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Best Internet Providers in Denver, Colorado [CNET]
What is the best internet provider in Denver?
According to CNET, Quantum Fiber is the best choice for fast broadband access in Denver, Colorado. It’s got wide reach, fast speeds and symmetrical download and upload speeds. Your next best options are Xfinity and Ting, both of which offer great speeds and prices.
If you’re searching for the lowest monthly cost on Denver internet, Xfinity’s Connect plan offers 150 megabits per second for $20 per month. Look out for a steep price increase after the promo period ends. Quantum takes the prize for the fastest internet plan in the city: 2000Mbps for $95 monthly.
Denver internet providers compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CenturyLink Read full review |
DSL | $55 | Up to 40Mbps | $15 modem | None | None | 6.7 |
| Hughesnet Read full review |
Satellite | $50-$65 ($75-$90 after 12 months) | 50-100Mbps | $15-$20 or $300-$450 one-time purchase | 100-200GB | 2 years | 6 |
| Live Wire Networks | Fixed Wireless | $25-$80 | 50-200Mbps | $5 router | None | None | N/A |
| Quantum Fiber | Fiber | $50-$95 | 500-2,000Mbps | None | None | None | 6.7 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($40-$50 for eligible mobile customers) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 with qualifying mobile plans) | 50-1,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
| Viasat Read full review |
Satellite | $100 | Up to 50Mbps | $15 or one-time $250 purchase | Unlimited | None | 6.1 |
| Xfinity Read full review |
Cable | $20-$85 | 150-1,200Mbps | $10-$15 (included in some plans) | 1.2TB for some plans | 1 year for some | 7 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Other available internet providers in Denver
- Google Fiber Webpass: This fixed wireless solution from Google Fiber is not widely available in Denver. It’s focused on apartment buildings and offers a high-speed service that’s one plan only: symmetrical gigabit speeds for $70 a month (or $63 a month with a yearly plan). GFiber features free installation and requires no contracts and equipment fees. Not widely available in the Mile High City, GFiber can be found at select addresses in the Highland, River North Art District and West Colfax areas.
- Satellite Internet: No matter where you live in the US, satellite internet is an option. Is it your best option? Probably not, especially if you live within Denver city limits. There are going to be cheaper and faster plans available. If you’re in the more rural outskirts of the Mile High City (I’m thinking Highlands Ranch, Roxborough Park, Sedalia and the like), you might seriously consider this mode as a way of being connected. Unlike Hughesnet, Viasat no longer requires a two-year contract commitment with its new unlimited data plan; nonetheless, both are your two most likely choices. Starlink, which features unlimited data and doesn’t require a contract, might be an attractive alternative. It still requires a hefty upfront cost of nearly $499.
- T-Mobile Home Internet: T-Mobile’s fixed wireless solution uses the carrier’s 4G LTE and 5G networks to provide cellular internet coverage for your home. The mobile carrier has recently added a premium plan on top of its standard $50-per-month service. The Home Plus plan starts at $70 a month but includes a $20 discount for eligible mobile customers. It’s appealingly straightforward — no contracts, equipment fees and no data caps. While T-Mobile Home Internet is available throughout the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood metro area, you must check your address on the T-Mobile site to determine if you’re eligible for home internet service.
- Ting Internet: This fiber internet provider is local to the south Denver suburb of Centennial. It caters to those looking for superfast and reliable internet service, featuring a symmetrical 1,000Mbps plan for $89 a month. Wi-Fi can add $11 or $18 to your monthly bill, depending on the level of service you choose, or you can use your own router and skip the fee altogether.
- Verizon 5G Home Internet: Verizon’s 5G fixed wireless home internet product has a higher average download speed (300Mbps) than T-Mobile Home Internet and subscribes to a similar “everything’s included in one price” approach — installation, equipment and fees for $50 a month. On top of that, eligible Verizon Wireless customers can get a sizable monthly discount to boot.
Cheap internet options in Denver
The cheapest internet plan you can find in Denver is Xfinity’s Connect plan, which features 150Mbps download speeds for $20 per month. Granted, that price jumps to $67 after your promo period, but at that point, you can consider other options (or negotiate with your provider) before committing to that plan at the higher price.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Denver?
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xfinity Connect Read full review |
$20 | 150Mbps | $15 gateway rental (optional) |
| Live Wire Networks | $25 | 50Mbps | $5 router |
| Xfinity Connect More Read full review |
$35 | 300Mbps | $15 gateway rental (optional) |
| Quantum Fiber 500 | $50 | 500Mbps | None |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
$50 ($35 with qualifying Verizon 5G mobile plans) | 300Mbps | None |
| Hughesnet Read full review |
$50 ($75 after 12 months) | 50Mbps | $15 or $300 one-time purchase |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
$50 ($40 with eligible phone plans) | 245Mbps | None |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Denver
The best internet deals and top promotions in Denver depend on the discounts available during that period. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
How many members of your household use the internet?
Denver internet providers, such as Xfinity and Rise Broadband, may offer lower introductory pricing or promotions for a limited time. Others — including CenturyLink and Quantum Fiber — 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 Denver broadband?
Regarding internet speeds, “Cow Town” is almost too appropriate. Denver didn’t fare well on its median download internet speeds compared with other top US cities. It ranked 62nd on Ookla’s recent speed test data with a median download speed of 136Mbps. That same speed test data showed T-Mobile as Denver’s fastest provider, with a median download speed of approximately 163Mbps in the area.
If you’re looking for more speed, you may have access to Quantum Fiber’s multi-gigabit offerings but only in select areas. Many other providers in the Denver area offer gigabit plans, such as Ting Internet, Xfinity and Verizon 5G Home Internet.
Fastest internet plans in Denver
| Provider | Starting monthly price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quantum Fiber 2 Gig | $95 | 2000Mbps | 1000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Ting Internet | $89 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Xfinity Gigabit Read full review |
$85 | 1,200 | 35Mbps | 1.2TB if using equipment, none if renting with Xfinity | Cable |
| Verizon 5G Home Plus Read full review |
$70 ($45 with qualifying Verizon 5G mobile plans) | 1,000Mbps | 75Mbps | None | Fixed wireless |
| Quantum Fiber 1 Gig | $75 | 940Mbps | 940Mbps | None | Fiber |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Internet providers in popular cities near Denver
- Best internet providers in Aurora
- Best internet providers in Boulder
- Best internet providers in Colorado Springs
- Best internet providers in Grand Junction
- Best internet providers in Lakewood
See all results for internet providers in Colorado.
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 FCC. 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 Denver
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 database of pricing, availability and speed information 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?
While the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, 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 Denver?
While you can certainly find ways to connect in Denver, there aren’t the same number of options available here as you might find in some other big cities across the country. Xfinity’s cable internet — and the six different plans it offers — will probably be your top option, but if your address is serviceable for Quantum Fiber, make that your first choice.
Internet providers in Denver FAQs
How much does cheap internet service cost in Denver?
Denver’s average starting price for internet service is approximately $42 a month. The cheapest internet plan in Denver is Xfinity’s Connect plan, which provides 150Mbps for $20 per month. Quantum Fiber’s gigabit plan ($75 a month) offers solid affordability at just 8 cents per Mbps if you consider value. While other providers might have cheaper plans, none in the Denver metro area offers a better value.
Which provider has the best internet service in Denver?
We say it all the time, but it’s true: The best internet service depends on what’s available at your address. When considering the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood metro area, you might lean towards Xfinity since it’s the most widely available and offers the greatest variety of plan options. For residents who are serviceable for Quantum Fiber (particularly its affordable gigabit plan), that provider will likely win your vote as “Denver’s best.”
Are there fiber internet providers in Denver?
Yes. Quantum Fiber provides the area’s majority of fiber coverage, although somewhat confusingly, as some in the area might be used to seeing the CenturyLink brand, which belongs to the same company. Muddying the waters even further, CenturyLink service in the Denver metro area is no longer fiber — it’s the much slower and less reliable DSL. Although Google Fiber has a presence in the city, it’s not the company’s fiber-optic service but a fixed-wireless option called Google Fiber Webpass. Finally, Ting Internet has a fiber internet offering, but it’s unavailable within city limits, only in Centennial, just south of the city.
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