Best Internet Providers in Louisiana

Internet breakdown by city in Louisiana

It’s hard to cover the broadband options of an entire state and give individual cities the attention they deserve. That’s why we also compile lists of the best internet providers in cities across the US, including those in Louisiana. We tackle details such as internet connection types, maximum speeds and cheapest providers. If you don’t find the city you’re looking for below, check back later. We’re working to add more locations every week. 

Cheap internet options in Louisiana

Louisiana’s many cable ISPs offer some of the lowest introductory rates in the state. The two things to watch out for are equipment costs and rate hikes after the intro period is up. Xfinity’s 150Mbps plan is just $20 a month for the first year and you can sidestep the $15 monthly equipment fee by using your own equipment. For just $10 more, Optimum’s $30-a-month 100Mbps plan comes with the equipment included. Verizon and T-Mobile phone customers can look into bundling with an eligible phone plan to save on the monthly home internet price.

What’s the cheapest internet plan in Louisiana?

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Louisiana

The best internet deals and top promotions in Louisiana depend on what discounts are available during a given period. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers. 

Louisiana internet providers, such as Optimum, Cox or Xfinity, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Other providers, including AT&T Fiber, run the same standard pricing year-round. 

For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide to the best internet deals. 

How fast is Louisiana broadband?

Recent Ookla data places Louisiana in the middle of the pack for US internet state speeds, with a median download speed of 198Mbps. Most cities are covered by cable internet with gig speeds available. Fiber, the Cadillac of home internet, is only available to roughly 33% of residents in the state, according to FCC estimates. It’s great if you can get it. Regarding fast plans, it’s tough to top AT&T Fiber’s 5,000Mbps speed tier. If blazing symmetrical speeds are a must-have for you, then make sure you land within the coverage area for AT&T Fiber.

Fastest internet plans in Louisiana

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

What’s a good internet speed?

Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here’s an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.

For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.

• 0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics: browsing the internet, sending and receiving email and streaming low-quality video.
• 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
• 40 to 100Mbps should give one person sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming. 
• 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two people to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming. 
• 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more people to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.

How CNET chose the best internet providers in Louisiana

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 pricing, availability and speed database 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 answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who 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.

To explore our process in more depth, you can visit our how we test ISPs page.

What’s the final word on internet providers in Louisiana?

Your first stop for internet shopping in Louisiana should be to check in with AT&T Fiber. It’s not the cheapest around, but the plan terms are simple, and it’s fast up and down. No fiber? No problem. The state’s many cable providers come next. You can still get gig download speeds, but scrutinize the plan terms and be ready to deal with eventual price hikes. T-Mobile and Verizon phone customers looking for a bargain should check into 5G home internet, but speeds can be variable and availability limited.

Internet providers in Louisiana FAQs