Best Internet Providers in Alpena, Michigan [CNET]

Spectrum’s cable network dominates the broadband scene in this port city. Here are CNET’s recommendations for the best home internet in Alpena.

What is the best internet provider in Alpena?

Spectrum is CNET’s choice for the best internet provider overall for most households in Alpena because of its availability and the option for 1,000Mbps downloads. Spectrum service isn’t available everywhere in Alpena, so T-Mobile Home Internet or Verizon 5G Home Internet are also solid picks, depending on what you can get in your area. 

We’ve also found the top options if you’re hunting for the lowest prices or fastest speeds. The cheapest widely available wired internet plan in Alpena is Spectrum’s $50-per-month 300 megabits per second option. Spectrum also offers the fastest internet speed in Alpena, with its 1,000Mbps plan starting at $80 per month, available widely across town. 

Best internet in Alpena, Michigan

Alpena internet providers compared

Provider	Internet technology	Monthly price range	Speed range	Monthly equipment costs	Data cap	Contract	CNET review score
Frontier Read full review	DSL	$65	Up to 115Mbps	None	None	None	7.2
Spectrum Read full review	Cable	$50-$80	300-1,000Mbps	Free modem; $7 router (optional)	None	None	7.2
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review	Fixed wireless	$60-$70 ($40-$50 with eligible mobile plans)	72-245Mbps	None	None	None	7.4
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review	Fixed wireless	$50-$70 ($35-$45 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers)	50-300Mbps	None	None	None	7.2

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Other available internet providers in Alpena

• Bug Tussel: Bug Tussel offers some fixed wireless coverage in Alpena with plans starting at $40 per month for 5Mbps. That’s vastly slower than the FCC definition for broadband, which calls for download speeds of at least 100Mbps. Bug Tussel’s 100Mbps plan costs $150 monthly, but the maximum available speeds will vary with location. Bug Tussel is aimed at rural areas with few other internet options.
• Ridge Tower Network: If you can see Ridge Tower Network’s antenna towers on Manning Hill, chances are you can get a fixed wireless connection from the local ISP. The residential plans offer 20Mbps for $60 per month or 50Mbps for $100 per month. There are no data caps. Consider this as an option if you can’t get a good wired connection or a cheaper or faster fixed wireless connection. 
• Satellite internet: Satellite internet from Starlink, Viasat and Hughesnet is best suited for rural or remote homes that don’t have strong service from a wired or fixed wireless ISP. Look into this if Spectrum doesn’t reach your home and 5G home internet from Verizon or T-Mobile doesn’t pan out.

Cheap internet options in Alpena

Expect to pay at least $50 per month for home internet in Alpena. Spectrum’s widespread 300Mbps cable plan runs $50 per month, but the price will bump up after the first year. The exception to the $50 rule is if you go with Verizon or T-Mobile for 5G home internet and bundle with an eligible phone plan. That can bring your Verizon home internet down as low as $35 or per month or T-Mobile as low as $40 per month.

What’s the cheapest internet plan in Alpena?

Provider	Starting price	Max download speed	Monthly equipment fee
Spectrum Read full review	$50	300Mbps	Free modem; $7 router (optional)
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review	$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans)	100Mbps	None
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review	$60 ($40 with eligible mobile plans)	245Mbps	None
Frontier Read full review	$65	115Mbps (varies with location)	None

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Alpena

The best internet deals and top promotions in Alpena depend on what discounts are available during a given time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers. 

Alpena internet providers, such as Spectrum, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, including Frontier and Verizon 5G Home internet, tend to run the same standard pricing year-round. 

For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals. 

How fast is Alpena broadband?

Ookla doesn’t have data available for Alpena’s broadband speeds but don’t expect to get more than a gig download speed, which is the fastest available plan from Spectrum’s widespread cable network. Other residential ISPs in Alpena top out at much slower speeds. If you sign up for Spectrum’s entry-level 300Mbps plan, then you can expect your internet to be in line with overall speeds for the state. A recent Ookla speed test report found Michigan has a 229Mbps median download speed for fixed internet like cable and fiber.

Fastest internet plans in Alpena

Provider	Starting price	Max download speed	Max upload speed	Data cap	Connection type
Spectrum Internet Gig Read full review	$80	1,000Mbps	35Mbps	None	Cable

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

What’s a good internet speed?

Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here’s an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the Federal Communications Commission. Note that these are only guidelines and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.

For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.

• 0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics: browsing the internet, sending and receiving email and streaming low-quality video.
• 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
• 40 to 100Mbps should give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming. 
• 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming. 
• 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.

How CNET chose the best internet providers in Alpena

Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every internet service provider in a given city. What’s our approach? For starters, we tap into a proprietary pricing, availability and speed database that draws from our own historical ISP data, partner data and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov. 

It doesn’t end there: We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication. 

Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions: 

• Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds? 
• Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying? 
• Are customers happy with their service? 

The answer to those questions is often layered and complex, but the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.

To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.

What’s the final word on internet providers in Alpena?

Alpena residents don’t have a lot of options when it comes to home internet. Spectrum covers most of town and offers speeds up to a gig, making it the runaway favorite among ISPs in a town with very little competition. If you can’t get Spectrum or aren’t happy with the company, check into Verizon or T-Mobile for 5G home internet. Rural residents with few options can see if Ridge Tower Network or Bug Tussel offer a fixed wireless connection or check in with satellite providers like Hughesnet and Starlink.

Internet providers in Alpena FAQs