What is the best ISP in Portland, Maine?
CNET named Spectrum the best overall ISP in Portland. It offers gigabit speeds, is available to 88% of Portland residents, and boasts reliable service. Prices start at $30 and go up to $70 for the gig plan. For those who need a bit more bandwidth, True fiberswith its multi-gigabit plans, it is a great option.
Fidium Fiber is also the best option if you're looking for the lowest prices or fastest speeds. There are plans for 100 megabits per second for $25 per month and there is also a 2 gigabit (2,000 Mbps) tier.
Best Internet in Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine ISPs Compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Agreement | CNET Review Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| True fibers | Hair | 25-75 dollars | 100-2,000 Mbps | No one | No one | No one | N/A |
| Spectrum | Cable | 30-70 dollars | 100-1,000 Mbps | Free modem; $10 for router (optional) | No one | No one | 7.2 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$55 with eligible cellular plans) | 87-415 Mbps | No one | No one | No one | 7.4 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Other available ISPs in Portland, Maine
- RedZone Wireless: RedZone Wireless is available to nearly 92% of Portland residents and costs $99 per month for 4G/5G high-speed Internet.
- TC networks: TK Networks offers speeds up to 500Mbps, with packages starting at $59 per month for 50Mbps service and top-ups of $129.
- Satellite internet: Satellite Internet is available at almost every address in the country. However, it's not always the best option due to the slower speeds and two-year contract commitments required by HughesNet and Viasat. An intriguing option is Starlink, which has unlimited data and no contract requirement, but has a hefty upfront cost of nearly $349 for its equipment.
Cheap Internet Options in Portland, Maine
If you're looking for the cheapest internet plan in Portland, Fidium Fiber offers a 100Mbps plan for $25 a month. If you don't have access to those fiber plans, Spectrum Advantage is just $30 a month.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Portland, Maine?
| Provider | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Monthly subscription for equipment |
|---|---|---|---|
| True fibers | 25 dollars | 100 Mbps | No one |
| Spectrum Advantage Read the full review |
30 dollars | 100 Mbps | Free modem; $10 for router (optional) |
| True fibers | 35 dollars | 300 Mbps | No one |
| Spectrum Premier Read the full review |
50 dollars | 500 Mbps | Free modem; $10 for router (optional) |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible cell phone plans) | 318 Mbps | No one |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Portland, Maine
The best online deals and top promotions in Portland, Maine will depend on what discounts are available at a particular time. Most deals are short-lived, but we check back often for the latest offers.
Portland, Maine, ISPs such as Spectrum may offer lower introductory prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time. You can also bundle with a phone plan to get additional savings. Other providers, including Fidium Fiber and T-Mobile, have the same standard prices year-round.
For a more extensive list of promotions, check out our guide to the best internet deals.
How fast is Portland, Maine broadband?
Everyone in Portland has access to at least 100 Mbps, according to the FCC. Ookla dates puts Portland's average download speed at a healthy 202Mbps, higher than the US average of roughly 104Mbps. Those numbers can be attributed to the wide availability of Spectrum's cable broadband connections and Fidium Fiber's multi-gig internet plans. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
The fastest internet plans in Portland, Maine
| Provider | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | Data cap | Agreement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reliable fiber 2 giga | 75 dollars | 2,000 Mbps | 2,000 Mbps | No one | Hair |
| 1 gig fiber reliability | 55 dollars | 1,000 Mbps | 1,000 Mbps | No one | Hair |
| Spectrum Internet gig Read the full review |
70 dollars | 1,000 Mbps | 35 Mbps | No one | Cable |
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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 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 Portland, Maine
Internet providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest ones smart phone, laptop, router or kitchen toolit is impractical to personally test every internet service provider in a given city. So what is our approach? For starters, we use a proprietary price, availability, and speed database that is drawn from our historical ISP data, partner data, and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at 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.
To explore our process in more detail, visit our how we test ISPs page.
What's the final word on ISPs in Portland, Maine?
It all comes down to your needs as a household. If you're an average internet consumer, your best options for broadband providers are either Spectrum for fixed broadband or T-Mobile Home Internet for fixed wireless, 5G coverage. If you need symmetrical speeds for online gaming or remote work (or want multi-gigabit speeds), Fidium Fiber will be your best bet.
ISPs in Portland, Maine Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest ISP in Portland, Maine?
Fidium Fiber offers the cheapest plan in Portland, Maine, starting at just $25 per month for 100Mbps.
Which ISP in Portland, Maine offers the fastest plan?
Fidium Fiber offers the cheapest plan in the area and has the fastest plan with its symmetrical 2 Gbps tier.
Is fiber optic internet available in Portland, Maine?
Yes. Fiber is available to more than half of the households in Portland, Maine, according to the FCCthrough Fidius Fiber.
Which ISP has the best coverage in Portland, Maine?
Apart from satellite internet, which covers 100% of the area, Viasat's fixed wireless services have the greatest coverage. It serves 99% of households in Portland, Maine.