Grande Communications

Grande Communications is the 12th-largest residential cable provider in the United States. Approximately 1.3 million people in Texas have access to Grande Communications’ fast internet speeds and plans with both one- and two-year promotional rates, no contracts, and zero data caps. You can also get TV and phone service from Grande Communications, but it’s the company’s low internet prices that attract cord cutters and remote workers.

Below, we’ll take a closer look at Grande Communications as a company, provide a breakdown of their prices, identify their best plans, and answer the most frequently asked questions from consumers.

What to Expect from Grande Communications

Grande Communications’s internet-only plans have speeds ranging from up to 50-940 Mbps, with promotional rates starting at $29.99 per month. Your price will most likely increase after your promotional period ends, so be sure to read the fine print.

Grande Communications’ largest competitors in Texas are Xfinity and AT&T. You’ll see AT&T in more areas, but Grande Communications has faster speeds than AT&T in most of the neighborhoods where they compete. Xfinity is also available in more cities than Grande Communications; however, Grande Communications has lower-priced plans that are more appealing if you’re on a tight budget.

If you’ve had another cable internet provider like Spectrum or Xfinity, you’re probably used to your internet going slower sometimes during the day. Grande Communications’ cable internet will have the same hiccups. There’s no way to avoid it with a cable provider, which is why I recommend underdogs like Grande Communications — cable internet is just cable internet no matter who you get it from, but you’ll pay less with Grande Communications.

A Breakdown of Grande Communications’ Plans and Pricing

Grande Communications’ internet-only plans cost between $29.99 and 69.99 per month, not including equipment fees. The best way to evaluate a provider’s pricing is to look at its cost per Mbps. You can see how much a provider charges per Mbps, and for the more expensive providers, you can take a look at how much they value some of their extra plan features.

The Internet 300 and Internet 600 plans have lower prices than most of the major providers in Texas who have plans with similar speeds. I switch internet providers every year or two to get better deals, and I have yet to see a lower price for up to 300 or 600 Mbps. Usually, I see up to 100 or 200 Mbps plans for $40 a month. Still, it’s important to note that the prices in the table above are promotional rates.

With the Internet 50 plan, you’ll get the same price for one year, but should expect that rate to increase when the first year is over. For the rest of the plans, the promotional rate lasts for the first two years.

One reason behind Grande Communications’ lower prices is its lack of features. Grande Communications doesn’t offer some of the common features I’m used to seeing, like a free streaming device. However, there are a la carte extras you can add: For example, every subscriber has the option to add Enhanced Whole Home WiFi by Eero for $9.95 per month. If you wanted to buy the device directly from Eero, it would cost you a one-time fee of $89, plus $9.99 per month (or $99 per year) for the service. Getting a Grande Communications plan and taking advantage of this deal will save you money over buying an Eero system on your own.

In addition to the optional Eero Enhanced Whole Home Wi-Fi, most Grande Communications internet plans come with a free TiVo Stream 4K for 12 months and $10 off of the first four months of a Sling TV subscription. TiVo Stream 4K allows you to access many of your favorite streaming apps directly from your television, while Sling provides streaming that is comparable to traditional cable TV. So, if you’re looking to cut the cord but don’t want to lose out on all of the benefits of cable TV, Grande Communications’ internet can give you a discounted start.

It’s important to remember that the prices above don’t factor in the cost of the equipment. Fortunately, installation is completely free if you use the promo code ‘FREEINSTALL’ when signing up. If you choose to rent a Grande Communications modem, it will cost you $13.49 per month with the Internet 50, 300, and 600 plans, or just $4.99 per month with the Internet 940 plan. You can avoid this fee by using your own modem/router, as long as it meets Grande Communications’ minimum modem requirements.

Why Choose Grande Communications?

Grande Communications internet is ideal for:

• People who don’t want to commit to one provider
• People who want to bundle services
• Large households streaming on multiple devices
• People who want higher speeds

Grande Communications may not have a huge network, but it is a solid option for many people living in Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, and other densely-populated regions of Texas. Grande Communications internet has no data caps and no contracts, so you’re free to come and go as you please. The option to add Eero Enhanced Whole Home Wi-Fi is a bonus for larger households, and the discounts on TiVo Stream 4K and Sling TV give you more options to stream reruns of your favorite shows.

Our Grande Communications Internet Recommendations

For an Internet-Only Plan…

Grande Communications offers four basic internet-only plans, but the Internet 300 plan stands out as the best. It’s rare I come across an unlimited internet plan for less than $40 a month with more than 25 Mbps. You don’t have to sign a contract for the promotional rate, and you can get your money back in the first month if you don’t like the plan. I’d recommend at least trying Grande Communications’ Internet 300 plan before any of the more popular providers’ if you live in Texas.

For a Bundle Plan…

If you still have cable TV, your best option is bundling Grande Communications’ Internet 300 plan and their Preferred TV plan for $114.74 per month. The Preferred TV plan is the mid-tier plan and costs more than the Basic TV plan, but you get over 220 channels compared to 40. You also get to enjoy a contract-free bundle with Grande Communications which is a bit surprising — most providers require a contract for TV services.

Company Summary

Based in San Marcos, Texas, Grande Communications has been providing Texas residents with telecommunication services since 1999. It was established as the result of a large venture capital investment. Grande Communications serves many of the largest universities in the state, including Texas State University and Baylor University. In 2017, Grande Communications, RCN Corporation, and Wave Broadband combined to become one of the largest cable providers in the country. Today, Grande Communications is known as one of the most common providers in Texas’ largest cities.

Frequently Asked Questions About Grande Communications

How much is Grande Communications internet?

• Grande Communications internet-only plans range from $29.99 to $69.99 per month for the first one to two years.

How to cancel Grande Communications internet?

• As of 2020, Grande Communications does not offer a way to cancel your internet online. Instead, you will have to call Grande Communications directly to cancel your plan. You can reach a customer representative at 877-647-2633.

Why does my Grande Communications router keep disconnecting from the internet?

• There could be a number of reasons that your router is disconnecting. In many cases, the router simply needs to be restarted. However, if this does not fix the problem, you should contact Grande Communications’ technical support at 855-286-6666.