Tennessee may be best known as the birthplace of country music, but the Volunteer State is much more to its roughly seven million residents. Tennessee is as famous for the beautiful Smoky Mountains as it is for its whiskey-distilling prowess. And don’t forget the Memphis BBQ.

But for many of Tennessee’s modern residents, one of the biggest questions is whether they can find fast home internet. After all, you can visit Graceland or the Appalachians anytime, but you can’t binge-watch your favorite shows or jump on a video call for work without a strong Wi-Fi connection.

Fortunately, the Volunteer State has plenty to offer its residents in terms of fast home internet options . Read on to learn all about the top internet service providers in Tennessee.

Best internet providers in Tennessee

Tennessee has an extensive list of internet providers, though the specific options for your home will depend on your location. Multi-gigabit fiber interne t is available from providers like AT&T, Google Fiber and Brightspeed, while gigabit cable connections from Xfinity, Spectrum or WOW! are also excellent choices.

Thanks to rapidly expanding service and 5G upgrades from fixed wireless providers like T-Mobile and Verizon, you can also get reliable cellular connectivity for your home in many parts of the state. And satellite providers like Hughesnet, Viasat and Starlink are available everywhere.

Internet technology in Tennessee

Connection type is one of the most important determining factors for home Wi-Fi speed and overall performance. Although satellite internet is available everywhere in Tennessee, it tends to be much slower than wired connections or even some fixed wireless plans. Fiber internet offers the fastest connection, with symmetrical upload and download speeds of up to 8 GB in parts of Tennessee, but it’s only available in about 60% of the state.

Cable internet and fixed wireless home Wi-Fi fall somewhere in the middle in terms of connection speed, though cable is far more widely available in this part of the country.

Top Tennessee cities

Home internet provider availability varies considerably from one city to the next, depending on which providers have contracts to provide service in a specific region. In Tennessee, you may find that a subset of the previously listed providers is available in your area, along with a few local options.

Cheap internet options in Tennessee

Home internet costs don’t have to be outrageous in Tennessee, and there are several options for Wi-Fi plans well below the national average cost of $40–$60/mo . Xfinity offers cheap internet plans for as low as $35/mo., and providers like T-Mobile and Verizon offer plans for $40/mo. or less. when you bundle internet with other services . Many of these plans are more than adequate for streaming and gaming on multiple connected devices.

Fast internet options in Tennessee

On the other end of the spectrum, there are plenty of internet plans for users who need maximum bandwidth. Whether you’re streaming in 4K on a dozen devices or gaming competitively online , you can find lightning-fast home Wi-Fi plans in many parts of the state. Providers like AT&T, EarthLink and Brightspeed offer multi-gigabit plans in many areas, and Nashville even has 8 GB connections from Google Fiber.

Worried about overpaying for too much bandwidth? Check out our internet speed guide to verify just how fast you need to go.

Rural internet options in Tennessee

Outside of Tennessee’s major markets, home internet options get a little slimmer. Although cable internet reaches 80% of the state, many small towns don’t have access to wired connections. Fixed wireless may be available, but satellite internet is typically your best bet for reliable home Wi-Fi in rural areas . Connection speeds vary, so compare options from Hughesnet, Viasat, Starlink and even EarthLink to find out what’s available near you.

Tennessee internet FAQs

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Hannah Whatley is an editor who enjoys collaborating with writers to offer readers the most relevant, accurate, and up-to-date information for their home purchases. She has previously edited for The Motley Fool, The Modest Wallet, Grammarly, JoinCake.com and SaveOnEnergy.com, gaining expertise in several industries. Hannah has a B.A. in English from Thomas Edison State University. When she isn’t editing, she enjoys studying linguistics and languages.