Top 9 Internet Providers in Omaha, NE

Find Omaha Internet Providers with the Best Deals

Here in Omaha, we’re proud of being one of the most affordable places in the United States!! You can feel our midwestern neighborliness when families gather at the Henry Doorly Zoo. The gorgeous Durham Museum shows our history of resilience and hard work. The University of Nebraska at Omaha provides opportunity for over 15,000 students every year. And with Silicon Prairie beginning to spread across Nebraska, it’s clear that digital innovation and infrastructure is alive and well here! So if you’re an Omahan, you will have great options for internet providers in Omaha. This guide will help you find the best Omaha internet providers. You can use all the detailed information on this page to compare internet plans, including pricing and internet speeds. Before you pick an ISP, you’ll need to know what kind of internet technology would be best for your household.. Whether you live in Blackstone, Dundee, Prairie Lane, Dahlman, Morton Meadows, Elkhorn, or any other Omaha neighborhood, you will have choices from among the top internet providers. The type of internet you choose will determine your internet speed.

Types of Internet Services in Omaha

Are you perplexed about how much internet speed you actually need? With speeds of up to 1000 Mbps available in some areas of Omaha, it can be difficult deciding the right amount for your online activities. If emailing and exploring social media is all you need, then a basic level will do. However, if there are many gamers or Ultra HD streamers in your household - more bandwidth is definitely recommended! Here's an overview on the different types of internet service offered in Omaha:

Fiber Internet

If you want the most modern, fastest technology available from Omaha internet providers, fiber internet is your go-to. Unlike other types of internet services that have slower upload speeds than download speeds, fiber offers symmetrical speed for both uploading and downloading. This makes it perfect for things like video conferencing or real-time gaming that require low latency and fast uploads.

DSL Internet

With DSL, your internet signals are transmitted through copper telephone cable. Although it was an incredible leap forward from dial-up in the nineties, its speeds cannot compare to fiber or cable connections today. Companies have been attempting to enhance their service with IPBB technology for faster speeds but overall, you'd do much better to opt for other alternatives if available.

Cable Internet

Did you know that cable internet is sent via the same coaxial cables that support cable television? Cable internet providers typically transmit data at much faster speeds compared to DSL. In fact, advanced infrastructure now makes it possible for cable to even come close to fiber's remarkable download speed of 1000 Mbps. However, do keep in mind that cable’s upload speeds are slower than those provided by a symmetrical fiber connection. But cable will be sufficient for many users' needs. Despite cable Internet's convenience, many users have noticed that their connection can become sluggish during peak traffic hours. Fortunately, in recent years companies providing this service have responded by constructing more nodes to reduce lag times and congestion on the network.

Satellite Internet

If you're in the Omaha area and don't have cable or fiber wiring, satellite service is easily accessible with a clear view of the southern sky. Satellite meets the FCC minimum standard for broadband, but will be slower than cable or fiber. Satellite internet signals must travel an immense distance through space, meaning slight latency can occur. When it comes to activities such as checking email or web browsing, you may not even notice this lag time. But due to the delay, satellite is likely not your best option for HD video streaming on multiple devices and real-time gaming. In addition, many providers of this type of service will include monthly data allowances. If these are exceeded, your internet speeds will slow down drastically.

Top Internet Providers in Omaha

You should have a good overview now of what types of service are available from internet providers in Omaha, Nebraska. You’ll be able to better decide which internet plans are best for your own needs. With the information on this page, you can compare internet plans for speed, price and reliability. We’ve helped by picking out a few companies that stand out as the best Omaha internet providers.

Overall Best Internet Provider in Omaha

To pick the best overall home internet provider in Omaha, we considered internet speed, coverage, and affordability. Cox cable internet leads the pack, with service available to over 99% of households. Their first-tier plan of up to 50 Mbps is affordable at $39.99/month.They offer up to 1000 Mbps for $99.99/month. CenturyLink Fiber is a close second, with speeds up to 940 Mbps and a first-tier plan of up to 200 Mbps for only $30/month.

Fastest Internet Provider in Omaha

Cox, CenturyLink and Earthlink share the prize for fastest ISP, as they all boast a top speed of about 1000 Mbps. But only the fiber internet providers in Omaha (CenturyLink Fiber, Earthlink) will have equal upload and download speeds.

Most Affordable Internet Provider in Omaha

CenturyLink Fiber currently offers the most affordable plan at $30/month, though Cox is close behind at $39.99/month. CenturyLink Fiber’s lowest-cost plan is likely to provide much faster internet than the 50 Mbps Cox plan, however. Just be certain that if you opt for CenturyLink, you are getting their fiber service. They also offer DSL in town, and DSL will be much slower.

Best Satellite Internet Provider in Omaha

If you don’t have wired internet options. HughesNet offers consistent speeds of 25 Mbps download speed/3 Mbps upload speed, which meets the FCC definition of high-speed internet. You might even want to check out satellite internet if your only alternative is DSL, depending on what the local DSL speed is. HughesNet is also rolling out HughesNet Fusion in select areas as the first  low-latency satellite internet service.

FAQs: Internet Choices in Omaha

How do I choose my internet speed?

Deciding on the internet speed that suits your household's needs is simple. First, consider how many people will be using it at one time; then think of what activities they'll use it for. If you and one or two other individuals just need to check emails and do some casual browsing, 10-25 Mbps should suffice. If you're wishing to play high-performance games, participate in video chats, or watch HD movies with multiple people simultaneously, your ideal internet speed should be at least 50 - 150 Mbps. Fiber providers offer the lowest latency and highest upload speeds, which is why they tend to make a better option for those engaged in such activities. However cable internet can also prove successful due to its high data capacities. If you don't know what your current speed is,  no need to worry. Simply test it here!

What internet speed should I get to work from home?

Remote employees should be sure to select an internet plan that meets their needs; at minimum, you'll want 25 Mbps of download speed and 3 Mbps upload speed. If regularly uploading significant files such as videos or images is part of your job, aim for a 10-12 Mbps upload rate. If more than one person works from home concurrently – which is becoming increasingly common in today's world – then 50-100 Mbps download speeds are recommended.

What internet speed is best for streaming?

Get the most out of your HD streaming experiences by having at least 50 Mbps download speeds. If you're looking to stream Ultra HD content across multiple devices, ensure that your connection can handle a minimum of 150 Mbps for optimal results.

What internet speed is best for gaming?

If you are a real-time gamer who plays with other online users at home, your download speed should be no less than 100 - 150 Mbps. In addition to this however, gamers need an adequate upload speed as well. To ensure the best gaming experience possible, it is advised that fiber be used for equalizing download and upload speeds; cable can also provide satisfactory results but make sure that your provider offers high-speed and low latency capability.

Is there a financial assistance program for internet access in Omaha?

More and more people in Nebraska are realizing the need to expand high-speed internet access across the state. A fast, reliable internet connection can be crucial for remote jobs, education, or even doctors’ appointments. But even where high-speed internet is available, sometimes, people can’t afford it. In 2022, the federal government announced the Affordable Connectivity Program. Qualified households can receive a $30 subsidy for internet access through the ACP. You can also apply here on the federal ACP site. If you need to get online immediately, the Omaha Public Library provides free internet access on desktops, laptops, and Chromebooks as well as the use of copiers, faxes, and printers. All OPL branches have free Wi-Fi hotspots where you can jump online with your own digital devices.