, coverage, video metrics, and more) in real world situations. We then use rigorous scientific approaches to aggregate and anonymize those results to empower people like you with content like this so you can understand and optimize your internet experience.

The data found within has not been subjected to the rigorous Speedtest marketing claims and data methodology, and therefore cannot be used in commercial applications. Additionally, promised speeds and plans offered are always subject to change.

How to test your internet speed

Speedtest can help you test the speed and overall performance of your internet for free from any device. Click here to open a new page and take a Speedtest. You can then compare your results with what you’ve learned about internet performance near you. If you aren’t getting the results you expect, you can either use this guide to use your Speedtest results to talk to your internet provider or you can shop for a new provider.

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