Best internet providers in Independence, Missouri

Home internet shoppers in Independence may have a choice of fiber internet, cable internet, or 5G connection types.

#1: AT&T internet

If you can get on AT&T’s fiber internet, you’re in luck! Not only is AT&T well-renowned for customer service (1), it is also one of the fastest internet providers in the country and one of the cheapest ways to get a fully fiber-optic connection all the way to your home. Prices start at $55 per month, and that includes Wi-Fi equipment rental (plus freedom from contracts and data caps).

We do have to bring up one caveat, though. Some areas of Independence still have legacy DSL connections from AT&T, and those plans are slow and expensive. You can't buy DSL plans form AT&T anymore, and most cases, we’d skip DSL in favor of another connection type.

Read our full AT&T review.

#2: Xfinity internet

Xfinity coverage blankets almost all of Independence, and its cable internet can nearly match what AT&T offers when it comes to download speeds. What we like even more, though, is that Xfinity offers a range of plans and a range of monthly prices, and you can sometimes get a nice Wi-Fi gateway included with your monthly plan on certain promotions.

There are some downsides, too. Most Xfinity plans have data caps or charge $30 per month to lift them, and the company hasn’t always had a great reputation. We’re starting to see that change, though, and we applaud the progress!

Read our full Xfinity review.

#3: T-Mobile internet

5G home internet with T-Mobile is very easy to set up, and speeds can get all the way up to 182 Mbps (in ideal conditions). We love that you can bundle with your cell phone plan to get this service for a very affordable $25 per month, and we’re glad there are no contracts to worry about. Our only complaint is that due to the nature of 5G, speeds can sometimes slow to a crawl, and that’s more likely to happen if a lot of your neighbors are trying to log in to the network at the same time. More distance from the nearest 5G tower can also slow things down in a hurry.

Read our full T-Mobile review.

A handful of other providers sell home internet in Independence. In addition to our top three picks, you may also be able to get 5G home internet from Verizon. Fixed wireless internet provider Wisper is available to about 14% of addresses as well. (2) Spectrum is also available to a teeny tiny corner of the city, and that’s our number-two pick in areas where Xfinity doesn’t do business.

You can also get satellite internet throughout Independence, but we rarely recommend it when you have a nice range of fiber internet, cable internet, and 5G options to choose from.

Xfinity is the cheapest way to get internet in Independence, if you can get in on its $20 monthly plan for up to 50 Mbps of speed. Just watch out for data caps by keeping an eye on your mobile app.

In Reddit discussions in the broader Kansas City area, locals tend to favor Google Fiber heavily. Since Google Fiber isn't available in Independence, AT&T fiber seems to have the next-best reputation.

Fast internet is widely available in and around Independence, with virtually 100% of town having the option for home internet speeds of 250 Mbps. Another 45% can get speeds all the way up to a gig. (2)

Meanwhile, state leaders are on a quest to make sure every Missourian can get great internet. The Office of Broadband Development is planning how to spend federal taxpayer dollars on the project and is conducting a brief survey of households about how they use the internet and how easy it is to get. (3)

The federal government itself is also helping by managing its Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides $30 off home internet bills every month for certain families, seniors, and Veterans. It’s available nationwide, and each provider we review participates.

Learn more about how to get free or cheap internet in Missouri.