Best Internet Service Providers in Boulder, Colorado

I grew up north of Boulder, Colorado, so I’m biased, but I think it’s one of the most unique and beautiful cities in the country. Some may brag about their elite college football team, the Colorado Buffaloes, but you can also brag about the speed of their internet connections compared to the rest of the state.

If you live in Boulder (or plan to move there), you have a few options, but the two most widely available ISPs are Xfinity and Century Link. CNET’s pick for best overall ISP in Boulder is Xfinity Because of its wide coverage across the city and wide range of plans. Other options include CenturyLink, which is also widely available but only offers slower DSL plans, and fiber plans from Quantum fiber and 5G home internet Offers from T-Mobile (And to a lesser extent, Verizon).

Best Internet in Boulder in 2024

Boulder residents can expect average download speeds of around 274 Mbps, According to Ookla Speedtest data – Comparable ColoradoStatewide average (271 Mbps) and national average (263 Mbps). (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) Not too bad.

Compare ISPs in Boulder

provider	Internet technology	Monthly price range	Speed ​​range	Monthly equipment costs	Data ceiling	a contract	CNET Review Score
Century Link Read the full review	DSL	$55	3-100 Mbps	$15 (optional)	no one	no one	6.7
Quantum fiber	Fiber	$45 – $95	200-2,000 Mbps	no one	no one	no one	nothing
High broadband Read the full review	Fixed wireless	$45-$50	25-100 Mbps	$10 modem; $5-$15 router (optional)	250GB or unlimited	None, but required for some promotions	6.2
T-Mobile home internet Read the full review	Fixed wireless	$50 – $70 ($35 – $55 with qualifying phone plans)	72-245 Mbps	no one	no one	no one	7.4
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review	Fixed wireless	$50-$70 ($35-$45 with qualifying phone plans).	50-1,000 Mbps	no one	no one	no one	7.2
Xfinity Read the full review	cable	$20 – $85	150-1,200 Mbps	$15 (optional)	1.2 TB on some plans	One year for the cheapest plan; Nothing for others	7

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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Other ISPs available in Boulder

Although we think Xfinity, Quantum Fiber, and T-Mobile are the best providers in the area, Boulder has other ISP options to consider.

• Live wire networks: This Colorado-based fixed wireless provider serves approximately 95% of the Boulder area. Plans range from 35 Mbps (for $25 per month) to 150 Mbps for $120 per month. Equipment rental is included, and there are no data caps or contracts required.
• High broadband: This fixed wireless provider serves about 15% of the Boulder area. There is space available just north of Washington Village, but it’s primarily an option for rural areas outside the city limits. You can get speeds of up to 100Mbps with unlimited data.
• Satellite Internet: CNET recommends avoiding satellite internet in cities with cheaper and faster options. However, if you live in a rural area where cable and fiber connections are not available, Starlink, Hughes Net and Visat They are viable satellite providers in the Boulder area.
• Verizon 5G Home Internet: Similar to T-Mobile, Verizon uses its cellular network to provide fixed wireless home broadband. Although they may offer higher maximum download speeds than T-Mobile (the 5G Home Plus plan has typical download speeds of 300 to 1,000 Mbps) to T-Mobile’s maximum of 245 Mbps), they are available For less than 37% of households in Boulder.

Pricing information on Boulder home internet service

The average starting price for internet in Boulder is just under $42 per month — less expensive than the national average but only a few dollars more per month than its big brother to the south. Denverwhich comes at $39.

Cheap Internet Options in Boulder

The cheapest internet plan in Boulder is Xfinity’s Connect plan, which features peak download speeds of 150 Mbps for $20 per month. However, there are a lot of caveats: This promotional price only lasts for one year and does not include an optional $15 per month fee for equipment rental (which you can waive if you have your own modem and router).

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T-Mobile Home Internet, which starts at $50 per month, drops to $35 per month when you bundle up with a qualifying mobile plan, such as Go5G Plus and Magenta Max.

What is the cheapest internet plan in Boulder?

provider	Starting from the monthly price	Maximum download speed	Monthly equipment fees	a contract
Xfinity Connect Read the full review	$20	150 Mbps	$15 (optional)	1 year
Xfinity connect more Read the full review	$35	300 Mbps	no one	no one
Quantum fiber	$45	200 Mbps	no one	no one
High broadband Read the full review	$45	25-50 Mbps	$10 modem; $5-$15 router (optional)	None, but required for some promotions
Quantum fiber	$50	500 Mbps	no one	no one
High broadband Read the full review	$50	100 Mbps	$10 modem; $5-$15 router (optional)	None, but required for some promotions
T-Mobile home internet Read the full review	$50 ($35 with qualifying phone plans)	245 Mbps	no one	no one
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review	$50 ($35 with qualifying phone plans)	300 Mbps	no one	no one
Xfinity is fast Read the full review	$55	500 Mbps	no one	no one
Century Link Read the full review	$55	100 Mbps	$15 (optional)	no one

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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Boulder broadband speeds

Almost all households in Boulder have access to broadband internet speeds of up to 250 Mbps and 25 Mbps upload. As previously mentioned, Boulder residents see much higher average download speeds than the rest of the state.

What are the fastest internet plans in Boulder?

provider	Maximum download speed	Maximum download speed	Starting from the monthly price	Data ceiling	a contract
Quantum fiber	2,000 Mbps	1,000 Mbps	$95	no one	no one
Xfinity Gigabit Extra Read the full review	1,200 Mbps	35 Mbps	$85	no one	no one
Xfinity Gigabit Read the full review	1,000 Mbps	35 Mbps	$65	no one	no one
Quantum fiber	940 Mbps	880 Mbps	$70	no one	no one

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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How CNET chose the best ISPs in Boulder

ISPs are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest Smartphone, Laptop, Router or Kitchen toolit is impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what is our approach? For starters, we leverage a proprietary database of pricing, availability, and speed information drawn from our own historical ISP data, partner data, and mapping information from the FCC on FCC.gov.

This guide leverages an internal AI tool called RAMP, which is trained on our writing and uses our database to generate content about specific ISPs that our writers can use in determining and presenting our picks for a particular guide. Checks CNET’s AI Policy For more information on how our teams use (and don’t use) AI tools.

Because our database is not comprehensive, we go to the FCC’s website to check the raw data ourselves and make sure we take into account every ISP that offers service in an area. Plans and prices also vary by location, so we enter local addresses on provider websites to find specific options available to residents. We look to sources, including the US Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with their ISP service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; All information provided is accurate according to prior publication validation.

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

1. Does the provider provide access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
2. Are customers getting adequate value for what they pay?
3. Are customers satisfied with their service?

While the answer to these questions is often multi-layered and complex, the providers that come closest to “yes” on all three questions are the ones we recommend. To explore our process in more depth, visit our website How we test ISPs page.

What’s the bottom line for ISPs in Boulder?

Xfinity covers nearly every address in the city and features the widest range of plan options of any provider in the area. That’s why it gets our approval as the best internet service provider in town. However, Boulder families have other viable options, including fiber plans from Quantum Fiber and fixed wireless connectivity from T-Mobile Home Internet.

Internet Service Providers in Boulder: Frequently Asked Questions