Best Internet Providers in Boulder, Colorado

I grew up simply north of Boulder, Colorado, so I could also be biased, however I contemplate it to be one of many nation’s most unusual and delightful cities. From its stellar faculty soccer group, the Colorado Buffaloes, to its attractive trails and mountains, Boulder has quite a bit to supply. Past the sights and sports activities, it additionally stands out for the pace of its web connections relative to the remainder of the state.

Should you reside in Boulder (or plan to maneuver there), you have got a handful of choices, however the two most generally out there web service suppliers are Xfinity and CenturyLink. CNET’s choose for the perfect total web service supplier in Boulder is Xfinity due to its in depth protection throughout town and large number of plans. Different choices embrace CenturyLink, which is extensively out there however restricted to slower DSL plans, together with fiber from Quantum Fiber and 5G home internet from T-Mobile — and to a lesser extent, Verizon.

Greatest web in Boulder in 2025

Boulder residents can count on median obtain speeds of roughly 318 megabits per second, according to Ookla Speedtest data — akin to Colorado‘s statewide median 316Mbps) and the nationwide median (291Mbps). (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the identical dad or mum firm as CNET, Ziff Davis.) Not too shabby.

Supply: CNET evaluation of supplier information.

Different out there web suppliers in Boulder

Although we expect Xfinity, Quantum Fiber and T-Cellular are the perfect suppliers within the space, Boulder has different ISP choices to contemplate.

• Live Wire Networks: This Colorado-based fastened wi-fi supplier serves almost 95% of the Boulder area. Plans vary from 35Mbps (for $25 per thirty days) to 150Mbps for $120 month-to-month. Tools rental is included, and there aren’t any information caps or contracts required.
• Rise Broadband: This fastened wi-fi supplier serves roughly 15% of the Boulder space. There’s a pocket of availability simply north of Washington Village, nevertheless it’s primarily an choice for rural areas past metropolis limits. You may get speeds as much as 100Mbps with limitless information.
• Satellite internet: CNET recommends avoiding satellite tv for pc web in cities with cheaper and quicker choices. That famous, in the event you reside in a rural space the place cable and fiber connections aren’t out there, Starlink, HughesNet and Viasat are the viable satellite tv for pc suppliers within the Boulder space. 
• Verizon 5G Home Internet: Just like T-Cellular, Verizon makes use of its mobile community to supply fastened wi-fi residence broadband. Although it could provide increased max obtain speeds than T-Cellular (the 5G Dwelling Plus plan options “typical obtain speeds of 300-1,000Mbps” to T-Cellular’s max of 245Mbps), it’s out there to lower than 37% of households in Boulder.

Pricing information on Boulder residence web service

The typical beginning worth for web in Boulder is just below $42 per thirty days — cheaper than the nationwide common however just some {dollars} extra per thirty days than its larger sibling to the south, Denver, which is available in at $39. 

Low cost web choices in Boulder

The most cost effective web plan in Boulder is Rise Broadband’s 25Mbps or 50Mbps plan for $35 per thirty days. There are many caveats, nonetheless. That promotional worth lasts for just one 12 months and these speeds are fairly low in the event you plan to have heavy web utilization.

T-Cellular Dwelling Web, which begins at $50 month-to-month, drops to $35 per thirty days if you bundle an eligible cellphone plan, resembling Go5G Plus and Magenta Max.

Supply: CNET evaluation of supplier information.

Boulder broadband speeds

Simply all Boulder households have entry to broadband web speeds of 250Mbps down and 25Mbps add and 94% have entry to 1,000Mbps down and 100Mbps add. As we talked about earlier, Boulder residents see a lot increased median obtain speeds than the remainder of the state.

Supply: CNET evaluation of supplier information.

How CNET selected the perfect web suppliers in Boulder

Web service suppliers are quite a few and regional. Not like the newest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it is impractical to personally take a look at each ISP in a given metropolis. So what’s our strategy? For starters, we faucet right into a proprietary database of pricing, availability and pace data that pulls from our personal historic ISP information, companion information and mapping data from the Federal Communications Fee at FCC.gov. 

This information leverages an in-house synthetic intelligence device known as RAMP, which is educated on our personal writing and makes use of our database to generate content material about particular web service suppliers that our writers can use in figuring out and presenting our picks for a given information. Examine CNET’s AI policy for extra details about how our groups use (and don’t use) AI instruments.

As a result of our database is not exhaustive, we go to the FCC’s web site to test the first information for ourselves and ensure we’re contemplating each ISP that gives service in an space. Plans and costs additionally fluctuate by location, so we enter native addresses on supplier web sites to search out the particular choices out there to residents. We have a look at sources, together with the American Buyer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Energy, to guage how joyful prospects are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and costs are topic to frequent modifications; all data offered is correct as of our prepublication fact-check.

As soon as we’ve this localized data, we ask three fundamental questions: 

1. Does the supplier provide entry to fairly quick web speeds? 
2. Do prospects get first rate worth for what they’re paying? 
3. Are prospects pleased with their service? 

Whereas the reply to these questions is usually layered and complicated, the suppliers who come closest to “sure” on all three are those we advocate. To discover our course of in additional depth, go to our how we test ISPs web page.

What’s the underside line on web suppliers in Boulder?

Xfinity covers almost each deal with within the metropolis and options the widest array of plan selections of any supplier within the space. That’s why it will get our nod for the perfect ISP within the metropolis. Nevertheless, Boulder households produce other viable choices, together with fiber plans from Quantum Fiber and a set wi-fi connection from T-Cellular Dwelling Web.

Web suppliers in Boulder: FAQs