What is the best Internet provider in Missoula?
Spectrum is CNET's top pick of the best Internet service providers in Missoulaoffering a good balance of speed and coverage at reasonable entry prices – though watch out for significant price increases after the first year. The good news is that there are no contracts, so you are free to switch providers if better options become available.
Blackfoot Communications offers the fastest Internet plans in Missoula – Its fiber plans go up to 1,000Mbps download and 500Mbps upload speeds – but coverage is limited. T-Mobile Home Internet It serves as a solid alternative where available, and while its speeds don't match the Spectrum or Blackfoot, it offers a price lock and reliable service that makes it a decent choice.
Best Internet in Missoula, Montana
Missoula Internet Providers Compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Agreement | CNET Review Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackfoot Communications | Hair | $65 to $135 | 100-1,000Mbps | Nothing | Nothing | Nothing | N/a |
| CenturyLink Read full review |
DSL | 55 dollars | 3-30Mbps | $15 (optional) | Nothing | Nothing | 6.7 |
| Spectrum Read full review |
Cable | $50 to $70 | 500-1,000Mbps | $10 (optional) | Nothing | Nothing | 7.2 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50 to $70 ($35-$55 with qualifying cellular plans) | 72-245Mbps | Nothing | Nothing | Nothing | 7.4 |
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Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Missoula?
| Provider | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| The premier spectrum of the Internet Read full review |
50 dollars | 500Mbps | $10 (optional) |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
$50 ($35 with qualifying mobile plans) | 245Mbps | Nothing |
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Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.
How to find online deals and promotions in Missoula
The best online deals and top promotions in Missoula depend on what discounts are available at the time. Most deals are short-lived, but we often see the latest offers.
Internet providers in Missoula, such as Spectrum, may offer lower introductory rates or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, including Tom-Mobile Home Internet and Blackfoot Communications, operate the same standard price year-round.
For a more extensive list of promotions, check out our guide to Best deals on the Internet.
Fastest internet plans in Missoula
| Provider | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackfoot Communications | 135 dollars | 1,000Mbps | 500Mbps | Nothing | Hair |
| Spectrum Internet gig Read full review |
70 dollars | 1,000Mbps | 40Mbps | Nothing | Cable |
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Source: CNET analysis of carrier 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 is an overview of the recommended minimum download speed for various applications, According to the Federal Communications Commission. 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 5Mbps lets you handle the basics: Internet browsing, sending and receiving email, and streaming low-quality video.
- 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher quality video streaming and video conferencing.
- 40 to 100Mbps should give a person enough bandwidth to meet the demands of modern telecommunications, video streaming and online gaming.
- 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two people to simultaneously engage in wide-ranging activities such as video conferencing, streaming and online gaming.
- 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more people to engage in broadband activities at the same time.
How CNET picked the best Internet providers in Missoula
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest ones smart phone, laptop, router or A kitchen toolit is impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What is our approach? We start by researching pricing, availability, and speed information, drawing on our own historical ISP data, service provider sites, and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission in fcc.gov.
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 an area. We also enter local addresses into service provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look to sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power, to gauge how happy customers are with an ISP's service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; All information provided is correct as of the time of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
- Does the service 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, providers who come close to saying yes to all three are the ones we recommend. When it comes to choosing the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fees, although we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest service on the Internet is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and also consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC Reports. (Disclosure: Okla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
To explore our process in more depth, visit our How we test ISPs page.
ISPs in Missoula FAQ
What is the best internet service provider in Missoula?
Spectrum is the best Internet service provider in Missoula, offering the widest coverage ever. Spectrum prices increase significantly after a year, but it's the only high-speed Internet option in most Missoula homes.
Is fiber internet available in Missoula?
Yes, fiber internet is available to 13% of Missoula residents, according to FCC data. Blackfoot Communications is the most prominent fiber provider in the area, but Quantum Fiber also services some addresses in Missoula.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Missoula?
Spectrum and T-Mobile are the cheapest Internet providers in Missoula, offering plans starting at $50 per month.
Which ISP in Missoula offers the fastest plan?
Blackfoot Communications offers the fastest Internet plan in Missoula, with download speeds of 1,000Mbps and upload speeds of 500Mbps.