CNET rates Xfinity as Colorado’s top internet service provider total. It offers a wide range of programs, good reliability and broad policy across the condition, making it a reliable choice for most households.

I recently went to Denver, and I had some major online envy. Coming from New Mexico, where online options are limited, Denver felt like a wifi vision. I stayed in an apartment that was powered by Google Fiber Webpass, and the velocity were blazing quickly. However, Google Fiber Webpass is certainly my best pick for Colorado due to its limited availability.

Webpass is outstanding for those fortunate enough to have access to it. But for the majority of residents across places like Denver, Colorado Springs and beyond, Xfinity offers the best combination of speed, presence and price.

What Colorado internet service provider is the best?

Quantum Fiber is CNET’s pull for Colorado’s best internet service provider. Although Century Link’s (admittedly dated ) DSL service extends far and wide throughout the state, its sibling company, Quantum Fiber, is a more affordable and desirable fiber offering that can be found in larger cities.

You’ll get some grain products in Colorado, but you’re more likely to move into cable company Verizon or CenturyLink DSL in terms of wired online. Set wireless ISPs largely provide service to the state’s stunning rural areas. Many smaller, local businesses are working in this area, as well as Rise Broadband, a company that services 16 different state. Your place may affect your internet choices, which can also change a lot, even within the larger metro areas.

We’ve even found the best options if you’re hunting for the lowest rates or the fastest frequencies. The$ 40-a-month plan from Rise Broadband, which offers speeds of 25 megabits per second, is the cheapest online in Colorado. The fastest world rate in Colorado is Quantum Fiber’s 8-gigabit network at$ 165 per month, but it is applicable only in limited areas.

Best online in Colorado

Origin: CNET analysis of supplier data.

Origin: CNET analysis of supplier data.

Colorado is a wonderful state in which to live, with plenty of remote choices that will get you closer to nature. The beauty and tranquility may come at the expense of solid internet access. When seeking out online services for your rural home, begin with wired choices. Although CenturyLink has a significant Broadband reputation throughout Colorado, speeds can be very variable. You may be able to acquire 100Mbps, or you may just take down a whopping 3Mbps. Another well-known brand that might be found in your home is T-Mobile Home Internet. Speeds may also fluctuate quite a bit depending on your site, but it’s easy to check out the company if it’s available to you.

Fixed wireless is a common type of rural internet in Colorado. It requires a good line of sight to a tower, but it may be a more affordable and faster option than satellite, depending on your location. Our chart contains quite a few small, local fixed wireless ISPs that are focused on serving the rural reaches of Colorado. Fixed wireless doesn’t have to mean slow. Kellin Communications, for example recently rolled out 500Mbps speeds to the Back Range and Western Slope. Here’s a comparison of the different types of home internet connections, from DSL to fixed wireless to 5G.

The list of Companies that are included in the map does not only offer Colorado services. To get more native companies, plug your target into the FCC National Broadband Map. Check into telescope from Starlink, Viasat, or Hughesnet if other link options don’t work for you. Satellite internet may be slow and expensive (especially with honest equipment costs ), but it may be the only option in some very remote areas or in places where you don’t have a nice line of sight to a predetermined cellular tower. &nbsp,

Colorado’s online is broken down by city.

All residences in Colorado you get services of at least 100Mbps over and 20Mbps up, according to the FCC National Broadband Map, but that doesn’t really tell the full story, that policy includes the reach of satellite internet. Although a 25 Mbps download rate qualifies as broadband in the eyes of the FCC, many internet users will find it to be on the slow side. The FCC’s estimate also doesn’t account for some of the trickier rural locations across Colorado, homes that may be in mountains or in heavily forested areas where fixed wireless and even satellite might have a hard time reaching. &nbsp,

It’s hard to cover the broadband options of a state like Colorado and give individual cities the attention they deserve. In order to compile lists of the top internet providers in cities across the US, including those in Colorado, we also compile lists. We tackle details such as internet connection types, maximum speeds and cheapest providers. If you can’t find the town you’re looking for below, check back later. We’re working to add more cities every week. &nbsp,

Cheap internet options in Colorado

Starting prices for internet in Colorado typically fall between$ 50 and$ 60, but some great deals are available. Xfinity, for example, offers a$ 55-per-month plan for 400Mbps service, with a few catches. You can rent a modem and router for$ 15 per month or provide your own. Quantum Fiber offers a$ 50-per-month plan for 500Mbps with no monthly equipment charge and no contract.

When you factor in equipment rentals or purchases, and plan prices that may increase after promotional periods expire, online pricing can become more complicated. Check out these eight ways to save on your internet bill.

What is Colorado’s cheapest internet plan?

Origin: CNET analysis of supplier data.

How to find Colorado online deals and promotions

Colorado’s best internet deals and top promotions depend on what discounts are available during that time. The majority of deals are temporary, but we check back frequently for the most recent offers. &nbsp,

Colorado internet providers, like Xfinity and Rise Broadband, may offer special offers on streaming add-ons or lower introductory prices for a limited period of time. Many providers, including Quantum Fiber, run the same standard pricing year-round. &nbsp,

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

How fast is Colorado broadband?

Colorado is ranked 30th among US states based on speed testing results from Ookla’s speed tests, with a median download speed of about 200Mbps. ( Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis. ) Compare that to Rhode Island, which was reducing its speed by about 257 Mbps. The national average sits around 291Mbps. To allow states to move around, Ookla regularly updates its rankings. But Colorado’s showing places it firmly in the bottom half of the states for internet speeds.

With a median download speed of 267Mbps, Xfinity is Colorado’s fastest fixed broadband provider, according to Ookla. Thanks to its broad reach across the state, the cable provider is one of our top ISP recommendations for Colorado. Fiber internet has a reputation for being quick on a national level. FCC data shows only about 39 % of Colorado residents can access fiber with gigabit speeds. Fort Collins, where municipal fiber broadband plans go up an impressive 10 gigabits, is one place you can do that.

Fastest internet plans in Colorado

Origin: CNET analysis of supplier data.

What’s a good internet speed?

Most modern internet connection plans can now handle simple tasks like communication and productivity. 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. According to the FCC, the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications are listed below. Note that these are only guidelines and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.

Refer to our guide on the actual amount of internet speed for more details.

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

How CNET selected Colorado’s top internet service providers

Internet service providers are numerous and regional. It’s not practical to personally test every ISP in a given city, in contrast to the newest smartphone, laptop, router, or kitchen appliance. What’s our approach? We begin by examining the pricing, availability, and speed information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC using our own historical ISP data, provider websites, and mapping data. 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. For more personalized options for residents, we also enter local addresses into provider websites. 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. All information provided is current and accurate at the time of publication. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes. &nbsp,

We then ask three crucial questions once we have this localized information:  ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

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

The answers to those questions are often layered and complex, but the providers that come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. We look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee when choosing the least expensive internet service, taking into account costs like contract renewals, equipment fees, and price increases. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We take into account real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports as well as advertised upload and download speeds.

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

What’s the final word on Colorado’s internet service providers?

In March 2024, the FCC raised the standard for broadband internet to 100Mbps download and 20Mbps upload speed. Thankfully, Colorado’s Broadband Office accepts broadband service with speeds of 100 and 20 Mbps down. Based on that, the state’s broadband map shows about 94 % of locations are served with those speeds. By 2027, the state wants to connect 99 % of Colorado’s households to high-speed ( 100Mbps ) broadband.

The Colorado Broadband Office has invested nearly$ 100 million in programs designed to expand fast internet to reach its goal. The Broadband Equity Access and Deployment program adds more than$ 826 million to the total federal funds. Colorado’s mountainous and rural areas can be challenging to reach, but this BEAD funding should help push through broadband improvements across the state.

When I learn about fiber expansion, I get excited. It’s the top request on my internet wishlist for just about any state. The continuous expansion of Google Fiber in 2022 enabled residents of Westminster and Lakewood to access fiber. Google Fiber Webpass has been in Denver for some time, but this is fiber-to-the-home rather than the Webpass fixed wireless version of fiber internet. Aurora, Colorado Springs, and the Western Slope are also fiber-optic ISPs, thanks to Ting Internet. These are big moves and a sign of advancement in broadband for the state overall.

Internet service providers in Colorado FAQs