What is the best ISP in Rio Rancho?
Residents of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, have a limited range of fast internet options, but it can still be difficult to choose the best one for your needs. But don't worry: our broadband experts are here to help you choose the best ISP for you. The best provider for your home will likely come down to what you can get in your area.Spark is CNET's top pick for the best Internet service provider for most Rio Rancho residents. It's our top pick because cable internet provider has the best high speed coverage in Rio Rancho.
The Sparklight offers speed and availability, making it a solid choice if you're in the coverage area. Plans start at $40 per month and speeds range from 100 to 940 megabits per second, making Sparklight the the cheapest internet provider in Rio Rancho.
If you want the fastest internet in Rio Rancho, Quantum fibers is the way to go with download speeds of up to 2,000 Mbps. Being a fiber mesh, it offers symmetrical upload speedsbut availability is very limited. The other brand of Lumen Technologies CenturyLink it has better coverage in the area, although it offers much slower speeds compared to Sparklight, because it has a DSL-based network.
T-Mobile Home Internet and Verizon 5G Home Internet are the best fixed wireless ISPs in Rio Rancho (starting at $50 per month), but NM Surf can also be a practical option. Other fixed wireless providers serve the Rio Rancho area, but the speeds are too slow and the prices too high for the speeds you get to recommend them here.
Best Internet in Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Rio Rancho, New Mexico ISPs Compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Agreement | CNET Review Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CenturyLink Read the full review |
DSL | 55 dollars | 20-100 Mbps | $15 (optional) | No one | No one | 6.7 |
| NM Surf | Fixed wireless | 70-110 dollars | 100-400 Mbps | 5 dollars | No one | 1-2 years | N/A |
| Quantum fibers | Hair | 50-95 dollars | 500-2,000 Mbps | No one | No one | No one | 6.7 |
| Spark Read the full review |
Cable | 40-75 dollars | 100-940 Mbps | $13 (optional) | 5TB soft cap | No one | 6.9 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$55 with eligible cellular plans) | 72-245 Mbps | No one | No one | No one | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $60-$80 ($35-$45 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers) | 50-1,000 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 Rio Rancho?
| Plan | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Monthly subscription for equipment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sparklight Connect Internet 100 Read the full review |
40 dollars | 100 Mbps | $13 (optional) |
| Sparklight Freedom Connect 300 Read the full review |
40 dollars | 300 Mbps | $13 (optional) |
| Quantum fiber 500 | 50 dollars | 500 Mbps | No one |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible cell phone plans) | 245 Mbps | No one |
| Sparklight Freedom Connect 600 Read the full review |
65 dollars | 600 Mbps | $13 (optional) |
| CenturyLink Internet Read the full review |
55 dollars | 100 Mbps | $15 (optional) |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
$60 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 300 Mbps | No one |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find online deals and promotions in Rio Rancho
The best online deals and top promotions in Rio Rancho depend on what discounts are available during that period. Most deals are short-lived, but we often look for the latest offers.
Rio Rancho ISPs like Sparklight may offer lower introductory rates for a limited time. Many providers, including CenturyLink and Quantum Fiber, run 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 Rio Rancho
| Plan | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quantum fiber 2 gigabytes | 95 dollars | 2,000 Mbps | 1070 Mbps | No one | Hair |
| Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read the full review |
$80 ($45 with eligible mobile plans) | 1,000 Mbps | 75 Mbps | No one | Fixed wireless |
| Sparklight 1 Gig Read the full review |
75 dollars | 940 Mbps | 50 Mbps | No one | Cable |
| Quantum fibers | 75 dollars | 940 Mbps | 940 Mbps | No one | Hair |
| Sparklight Freedom Connect 600 Read the full review |
65 dollars | 600 Mbps | 30 Mbps | No one | Cable |
| Quantum fiber 500 | 50 dollars | 500 Mbps | 500 Mbps | No one | Hair |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible cell phone plans) | 245 Mbps | 31 Mbps | No one | Fixed wireless |
| NM surf tsunami wave | 70 dollars | 100 Mbps | 25 Mbps | No one | Fixed wireless |
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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 will 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: web browsing, sending and receiving email, and 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 user enough bandwidth to meet the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
- 100 to 500 Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities such as video conferencing, streaming, and online gaming.
- 500 to 1,000 Mbps allows three or more users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities.
How CNET picked the best ISPs in Rio Rancho
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. What is our approach? We start by researching price, availability and speed information based on our historical data from ISPs, provider locations and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
It doesn't stop there: We go to the FCC website to check our data and make sure we account for every ISP that provides service in a certain 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 the time 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. (Disclaimer: 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 Rio Rancho Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best internet service provider in Rio Rancho, New Mexico?
Sparklight is the best internet service provider in Rio Rancho. High-speed availability is Sparklight's main selling point in the area. However, the ISP also stands out among the competition for its low introductory price and choice of speeds ranging from 100 to 940 Mbps.
Is fiber optic internet available in Rio Rancho?
Fiber internet is available to select households in Rio Rancho. According to the latest FCC data (December 2023), only about 3% of Rio Rancho residences are eligible for fiber optic internet service. 2, an encouraging sign that fiber availability is growing in the area. Quantum Fiber is the primary fiber internet provider in the Rio Rancho area.
What is the cheapest ISP in Rio Rancho?
Sparklight has the lowest introductory broadband rate in Rio Rancho, with service starting at $40 per month for download speeds of up to 300 Mbps. Sparklight's other 600 and 940 Mbps plans are also competitively priced (starting at $65 and $75 per month, respectively). Light rates are good for 18 months, after which prices will increase by $15 to $25, depending on your chosen plan. Note that renting equipment from Sparklight will add $13 to your monthly bill.
Which ISP in Rio Rancho offers the fastest plan?
Sparklight and Quantum Fiber offer the fastest internet plans in Rio Rancho, with speeds up to 940Mbps and 2,000Mbps respectively. Quantum Fiber has the advantage of symmetrical upload and download speeds, but Sparklight has significantly greater area availability.
Verizon 5G home internet offers speeds of 1,000 Mbps, but actual speeds are likely to be much lower since its Home Plus plan advertises a range of between 85 and 1,000 Mbps.