The best internet providers in Boulder, Colorado

I grew up in the northern part of Boulder, Colorado, so I might be biased, but I think it's one of the most unique and beautiful cities in the country. From its excellent college football team, the Colorado Buffalo to its gorgeous trails and mountains, Boulder has a lot to offer. Apart from attractions and sports, it stands out relative to the speed of internet connections in other parts of the state.

If you live in Boulder (or plan to move there), there are some options, but the two most extensive internet service providers are Xfinity and CenturyLink. The best overall Internet service provider for CNET to choose Boulder is Xfinity Due to its extensive coverage throughout the city as well as various plans. Other options include CenturyLink, a link that is widely available but is limited to DSL plans, as well as quantum fibers from T-Mobile and 5G home internet – to a lesser extent, Verizon.

The Best Internet for Boulders in 2025

According to Ookla Speedtest data, Boulder residents can expect download speeds of about 318 megabits per second – comparable to Colorado's statewide median of 316Mbps and the national median (291MBPS). (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as Ziff Davis' CNET.) Not too shabby.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Other Internet providers in Boulder

While we think Xfinity, Quantum Fiber and T-Mobile are the best providers in the region, Boulder has other ISP options to consider.

• Real-time wire network：这个基于科罗拉多州的固定无线提供商为巨石地区的近95％提供服务。 Plans range from 35Mbps ($25 per month) to 150Mbps, and are $120 per month. Including equipment rental, no data cap or contract is required.
• Upward broadband: This fixed wireless provider can serve approximately 15% of the boulder area. There is a supply bag north of Washington Village, but this is primarily an option for rural areas outside of urban scope.使用无限数据，您可以获得高达100Mbps的速度。
• Satellite Internet: CNET recommends avoiding satellite internet in cheaper, faster cities. Note that if you live in a rural area without cable and fiber connections, 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 maximum download speeds than T-Mobile (the 5G Home Plus Plan has a “typical download speed of 300-1,000Mbps” that offers a maximum of 245Mbps for T-Mobile), less than 37% of Boulder homes are available.

Pricing information about Boulder's home internet service

The average starting price of Boulder Internet is less than $42 per month — lower than the national average, but a few dollars higher than the larger siblings in Southern Denver, with Denver at $39 per month.

Boulder's cheap internet options

Boulder’s cheapest internet plan is the Rise Broadband’s 25Mbps or 50Mbps plan for $35 per month. However, there are many warnings. The promotional prices last only one year, and those speeds are low if you plan to have a lot of internet usage.

When you bundle a qualified mobile phone plan such as Go5G Plus and Magenta Max, the T-Mobile Home Internet starts at $50 per month and drops to $35 per month.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Boulder Broadband Speed

All Boulder homes have access to 250Mbps broadband internet speeds and 25Mbps uploads, while 94% broadband speeds have access to 1,000Mbps reduction and 100Mbps uploads. As we mentioned earlier, the median download speed for Boulder residents is much higher than the rest of the state.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to choose the best Internet provider for Boulder

There are numerous and regional Internet service providers. Unlike the latest smartphones, laptops, routers, or kitchen tools, it is impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what is our method? For beginners, we leverage a proprietary database that leverages information from FCC.GOV’s Federal Communications Commission from our own historical ISP data, partner data and mapping information.

This guide utilizes an in-house artificial intelligence tool called RAMP that is trained in our own writing and uses our database to generate content about specific Internet service providers that our authors can use for a given guide in identifying and introducing our choices. Check CNET's AI policies for more information on how our team uses (and does not use) AI tools.

Because our database is not exhaustive, we visit the FCC website, check the main data in person, and make sure we are considering all ISPs that provide services in a certain area. Plans and prices also vary by location, so we enter our local address on the provider website to find specific options available to residents. We look at resources including the U.S. Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power to evaluate how satisfied ISP services have with customers. ISP plans and prices change frequently; all information provided is accurate based on our publishing fact checks.

Once this local information is obtained, we ask three main questions:

1. Can providers access reasonable and fast internet speeds?
2. Do customers get decent value for the money they pay?
3. Are customers satisfied with their service?

Although the answers to these questions are often layered and complex, the three we recommend are closest to the provider of “yes”. To explore our process more deeply, visit our test ISP page.

What is the bottom line of Boulder Internet providers?

Xfinity covers nearly every address in the city and has the widest selection of planning for any provider in the region. That's why it can nod to the best ISPs in the city. But there are other viable options for the Boulder Home, including a fiber plan for quantum fibers and a fixed wireless connection for the T-Mobile Home Internet.

Boulder's Internet Provider: FAQ