Best Internet Providers in Colorado

CNET recommends Xfinity as the perfect total web supplier in Colorado. It provides a variety of plans, stable reliability and broad protection throughout the state, making it a reliable selection for many households.

Throughout a current go to to Denver, I skilled some critical web envy. Coming from New Mexico, the place web choices are restricted, Denver felt like a broadband dream. I stayed in an residence powered by Google Fiber Webpass, and the speeds had been blazing quick. Nonetheless, Google Fiber Webpass shouldn’t be my high choose for Colorado on account of its restricted availability.

For these fortunate sufficient to have entry to it, Webpass is superb. However for almost all of residents throughout cities like Denver, Colorado Springs and past, Xfinity provides the perfect mixture of pace, availability and worth.

What’s the finest web supplier in Colorado?

Quantum Fiber is CNET’s choose for Colorado’s finest web service supplier. CenturyLink‘s (admittedly outdated) DSL service reaches far and vast throughout the state, however its sibling firm, Quantum Fiber, is an reasonably priced and fascinating fiber providing that may be discovered within the greater cities.

You’ll discover some fiber choices in Colorado, however you’re extra prone to run into cable supplier Xfinity or CenturyLink DSL by way of wired web. Fastened wi-fi ISPs primarily service the state’s attractive rural areas. Many small, native firms are working on this area, in addition to Rise Broadband, a supplier that companies 16 different states. Your web choices will rely in your location and may differ fairly a bit, even inside the greater metro areas.

We have additionally discovered the highest choices in case you’re trying to find the bottom costs or the quickest speeds. The most cost effective web in Colorado is Rise Broadband’s $40-a-month plan, which provides speeds of 25 megabits per second. The quickest web pace in Colorado is Quantum Fiber’s 8-gigabit connection at $165 monthly, however it’s out there solely in choose places.

Greatest web in Colorado

Supply: CNET evaluation of supplier knowledge.

Supply: CNET evaluation of supplier knowledge.

Colorado is a beautiful state during which to reside, with loads of rural choices that can get you nearer to nature. The surroundings and quiet might come at the price of robust web service. When in search of out web service to your rural residence, begin with wired choices. CenturyLink has a giant DSL presence throughout Colorado, however speeds can differ significantly. You might be able to get 100Mbps, or it’s possible you’ll solely pull down a measly 3Mbps. T-Cellular Residence Web is one other huge identify which will attain your property. Speeds may differ fairly a bit relying in your location, nevertheless it’s simple to check out the service if it’s out there to you.

Fastened wi-fi is a standard sort of rural web in Colorado. It requires a great line of sight to a tower, however it could be a extra reasonably priced and quicker choice than satellite tv for pc, relying in your location. Our chart comprises fairly a couple of small, native mounted wi-fi ISPs which can be centered on serving the agricultural reaches of Colorado. Fastened wi-fi doesn’t need to imply gradual. Kellin Communications, for instance lately rolled out 500Mbps speeds to the Entrance Vary and Western Slope. Here’s a comparison of the different types of home internet connections, from DSL to mounted wi-fi to 5G.

The ISPs listed within the chart aren’t the one ones serving Colorado. To seek out extra native suppliers, plug your deal with into the FCC National Broadband Map. If different connection choices fail you, then test into satellite from Starlink, Viasat or Hughesnet. Satellite tv for pc web might be gradual and costly (particularly with upfront gear prices), however it could be the one choice in some very rural places or in areas the place you don’t have a great line of sight to a hard and fast wi-fi tower. 

Web breakdown by metropolis in Colorado

All residences in Colorado can entry companies of no less than 100Mbps down and 20Mbps up, according to the FCC National Broadband Map, however that doesn’t fairly inform the entire story; that protection contains the attain of satellite tv for pc web. Whereas a obtain pace of 25Mbps qualifies as broadband within the eyes of the FCC, many web customers will discover it to be on the gradual aspect. The FCC’s estimate additionally doesn’t account for a few of the trickier rural places throughout Colorado, properties which may be in mountains or in closely forested areas the place mounted wi-fi and even satellite tv for pc might need a tough time reaching. 

It’s onerous to cowl the broadband choices of a state like Colorado and provides particular person cities the eye they deserve. That’s why we additionally compile lists of the perfect web suppliers in cities throughout the US, together with these in Colorado. We deal with particulars resembling web connection sorts, most speeds and least expensive suppliers. Verify again later in case you don’t discover the city you’re on the lookout for beneath. We’re working so as to add extra cities each week. 

Low-cost web choices in Colorado

Beginning costs for web in Colorado sometimes fall within the $50 to $60 vary, however some offers might be discovered. Xfinity, for instance, provides a $55-per-month plan for 400Mbps service, with a couple of catches. You may present your personal modem and router or hire one for $15 monthly. Quantum Fiber provides a $50-per-month plan for 500Mbps with no month-to-month gear cost and no contract.

Web pricing can get difficult while you think about renting or shopping for gear and plan costs which will bounce after promotional durations expire. Check out these eight ways to save on your internet bill.

What is the least expensive web plan in Colorado?

Supply: CNET evaluation of supplier knowledge.

Learn how to discover web offers and promotions in Colorado

Colorado’s finest web offers and high promotions rely upon what reductions can be found throughout that point. Most offers are short-lived, however we glance often for the most recent provides. 

Colorado web suppliers, resembling Xfinity and Rise Broadband, might supply decrease introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a restricted time. Many suppliers, together with Quantum Fiber, run the identical customary pricing year-round. 

For a extra intensive checklist of promos, take a look at our information on the best internet deals. 

How briskly is Colorado broadband?

Ookla’s speed test data locations Colorado thirtieth amongst US states with a median obtain pace of about 200Mbps. (Ookla is owned by the identical dad or mum firm as CNET, Ziff Davis.) Evaluate that to the pace champion Rhode Island, which was flattening roughly 257Mbps. The nationwide common sits round 291Mbps. Ookla updates its rankings commonly so states can transfer round. However Colorado’s displaying locations it firmly within the backside half of the states for web speeds.

In keeping with Ookla, Xfinity takes the prize for being Colorado’s quickest mounted broadband supplier, with a median obtain pace of 267Mbps. Because of its broad attain throughout the state, the cable supplier is certainly one of our high ISP suggestions for Colorado. Nationally, fiber web has a popularity for being speedy. FCC knowledge reveals solely about 39% of Colorado residents can entry fiber with gigabit speeds. One place you are able to do that’s in Fort Collins, the place municipal fiber broadband plans go as much as a powerful 10 gigabits.

Quickest web plans in Colorado

Supply: CNET evaluation of supplier knowledge.

What’s a great web pace?

Most web connection plans can now deal with fundamental productiveness and communication duties. If you happen to’re on the lookout for an web plan that may accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you will have a greater expertise with a extra sturdy connection. Here is an outline of the beneficial minimal obtain speeds for numerous functions, according to the FCC. Word that these are solely pointers and that web pace, service and efficiency differ by connection sort, supplier and deal with.

For extra info, seek advice from our information on how much internet speed you really need.

• 0 to 5Mbps permits you to deal with the fundamentals: looking the web, sending and receiving e-mail and streaming low-quality video.
• 5 to 40Mbps offers you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
• 40 to 100Mbps ought to give one consumer ample bandwidth to fulfill the calls for of recent telecommuting, video streaming and on-line gaming. 
• 100 to 500Mbps permits one to 2 customers to concurrently interact in high-bandwidth actions like videoconferencing, streaming and on-line gaming. 
• 500 to 1,000Mbps permits three or extra customers to interact in high-bandwidth actions on the identical time.

How CNET selected the perfect web suppliers in Colorado

Web service suppliers are quite a few and regional. Not like the most recent smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally take a look at each ISP in a given metropolis. What’s our method? We begin by researching the pricing, availability and pace info drawing on our personal historic ISP knowledge, the supplier websites and mapping info from the Federal Communications Fee at FCC.gov.

It does not finish there. We go to the FCC’s web site to test our knowledge and guarantee we contemplate each ISP that gives service in an space. We additionally enter native addresses on supplier web sites to search out particular choices for residents. We take a look at sources, together with the American Buyer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Energy, to guage how blissful prospects are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and costs are topic to frequent adjustments; all info offered is correct as of publication. 

As soon as we’ve got this localized info, we ask three major questions: 

• Does the supplier supply entry to moderately quick web speeds? 
• Do prospects get respectable worth for what they’re paying? 
• Are prospects proud of their service? 

The solutions to these questions are sometimes layered and complicated, however the suppliers that come closest to “sure” on all three are those we advocate. When choosing the most affordable web service, we search for the plans with the bottom month-to-month payment, although we additionally think about issues like worth will increase, gear charges and contracts. Selecting the quickest web service is comparatively simple. We take a look at marketed add and obtain speeds and contemplate real-world pace knowledge from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.

To discover our course of in additional depth, go to our how we test ISPs web page.

What is the last phrase on web suppliers in Colorado?

In March 2024, the FCC raised the standard for broadband internet to 100Mbps obtain and 20Mbps add pace. Fortunately, the Colorado Broadband Workplace agrees and defines broadband service as 100Mbps down and 20Mbps up. Based mostly on that, the state’s broadband map reveals about 94% of places are served with these speeds. The state goals to attach 99% of Colorado households to high-speed (100Mbps) broadband by 2027.

The Colorado Broadband Workplace has invested practically $100 million in packages designed to increase quick web to succeed in its objective. Add over $826 million in federal funds by means of the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment program. Colorado’s mountainous and rural areas might be difficult to succeed in, however this BEAD funding ought to assist push by means of broadband enhancements throughout the state.

I perk up every time I hear about fiber enlargement. It is the highest request on my web wishlist for almost any state. In 2022, Google Fiber’s continuous expansion introduced fiber to Lakewood and Westminster residents. Google Fiber Webpass has been in Denver for a while, however that is fiber-to-the-home reasonably than the Webpass mounted wi-fi model of fiber web. Fiber ISP Ting Internet has also expanded fiber to Aurora, Colorado Springs and the Western Slope. These are huge strikes and an indication of development in broadband for the state total.

Web suppliers in Colorado FAQs