Best Internet Providers in Stockton, California

What is the best internet provider in Stockton, California?

Stockton residents have access to a variety of internet service choices. Whether you're unhappy with your current ISP or just moved to the area and need to get connected, there's something for every household. AT&T Fiber is CNET's top pick of the best internet provider in Stockton. It's our top recommendation because it offers fast, symmetrical speeds at fair prices. Plans begin at $55 monthly and go up to $245 for the 5-gig plan. This fiber service offers symmetrical speeds, the highest customer satisfaction ratings among national ISPs, and unlike many other ISPs, AT&T Fiber doesn't do surprise price increases after promotional periods.

If you need speedy internet on a budget, Xfinity has the cheapest internet plans in Stockton. Just be prepared for a significant price jump after your first year or two. However, Xfinity doesn't require long-term contracts, which means you can switch before the price increases take effect (or try to negotiate with customer service) -- it's an extra hassle we could do without.

According to Ookla's latest data, Stockton's median internet speed reaches 328Mbps, which is solid for most households and hints at good infrastructure throughout the city. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) If you don't want the wired options, you can opt for wireless internet from T-Mobile and Verizon. These wireless plans avoid automatic price hikes but don't match the impressive upload and download speeds of Xfinity, and they're more susceptible to network congestion during peak hours. Still, they're solid options for smaller households, especially if you can bundle with a T-Mobile or Verizon phone plan for extra savings.

Best internet in Stockton, California

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Matt Gush/Getty Images

How to find internet deals and promotions in Stockton

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

Stockton internet providers, such as Xfinity and Verizon 5G Home Internet, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, however, including AT&T Fiber, run the same standard pricing year-round.  

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

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, streaming low-quality video.
• 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
• 40 to 100Mbps should give one person sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming. 
• 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two people to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming. 
• 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more people to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.

How CNET chose the best internet providers in Stockton

Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information, drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.

But 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:

1. Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
2. Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
3. 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.

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

Internet providers in Stockton FAQs