Sonic Internet Logo
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4.7

Overall Score

Author: Kaitlyn Short

LAST UPDATED: August 14th, 2024

Based in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, Sonic Internet offers download speeds up to 20 Mbps, no data caps, and a one-year contract.

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As an internet provider, Sonic Internet's mission is simple: to provide the best internet speed and great customer service for the most affordable price. The company strives to accomplish its mission by continually innovating and working to change the face of the broadband service industry.

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The Good

  • Brand New Fiber-Optic Lines
  • No Data Limits

Brand New Fiber-Optic Lines

Sonic Internet's service lines are brand new in every area where the company operates. This means that the lines are using the most current fiber optic technology, which keeps the network constantly running at full speed. Some players in the internet service provider industry will vary in speed depending on the time of day, so users may not be getting the actual speed that they are paying for each month. However, Sonic Internet customers do not have to worry about this issue. Fiber internet service is considered the most reliable connection.

No Data Limits

Some ISP companies set limits on how much data their customers can use each month. Sonic Internet does not impose any data caps on its customers' usage. Each Sonic customer can use as much data as desired each month while still enjoying quick speeds.

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The Bad

  • 12-Month Contract
  • Limited Service Area
  • Slow Speeds

12-Month Contract

While several other internet providers do not require any contracts, Sonic Internet requires its customers to sign into a minimum 12-month agreement in order to utilize the company's services. If the customer needs to cancel the internet connection for any reason before the end of the contract, they will be required to pay an early termination fee.

Limited Service Area

Sonic Internet's service area is incredibly limited; the company only operates in a few cities in California. Not only does this restrict the number of consumers who have access to Sonic Internet's services, but it also makes it difficult for existing Sonic customers who move outside of the company's service area because they have to deal with the hassle of switching providers and cancelling their contract.

Slow Speeds

Sonic Internet's top download speed is 20 Mbps, which is incredibly slow in the industry. Many other companies offer more than 20 Mbps as their bottom speed and go as fast as 1 Gbps.

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The Bottom Line

Sonic offers its customers fiber internet and no data limits. However, the company's service area is limited to a few cities in California, the speeds are very slow, and its customers are required to sign into a 12-month contract. We do not recommend working with Sonic Internet at this time.

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Star Rating

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3.1

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44 Reviews

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5 grade

41%

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3 grade

11%

2 grade

23%

1 grade

25%

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Dan Ford Redwood City, CA

I've had a great experience with Sonic Internet. It was easy to sign up, the installer showed up on time, and quickly got me setup. I signed up Summer '21 under promo that provided first 3 months for free then put me on $49.99/month. I love the faster upload speeds, the transparent pricing and avoiding the need to call my broadband provider every 12 months to ask them not to price gouge me. I will NEVER do business with Comcast, AT&T, or Verizon again. They're oligopolists whose business model depends on the majority of their subscribers not calling them to ensure they're on the latest promotion. This is reminiscent of how Blockbuster made big profits off of late fees and we all know what happened to them. Don't know why consumers put up with this nonsense.

2 years ago Edited August 22, 2022

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David Couturier San Francisco, CA

Gigabit fiber service they offer is very inexpensive and fast service. The article on this page is nonsense.. Expect speeds of ~900Mbps Up and Down with the lowest latency I have seen in a residential home internet (~3 ms wired). I did have a hiccup when I moved and activated service and the techs had to make a new line all the way to a junction box on another street block. They were very friendly and they cared about making sure that I had good noise levels and stayed until we were able to get over 940 Mbps (Gigabit Ethernet will top at 960 Mbps due to packet headers overhead so 940 is good enough!) They also left me with some optical fiber so that I could relocate the existing OTN since the previous owner had it installed in a questionable location. It's been 6 months and I haven't had any issues.

3 years ago

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Paul Sunnyvale, CA

The claims of this website are not true. I suffered with intermittent internet and the world's worst customer support from Comcast and AT&T for many years. Many complaints, no change at all. About four years ago I switched to Sonic and the costs were lower, speeds were higher, and I get a knowledge tech to work with as soon as I call. I am not under a 12 month contract, and Sonic's speeds are equivalent to AT&T's. I cannot recommend this company strongly enough. It is well run, the product is reasonably priced, and the telephone support techs are local, intelligent, and cheerful. Phone and internet, 50 Mbps symmetric. Very happy. Paul in Sunnyvale CA

4 years ago

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Matt San Francisco, CA

Its the best internet I have ever had. Comcast and AT&T are trash and really bad companies. My fiber internet in San Francisco gets 115mbps download and 276mbps upload. I just ran the speed test right now. It is FAST and the company is always pleasant to deal with, although I have almost never had to call them. The only bad thing I can say is that they require you to rent the router, but even with that rental fee it is about $45 cheaper than Comcast was, and 5 times the speed. This site has incorrect information since the speed is over 100mbps up and down, not 20mbps like this page says. I HIGHLY recommend Sonic. *Also, I actually work for At&t, since they own WB, and could get a discount on my internet and I still stay with Sonic.

5 years ago

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Brigette S. Van Nuys, CA

This company offer a very inexpensive price, have the absolute best customer service and knowledgeable as well as kind technicians, I WOULD NEVER GO BACK TO SPECTRUM! My Wifi is plenty fast. I have no data caps and no longer pay outrageous monthly costs with surcharges, strange, errroneous made up fees, using Spectrums service charges, because my nane begins with a B surcharge. I was so fed up before I found Sonic, that I refused to pay a $250 ( just for one month and all I had was wifi!), bill from Spectrum. Even though not paying this bill is ruining my almost perfect credit, I will never pay that $250. I paid the 40 plus taxes etc etc, that was what I signed up for. But on principal, I will never pay $250 for one month of wifi. I was completely without Wifi for over 6 months. I MUST HAVE IT for work. But, I refuse to go with Spectrum or AT&T. So when I found Sonic, I was mildly hopeful. Now, I am so happy, just overjoyed!! They are by far the most compassionate, knowledgable, all over the best company I have ever dealt with. They remind me of a little book store I loved, years ago. They would always save books for me, they knew my taste. They knew my name. They cared. Sonic is very much like that. I love that!

5 years ago

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fearles jane San Francisco, CA

Download Mbps 11.62 Upload Mbps .94 Excelsior, San Francisco December 2, 2018 Works for me. Unlike ATT, I can now watch movies on Netflix without glitches. I like my landline, don't want everyone yanking my chain when I am away from home. That makes a difference, because ATT is extra charges for each of long distance, caller ID, voicemail, etc. Now I can have a long conversation with my cousin in Canada or my friend in Selma, California (Raisin Capital of the World!) without a thought about cost. The majority of my incoming calls are from spoofed numbers trying to sell me health insurance, and I prefer to keep my mobile clear of that sort of thing. Service is from live people who answer their phones.

6 years ago

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Darla Wylie Brentwood, CA

Sonic is the best internet/phone service in my area. When other internet services are not working.....for whatever reason 🙄 (x.....) Sonic is working. One time in 5 years it has gone off and when I called the customer service department they had a direct line to see how long your service would be down. They were up and running before the time of estimate they gave me on the recording. I have been a customer for almost 10 years and I do not plan on leaving anytime soon. Thank you Sonic for recognizing me as a valued customer and giving me great value for my money!!

1 year ago

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Hoy Thompson Oakland, CA

Review is way off or old or both. I pay $49.99/mo for fiber (supports up to 10G but I am using 1G at the moment) that has not gone down since it was installed. Average speed is 854-876 Mbps DOWN and 896-918 UP (I did tryout the 10G connection and it was fast, but I don't have a good set of test averages to post). Been a customer since 2016, they are local, get high scores from Electronic Frontier Foundation, no caps, no limits.

1 year ago

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Fundevin Los Angeles, CA

For the price of $40 a month you can get gigabit internet,(like actually 1000 mbits up and down, round the clock, no rental fees). This makes Xfinitys 60 dollars 200 mbit plan just look silly. The installation team is incredibly friendly and understanding, and they will set you up for whatever you need. They have a phone service, but they won't try to upsell you on it, and its super easy to take it off if you don't want it.

2 years ago Edited March 22, 2023

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FiberLine

The review (updated August 2022) is completely inaccurate with regard to Sonic.net product descriptions, service, and prices. My experience with Sonics onsite installers and service personnel, both at home and in commercial locations has been top notch. I don't understand how you can possibly rate Comcast Xfinity as #1 overall. I lived with their slow, overpriced services, inflexible contracts, and disorganized staff for years while waiting for Sonic to be available in my area. I couldn't get rid of them fast enough.

2 years ago

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Review Source

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Kanyin Esther

I truly like sonic internet provider at for me it has unbeatable fastest speed service I love the way they offer me and my family a good price sonic internet is the internet provider that makes me keep up with my online meetings schedule

1 year ago

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Review Source

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Jake Benson Chicago, IL

I like Sonic Fiber Internet is incredibly fast, up to 2× faster than competitors. Their customer service and commitment to data privacy are outstanding. I highly recommend Sonic for their speed and excellent support.

1 year ago

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Mrs. RL White

They put their customers first! They support Net Neutrality & always have! Their services rock & are the best price!

7 years ago

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Nini New York, NY

I utilized high-speed internet for the purpose of completing my educational requirements.

1 year ago Edited June 22, 2023

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Tillman Robinson Petaluma, CA

What are you talking about 20 mbps? I get gig service I assume this article is very very old.

3 years ago

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Charles San Francisco, CA

Because the rates are decent, the service is excellent, and the customer service is superior.

7 years ago

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Bill Minor

Great support team. Knowledgable, helpful, always there when you need them.

5 years ago

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Doug R

Would like to see more upgrade opptys and ability to unbundle landline service

6 years ago