Compare Internet Providers in 85204 Mesa, AZ

Find Mesa Internet Providers with the Best Deals

Life in Mesa, Arizona, is good by almost any measure. Sunny weather, great cycling, over 40 golf courses – and we’re only 20 minutes from the massive metropolis of Phoenix. But there’s no need to go elsewhere, because Mesa already has everything you need right here in town. You’ll find lots of family activities and great music and nightlife. And when you need to get connected to the digital world, Mesa internet providers can offer you several good options.

If you’re looking for the best internet providers in Mesa, you’ll want to learn what kind of internet coverage you can get in your neighborhood, then compare plan prices and internet speeds..

This guide to Mesa internet providers will give you all the information you need to find the plan best suited for you. You can get the right speed to have a smooth internet experience without overpaying for extra bandwidth.

Types of Internet Services in Mesa

Mesa internet providers offer several different technologies to connect to the internet. It's important to know the basics of each technology to help you find the best internet service for your specific needs.

DSL Internet

DSL sends signals through phone cables and is faster than dial-up, but not as fast as cable or fiber. If your home is not yet connected to cable or fiber optic lines, DSL could still be a good choice for you. It is usually the oldest and slowest technology still on the market. Some newer forms of DSL called IPBB have improved speeds. If you sign up for DSL, make sure you know exactly what your real speed will be, not just the advertised “up to” speed. Ask your neighbors.

Cable Internet

Cable internet is named after its copper wires that also carry cable television signals. With recent technological advances, cable internet can now offer download speeds as fast as some fiber, but it depends on where you live. Almost every household in Mesa has cable coverage.

Fiber Internet

Fiber is the fastest way to get your internet. Speeds for fiber internet can get up above 5 Gbps, because fiber travels through fiber-optic lines at the speed of light. Fiber internet is also more reliable and provides a more stable connection compared to other types of internet services. However, not all areas have access to fiber internet yet, as it requires a special infrastructure. Mesa has been slow to develop fiber and often has less than 20% fiber availability.

One great advantage of fiber internet is that its upload and download speeds are the same, which makes a difference for data-intensive uploading activities like realtime gaming.

Satellite Internet

If you live in Mesa, you will have wired connections available from internet providers. But if you live out in the desert to the north and east of town, you might choose satellite service. Satellite internet can help you stay connected to the digital world by allowing you to browse the web and send emails reliably. However, since the signals must travel a long distance from space, there might be a slight delay, which is called latency. If you need to play real-time games, satellite internet might not be the best option due to latency.

A new technology called HughesNet Fusion offers low-latency satellite internet plans in some areas of the country. This technology can improve the speed and reliability of satellite internet.

Top Internet Providers in Mesa: Best of the Best

Overall Best Internet Provider in Mesa

Cox is the overall best provider in Mesa, providing high-speed internet at an affordable price to 98% of the city. Even though Cox uses cable technology rather than fiber, you can still get up to 1000 Mbps download speed for $99.99/month. If you don’t need that much speed, their first-tier plan offers up to 50 Mbps for a budget-friendly $39.99/month.

Fastest Internet Provider in Mesa

Cox cable is the fastest provider in Mesa at up to 1000 Mbps.

Most Affordable Internet Provider in Mesa

Cox is currently the most affordable provider with its first-tier plan at $39.99/month. Other providers in town tend to start their first-tier service at $50/month. Lower-income customers may qualify for a new federal plan that will reduce their internet costs by $30 per month. (see FAQs).

Best Satellite Internet Provider in Mesa

Satellite service is great if you live in a rural area that may not have infrastructure for cable or fiber. HughesNet is a well-known satellite internet provider that might be a good choice for those in unwired areas to the north and east of the city.

FAQs

How fast should my internet speed be?

When choosing an internet service provider, you need to know how much internet speed you need. Video streaming and multiplayer games require faster internet speed, so you should think about these activities. Also, consider how many people will be using the internet at the same time, and from how many devices. If there are more devices online simultaneously, you will need more internet speed. Test your current internet speed here.

Nowadays, video streaming is very popular. In your home, there may be multiple devices used for watching videos. For example, one person might play multiplayer games, another could be browsing YouTube, while others may be working or watching HD movies. If you have several devices in your home being used to stream videos, it is a good idea to choose a plan that offers at least 50 Mbps speed. However, if only one person is streaming videos at a time, a plan with 25 Mbps might be sufficient for your needs.

What internet speed do I need for remote work?

If your internet plan has a download speed of 100 Mbps and an upload speed of 10 Mbps, it should be enough for most data-heavy work tasks like sharing files or videoconferencing. With 100 Mbps, multiple people in your home can work online at the same time. However, not all remote jobs require large file uploads. For example, if you work as a sales representative and only need to make audio calls, you might not need as much internet speed.

How fast should my internet be for multiplayer gaming?

For gamers, it's important that their games respond immediately to their actions with controllers. This means that both upload and download speed should be fast enough. Fiber internet is the best choice for gamers because it offers equal upload and download speeds. Other types of internet, like cable and DSL, usually have slower upload speeds than download speeds. Gamers also need low latency, which means there should be little to no delay or lag when playing. Ideally, latency should be between 20 to 40 milliseconds. If you can't get fiber internet, don't worry! Cable internet can also provide the necessary speeds for gaming.

What internet speed is best for streaming?

For streaming videos, you need to how many people will be streaming at the same time. If only one person is streaming, a speed of 25 Mbps might be enough. But if several people in your home are streaming on different devices, it's better to choose a plan with 50-100 Mbps speed. If you have many people in your home who love to watch movies in HD or UHD quality, you might need a speed of 100 Mbps or more.

Is there a program for free or low-cost internet in Mesa?

In May 2022, the federal government announced a plan to expand high-speed internet access that includes San Antonio.The federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) will reduce internet costs for millions of Americans.

You can find out if you qualify for reduced-cost internet here, on the Connect Arizona site. You can also see a list of eligible providers, but the list includes all the major ISPs on this page.

If you need immediate free internet access, the City of Mesa has installed free Wi-Fi in many public parks and community centers. In addition, you can find access to computers and Wi-Fi at the Mesa Public Library.