Best Internet Providers in Colorado

I recently visited lovely Colorado and spent time in Denver, where I experienced extreme internet envy over the fast speeds in the apartment where I stayed. Coming from New Mexico, where my choices are limited, Denver felt like a broadband wonderland. My Colorado internet experience blazed along thanks to Google Fiber Webpass, but it’s not my choice for the top broadband provider in Colorado due to limited availability.

What is the best internet provider in Colorado?

Quantum Fiber is CNET’s pick for Colorado’s best internet service provider. CenturyLink‘s (admittedly outdated) DSL service reaches far and wide across the state, but its sibling company, Quantum Fiber, is an affordable and desirable fiber offering that can be found in the bigger cities.

You’ll find some fiber offerings in Colorado, but you’re more likely to run into cable provider Xfinity or CenturyLink DSL in terms of wired internet. Fixed wireless ISPs primarily service the state’s gorgeous rural areas. Many small, local companies are working in this field, as well as Rise Broadband, a provider that services 16 other states. Your internet options will depend on your location and can vary quite a bit, even within the bigger metro areas.

We’ve also found the top options if you’re hunting for the lowest prices or the fastest speeds. The cheapest internet in Colorado is Xfinity’s $20-a-month plan, which offers speeds of 150 megabits per second. The fastest internet speed in Colorado is Quantum Fiber’s 8-gigabit connection at $165 per month, but it is available only in select locations.

Best internet in Colorado

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Colorado is a gorgeous state in which to live, with plenty of rural options that will get you closer to nature. The scenery and quiet may come at the cost of strong internet service. When seeking out internet service for your rural residence, start with wired options. CenturyLink has a big DSL presence across Colorado, but speeds can vary considerably. You may be able to get 100Mbps, or you may only pull down a measly 3Mbps. T-Mobile Home Internet is another big name that may reach your home. Speeds can also vary quite a bit depending on your location, but it’s easy to test out the service 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 Front Range and Western Slope. Here’s a comparison of the different types of home internet connections, from DSL to fixed wireless to 5G.

The ISPs listed in the chart aren’t the only ones serving Colorado. To find more local providers, plug your address into the FCC National Broadband Map. If other connection options fail you, then check into satellite from Starlink, Viasat or Hughesnet. Satellite internet can be slow and expensive (especially with upfront equipment costs), but it may be the only option in some very rural locations or in areas where you don’t have a good line of sight to a fixed wireless tower. 

Internet breakdown by city in Colorado

All residences in Colorado can access services of at least 25Mbps down and 3Mbps up, according to the FCC National Broadband Map, but that doesn’t quite tell the whole story; that coverage includes the reach of satellite internet. While a download speed of 25Mbps 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. 

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

Cheap internet options in Colorado

Starting prices for internet in Colorado typically fall in the $50 to $60 range, but some deals can be found. Xfinity, for example, offers a $20-per-month plan for 150Mbps service, with a few catches. The price is good for 12 months with a one-year contract commitment. You can provide your own modem and router or rent one for $15 per month. Quantum Fiber offers a $50-per-month plan for 500Mbps with no monthly equipment charge and no contract.

Internet pricing can get complicated when you factor in renting or buying gear and plan prices that may jump after promotional periods expire. Check out these eight ways to save on your internet bill.

What’s the cheapest internet plan in Colorado?

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Colorado

Colorado’s best internet deals and top promotions depend on what discounts are available during that time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers. 

Colorado internet providers, such as Xfinity and Rise Broadband, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many providers, including 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 Colorado broadband?

Ookla’s speed test data places Colorado 30th among US states with a median download speed of about 200Mbps. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) Compare that to the speed champion Rhode Island, which was pulling down approximately 257Mbps. The national average sits around 267Mbps. Ookla updates its rankings regularly so states can move around. But Colorado’s showing places it firmly in the bottom half of the states for internet speeds.

According to Ookla, Xfinity takes the prize for being Colorado’s fastest fixed broadband provider, with a median download speed of 267Mbps. Thanks to its broad reach across the state, the cable provider is one of our top ISP recommendations for Colorado. Nationally, fiber internet has a reputation for being speedy. FCC data shows only about 23% of Colorado residents can access fiber with gigabit speeds. One place you can do that is in Fort Collins, where municipal fiber broadband plans go up to an impressive 10 gigabits.

Fastest internet plans in Colorado

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 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 Colorado

Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites 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 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. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, though 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 Colorado?

In March 2024, the FCC raised the standard for broadband internet to 100Mbps download and 20Mbps upload speed. Luckily, the Colorado Broadband Office agrees and defines broadband service as 100Mbps down and 20Mbps up. Based on that, the state’s broadband map shows about 92% of locations are served with those speeds. The state aims to connect 99% of Colorado households to high-speed (100Mbps) broadband by 2027.

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

I perk up whenever I hear about fiber expansion. It’s the top request on my internet wishlist for just about any state. In 2022, Google Fiber’s continuous expansion brought fiber to Lakewood and Westminster residents. 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. Fiber ISP Ting Internet has also expanded fiber to Aurora, Colorado Springs and the Western Slope. These are big moves and a sign of advancement in broadband for the state overall.

Internet providers in Colorado FAQs