Hunting for an internet service provider in Boise, Idaho? Between cable, fiber, wireless and satellite options, there’s a lot to choose from — with something for everyone’s budget.
We’ve done the homework for you and found that T-Mobile Home Internet is the best overall service for most people, thanks to its low price and simple setup. But there are plenty more to consider, especially if you’re interested in super speedy fiber or dirt-cheap wireless.
Best internet providers in the City of Trees
You have a lot of options for internet providers in Boise, from fiber to satellite to fixed wireless plans. They come in a wide range of prices and speeds too. All prices listed on this page reflect available discounts for setting up paperless billing. If you decide not to go with automatic monthly payments, your price will be higher.
Note: The prices, speeds and features detailed in the article text may differ from those listed in the product detail cards, which represent providers’ national offerings. Your particular internet service options — including prices and speeds — depend on your address and may differ from those detailed here.
Fixed wireless
72 – 245 Mbps
$60 per month
Our take – One of the best things T-Mobile Home Internet has going for it is a lack of fine print and fees. You can try T-Mobile’s home internet service without severing ties with your current ISP. But chances are you’ll want to cut the cord on your previous provider and stick with T-Mobile Home Internet.
Fixed wireless
72 – 245 Mbps
$60 per month
200 – 8,000 Mbps
$30 – $165 per month
Our take – You don’t have many options if your heart is set on fiber internet in Boise. Quantum Fiber, a service offered by Lumen, is likely your best bet, offering two fiber internet plans depending on your needs, location and budget.
200 – 8,000 Mbps
$30 – $165 per month
100 – 1,000 Mbps
$25 – $110 per month
Our take – When it comes to bread-and-butter cable internet, Sparklight rises to the top. It’s known for its straightforward, affordable pricing. It also offers pretty competitive speeds.
100 – 1,000 Mbps
$25 – $110 per month
Fixed wireless
$45 – $65 per month
Our take – If keeping an eye on the bottom line is your primary concern, Rise Broadband is worth checking out.
Fixed wireless
$45 – $65 per month
Internet providers in Boise overview
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Download speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CenturyLink | DSL | $55 | 20-100Mbps | $15 for modem/router rental (optional) | None | None | 6.7 |
| CTC Telecom/Wilderness Wireless | Fixed Wireless | $49-$95 | 10-100Mbps | None | N/A | ||
| EarthLink Home Internet | DSL/Fiber | $50-$90 | 15-1,000Mbps | $13 equipment rental fee | None | 1 year | 6.3 |
| Quantum Fiber | Fiber | $50-$75 | 500-940Mbps | None | None | None | 6.7 |
| Rise Broadband | Fixed wireless | $45-$65 | 25-50Mbps | $10 modem; $5-$15 router (optional) | 250GB or unlimited | None, but required for some promotions | 6.2 |
| Sparklight | Cable | $25-$80 | 100-940Mbps | $13 modem rental (optional) | 5TB | None | 6.9 |
| SpeedyQuick Networks | Fixed Wireless | $60-$165 | 5-40Mbps | None | None | 1 year | N/A |
| T-Mobile Home Internet | Fixed wireless | $60 ($40 with eligible mobile plan) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| White Cloud | Fixed wireless | $55-$150 | 10-200Mbps | $8-$12 (optional) | None | None (but installation fee is charged if you cancel before 12 months) | N/A |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data
All available Boise residential internet providers
In addition to the top providers we listed above, there are a few more options in Boise that might be worth considering:
- CTC Telecom/Wilderness Wireless: This company provides internet service to customers in Idaho and Eastern Oregon. There are no contracts required. The base plan is $49 per month, and the top-tier plan is $95 monthly.
- Satellite internet: These services are available virtually everywhere. Two options for this type of provider are HughesNet and Viasat. Viasat features plans from $50-$300 monthly and customers can expect speeds from 12-150Mbps. It requires a two-year contract. HughesNet plans will run from $65-$125 monthly, with an available speed of about 50Mbps. This also requires a two-year contract and equipment rental or purchase.
- SpeedyQuick Networks: This is another wireless provider serving the Boise region, with plans costing anywhere between $60 and $165 per month. Download speeds range from 5-40Mbps.
- White Cloud: This is an Idaho-based company that offers residential internet in Boise. It’s a wireless connection and plans range from $55-$150 monthly.
Pricing info on Boise home internet service
Most of the internet options in Boise start around $50 per month. Prices quickly rise as internet speeds increase, so you very much get what you pay for.
Cheap internet options in the Boise metro area
The absolute cheapest internet plan you’ll find in town is $25 per month, the base plan from Sparklight with 100Mbps download speed. The best values, however, are Sparklight’s larger data packages and Quantum Fiber, whose base plans give you the most Mbps for the dollar.
You might also be eligible to get a price reduction on your internet plan through the Affordable Connectivity Program, a federal discount of up to $30 monthly intended for low-income households (and up to $75 for households on tribal lands).
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Boise?
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sparklight | $25 | 100Mbps | $13 modem rental (optional) | None |
| Rise Broadband | $45 | 50Mbps | $10 modem; $5-$15 router (optional) | None |
| CTC Telecom/Wilderness Wireless | $49 | 10Mbps | None | None |
| EarthLink Home Internet | $50 | 15Mbps | $13 equipment rental fee | 1 year |
| Quantum Fiber Internet | $50 | 500Mbps | None | None |
| T-Mobile Home Internet | $60 ($40 with eligible phone plans) | 245Mbps | None | None |
| White Cloud | $55 | 10Mbps | $8-$12 (optional) | None (but installation fee is charged if you cancel before 12 months) |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data
Fastest internet providers in Boise
There are only a handful of high-speed options available in Boise. The cable and fiber providers’ top-tier plans are your best in that department.
Two providers tie for the fastest internet in Boise: Sparklight and Quantum Fiber, which each tops out at about 1,000Mbps and show some of the highest ranges on speed tests.
What are the fastest internet plans in Boise?
| Provider | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Starting price | Data cap | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quantum Fiber Internet | 940Mbps | 940Mbps | $75 | None | None |
| Sparklight | 940Mbps | 50Mbps | $80 | 5TB | None |
| Sparklight | 600Mbps | 30Mbps | $39 | 5TB | None |
| Quantum Fiber Internet | 500Mbps | 500Mbps | $55 | None | None |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data
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What’s the final word on internet providers in Boise?
Boise has a good range of internet providers, meeting lots of different customer preferences. You can opt for a cheap wireless plan or go all in on a top-of-the-line fiber plan. Either way, you’re likely to find reliable, fast service for your home in the metro area.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Boise
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. So 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.
But 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 providers in Boise FAQs
Which is the best internet service provider in Boise?
Our best overall pick for internet in Boise is T-Mobile Home Internet. It has a great mix of perks (no contracts or data caps), and the pricing is simple and affordable. It’s not the fastest or cheapest plan out here, but it’s likely to work for most people.
Is fiber internet available in Boise?
Yes, but it depends on where exactly you live. Quantum Fiber is likely your best bet and offers some of the fastest fiber plans. Check the Quantum Fiber site to see if it’s available at your specific location.
Which is the cheapest internet provider in Boise?
The cheapest plan in town is Sparklight’s base plan, which is $25 a month for 100Mbps. Coming in next is Rise Broadband, with a 50Mbps plan for $45-per-month.
Which internet provider in Boise offers the fastest plan?
Two internet providers in Boise offer gigabit-speed plans, the fastest available in the city: Sparklight and Quantum Fiber. Both offer download speeds up to 940Mbps, but Quantum Fiber’s plan is $5 cheaper per month.
