Chicago is well served by cable and fiber, with strong competition in most neighborhoods. Whether you're in a downtown high-rise or a suburb, you likely have at least one genuinely fast option — but it pays to check what your building offers.
What the Public Data Says
City-level speeds vary by provider and technology more than by any single average. For how Chicago compares nationally, the Ookla Speedtest Global Index and BroadbandNow publish metro-level availability and speed data, and the FCC's Measuring Broadband America program tracks real-world US broadband performance. These are more reliable than any single test for comparing neighborhoods.
Major Internet Providers in Chicago
The main providers are Xfinity (cable), AT&T (fiber/DSL), Astound (formerly RCN, cable/fiber), and T-Mobile/Verizon 5G home internet.
| Connection Type | Typical Download Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fiber | 300 Mbps – 1 Gbps+ | AT&T Fiber, Astound where available |
| Cable | 100 Mbps – 1.2 Gbps | Xfinity — near-universal in the metro |
| 5G home | 50 – 300 Mbps | T-Mobile, Verizon |
Strong Cable, Growing Fiber
Xfinity's cable network covers almost the whole metro and delivers fast speeds; AT&T and Astound fiber are faster where wired. In high-rises, building wiring can limit you. Test wired to see your real speed and compare with your plan.
How to Test Your Speed in Chicago
The number that matters is your own connection, at your address. Run a speed test on a wired Ethernet connection, with other devices paused, at a couple of different times of day. Then compare your result with your plan's advertised speed. If it's consistently well below, read why your speed is lower than your plan and work through our slow internet guide before you call your provider.
See how other cities compare in our city internet speed index, or compare countries in the global index.