AT&T Fiber – Best overall Topeka internet provider
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Prices: $55 – $180 per month
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Speeds: 300 – 5,000Mbps
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Key Info: Unlimited data, no contracts, equipment included
Cox – Best availability in Topeka
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Prices: $40 – $100 per month
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Speeds: 25 – 2,000Mbps
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Key Info: 1.25TB monthly data allowance, lots of plan options, unique gaming add-on
T-Mobile Home Internet – Best alternative to wired home internet in Topeka
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Prices: $50 per month
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Speeds: 72 – 245Mbps
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Key Info: Unlimited data, equipment included, no contracts, no additional fees
Topeka residents have several solid internet options, but AT&T Fiber is a cut above the rest. Cox and T-Mobile Home Internet are OK, but only AT&T Fiber gives you upload speeds nearly as fast as your download speeds. That’s why it earned CNET’s pick as the best internet provider in the entire country.
Our team considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service in Topeka across a variety of categories. Our evaluation includes referencing a proprietary database built over years of reviewing internet services. We validate that against provider information by spot-checking local addresses for service availability. We also do a close read of providers’ terms and conditions and, when needed, will call ISPs to verify the details.
Our process has some limitations you should know about. Pricing and speed data are variable: Certain addresses may qualify for different service tiers, and monthly costs may vary, even within a city. The best way to identify your particular options is to plug your address into a provider’s website.
Note that the prices, speeds and other information listed above and in the provider cards below may differ from what we found in our research. The cards display the full range of a provider’s pricing and speeds across the US, according to our database of plan information provided directly by ISPs. At the same time, the text is specific to what’s available in Topeka. The prices referenced within this article’s text come from our research and include applicable discounts for setting up automatic payments each month — a standard industry offering. Other discounts and promotions might also be available for things like committing to a contract or bundling with a cellphone plan.
To learn more about how we review internet providers, visit our full methodology page.
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Top internet providers in Topeka
Topeka residents have several good options for internet in the area. Fiber connections from AT&T are available to about half of the city, while nearly everyone has access to Cox’s cable internet. According to FCC data, an impressive 99.9% of residents have access to 250Mbps download and 25Mbps upload speeds — well above the 87% figure for the country as a whole.
AT&T Fiber
Best overall Topeka internet provider
Product details
Price range
$55 – $180 per month
Speed range
300 – 5,000Mbps
Connection
Fiber
Key Info
Unlimited data, no contracts, equipment included
AT&T Fiber is CNET’s choice for the best fiber internet provider in the entire country, so it makes sense that we’d like it in Topeka, too. Fiber internet provides “symmetrical” upload speeds that are just as fast as download speeds, and you won’t have to worry about data caps, equipment fees or contracts with AT&T. All of that translates to happy customers: AT&T earned the top ranking of any ISP from both the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power in Topeka’s region.
Availability: AT&T internet service is available to 88% of Topeka residents, but some will only have access to slower DSL plans, which we wouldn’t recommend. (You’ll only have one plan to pick from with DSL, and it’s much slower than fiber.) AT&T Fiber has the highest coverage in west-side neighborhoods like Westboro and McAlister Parkway.
Plans and pricing: There are five AT&T Fiber plans in Topeka: $55 per month for 300Mbps upload and download speed, $65 for 500Mbps, $80 for 940/880Mbps, $110 for 2,000Mbps and $180 for 5,000Mbps.
Fees and service details: Equipment is included with every AT&T Fiber plan, and there are no data caps or contracts required. You’ll also get a $100 or $150 reward card when you order online, and you can save another $20 each month when you bundle with an eligible AT&T Wireless plan.
Cox
Best availability in Topeka
Product details
Price range
$40 – $100 per month
Speed range
25 – 2,000Mbps
Connection
Mostly cable, some fiber
Key Info
1.25TB monthly data allowance, lots of plan options, unique gaming add-on
Cox’s cable internet plans are available virtually everywhere in Topeka. It’s a good option to have as a backup if AT&T Fiber isn’t available. Cox offers fast download speeds and reasonable introductory prices, but there are several downsides. Pricing is confusing, with a web of discounts that make it unclear what your bill will actually look like each month (and when it might change). Upload speeds are a paltry 5-35Mbps in Topeka, which could be an issue for people who do a lot of online gaming or videoconferencing. All Cox plans come with a 1.2TB data cap, too (the average household uses about half that — 587GB per month, according to OpenVault).
All of that adds up to frustrated customers. Cox ranked sixth out of eight providers in the South region in J.D. Power’s study, and its American Customer Satisfaction Index scores were also below average. It’s still a decent choice for internet in Topeka, but you’ll need to be more vigilant when shopping.
Availability: According to FCC data, Cox is available to 99.9% of residents in Topeka.
Plans and pricing: There are four Cox internet plans in Topeka: 100Mbps download and 5Mbps upload speeds for $50 per month, 250/10Mbps for $70, 500/10 for $60 ($90 in year two) and 1,000/35Mbps for $100 (with a one-year contract). The 1,000Mbps plan costs $110 per month if you forgo the one-year contract and increases to $120 in year two, contract or not. One frustrating note: Cox automatically applies a $30 discount to all plans for the Affordable Connectivity Program, even though this is a federal subsidy for low-income households only; if you don’t qualify, the $30 will be added back onto your monthly bill.
Fees and service details: All Cox plans include a 1.2TB data cap, and equipment is only included with the 100Mbps plan. On every other plan, it costs an additional $14 per month, but you also have the option to use your own modem and router.
