Best Internet Providers in Killeen, Texas

What is the best internet provider in Killeen?

CNET recommends Spectrum as the best internet service provider for most households in Killeen, Texas. For one thing, Spectrum has one of the cheapest plans around at $30 monthly. If that isn't enough to tempt you, you also get unlimited data without having to sign a contract.

Of course, if you'd prefer another ISP, Brightspeed and T-Mobile Home Internet are also great options for broadband in the city. Both T-Mobile and Verizon offer an extra discount for eligible mobile customers, which can lower your monthly bill to under $40. If you’re hunting for the fastest plan in Killeen, Spectrum, Brightspeed, Verizon and BEC Communications offer 1-gig plans. Brightspeed also offers a 2-gig plan in select areas for $89 a month, but availability depends on your location.

Best internet in Killeen

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Other available internet providers in Killeen

• BEC Communications: Bartlett Electric Cooperative is the only fiber provider besides Brightspeed, but its fiber coverage is even more sparse in Killeen. Four plans are available from this provider, starting at $60 and going as high as $200.
• Falcon Internet: This local provider offers speeds up to 100Mbps but with a hefty cost. The highest you'll pay with Falcon Internet is $170, which is a lot of money for little speed. 
• Nextlink: Over 93% of Killeen addresses can access Nextlink's service. So why isn't it a top pick? Compared to T-Mobile Home Internet, another fixed wireless ISP, Nextlink's prices are higher and speeds are slower. But if T-Mobile isn't available at your location, Nextlink is worth checking out. 
• Satellite internet: Satellite internet from HughesNet, Viasat or Starlink is an option wherever you live. But it shouldn't be your first choice -- with high prices and slow speeds, cheaper and faster options are available. 
• Verizon 5G Home Internet: Like T-Mobile Home Internet, Verizon now offers a fixed wireless connection on its 5G network. For $50-$70 per month, customers can reach speeds up to 250Mbps. However, less than 1% of Killeen residents can access Verizon's service, so it's probably not an option for your household.

Cheap internet options in Killeen

For those looking to pay the lowest monthly cost on home broadband, Spectrum costs just $30 a month. Brightspeed Internet's 200Mbps plan is also currently $29, down from its usual price of $49 a month. You can also consider T-Mobile Home Internet or Verizon 5G Home Internet. Plans by both providers start at $50, but you can get them for as low as $35 with eligible phone plans.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Killeen

The best internet deals and top promotions in Killeen depend on what discounts are available during that time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers. 

Killeen internet providers, such as Spectrum, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, including Brightspeed, T-Mobile and Verizon, run the same standard pricing year-round. 

For a more extensive list of promotions, check out our guide on the best internet deals. 

Photo by Asim Bharwani/Getty Images

How fast is Killeen broadband?

Among the 50 states, Texas has the ninth fastest median broadband download speed of 219Mbps. So, how does Killeen stack up against the rest of the state? According to recent Okta data, Killeen’s median download speed is 266Mbps, handily beating the Texas numbers out of the water. 

If you're looking for service faster than the city's median speed, plenty of options exist. The fastest speed you'll find in Killeen is a gigabit, which Spectrum, Brightspeed, Verizon and BEC Communications offer. Killeen is still growing its broadband capabilities, so you might have to wait a few years before seeing speeds in the multi-gigabit range.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

What’s a good internet speed?

Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you're looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you'll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here's an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.

For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.

• 0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics: browsing the internet, sending and receiving email and streaming low-quality video.
• 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
• 40 to 100Mbps should give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming. 
• 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming. 
• 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.

How CNET chose the best internet providers in Killeen

Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it's impractical to personally test every internet service provider in a given city. What's our approach? For starters, we tap into a proprietary pricing, availability and speed database that draws from our own historical ISP data, partner data and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov. 

It doesn't end there. We go to the FCC's website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP's service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication. 

Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions: 

• Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds? 
• Do customers get decent value for what they're paying? 
• Are customers happy with their service? 

While the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, though we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)

To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.

What’s the final word on internet providers in Killeen?

Even though fiber is the connection type we recommend most for home internet, you're unlikely to be serviceable under a fiber-optic network in Killeen. The best ISP for you will come down to what's available at your address, which will probably be Spectrum or Nextlink. If you're deciding between the two, go with Spectrum for its lower prices and faster speeds. 

Internet providers in Killeen FAQs