Internet Speed Test in Illinois

Internet Providers in Illinois

The main broadband providers serving Illinois are Xfinity (Comcast), AT&T Fiber, RCN/Astound, and WideOpenWest. Coverage quality varies significantly depending on whether you are in an urban center or a rural area.

Fiber Internet in Illinois

Chicago, Naperville, Evanston, and suburbs have the strongest fiber coverage. Chicago is one of the most competitive broadband markets in the US, with Xfinity, AT&T Fiber, RCN, and WOW! competing for customers. Downstate Illinois has fewer options, with Xfinity cable or AT&T fiber in larger cities.

What Speeds to Expect in Illinois

Typical speeds for Illinois residents: 200 Mbps – 2 Gbps on cable or fiber plans. Testing on Ethernet gives you a true baseline—Wi-Fi performance varies by distance from the router and interference from neighboring networks.

• Best speeds: Fiber connections in metro areas—consistent performance with symmetric upload and download
• Cable speeds: Fast download but lower upload; can slow during evening peak hours on shared networks
• Rural speeds: DSL or fixed wireless typically deliver 25–100 Mbps; satellite (Starlink) is an option where wired service is unavailable

Speed Test Tips for Illinois Residents

• Test on Ethernet to measure your true connection speed, not Wi-Fi overhead
• Run tests at both off-peak (morning) and peak (evening 7–10 PM) times—cable networks often show 20–40% lower speeds at peak hours
• Check upload speed separately—upload is the bottleneck for video calls and cloud uploads, not just download
• If your measured speed is consistently below 80% of your plan speed, contact your ISP or check for modem/router firmware updates

Frequently Asked Questions

What internet providers serve Illinois?

Xfinity (Comcast) is the largest statewide. AT&T Fiber competes heavily in Chicago. RCN/Astound and WideOpenWest serve parts of the Chicago metro. Downstate relies primarily on Xfinity or AT&T cable/fiber.

Is fiber available in Illinois?

Yes, extensively in Chicago. AT&T Fiber covers large parts of Chicago and the suburbs. RCN offers fiber in parts of the metro. Xfinity has also deployed fiber in Chicago. Downstate Illinois has more limited fiber options.

What speeds are typical in Illinois?

Chicago residents can get 500 Mbps – 2 Gbps. Downstate cable subscribers get 200–500 Mbps. Illinois ranks above the national average for broadband speed due to Chicago's competitive market.

Which ISP is best in Chicago?

AT&T Fiber offers the most consistent speeds with symmetric upload in Chicago. RCN and WOW! are competitive alternatives. Xfinity is widely available but cable speeds can dip during peak hours. Check availability at your address as coverage varies by block.