Best Rural Internet Options in 2022

Rural cyberspace might not be the fastest, but here are the best rural cyberspace options in America that volition get the job done.

Viasat

Viasat

4.2 out of 5 stars

iv.2

  • Icon Pros  Light

    Available nationwide

  • Icon Pros  Light

    12–100 Mbps

  • Icon Pros  Light

    $30.00–$169.99/mo.*

Nomad Internet

Nomad Cyberspace

2.8 out of 5 stars

2.8

  • Icon Pros  Light

    Bachelor in areas with cell service

  • Icon Pros  Light

    ii–150 Mbps

  • Icon Pros  Light

    $129.00–$149.00/mo.

Rise Broadband

Rise Broadband

3.5 out of 5 stars

3.5

  • Icon Pros  Light

    Wireless (no infrastructure required)

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    25–50 Mbps

  • Icon Pros  Light

    $35.00–$65.00/mo.

Data equally of 12/21/20. *Promotional price is for the offset three months. Regular net charge per unit applies after iii months. **Paperless billing or prepay required. Additional taxes, fees, and surcharges apply. Get the fastest internet speed bachelor at your location (max speed is upward to 100 Mbps). *** Price is with paperless billing and auto pay disbelieve practical. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Alas, if only rural internet options were every bit cute and endless as rural America itself. Although rural net is no reason on its own to move to the country, it'due south not half bad. Here are the all-time rural internet options that will proceed you connected to that sweet rural Wi-Fi—no matter where you are.

Our pick: Which rural internet provider is all-time?

The all-time rural internet provider is Viasat considering it consistently delivers on speed and availability, which is a big deal in the rural net community. It's besides our option for the best satellite internet provider. It's your best bet if you need a consistent rural internet option that's available nationwide. Viasat is definitely not the cheapest rural cyberspace selection, but it delivers faster speeds than HughesNet, CenturyLink DSL, and most fixed-wireless cyberspace options. Information technology'southward also the merely rural internet provider that's available in all l states, no matter how far off the grid you alive. Concluding year'south guide provided a deeper look into where the fastest and slowest rural cities for internet were scattered beyond the Usa.

The v best rural internet providers

  • Best overall: Viasat
  • Best rural DSL net: CenturyLink
  • Best rural LTE internet: Verizon 4G LTE Home Internet
  • Best RV internet: Nomad Net
  • Best stock-still wireless rural cyberspace: Rise Broadband

Best rural internet options

Provider

Price

Download speeds

Data cap

Availability

Become it

Viasat Viasat

$30.00–$169.99/mo.† Up to 100 Mbps Up to 300 GB Nationwide

CenturyLink CenturyLink

$l.00/mo.* Up to 100 Mbps Unlimited 36 states

Verizon Verizon

$xl.00–$sixty.00/mo.** 25–50 Mbps Unlimited 48 states

Nomad Internet Nomad Internet

$129.00–$149.00/mo two–150 Mbps Unlimited 50 states

Rise Broadband Rise Broadband

$35.00–$65.00/mo. 25–50 Mbps 250 GB–Unlimited sixteen states

Data as of 12/21/2021. Offers and availability may vary past location and are discipline to alter. †Prices listed for Viasat are for the get-go 3 mos., so prices enhance to $50–$200/mo. Information may be slowed after 12–300 GB per calendar month, depending on your plan. *Charge per unit requires paperless billing and excludes taxes. Additional fees apply. Speeds may not be bachelor in your area. **Price for Verizon home internet plan is $twoscore/mo. with a mobile telephone plan or $60/mo. without other Verizon services.

Find the best rural net providers available where y'all live.

What should you look for in a rural internet provider?

The best rural internet provider for you will offer rural cyberspace access where you lot demand it, have good download speeds, and come with information caps that are generous enough to do what you want online.

Simply permit'south keep information technology real. If you're a rural resident, we don't need to tell you that rural internet options are disappointing compared to what you can get in more than crowded areas, and then it's of import to starting time your search with the right expectations. With rural internet, but know upfront that y'all'll exist paying more than each month for less speed and less data than you lot would in the metropolis. This tin exist particularly frustrating if you're looking for Los Angeles County internet and have few options when there's a bustling urban center with infinite net options just miles abroad.

That said, information technology truly is astonishing simply how far rural internet coverage can go—specially with nationwide providers like Viasat and HughesNet. And finding the best rural internet provider for you can make your life possible, whether you desire to piece of work remotely from your farm in Montana or travel the country in your RV for the summer.

Once yous know which rural providers are bachelor, the adjacent step is finding a programme that's the right balance of speed, data, and price. Yous don't want to pay for more speed or information than you need to if monthly cost is an of import gene for yous.

Run across all your rural internet options using our database of 1,200+ providers.

Best overall: Viasat

Pro Bullet Nationwide availability

Pro Bullet Faster speeds than HughesNet

Con Bullet High latency

Con Bullet Occasional operation bug with weather

We recommend Viasat because it has faster speeds and higher data caps than HughesNet—only both HughesNet and Viasat limit your data usage based on the plan you pay for. It's an unfortunate fact of "unlimited" satellite internet that later you lot use up all your full-speed data, your speeds slow to one to three Mbps.

So, yeah, the information situation isn't platonic. But Viasat'due south biggest advantage is availability. Information technology's often the merely bachelor internet connection (along with HughesNet) in many rural communities where cablevision and phone lines oasis't reached yet.

Viasat cyberspace chugs along at a minimum of 12 Mbps, with some Viasat plans reaching up to 100 Mbps. Only expect out for Viasat's toll hikes afterward the introductory period ends. After three months, Viasat prices go up by 33%. If you prefer a lower price overall, check out HughesNet. HughesNet prices stay the aforementioned for 24 months.

As long as y'all have a plan with enough data for your needs, Viasat net speeds are fast enough to work well for most online activities (barring fast-paced multiplayer gaming). One drawback to be aware of is that you may experience low performance during storms, as weather condition can interfere with the satellite connection.

Bullhorn

What most Starlink?

Starlink is the only satellite internet provider with totally unlimited data. Just Starlink availability is highly express. Starlink currently offers speeds of 50–500 Mbps through its Starlink Internet and Starlink Business plans. Once Starlink's satellite constellation is fully built out, Starlink speeds could go on to increase. Read our Starlink review to decide if it's right for you.

In the adjacent few years, HughesNet and Viasat volition also be launching new satellite systems that will deliver increased net speeds and reduced latency to their customers, making them possibly fifty-fifty meliorate alternatives than Starlink despite Elon Musk's all-time efforts.

Map of US rural internet speed

Best rural DSL internet: CenturyLink

Pro Bullet Decent speeds

Pro Bullet No information caps

Con Bullet Prone to slowdowns

Con Bullet Not available in all rural areas

CenturyLink is your all-time bet for DSL net in a rural area, mostly due to its contract-gratuitous plans and unlimited information caps. You won't have to pay early on termination fees (ETFs) if yous choose to switch providers at whatever signal during your subscription.

Plus, its lack of information caps means you can skip out on overage charges at the end of the calendar month—regardless of how much data y'all utilise. This is good news for streamers and online gamers.

DSL is an older cyberspace technology that relies on telephone lines. Then, if y'all live in a remote rural surface area where in that location's no infrastructure, CenturyLink is likely non on the table for you. DSL usually tops out at 100 Mbps, which is the fastest speed you can await from a CenturyLink DSL plan. This is enough speed for i person to do about things they want to do online easily, merely things could get sluggish if multiple people are sharing the connection—especially if you feel a slowdown, which is common with DSL.

That said, for how much speed and data yous get for $50 per month, CenturyLink is much cheaper than Viasat and other rural internet providers. If y'all live in a rural expanse and CenturyLink is available, we recommend you get with that over Viasat to get the near for your coin.

Info

Heads up: Y'all might see CenturyLink offering speeds upwards to 940 Mbps.

If you're browsing CenturyLink's site and stumble upon its 940 Mbps plan, don't be shocked.

By augmenting the DSL line with a cobweb connexion, many ISPs—CenturyLink included—tin offer gigabit speeds. Don't become your hopes up just all the same though. If you live in a rural surface area, it's quite likely you won't get these cobweb-based speeds. Bummer, we know. However, it'due south ever worth checking.

Best 4G LTE internet

Pro Bullet Unlimited data

Pro Bullet Expert speeds

Con Bullet Only available in areas with jail cell phone service

Con Bullet Patchy coverage in some rural areas

We chose Verizon every bit our top pick for dwelling house internet from a mobile carrier, mainly due to its high marks for coverage from OpenSignal and RootMetrics. For folks who alive abroad from cable and fiber infrastructure simply within prison cell phone coverage areas, 4G LTE internet from Verizon is an splendid option. It gives y'all average download speeds of 25 to 50 Mbps and that blessed unlimited data.

Merely where things really showtime to get good is if yous already have Verizon prison cell service. If yous add together Verizon 4G LTE Abode Internet to a qualifying mobile phone program, it's just $twoscore per month (with paperless billing, autopay, and non including taxes and fees). If you get Verizon Abode Internet without bundling it with a cell phone plan, information technology's $60 per calendar month. Just a heads upwards though: you'll demand to purchase Verizon'south $240 modem/router up forepart. Also, even though the service is provided through mobile information, Verizon LTE Domicile Net service is tied to your location, and so it isn't portable.

Best for RV internet: Nomad Internet

Pro Bullet Portable and works nationwide

Pro Bullet Actually fast speeds if yous're shut to the belfry

Con Bullet Expensive monthly price

Con Bullet Speeds can deadening drastically depending on surface area

Nomad Internet is another LTE internet pick that you can take with you lot on trips in RVs. Nomad Internet is available nationwide, and so you'll become coverage all the way from Florida to California. Yet, your speeds volition increment or subtract depending on your proximity to the nearest cell tower.

Nomad Cyberspace operates on AT&T and T-Mobile towers. MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) LTE abode cyberspace plans toll more than getting a dwelling internet plan directly from T-Mobile or Verizon. Just the benefit of providers like Nomad is that they're available almost everywhere, are fully portable, and yous tin can take them with you anywhere at that place'south prison cell service. You can also go i of these plans and use it as an unlimited mobile hotspot.

Nomad Internet also offers ii dissimilar types of equipment: there's a stationary router that requires being plugged into your power supply and there's a portable router that has a 4–v 60 minutes bombardment life. So you're covered with internet service whether y'all desire to stick around the RV or venture out to blog from the beach.

Pricetag

Relieve money past signing up for paperless billing and autopay.

Many internet providers offer you monthly discounts if you sign up for paperless billing and autopay. Usually it's to the tune of $5–$x per calendar month, which adds up fast.

Best fixed wireless rural internet: Rise Broadband

Pro Bullet Cheaper than satellite cyberspace

Pro Bullet Lower latency

Con Bullet Prone to slowdowns

Con Bullet Unavailable in some rural areas

Con Bullet Depression information caps on cheaper plans

Rise Broadband offers speeds up to l Mbps. That's groovy, considering we've seen DSL speeds of about two Mbps while visiting family unit in rural Wisconsin.

Fixed wireless internet service is slowly replacing DSL in rural America, which is a good matter. It's more widely available, doesn't require a telephone line, and offers faster speeds than DSL in many cases.

If this is the get-go time you're hearing nigh fixed wireless, yous should know that information technology functions differently than a hotspot or satellite net. But it'due south still just every bit viable of an pick for rural America. In a nutshell, fixed wireless providers axle your internet connexion from a stock-still location to an antenna installed on your roof. This signal then goes to your router, which broadcasts a home Wi-Fi network. It'southward a cheaper mode to bring faster cyberspace speeds to rural areas rather than waiting on big ISPs to install expensive and labor-intensive undercover cabling.

1 downside to Rising Broadband and fixed wireless in general is that some plans have data caps, depending on your plan and how much you're willing to pay. About fixed wireless data caps are not as low or limiting as satellite internet'south data caps that start at 10 GB per calendar month, just several fixed wireless providers do charge you lot extra if you lot hit your max, rather than just slowing you down like satellite internet does.

Our verdict: Go with Viasat unless CenturyLink is available.

Nosotros recommend Viasat as the all-time net option for the most rural residents. Its nationwide availability combined with its above-average speeds (which volition only continue to improve with the launch of its new satellite ViaSat-three) brand information technology a dandy solution for anyone living in a rural community, from the local bar owner to a remote worker trying out cabin life.

That said, satellite internet is inherently expensive and offers less data for the price. Then if you're someone who needs data more than speed and doesn't want to fork out more than than $50 a month for cyberspace service, become with CenturyLink DSL. It'due south often the only landline internet pick bachelor for rural residents—if it's bachelor at all.

Your best bet is to check all your internet options where you live first and so make your terminal decision from at that place.

Simplify your rural cyberspace provider search with our database of over 1,200 internet providers.

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FAQ about the best rural net options

What is the fastest net for rural areas?

The fastest internet for rural areas is Starlink or Viasat, although Viasat'due south rural cyberspace speeds are more than dependable. Starlink advertises internet speeds up to 500 Mbps while Viasat advertises 100 Mbps speeds.

Why aren't there more rural cyberspace options?

There aren't many rural internet options because internet infrastructure is expensive to build in rural areas. The best cyberspace options are usually based on cobweb or cable, and it takes a significant investment from internet companies to lay down the necessary infrastructure for these internet types. Unremarkably that investment is worthwhile only if the new infrastructure can achieve a lot of people in a small area, which is difficult to accomplish in rural areas.

That said, unlimited net service in rural areas has become a goal for the FCC and many politicians, who have passed the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund and proposed boosted measures to expand rural net options with unlimited data.

What is the all-time cyberspace service for rural areas?

The best net service for rural areas is satellite internet from Viasat or HughesNet, only we'd recommend Viasat considering it offers faster speeds and more than data. Other skillful rural internet options include 4G LTE home internet, DSL, and fixed wireless. Although satellite cyberspace is often the best choice, we recommend checking all your options first before signing up merely in case a landline provider like CenturyLink or Xfinity happens to exist available in your area.

What alternatives to satellite cyberspace are there?

The all-time alternative to satellite cyberspace is 5G/4G LTE home net service from Verizon or T-Mobile or fixed wireless service from Ascent Broadband. DSL internet is besides a cheaper culling to satellite internet. Just if you live in a remote area, satellite internet might exist your merely (and best) option.

Should I go stock-still wireless net service?

You should go stock-still wireless cyberspace service if it's bachelor in your area and if you want a cheaper alternative to satellite internet. Ofttimes the prices are quite affordable in comparison to other types of rural internet service, and equally long as yous don't need download speeds faster than 50 Mbps, you're good to keep speed besides.

Do Viasat or HughesNet offer unlimited satellite internet?

Yes, technically Viasat and HughesNet do offer unlimited satellite internet plans, but your speeds volition be significantly slowed one time you lot hit your data allotment. And then far, Starlink is the only satellite provider promising truly unlimited information, but availability is still highly limited.

Can I use my prison cell telephone every bit a hotspot for my dwelling internet?

If you're a very light data user, hotspotting off your mobile phone can be a solution (assuming y'all tin get a cell phone signal at your house). But mobile phone plans usually don't requite you much hotspot data. Bank check out the all-time unlimited mobile hotspot information plans if you lot want more data.

Cara Haynes

Written by

Cara Haynes

Cara Haynes is the managing editor for SatelliteInternet.com. She cares securely about helping people choose rural internet solutions that are right for them. She graduated with a BA in English and a modest in editing from Brigham Young Academy, and she has over 5 years of experience researching and writing nigh hundreds of rural and residential cyberspace providers. She often daydreams nigh living and working from a motel in Montana, close to Glacier National Park. Although still firmly anchored to suburbia, she's committed to researching the best means for rural Americans to get online—no matter where they live or play.