- TDS Telecom Overview
- Internet Review
TDS Telecom provides a lot of internet options in areas where good alternatives are needed.
TDS Telecom
available in
Price: Location dependent*
Speeds: 1Mbps–2,000Mbps
Data cap: 500GB–Unlimited
Compare all plans
User Rating (96)◊
ViewPlans for TDS Telecom
◊ Provider star ratings are based on user reviews and our independent customer satisfaction survey.
Data effective 3/6/2023. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*Availability varies and speeds shown may not be available at all service addresses. Certain speeds are only offered in areas served by TDS Fiber.
Our TDS Telecom internet review
TDS Telecom operates in rural and suburban areas throughout the U.S. Although it has a much smaller coverage area than most nationwide providers, most states have at least a handful of areas where TDS offers service.
Much like its coverage area, TDS Telecom’s plans are a bit sporadic, with fiber, cable, and DSL available in different regions. Not all plans are available in all regions, so it’s important to know which options you have at your address and how they compare to other providers in the area.
Pros
- Multi-gig fiber plans
- Lots of bundles
- Many plan options
Cons
- Limited fiber availability
- Plans and pricing vary by region
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Jump to: Plans and pricing | Speed and data caps | Fees | Installation, equipment, and contracts |Customer ratings | TDS Telecom vs. the competition | Bottom line | Faq
Jump to:
- Plans and pricing
- Speed and data caps
- Fees
- Installation, equipment, and contracts
- Customer ratings
- TDS Telecom vs. the competition
- Bottom line
- Faq
Compare TDS Telecom internet plans and pricing
| Package | Price | Speed | View on TDS Telecom site |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2Gig Fiber Internet | Location dependent | Up to 2Gbps (2,000Mbps) | Shop Plans |
| 1Gig Fiber Internet | Location dependent | Up to 1Gbps (1,000Mbps) | Shop Plans |
| Extreme300 Fiber Internet | Location dependent | Up to 300Mbps | Shop Plans |
| Extreme25 Fiber Internet | Location dependent | Up to 25Mbps | Shop Plans |
| WarpX Internet | Location dependent | 75Mbps–100Mbps | Shop Plans |
| Mach Internet | Location dependent | 18Mbps–25Mbps | Shop Plans |
Data effective 3/6/2023. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*Availability varies and speeds shown may not be available at all service addresses. Certain speeds are only offered in areas served by TDS Fiber.
TDS Telecom’s speeds: What’s best for you?
TDS Telecom offers a wide range of speeds, from its Lite Internet plan that clocks in at between 56Kbps and 1Mbps (which we do not recommend), to its multigigabit fiber plans that can go toe-to-toe with some of the fastest internet plans in the country.
The best plans TDS Telecom has to offer are its fiber plans, which not only offer high download speeds, but equally fast upload speeds and high overall reliability. Although there is some overlap between its fiber, cable, and DSL networks, its fiber footprint doesn’t fill its entire coverage area. If TDS Fiber is available in your area, we highly recommend it.
TDS Telecom’s data caps
Most of TDS Telecom’s plans don’t have data caps, however, some DSL plans still have limits on the amount of data you can use per month. We’re not big fans of data caps, so we suggest avoiding these plans if you can. If you do choose a plan with data limits, make sure to keep an eye on your data usage throughout the month to avoid unexpected charges on your monthly bill.
Is TDS Telecom internet available where you live?
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Our favorite plan: 1Gig Fiber Internet. This plan gives more than enough speed for the average household which makes it great for those with a lot of devices on their home networks.
Although fiber plans aren’t available throughout TDS’ entire coverage area, the provider has been working over the last few years to expand its fiber network to reach 1.2 million locations, according to Fierce Telecom.
TDS Telecom internet fees
In addition to the monthly cost of your plan, you might have additional fees such as equipment rental fees or data overage charges. Contact your TDS Telecom agent for more details.
TDS Telecom internet installation, equipment, and contracts
Contracts and hidden fees can be deal-breakers when choosing an internet provider, and unfortunately, TDS Telecom has its share of both.
TDS Telecom installation and equipment
TDS Telecom gives customers the choice of renting equipment from the provider or simply purchasing your own. Purchasing your own router definitely gives you more options, especially if you’re opting for one of TDS’ ultrafast fiber plans. It can also be a great way to save money if you opt for a plan with lower top speeds.
On the other hand, renting your equipment from your provider is a straightforward option that can make things a lot easier if you have to call your provider’s customer service line.
TDS Telecom internet contracts
TDS Telecom plans come with a one- to two-year contract. We’re not fans of contracts, or the excessive termination fees that come with them. If signing a long-term contract is a deal breaker for you, check to see if there’s a no-contract internet option available in your area.
See what other TDS Telecom customers are saying
We love data. The more information we can learn about customer experience, the more confident we can be in our recommendations. If you’re an TDS Telecom customer, we’d love to have you fill out our Customer Review form and let us know about your experience with TDS Telecom and check out what others have said, too.
Read Reviews
How TDS Telecom compares to the competition
| Provider | Plan price range | Speeds (range) | Customer rating* | Order online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TDS Telecom | Location dependent† | 1Mbps–2,000Mbps | N/A | View TDS Telecom Plans |
| Earthlink | $49.95–$189.95/mo.‡ | 10–5,000Mbps | 4.0/5 | View EarthLink Plans |
| Windstream | $39.99–$169.99/mo.§ | 100–2,000Mbps | 3.5/5 | View Windstream Plans |
Data effective 3/6/2023. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*According to our annual customer satisfaction survey.
†Availability varies and speeds shown may not be available at all service addresses. Certain speeds are only offered in areas served by TDS Fiber.
‡with a 12 month contract.
§For the first 12 months. No data caps. No overage charges.
With autopay for 12 months. Limited-time, non-transferable offer for residential customers that may not be combined with other promotions. Credit restrictions may apply. Subject to availability.
Windstream Broadband Label available at: https://www.windstream.com/support/labels/
TDS Telecom can definitely stand up to many of the other nationwide providers in terms of speed but, again, there’s a lot of variation from area to area. If you have access to TDS Fiber, it might be the clear winner, while in DSL-only areas, it may not be a viable option at all.
Like many of the other plucky telecom underdogs, TDS is expanding at breakneck speed and focusing most of its efforts on fiber, so even if TDS isn’t the best choice for your household at the moment, it’s worth remembering the name, as its offerings in your area may have changed by the next time you’re looking to upgrade your home internet.
1-2 paragraphs calling out finer details of customer ratings each brand received in the latest customer satisfaction survey, ie Fiber customers gave much better ratings than DSL customers, etc. We can use the average rating as a benchmark for ISP’s ratings.
Is TDS Telecom internet right for you?
TDS Telecom provides fast and reliable fiber options in many underserved areas, providing benefits on par with those found in much more urban areas. If TDS Telecom has fiber options in your area, we highly suggest comparing them to the plans offered by bigger national brands.
The cable and DSL plans offered by TDS Telecom definitely can’t compete with other providers’ fiber options, but in more rural areas, they still might be worth checking out.
Shop TDS Telecom Internet
FAQ about TDS Telecom
Is TDS Telecom Internet unlimited?
TDS Fiber and cable plans come with unlimited data; however, DSL connections still have monthly data caps.
What does TDS stand for?
TDS stands for Telephone and Data Systems. This is the provider’s parent company, which also owns the mobile phone company U.S. Cellular
Is TDS Telecom internet DSL?
TDS Telecom offers DSL connections throughout much of its coverage area, but it also has much faster fiber and cable networks in some areas.
How much does TDS Telecom internet cost?
The cost of TDS Telecom internet plans varies by location, so the only way to know the exact price in your area is to talk to a TDS Telecom agent.
Methodology
Our HighSpeedInternet.com editorial team bases our analyses on customer input from our annual customer satisfaction survey, results from our speed test tool, and proprietary internet provider data on speeds and pricing. To strengthen our research, we look closely at provider contracts to get hard-to-find information on price hikes, data caps, and extra fees, and we keep tabs on the latest news reports and online reviews. When applicable, we also rely on our personal experiences testing these services.
