Those who live in Bakersfield, California, have a mixed bag when it comes to the internet. The good? It appears that 100% of residents have access to a plan with at least 100Mbps download and 20Mbps upload speeds — the Federal Communications Commission’s proposed minimum for broadband — and it’s one of the top 50 cities in the country by median speed.
Then what’s the bad? The options for high-speed internet in Bakersfield are still very limited. While AT&T Fiber is now available to around one in five households (with prices starting at $55), Spectrum is the only option in many neighborhoods. Wireless providers like T-Mobile and Verizon also offer home internet plans now, but their speeds tend to fluctuate more than wired connections. Plans offered by both providers start at $50 and go up to $70.
On the bright side, in 2022 the Bakersfield City Council approved a deal with SiFi Networks to build and maintain a fiber network along every street in the city at no cost to taxpayers. SiFi will then sell network access to private internet providers. According to a presentation given to the Board of Supervisors, residents would pay about $60 each month for 10,000Mbps. For comparison, AT&T currently charges $245 for 5,000Mbps. But the project is currently in the design phase, with no clear timetable for construction yet.
Best internet options in Bakersfield
CNET examines customer service, speed, pricing and overall value before recommending the best broadband in your area. For a long time, Spectrum was essentially the only option for high-speed internet in Bakersfield. Then, in 2015, AT&T agreed to expand its fiber-optic network to 20 new metro areas within four years as a part of its deal to buy DirecTV. In 2017, AT&T Fiber officially launched in Bakersfield, immediately becoming the city’s best internet option. It’s currently available to 79% of Bakersfield households.
Note: The prices, speeds and features detailed in the article text may differ from those listed in the product detail cards, which represent providers’ national offerings. Your particular internet service options — including prices and speeds — depend on your address and may differ from those detailed here.
Top Bakersfield internet providers
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Fiber Read full review | Fiber | $55-$245 | 300-5,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| AT&T Internet Air Read full review | Fixed Wireless | $60 | 768Kbps-100Mbps | None | 1.5TB (no data cap for 100Mbps plan) | None | 7.4 |
| Spectrum Read full review | Cable | $50-$70 | 500-1,000Mbps | $10 | None | None | 7.2 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($30-$50 with eligible mobile plans) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 with eligible phone plan) | 50-250Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Fastest internet plans in Bakersfield
There are only two providers offering gig speeds — download speeds reaching 1,000Mbps — but they are both good options. AT&T’s fiber plans go all the way up to 5,000Mbps, which is far more than most people need, but it’s a nice option for ultra-connected smart homes. While Spectrum’s download speeds reach 1,000Mbps, households that do a lot of working from home or gaming might run into issues with its 35Mbps upload speeds.
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Bakersfield
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every internet service provider in a given city. What’s our approach? For starters, we tap into a proprietary database of pricing, availability and speed information that draws from our own historical ISP data, partner data and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
It doesn’t end there: We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
- Are customers happy with their service?
While the answers to those questions are often layered and complex, the providers that come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
What’s the final word on internet providers in Bakersfield?
Bakersfield residents aren’t exactly swimming in great options for internet, but all residents have access to at least one provider offering 100/20Mbps speeds — the new minimum broadband speed proposed by the FCC. While AT&T Fiber is by far the best choice in the city, not all residents have access to their fiber plans. However, Spectrum and T-Mobile are both good backup options.
Bakersfield internet FAQs
Which is the best internet service provider in Bakersfield?
AT&T Fiber is the best internet provider in Bakersfield, with plans starting at $55 monthly for 300Mbps download and upload speeds. Spectrum’s cable internet is a distant second, with much lower upload speeds and price hikes in the second year.
Is fiber internet available in Bakersfield?
Yes. AT&T offers 100% fiber-optic internet plans with speeds up to 5,000Mbps in some areas. However, fiber internet is currently only available to 21% of Bakersfield households.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Bakersfield?
There are three internet providers that offer internet plans starting at $50 a month in Bakersfield: Spectrum, T-Mobile and Verizon. That said, both T-Mobile and Verizon offer discounts for cellphone customers that bring the price down significantly. Additionally, AT&T Fiber plans start at $55.
Which internet provider in Bakersfield offers the fastest plan?
AT&T Fiber offers the fastest internet plan in Bakersfield, with 5,000Mbps available at some addresses. Spectrum also has gig-speed plans in Bakersfield — 1,000Mbps download — but upload speeds are just 35Mbps.
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