Internet providers in Santa Cruz, CA
Santa Cruz is a city in California with about 60,953 residents and roughly 26,843 residential locations that internet providers can report on. The table below compares the providers that report service here.
Compare internet providers in Santa Cruz, CA
Share of residential locations in Santa Cruz where each provider reports service, from the FCC National Broadband Map (data as of December 31, 2025). Availability depends on your exact address.
| # | Provider | Technology (varies by address) | Locations covered | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Xfinity | Cable | 99%+ | |
| 2 | AT&T | Fiber, DSL, Fixed wireless | 86% | Check availability |
| 3 | Cruzio Internet | Fixed wireless | 74% | |
| 4 | T-Mobile Home Internet | Fixed wireless | 55% | |
| 5 | Verizon | Fiber, Fixed wireless | 51% | Check availability |
| 6 | California Internet | Fixed wireless | 4% |
Satellite internet
| 1 | HughesNet | Satellite | 99%+ | |
| 2 | Starlink | Satellite | 99%+ | |
| 3 | Viasat | Satellite | 99%+ |
Satellite service is available at nearly every address but typically has higher latency than wired options.
Provider-reported coverage does not guarantee service or speeds at a specific address. Some "Check availability" links are affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no cost to you. How we make money.
What to know about internet in Santa Cruz
Xfinity reports service to the most residential locations in Santa Cruz, about 100%. 5 providers report coverage of at least half of locations (Xfinity, AT&T, Cruzio Internet, T-Mobile Home Internet, and Verizon), so the market looks competitive. Cruzio Internet and T-Mobile Home Internet offer fixed wireless home internet, an option if you prefer no cable or fiber installation.
What technologies are available in Santa Cruz?
Fiber is widely available: about 52% of locations in Santa Cruz can get it. Gigabit-class service (1,000 Mbps down) is reported for about 66% of locations. Fixed wireless home internet is reported for about 86% of locations.
FCC National Broadband Map, data as of December 31, 2025: share of residential locations in Santa Cruz that providers report they can serve. City-level figures, not your address.
Santa Cruz at a glance
About 95% of households in Santa Cruz have a broadband subscription, 2 points above the California average of 92%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2023).
Internet providers in places near Santa Cruz
- Live Oak, CA (3 mi)
- Capitola, CA (4 mi)
- Scotts Valley, CA (6 mi)
- Rio del Mar, CA (8 mi)
- Watsonville, CA (15 mi)
- Los Gatos, CA (18 mi)
- Saratoga, CA (20 mi)
- Campbell, CA (22 mi)
- Prunedale, CA (24 mi)
- Cupertino, CA (24 mi)
- Morgan Hill, CA (24 mi)
- Marina, CA (24 mi)
- Gilroy, CA (25 mi)
- Pacific Grove, CA (25 mi)
- San Jose, CA (25 mi)
- Seaside, CA (27 mi)
- Monterey, CA (27 mi)
- Santa Clara, CA (27 mi)
- Los Altos, CA (27 mi)
- Sunnyvale, CA (28 mi)
Frequently asked questions
Is fiber internet available in Santa Cruz?
Yes, in part. About 52% of residential locations in Santa Cruz can get fiber, 99% can get cable, and about 66% can get gigabit-class speeds, per FCC data. Availability depends on your exact address.
Which internet provider has the widest coverage in Santa Cruz?
Xfinity reports service to about 100% of residential locations in Santa Cruz, the most of any provider, per FCC data. Availability still depends on your address.
How many internet providers serve Santa Cruz?
6 providers report service to at least 2% of locations in Santa Cruz, and 5 cover at least half. Satellite (HughesNet, Starlink, Viasat) is also available nearly everywhere.
What is the difference between fiber, cable and DSL?
Fiber offers the fastest and most consistent speeds, cable is widely available with high download speeds, and DSL runs over phone lines and is usually slower. See our guide for details.
What internet speed do I need in Santa Cruz?
Most households are well served by 100–300 Mbps. Heavy streaming, gaming or many connected devices may benefit from 500 Mbps or more.
Check your exact address
Coverage for a whole community cannot tell you what is available at your door. Enter your ZIP code, then confirm with each provider.
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