I recently visited lovely Colorado and spent time in Denver, where I experienced extreme internet envy over the fast speeds in the apartment where I stayed. Coming from New Mexico, where my choices are limited, Denver felt like a broadband wonderland. My Colorado internet experience blazed along thanks to Google Fiber Webpass, but it’s not my choice for the top ISP in Colorado due to limited availability. That honor goes to CenturyLink/Quantum Fiber as CNET’s pick for Colorado’s best internet service provider. CenturyLink’s (admittedly outdated) DSL service reaches far and wide across the state, but its affordable and desirable fiber offering can be found in the bigger cities.
You’ll find some fiber offerings in Colorado, but you’re more likely to run into cable provider Xfinity or CenturyLink DSL regarding wired internet. Fixed wireless ISPs primarily service the state’s gorgeous rural areas. Many small, local companies are working in this field, as well as Rise Broadband, a provider that services 15 other states.
Your internet options will be dependent on your location and can even vary quite a bit within the bigger metro areas. For example, Starry Internet (a fixed wireless ISP) mainly services apartment complexes, while CenturyLink Fiber is patchwork in its availability. Whether you’re in a super-modern Denver townhome or living in a log cabin in the forest, we’ve got ISP recommendations for you.
CNET considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service in Colorado across several categories. Our evaluation includes referencing a proprietary database built over years of reviewing internet services. We validate that against provider information by spot-checking local addresses for service availability. We also do a close read of providers’ terms and conditions and, when needed, will call ISPs to verify the details.
Despite our efforts to find the most recent and accurate information, our process has some limitations you should know about. Pricing and speed data are variable: Certain addresses may qualify for different service tiers, and monthly costs may vary, even within a city. The best way to identify your options is to plug your address into a provider’s website.
Also, the prices, speed and other information listed above and in the provider cards below may differ from what we found in our research. The cards display the full range of a provider’s pricing and speed across the US, according to our database of plan information provided directly by ISPs. At the same time, the text is specific to what’s available in Colorado. The prices referenced within this article’s text come from our research and include applicable discounts for setting up automatic payments each month — a standard industry offering. Discounts and promotions might also be available for signing a term contract or bundling multiple services.
To learn more about how we review internet providers, visit our full methodology page.
Best internet options in Colorado
10 – 140 Mbps
$55 per month
Our take – CenturyLink (and its Quantum Fiber brand) take top honors for best ISP in Colorado due to the wide availability of its DSL network and its limited (but fast and reliable) fiber service. DSL is outdated and doesn’t always give users a premium internet experience, but it’s often available in areas with few other options. On the other hand, fiber is my top recommendation for an internet connection if you can get it.
10 – 140 Mbps
$55 per month
75 – 2,000 Mbps
$20 – $120 per month
Our take – Xfinity’s wide variety of plans and availability in many metro areas across Colorado make it my recommendation for the best cable provider in the state. CNET also gave Xfinity the nod for best overall internet provider in Colorado Springs.
75 – 2,000 Mbps
$20 – $120 per month
Fixed wireless
72 – 245 Mbps
$60 per month
Our take – Verizon and T-Mobile are making moves on the national broadband scene with 5G home internet delivered wirelessly to your residence. It’s worth comparing them, but I’m giving T-Mobile an edge in Colorado due to its availability in many cities nationwide.
Fixed wireless
72 – 245 Mbps
$60 per month
Fixed wireless
$45 – $65 per month
Our take – Rise Broadband is a rural specialist. As a fixed wireless provider, its main competitors are satellite ISPs and other fixed wireless ISPs. A broad reach and speeds up to 250Mbps in some areas earn it a nod as the best rural ISP in Colorado. CNET has also recognized Rise Broadband as a top rural internet provider nationwide.
Fixed wireless
$45 – $65 per month
$50 – $150 per month
Our take – Rural living in Colorado has many perks, but fast internet isn’t usually one of them. If you’re out of service zones for other wired or wireless options, satellite internet may come through. HughesNet has received recognition from CNET for its reliable speeds and gets a nod here as a functional (although not very fast) satellite option for rural internet. Compare it with Starlink, which may be able to deliver faster speeds to your location.
$50 – $150 per month
Rural internet options in Colorado
| Provider | Connection type | Price range | Speed range | Data cap | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CenturyLink Home Internet | DSL | $50 | 3-100Mbps | None | Broadly across Colorado |
| Eastern Slope Technologies | DSL/fiber | $50-$130 | 6-1,000Mbps | None | Eastern Colorado |
| Edge Internet Service | Fixed wireless | $40-$100 | 10-200Mbps | None | Granby Ranch, Homestead Hills, Wolford Reservoir, Blue Valley Acres, Ute Pass, Green Mountain Reservoir |
| Elite Broadband | Fixed wireless | $50 | 25Mbps | None | Plateau Valley |
| Hilltop Broadband | Fixed wireless | $45-$165 | 4-50Mbps | None | Boulder, Chaffee, Custer, Fremont, Larimer and Weld counties |
| Kellin Communications | Fixed wireless | $70-$200 | 15-300Mbps | None | Front Range and Western Slope |
| NETEO | Fixed wireless | $35-$110 | 10-50Mbps | None | Denver, Conifer, Evergreen, Morrison, Aspen Park, Pine Junction, Bailey, Allenspark |
| Rise Broadband | Fixed wireless | $45 | 25-250Mbps | None | Front Range, I-25 and I-70 corridors, Western Slope |
| Xtream Internet | Fixed wireless | $89-$129 | 25-40Mbps | None | Castle Rock, Crested Butte, Gunnison |
Show more (5 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Colorado is a gorgeous state in which to live, with plenty of rural options that will get you closer to nature. The scenery and quiet may come at the cost of strong internet service. When seeking out internet service for your rural residence, start with wired options. CenturyLink has a big DSL presence across Colorado, but speeds can vary considerably. You may be able to get 100Mbps, or you may only pull down a measly 3Mbps. T-Mobile Home Internet is another big name that may reach your home. Speeds can also vary quite a bit depending on your location, but it’s easy to test out the service if it’s available to you.
Fixed wireless is a common type of rural internet in Colorado. It requires a good line of sight to a tower, but it may be a more affordable and faster option than satellite, depending on your location. Our chart contains quite a few small, local fixed wireless ISPs that are focused on serving the rural reaches of Colorado. Fixed wireless doesn’t have to mean slow. Kellin Communications, for example, told CNET it plans to roll out 500Mbps speeds to the Front Range and Western Slope by early 2024. Here’s a comparison of the different types of home internet connections, from DSL to fixed wireless to 5G.
The ISPs listed in the chart aren’t the only ones serving Colorado. To find more local providers, plug your address into the FCC National Broadband Map. If other connection options fail you, then check into satellite from Starlink, Viasat or HughesNet. Satellite internet can be slow and expensive (especially with upfront equipment costs), but it may be the only option in some very rural locations or in areas where you don’t have a good line of sight to a fixed wireless tower.
Colorado broadband at a glance
100% of residences in Colorado can access services of at least 25Mbps down and 3Mbps up, according to the FCC National Broadband Map, but that number doesn’t quite tell the whole story; that coverage includes the reach of satellite internet. While a download speed of 25Mbps qualifies as broadband in the eyes of the FCC, many internet users will find it to be on the slow side. The FCC’s estimate also doesn’t account for some of the trickier rural locations across Colorado, homes that may be in mountains or in heavily forested areas where fixed wireless and even satellite might have a hard time reaching.
The FCC has more to say about the availability of internet connection types in Colorado. Fiber reaches less than 30% of residences. Not surprisingly, you’ll find fiber clustered around the more populous areas like Denver and Colorado Springs. Cable and DSL connections are more widespread across the state.
Internet breakdown by city in Colorado
It’s hard to cover the broadband options of an entire state like Colorado and give individual cities the attention they deserve. That’s why we also compile lists of the best internet providers in cities across the US, including those in Colorado. We tackle details such as internet connection types, max speeds, cheapest providers and more. If you don’t find the city you’re looking for below, check back later. We’re working to add more cities every week.
How fast is Colorado broadband?
Ookla’s speed test data places Colorado 32nd among US states with a median download speed of about 176Mbps. Compare that to the second quarter of 2023 speed champion Florida, which was pulling down nearly 233Mbps. The national average was sitting around 205Mbps. Ookla updates its rankings regularly, so states can move around. Colorado’s showing places it firmly in the bottom half of the states for internet speeds.
According to Ookla, Xfinity takes the honor of being Colorado’s fastest fixed broadband provider with a median download speed of nearly 250Mbps. The cable provider is one of our top ISP recommendations for Colorado thanks to its broad reach across the state. Nationally, fiber internet has a reputation for being speedy. FCC data shows only about 11% of Colorado residents can access fiber with gigabit speeds. One place you can do that is in Fort Collins, where municipal fiber broadband plans go up to an impressive 10 gigabits.
Internet pricing in Colorado
Starting prices for internet in Colorado typically fall in the $40-$60 range, but some deals can be found. Xfinity, for example, offers a $20-per-month plan for 75Mbps service, with a few catches. The price is good for 12 months with a one-year contract commitment, and equipment is not included. You can provide your own modem and router or rent one for $15 per month. CenturyLink offers a nice deal of 200Mbps for $30 per month with no contract. The equipment lease is an additional $15 per month. If we’re talking value, then check out CenturyLink’s 940Mbps fiber plan for $70 per month with a modem included.
Internet pricing can get complicated when you factor in renting or buying gear and plan prices that may jump after promotional periods expire. Check out these eight ways to save on your internet bill.
Internet for low-income households in Colorado
211,000 households in Colorado are enrolled in the federal Affordable Connectivity Program, according to the White House (PDF link). The ACP helps low-income Americans get free or cheap broadband. Most eligible households get $30 off their monthly bill, while households on tribal lands can get $75 per month. Most ISPs participate in the program, so check with your local providers about accessing a discounted plan.
Future of broadband in Colorado
The FCC defines broadband speeds as 25Mbps downloads and 3Mbps uploads. The Colorado Broadband Office has loftier speeds in mind and defines broadband service as 100Mbps down and 20Mbps up. Based on that, the state’s broadband map shows about 90% of locations are served with those speeds. Going by the FCC definition, 96% of locations are served. That said, 25Mbps is pretty pokey by today’s standards, so I applaud Colorado for aiming higher. The state aims to connect 99% of Colorado households to high-speed (100Mbps) broadband by 2027.
The Colorado Broadband Office has invested nearly $100 million in programs designed to expand fast internet to reach its goal. Add over $826 million in federal funds through the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment program. Colorado’s mountainous and rural areas can be challenging to reach, but this BEAD funding should help push through broadband improvements across the state.
I perk up whenever I hear about fiber expansion. It’s the top request on my internet wish list for just about any state. In good news for residents of Lakewood and Westminster, Google Fiber is coming to those areas. Google Fiber Webpass has been in Denver for some time, but this is fiber-to-the-home rather than the Webpass fixed wireless version of fiber internet. Fiber ISP Ting Internet is building fiber to Aurora, Colorado Springs and the Western Slope. These are big moves and a sign of advancement in broadband for the state overall.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Colorado
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
It doesn’t end there. We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we’re considering every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. To evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service, we look at sources including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate 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?
- Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
- Are customers happy with their service?
While the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend.
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
Internet in Colorado FAQs
Does Colorado have good internet?
“Good” is debatable. If you’re in a Colorado city and have a fast fiber connection, you’re probably pretty happy with your internet. You’re probably unsatisfied if you’re in a rural area with only slow and expensive options. Colorado ranks 32nd on Ookla’s list of median download speeds for US states. That means Colorado has room for improvement.
Is there fiber internet in Colorado?
Yes, primarily in the larger metro areas, including Denver and Colorado Springs. CenturyLink’s Quantum Fiber can be found in both cities. Fort Collins runs a fiber municipal broadband utility called Fort Collins Connexion that offers plans starting at a gigabit for $70 per month, going up to $200 per month for 10Gbps.
Is CenturyLink or Xfinity better for internet service in Colorado?
It depends. If CenturyLink’s fiber service, sometimes branded as Quantum Fiber, is available to you, then that’s your best bet for affordable, fast and reliable internet. If your choices are down to CenturyLink’s older DSL service or Xfinity, then give some weight to Xfinity for speed and its variety of plan options.
