Find Springfield Internet Providers with the Best Deals
Springfield, MO, is the Queen City of the Ozarks and famous as the birthplace of Route 66. Here in Springfield, you get big-city attractions such as the Wonders of Wildlife Aquarium and the Springfield Art Museum. There’s loads of cool stuff for kids, too, like the Itty Bitty City and the Fantastic Caverns just northwest. Sports fans can get their kicks at Missouri State University games, then hit our fun local watering holes afterward for a craft beer. And because we all lead a parallel life in the digital world these days, it’s just as important that you’ll find a number of strong internet providers in Springfield, MO.
Are you on the hunt for a perfect internet plan from Springfield internet providers? If so, this guide will give you all the info you need.
On this page, you can compare specific plans, pricing and available speeds for Springfield internet providers. Where you live in the city will determine which kinds of internet technology are available to you. For example, northern areas of Springfield and its suburbs tend to have a lot more fiber infrastructure, while central and southern Springfield commonly rely on other types of internet.
Types of Internet Services in Springfield
To start comparing internet plans, you’ll need to know what kinds of internet services are out there. In Springfield, home internet providers offer a variety of technologies, each with their own unique benefits.
DSL Internet
DSL is an internet technology that's been around for a while, longer than cable or fiber internet. It used to be pretty popular in the 1990s. With DSL, the internet signal travels through the same wires as landline phone calls. But compared to cable and fiber, DSL is much slower. Most people who have DSL don't have access to cable or fiber internet where they live, so they choose DSL instead. Even though it's slower than cable and fiber, DSL is still much faster than old-fashioned dial-up internet.
Cable Internet
Cable internet sends your internet data using the same cables that also carry cable TV. Cable technology has really improved, and now, some cable internet plans can give you downloads that are just as fast as fiber plans. But there's a catch, because cable’s upload speeds will never be as fast as fiber.
Fiber Internet
Fiber internet uses fiber optic lines to transmit data as light pulses, which makes it faster than older types of internet signals. A major benefit of fiber internet is that it offers the same upload and download speeds, unlike other types of internet that have a significant difference between the two. Real-time activities like videoconferencing and multiplayer gaming can occur without any delays or problems. However, the fastest fiber plans are more costly, so it's important to consider your speed needs before selecting a fiber choice. Top fiber internet providers in Springfield are AT&T Fiber, Brightspeed and Earthlink.
Satellite Internet
If you live in rural areas near Springfield, you may want to think about getting satellite internet. Satellite internet is usually slower than cable or fiber internet, but it can be comparable to DSL depending on the speeds available in your area. With satellite internet, you can still do most of the things you would normally do online.
One of the best things about satellite internet is that it's available almost everywhere in America, as long as your home has a clear view of the southern sky. But if you have people in your household who like to play online games, you should know that satellite internet is not the best choice for multiplayer gaming. Most satellite plans come with data limits, and real-time gaming uses up a lot of data, which can be a problem.
Satellite internet is also known for something called latency, which means there can be a delay in the signal. This delay usually doesn't affect most online activities, but it can make gaming or videoconferencing more difficult.
Top Internet Providers in Springfield
Overall Best Internet Provider in Springfield
AT&T Fiber is the top choice because it has both fast internet and many different price tiers to choose from. Compared to other providers, AT&T Fiber’s top speed is much faster at up to 5000 Mbps for $180 a month. If that's too expensive, they also have a cheaper plan that offers speeds up to 300 Mbps for $55 a month.
Fastest Internet Provider in Springfield
Fiber internet providers in Springfield are hands-down the fastest in the city. Fiber offers equal download and upload speeds for the best experience in gaming, videoconferencing and large file uploads. At&T Fiber has the fastest overall speed with its 5000 Mbps plan, but you can also get fast download and upload speeds from fiber providers Earthlink and Brightspeed.
Most Affordable Internet Provider in Springfield
The first-tier plans from these top Springfield internet providers tend to all start around $50. The differentiator is how much you get for that entry level price. The best bang for the buck comes from AT&T Fiber at $55/month for up to 300 Mbps. Earthlink’s fiber, by contrast, is $49.95/month, but that first-tier plan only runs up to 50 Mbps.
Best Satellite Provider in Springfield
In more rural areas of the county or in places where there is no cable or fiber wiring, HughesNet is a good choice for a satellite internet service. Trusted for decades by many rural customers, HughesNet offers consistent speeds of 25 Mbps/3 Mbps. HughesNet has recently launched HughesNet Fusion, a revolutionary low-latency satellite internet service.
FAQs On Internet Choices in Springfield
How fast should my internet speed be?
How fast your internet needs to be depends on what you use it for and how many people are using it in your home. If you play a lot of online games for long periods of time, you'll want a connection with equal upload and download speeds that has a low delay, such as fiber. If multiple devices are streaming movies simultaneously, you'll need a fast download speed, but upload speed may not be as important. Test your current internet speed here.
If you mainly use the internet to browse websites and you live with one or two people, a download speed of 25 Mbps and upload speed of 3 Mbps should work well for you. If you need to attend video meetings for work, you'll need at least a download speed of 50-100 Mbps and an upload speed of 12 Mbps or higher. If you have many people in your home streaming movies, playing games, and doing videoconferencing, you may want to consider getting faster internet speeds, with a minimum of 100 Mbps.
What internet speed do I need for remote work?
If your job involves audio calls like customer service, your internet speed requirements are not too high. You just need a dependable internet connection with a download speed of 25 Mbps and an upload speed of 3 Mbps. Your remote employer may even accept slower speeds, but it’s best to confirm with them.
But if your job involves frequent videoconferencing, aim for a download speed of at least 100 Mbps and an upload speed of 10 Mbps. If you often work with large video or graphics files, higher upload speeds will make file transfers easier, and you might want to consider fiber internet.
How fast should my internet be for multiplayer gaming?
If you want to play games with other people online, you need to have fast internet that works well both when you're sending information out (uploading) and when you're receiving information (downloading). It's also important to have a fast connection with low delay, which is called "latency." If you have more than one person in your house who wants to play games online, fiber internet is the best choice. However, if you can get high-speed cable internet with low latency, that will also work well for gaming.
How can I get low-cost or free internet in Springfield?
Only 76% of Springfield, Missouri households have a home subscription for high-speed internet access. Almost 1 in 4 households lacks the internet connectivity at home that would allow them to apply for jobs, take classes online, or even see a doctor through telemedicine. The city of Springfield is attempting to narrow this digital divide to increase digital opportunity for those in lower-income households.
The federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) of 2022 helps more people get access to home high speed internet. The ACP offers qualified applicants relief of $30/month on an internet plan. Check to see if you qualify for reduced-cost internet here.
If you need immediate free access to a computer and an internet connection, you can get both in Springfield. The Springfield-Greene County Library provides free computer use, free Wi-Fi, and tech help.
