I grew up just north of Boulder, Colorado, so I'm biased, but I believe it's one of the most unique and beautiful cities in the country. Some might brag about its star college football team, the Colorado Buffaloes, but you can also brag about the speed of its internet connections compared to the rest of the state.
If you live in Boulder (or plan to move there), you have several options, but the two most widely available Internet service providers are Xfinity and CenturyLink. CNET's pick for the best overall Internet service provider in Boulder is Xfinity due to its wide coverage across the city and wide selection of plans. Other options include CenturyLink, which is also widely available but only offers slower DSL plans, fiber plans from Quantum fibers and 5G home internet offers from T-Mobile (and, to a lesser extent, Verizon).
Best Internet in Boulder in 2024
Boulder residents can expect an average download speed of approximately 274 megabits per second, according to Ookla Speedtest data — comparable to ColoradoStatewide median (271 Mbps) and national average (263Mbps). (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) It's not too shabby.
Boulder 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 | 3-100 Mbps | $15 (optional) | No one | No one | 6.7 |
| Quantum fibers | Hair | $45-$95 | 200-2,000 Mbps | No one | No one | No one | N/A |
| The Rise of Broadband Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | 45-50 dollars | 25-100 Mbps | a $10 modem; $5 to $15 router (optional) | 250 GB or unlimited | None, but required for some promotions | 6.2 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$55 with eligible phone plans) | 72-245 Mbps | No one | No one | No one | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 with eligible phone plans | 50-1,000 Mbps | No one | No one | No one | 7.2 |
| Xfinity Read the full review |
Cable | 20-85 dollars | 150-1,200 Mbps | $15 (optional) | 1.2TB on some plans | 1 year for cheapest plan; nobody for others | 7 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Other available ISPs in Boulder
While we think Xfinity, Quantum Fiber, and T-Mobile are the best providers in the area, Boulder has other ISP options to consider.
- Live Live Networks: This Colorado-based fixed wireless provider serves nearly 95% of the Boulder region. Plans range from 35 Mbps (for $25 per month) to 150 Mbps for $120 per month. Equipment rental is included and no data caps or contracts are required.
- The Rise of Broadband Internet: This fixed wireless provider serves approximately 15% of the Boulder area. There is a pocket of availability north of the village of Washington, but it is mostly an option for rural areas outside the city limits. You can get speeds up to 100 Mbps with unlimited data.
- Satellite internet: CNET recommends avoiding satellite Internet in cities with cheaper, faster options. It is noted that if you live in a rural area where cable and fiber connections are not available, Starlink, HughesNet and Viasat are viable satellite providers in the Boulder area.
- Verizon 5G Home Internet: Similar to T-Mobile, Verizon uses its cellular network to provide fixed wireless home broadband. While it may offer higher peak download speeds than T-Mobile (the 5G Home Plus plan features “typical download speeds of 300-1,000Mbps” up to T-Mobile's 245Mbps maximum), it's available to less than 37% of households in Boulder.
Pricing Information for Boulder Home Internet Service
The average starting price for Internet in Boulder is just under $42 a month — cheaper than the national average, but only a few dollars more a month than its big brother to the south. Denverwhich comes at a price of $39.
Cheap Internet Options in Boulder
The cheapest Internet plan in Boulder is Xfinity's Connect plan, which has a maximum download speed of 150 Mbps for $20 per month. There are plenty of caveats, though: That promotional price only lasts for one year and doesn't include an optional $15-a-month equipment rental fee (which you can waive if you have your own modem and router).
T-Mobile Home Internet, which starts at $50 per month, drops to $35 per month when you add an affordable cell phone plan, such as the Go5G Plus and Magenta Max.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Boulder?
| Provider | Initial monthly price | Maximum download speed | Monthly subscription for equipment | Agreement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xfinity Connect Read the full review |
20 dollars | 150 Mbps | $15 (optional) | 1 year |
| Xfinity Connect More Read the full review |
35 dollars | 300 Mbps | No one | No one |
| Quantum fibers | 45 dollars | 200 Mbps | No one | No one |
| The Rise of Broadband Internet Read the full review |
45 dollars | 25-50 Mbps | a $10 modem; $5 to $15 router (optional) | None, but required for some promotions |
| Quantum fibers | 50 dollars | 500 Mbps | No one | No one |
| The Rise of Broadband Internet Read the full review |
50 dollars | 100 Mbps | a $10 modem; $5 to $15 router (optional) | None, but required for some promotions |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible phone plans) | 245 Mbps | No one | No one |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible phone plans) | 300 Mbps | No one | No one |
| Xfinity Fast Read the full review |
55 dollars | 500 Mbps | No one | No one |
| CenturyLink Read the full review |
55 dollars | 100 Mbps | $15 (optional) | No one |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Boulder broadband speeds
Almost all households in Boulder have access to broadband speeds of 250 Mbps down and 25 Mbps up. As mentioned earlier, Boulder residents see much higher average download speeds than the rest of the state.
What are the fastest internet plans in Boulder?
| Provider | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | Initial monthly price | Data cap | Agreement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quantum fibers | 2,000 Mbps | 1,000 Mbps | 95 dollars | No one | No one |
| Xfinity Gigabit Extra Read the full review |
1,200 Mbps | 35 Mbps | 85 dollars | No one | No one |
| Xfinity Gigabit Read the full review |
1,000 Mbps | 35 Mbps | 65 dollars | No one | No one |
| Quantum fibers | 940 Mbps | 880 Mbps | 70 dollars | No one | No one |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How CNET picked the best ISPs in Boulder
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? For starters, we use a proprietary database of price, availability, and speed information that is drawn from our historical ISP data, partner data, and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
This guide uses a homegrown artificial intelligence tool called RAMP, which is trained on our writing and uses our database to generate content about specific internet service providers that our writers can use in determining and presenting our choices for a given a guide. Check it out CNET AI Policy for more information on how our teams use (and don't use) AI tools.
Since our database is not exhaustive, we go to the FCC website to check the primary data for ourselves and make sure we are looking at every ISP that provides service in a particular area. Plans and prices also vary by location, so we enter local addresses on provider websites to find the specific options available to 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 according to our fact checking prior to 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. To explore our process in more detail, visit our how we test ISPs page.
What is the essence of ISPs in Boulder?
Xfinity covers nearly every address in the city and has the widest range of plan choices of any provider in the area. That's why it gets our nod for the best ISP in town. However, Boulder households have other viable options, including fiber plans from Quantum Fiber and fixed wireless from T-Mobile Home Internet.
ISPs in Boulder: FAQ
What is the best internet service provider in Boulder?
CNET's pick for the best ISP in Boulder is Xfinity. It covers almost the entire area, gives customers a wide variety of plans to choose from and also has the fastest download speed in town. Quantum Fiber only offers four plans, but its strength is that it is the only provider in the area that offers symmetrical download and upload speeds.
Is fiber optic internet available in Boulder?
Yes. Quantum Fiber offers four plans: the lowest at 200Mbps for $45 per month and the highest at 2,000Mbps for $95 per month.
What is the cheapest ISP in Boulder?
The provider with the cheapest plan in Boulder is Xfinity, whose 150 Mbps Connect plan starts at $20 per month. However, that plan doesn't include equipment rental, so you have to shell out an extra $15 a month. You'd be better off going with Xfinity's Connect More plan, which features 300Mbps speeds for $35 a month, including equipment rental. It may not be the cheapest plan for the sticker price, but it's a far better value.
Which ISP in Boulder offers the fastest plan?
That title goes to Quantum Fiber which offers a 2 gig plan for $95 per month, the fastest plan in Boulder. Xfinity comes in second with its 1,200 Mbps plan.