San Francisco has a competitive internet market with cable, fiber, and several local fixed-wireless providers. Dense housing means good coverage, but building wiring still shapes what you can get.
What the Public Data Says
City-level speeds vary by provider and technology more than by any single average. For how San Francisco 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 San Francisco
Providers include Xfinity (cable), AT&T (fiber), Sonic (fiber), local fixed-wireless like Monkeybrains, and Astound (Wave), plus T-Mobile/Verizon 5G home.
| Connection Type | Typical Download Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fiber | 300 Mbps – 1 Gbps+ | AT&T, Sonic, Astound in wired buildings |
| Cable | 100 Mbps – 1.2 Gbps | Xfinity — near-universal |
| Fixed wireless / 5G | 50 – 500 Mbps | Monkeybrains, Starry, T-Mobile, Verizon |
Local Fixed-Wireless Options
SF is unusual for having local fixed-wireless ISPs (like Monkeybrains) that can beat cable in some buildings. Fiber and cable are the mainstream picks. Test wired at your address and compare with your plan.
How to Test Your Speed in San Francisco
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.