DSL vs. Cable Internet

Q: Should I Get DSL or Cable Internet?

Cable is best for: Multi-device households that need faster speeds to support higher use Users that don't have landline connections in their homes Customers who already have TV service and can save by bundling DSL is best for: Rural customers without access to cable Households that prefer a direct line rather than sharing bandwidth Customers looking for decent speeds on a budget

Lauren Hannula Managing Editor

Updated 12 December 2023

In this Guide

What's the Difference Between DSL vs. Cable?
Cable vs. DSL Internet: Speeds
Cable vs. DSL Internet: Availability & Reliability
DSL vs. Cable Internet: Cost
Pros & Cons of Cable vs. DSL Internet
Should I Get DSL or Cable Internet?
Home Internet Plans

Article Summary

Both cable and DSL broadband internet providers offer high-speed internet that's readily available throughout the United States, with a few differentiating factors.

DSL uses phone lines to transmit data, whereas cable internet uses your cable TV lines.
DSL internet is the most widely available connection but offers slower speeds than cable and is further affected by distance from the ISP.
Cable internet is faster than DSL but sees significant slowdowns during peak network congestion, where DSL doesn’t share network bandwidth.

In this guide, we'll explain the differences between DSL vs. cable internet, including how each works, what to expect for cable vs. internet speeds, and which connection is best for you.

What's the Difference Between DSL vs. Cable?

DSL internet, short for "digital subscriber line," travels via landline telephone network to send information between your internet service provider (ISP) and your computer or connected device. The phone lines contain copper wires that use electrical currents to send packets of data back and forth through the cable.

Cable internet operates similarly through your cable TV lines, transmitting data through the same kind of coaxial cables that connect to your television. (That's also why cable providers often bundle their internet and TV services, and DSL providers will do the same with phone bundles.) Like DSL phone lines, these cables utilize copper wires to send and receive information via electricity. This is an important differentiator between both of these internet types and fiber internet, sends information via light pulses through glass-filamented fiber-optic cables.

Don't confuse DSL for dial-up internet, though. Dial-up uses the same frequencies within your phone line that are used to make voice calls, causing interference between your internet usage and your phone service. DSL, on the other hand, uses different frequencies than those designated for voice calls. That means you can surf the web all you want while still enjoying your Aunt Karen's weekly gab-fest.

Cable vs. DSL Internet: Speeds

	Cable	DSL
Avg. Download Speed	20-500Mbps	3-100Mbps
Avg. Upload Speed	5-50Mbps	1-10Mbps
Latency	100ms	100ms

DSL can sometimes reach speeds upwards of 100Mbps, but you'll more commonly see downloads around 35Mbps. For example, Windstream's Premium Kinetic Internet 500 plan offers downloads up to 500Mbps, but only in select areas—most customers will experience speeds between 50-100Mbps.

Cable internet speeds, on the other hand, can reach up to a super-speedy 1Gbps, on par with fiber internet. These kinds of ultra-fast downloads aren’t standard fare, though, and you're more likely to find plans offering speeds from 25Mbps to 400Mbps.

The average latency speed of cable vs. DSL—or the delay between sending a signal to and receiving a response from your ISP—is on par with one another at 100 milliseconds (ms). In fact, both often see speeds under 25ms, owing to the similarity in how they transmit information.

Other Cable and DSL Speed Factors

One unique characteristic affecting DSL internet speeds is distance—that is, how far away your home is from your ISP. The farther away you are from the central signal, the slower your speeds will be—including your latency speed.

While cable may not be affected by distance, it is affected by network congestion. Depending on your neighborhood size, your internet connection could be shared by anywhere from 100 to 2,000 homes—and when all of those users are streaming, browsing, and gaming at the same time, your speeds will significantly slow.

Cable vs. DSL Internet: Availability & Reliability

DSL has a slight edge over cable internet in terms of access and dependability. DSL is the most popular internet connection type in the world, with 90% coverage in the United States. This is due to the massive telephone network infrastructure that exists nationwide. In fact, DSL is often the only option in rural areas, where grounded cable lines can't reach due to its terrain and/or remote location.

As mentioned, DSL bandwidth isn't shared like cable internet, preventing congestion that leads to deprioritization and slower speeds. And because landline telephone networks rarely experience any technical interruptions, DSL is considered "always on," making it one of the most reliable forms of internet, barring any damage to your phone line.

Still, after DSL, cable is the most widely available broadband internet connection, relying upon the near-ubiquitous and generally reliable cable TV infrastructure nationwide. If you're able to access cable television in your area, you can also find a cable internet plan.

DSL vs. Cable Internet: Cost

Generally, cable and DSL internet plans are very close in cost, with providers of each connection type offering a wide range of plans at price points to meet every budget. DSL plans top out at a slightly lower cost than cable, because its speeds aren't capable of reaching those of cable internet plans.

It's helpful to compare prices for plans that offer the same max download speeds. Both AT&T's Internet 100 DSL plan and Spectrum's cable-powered Internet 100Mbps plan provide a maximum 100Mbps download speed—though remember that your actual speeds will vary based on factors like network congestion (for cable) or distance from your ISP (for DSL).

#1	Xfinity	Xfinity 300 Mbps Cable 300/35 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Get simple, seamless WiFi with 99% reliability. $40/mo for 5 years. No contracts, no data caps + equipment included. $40/mo 5 year price guarantee 5 year price guarantee View Plan	$40/mo 5 year price guarantee 5 year price guarantee	View Plan
#2	Spectrum	Spectrum Internet Gig Cable 1000/35 Mbps Unlimited Data $70/mo ($60 plan + $10 modem) for 1 year + $20 Upfront for 1 year View Plan	$70/mo ($60 plan + $10 modem) for 1 year + $20 Upfront for 1 year	View Plan
#3	WOW!	WOW! Internet 300 Cable 300/20 Mbps Unlimited Data $20/mo with AutoPay + $10 Upfront with AutoPay View Plan	$20/mo with AutoPay + $10 Upfront with AutoPay	View Plan
#4	Optimum	Optimum 300 Mbps Internet Cable 300/300 Mbps Unlimited Data $25/mo with $10/month eligible Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas. with $10/month eligible Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas. View Plan	$25/mo with $10/month eligible Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas. with $10/month eligible Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas.	View Plan
#5	Breezeline	Breezeline Internet 100 Cable 100/10 Mbps Unlimited Data $20/mo for 24 months then $45.00/month. Includes $10/mo EcoSave/ AutoPay discount. for 24 months then $45.00/month. Includes $10/mo EcoSave/ AutoPay discount. View Plan	$20/mo for 24 months then $45.00/month. Includes $10/mo EcoSave/ AutoPay discount. for 24 months then $45.00/month. Includes $10/mo EcoSave/ AutoPay discount.	View Plan

Just be sure to keep an eye on data caps associated with both DSL and cable internet plans—though two plans may offer the same speeds at the same price, one may significantly limit the amount of high-speed data you can use per month.

Simply Unlimited 100 Mbps

VDSL 100/10 Mbps
Unlimited Data

$55/mo

Available in select locations. Paperless billing required.

View Plan

$55/mo

Available in select locations. Paperless billing required.

View Plan

Pros & Cons of Cable vs. DSL Internet

	Pros	Cons
Cable Internet	Faster speeds than DSL Widely available nationwide Affordable for a variety of budgets	Slowdowns are more frequent during peak usage Often not accessible to rural customers
DSL Internet	Available everywhere, even rural or remote areas No sharing bandwidth with other users Affordable for a variety of budgets	Slower average speeds than cable Greater distance from ISP = speeds slow further

Should I Get DSL or Cable Internet?

Part of this answer depends on whether cable internet is available in your area. If your rural location leaves you without access to cable infrastructure, DSL and satellite internet are your best options.

If you have both cable and DSL in your area, your primary differentiator is likely going to be your internet speed. Tech-heavy, stream-happy households will benefit from cable's higher speeds (both download and upload), but remember that your speed will drop as you add more users to your connection—an issue DSL doesn't have to contend with. If you're concerned about congestion, many DSL providers offer plans between 50-100Mbps, which should be plenty fast for most home with average internet use.

Cable is best for:

Multi-device households that need faster speeds to support higher use
Users that don't have landline connections in their homes
Customers who already have TV service and can save by bundling

DSL is best for:

Rural customers without access to cable
Households that prefer a direct line rather than sharing bandwidth
Customers looking for decent speeds on a budget

Home Internet Plans

When shopping for home internet, make sure to check for any data caps associated with each plan in addition to its speed and price. And most importantly, make sure the plan is available in your area! You can check using our internet search tool—just enter your address to see only the plans local to you.

In the meantime, here are a few of the top plans for both cable and DSL internet. Popular DSL providers include Centurylink, Windstream, and AT&T, while you'll find a variety of cable internet plans from ISPs like Spectrum, Xfinity, and Cox.

Popular Cable Home Internet Plans

#1	Xfinity	Xfinity Cable Connection Speed 300 Mbps $40/mo Deal: Get simple, seamless WiFi with 99% reliability. $40/mo for 5 years. No contracts, no data caps + equipment included.	100%	View Plan
#2	Spectrum	Spectrum Cable Connection Speed 1000 Mbps $70/mo	73%	View Plan
#3	WOW!	WOW! Cable Connection Speed 300 Mbps $20/mo	35%	View Plan
#4	Optimum	Optimum Cable Connection Speed 300 Mbps $25/mo	12%	View Plan
#5	Breezeline	Breezeline Cable Connection Speed 100 Mbps $20/mo	4%	View Plan

Popular DSL Home Internet Plans

VDSL Connection
Speed 100 Mbps
$55/mo

100%

View Plan

Lauren Hannula

Managing Editor

Lauren is WhistleOut's Managing Editor. With over 14 years of digital writing and publishing experience, she's developed a passion for breaking down overly complex topics to offer easy, affordable solutions that help make the most of the tech you already have in your pocket. Her work has appeared in industry stalwarts such as CNET, Yahoo! News, and Forbes.

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