What is the best ISP in Bangor?
Spectrum is CNET's top pick for the best Internet service provider in Bangor. This cable internet giant offers solid promo prices for the first year and gigabit speeds for most of the city. After the promotional period ends, expect your account to double by the second year. On the bright side, all plans have no contracts or data caps.
Looking for fast internet? True fibers and GoNetspeed are tied for the fastest Internet in town, maxing out at 2,000 megabits per second for $75. You can expect symmetrical download and upload speeds supported by a fiber optic connection.
If you are looking for cheap internetFidium Fiber offers the most affordable plan in town: a $25/month plan for 100 Mbps. However, that price will increase to $45 in the second year. Verizon 5G Home Internet and T-Mobile Home Internet They offer lower rates for qualified mobile users, making these providers a solid choice if you already have a phone plan through one of these companies.
The best internet in Bangor, Maine
Bangor ISPs compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Agreement | CNET Review Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| True fibers | Hair | $25-$75 ($45-$100 after 12 months) | 100-2,000 Mbps | $10 portal rental (optional) | No one | No one | N/A |
| GoNetspeed | Hair | 45-75 dollars | 500-2,000 Mbps | No one | No one | No one | N/A |
| Spectrum Read the full review |
Cable | 25-70 dollars | 500-1,000 Mbps | Free modem; $10 for router (free gig plan) | No one | No one | 7.2 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$55 for eligible Go5G Plus and Magenta Max mobile customers) | 72-245 Mbps | No one | No one | No one | 7.4 |
| US Cellular | Fixed wireless | 50 dollars | 45-195 Mbps | None; but a $3 monthly billing fee | 600-900 GB | No one | N/A |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50 ($35 with eligible Verizon 5G cellular plans) | 100 Mbps | No one | No one | No one | 7.2 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Bangor?
| Provider | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Monthly subscription for equipment |
|---|---|---|---|
| True fibers | $25 ($45 after 12 months) | 100 Mbps | $10 portal rental (optional) |
| Spectrum Read the full review |
25 dollars | 50 Mbps | Free modem; $10 portal rental (optional) |
| Spectrum Read the full review |
30 dollars | 100 Mbps | Free modem; $10 portal rental (optional) |
| GoNetspeed | 45 dollars | 500 Mbps | No one |
| Spectrum Read the full review |
50 dollars | 500 Mbps | Free modem; $10 portal rental (optional) |
| UScellular | 50 dollars | 195 Mbps | None; but a $3 monthly billing fee |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible Verizon 5G cellular plans) | 100 Mbps | No one |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 for eligible mobile customers) | 318 Mbps | No one |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find online deals and promotions in Bangor
The best online deals and top promotions in Bangor depend on what discounts are available at a particular time. Most deals are short-lived, but we often look for the latest offers.
Bangor ISPs, such as Spectrum and T-Mobile, may offer lower introductory prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, however, including Fidium Fiber and US Cellular, have the same standard prices year-round.
For a more extensive list of promotions, check out our guide to the best internet deals.
Fastest internet plans in Bangor
| Provider | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reliability Fiber 2 Gig | $75 ($100 after 12 months) | 2,000 Mbps | 2,000 Mbps | No one | Hair |
| GoNetspeed 2 Gig | 75 dollars | 2,000 Mbps | 2,000 Mbps | No one | Hair |
| Trust Fiber Gig | $55 ($85 after 12 months) | 1,000 Mbps | 1,000 Mbps | No one | Hair |
| GoNetspeed whistle | 55 dollars | 1,000 Mbps | 1,000 Mbps | No one | Hair |
| Spectrum Read the full review |
70 dollars | 1,000 Mbps | 35 Mbps | No one | Hair |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is 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 video conferencing, streaming video, or gaming, you'll have a better experience with a stronger connection. Here's an overview of recommended minimum download speeds for different apps, according to the FCC. Note that these are guidelines only — and that internet speed, service, and performance vary by connection type, provider, and address.
For more information, see our guide to how much internet speed do you really need?.
- 0 to 5 Mbps lets you handle the basics—browsing the web, sending and receiving email, streaming low-quality video.
- From 5 to 40 Mbps, you can enjoy video streaming and video conferencing with higher quality.
- 40 to 100 Mbps should give a person enough bandwidth to meet the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
- 100 to 500 Mbps allows one to two people to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities such as video conferencing, streaming, and online gaming.
- 500 to 1,000 Mbps allows three or more people to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET picked the best ISPs in Bangor
Internet providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest ones smart phone, laptop, router or kitchen toolit is impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what is our approach? We begin by researching pricing, availability, and speed information, drawing our own historical data from ISPs, provider locations, and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission to FCC.gov.
But it doesn't end there. We go to the FCC website to check our data and make sure we account for every ISP that provides service in a particular area. We also enter local addresses on supplier websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power, to gauge how satisfied customers are with an ISP's service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent change; all information provided is correct as of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Are customers getting decent value for what they are paying for?
- Are customers satisfied with their service?
While the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to saying yes to all three are the ones we recommend. When choosing the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also take into account factors such as price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively simple. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and look at real-world speed data from sources like Okla and The FCC reports. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
To explore our process in more detail, visit our how we test ISPs page.
ISPs in Bangor Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best internet service provider in Bangor?
Is fiber optic internet available in Bangor?
Yes. According to the latest FCC data, fiber optic internet is available to 75% of Bangor residents. Fidium Fiber is the best fiber provider in town, with symmetrical speeds of up to 2 gigabits. GoNetspeed also has fiber optic internet, but it may not be as widely available.
What is the cheapest ISP in Bangor?
The cheapest internet service is Fidium Fiber, which offers a $25 monthly plan with download and upload speeds of 100 Mbps. However, once the promo period ends after one year, the price jumps to $45 per month. You can also get a Spectrum plan for the same amount, but with 50Mbps (a viable option if Fidium isn't in your area). If you want to avoid going up after a year, Verizon and T-Mobile Home Internet are the next best options.
Which ISP in Bangor offers the fastest plan?
Fidium Fiber and GoNetspeed are tied for the fastest internet offers in the city, with symmetrical speeds of up to 2 gigabit.