Best Internet Providers in Seattle

Any metropolis that may say it is the birthplace of Starbucks and Jimi Hendrix should be doing one thing proper. However, concerning high-speed web choices, Seattle is not precisely within the espresso lane. Though the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area is among the many nation’s prime 20 most populous metro areas, it might muster solely a 94th-place end among the many quickest cities within the US for broadband.

That’s based mostly on the newest knowledge from the speed-testing firm Ookla, which tracks the highest 100 cities within the US and categorizes them based mostly on their median obtain speeds. Per Ookla’s first-quarter report for 2023, Seattle positioned within the backside 10 — simply barely above Denver, Dallas and Atlanta — with a median obtain velocity of simply over 122 megabits per second. 

The Ookla report additionally famous that Seattle’s quickest supplier, based mostly on median obtain velocity, was Xfinity (Comcast’s cable web service), whose common velocity within the space was roughly 217Mbps. As we have written many instances in CNET’s broadband protection, cable web connections, although providing quick speeds and first rate reliability, aren’t the speediest mode obtainable. That declare belongs to fiber web. And whereas you will get fiber web service in and round Seattle, every supplier, together with CenturyLink and Ziply Fiber, additionally provides web service through DSL connections, that are far slower than fiber and fewer reliable than cable. That brings these common speeds again all the way down to earth — and it additionally means there’s loads to maintain observe of when you’re searching for a brand new web plan in Seattle. 

Best web suppliers within the Emerald City

Whether you’ve got relocated to the realm or are a long-time Seattleite, you’ve got received some choices for getting linked. Let’s dive into your selections and discover Seattle web suppliers.

CenturyLink/Quantum Fiber

Best fiber web supplier in Seattle

Check availability

Product particulars

Price vary

$30 – $70 per thirty days

Speed vary

200 – 940Mbps

Connection

Fiber

Highlights

Unlimited knowledge, no contracts, gear included with gigabit tier

To be clear, not all CenturyLink service in Seattle is fiber-optic web service. According to the Federal Communication Commission’s knowledge, you will nonetheless discover DSL connections in lots of areas throughout town, maybe as a lot as 50% in some areas. But if you will get CenturyLink’s fiber service, you will discover a high quality providing that is additionally known as Quantum Fiber in some, however not all, areas — do not ask, it is simply rebranding. 

Availability: Most of CenturyLink’s fiber service can be in and round Seattle, however some individuals will discover availability as far south as Bonney Lake, Gig Harbor and Orting. You also can discover it east of Seattle in Issaquah or west of town in Poulsbo, simply off Liberty Bay.

Plans and pricing: Expect particularly good worth with the gigabit plan, which presents matching obtain and add speeds of as much as 940Mbps for $70 per thirty days. That’s a wonderful worth of simply over 7 cents per Mbps, which is powerful even by fiber requirements. By comparability, cable plans usually run between 20 and 50 cents per Mbps, which works even increased as soon as the promo worth wears off after a yr. 

Fees and repair particulars: CenturyLink fiber service options limitless knowledge and would not ask you to signal a time period settlement to get the bottom worth. On prime of that, your modem rental, which prices an extra $15 month-to-month when you select the 200Mbps possibility, is included with CenturyLink’s gigabit plan.

Read our CenturyLink dwelling web overview.

Check CenturyLink availability

Xfinity

Best availability amongst Seattle web suppliers

Check availability

Product particulars

Price vary

$20 – $300 per thirty days

Speed vary

75 – 6,000Mbps

Connection

Cable

Highlights

Data caps on some plans, a number of plan choices, stable buyer satisfaction numbers

You’ll must look far and huge earlier than discovering a supplier that provides as many choices as Comcast’s cable web service, Xfinity. 

Availability: According to the FCC’s National Broadband Map, Xfinity is on the market to over 94% of the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metropolitan space.

Plans and pricing: Seven totally different tiers show you how to discover the fitting match on your family, from one of many space’s least expensive web plans (75Mbps for $20 a month) to the area’s quickest residential providing (6,000Mbps for $300 per thirty days). Xfinity’s Gigabit Pro is notable not only for its superior velocity but in addition as a result of it is Xfinity’s solely fiber-to-the-home product. That means you will get symmetrical obtain and add velocity, whereas all different Xfinity plans can have a max add velocity of 10 to 35Mbps. That stated, Gigabit Pro is restricted to pick addresses, so there is a good probability it is not obtainable at yours. It is not low-cost, both — it is one of the costly broadband plans on the market. You’ll get loads however pay loads, too.

Fees and repair particulars: Xfinity additionally does nicely in buyer satisfaction surveys. It scored two factors above the business common in the latest American Customer Satisfaction Index report and completed above common in three of 4 areas within the J.D. Power examine for 2022.

So why is not it the perfect general? Cable, contracts and caps. Cable web, whereas dependable, would not carry out in addition to fiber web, with add speeds restricted to 35Mbps. Also, to get the perfect promo charges with Xfinity, you have to signal a contract (normally one yr, however Gigabit Pro requires a two-year dedication). Finally, some Xfinity plans have a month-to-month knowledge cap of 1.2 terabytes. You can join limitless knowledge, however that’ll add additional charges to your month-to-month invoice. 

Read our Xfinity dwelling web overview.

Check Xfinity Internet availability

T-Mobile Home Internet

Best fastened wi-fi web supplier in Seattle

Check availability

Product particulars

Price vary

$50 per thirty days ($30 for eligible T-Mobile Magenta Max prospects)

Speed vary

72 – 245Mbps

Connection

Fixed wi-fi

Highlights

Unlimited knowledge, gear included, no contracts, no extra charges

T-Mobile has been aggressively campaigning for its dwelling web product. Exhibit A: Its “Internet Freedom” push included the tagline, “Free your self from web BS.” Customers appear to reply nicely, too: T-Mobile Home Internet was second solely to Verizon Fios within the ACSI survey of Americans’ satisfaction with their ISPs.

Availability: The largest catch with T-Mobile Home Internet is that it nonetheless is not uniformly obtainable. While the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue market is among the many 50 million households that may get it (and technically, about 95% of individuals within the space ought to be capable of get it), you will nonetheless want to find out if it is obtainable at your tackle. For instance, I can get T-Mobile 5G cell service at dwelling, however my tackle nonetheless is not eligible for T-Mobile Home Internet. To comply with up in your family’s availability, plug in your tackle (T-Mobile prospects also can use their cell phone quantity) on the T-Mobile Home Internet web site.

Plans and pricing: T-Mobile Home Internet is appealingly easy — there’s one plan, costing $50 per thirty days. That one plan will get you speeds starting from 33 to 182Mbps. Additionally, T-Mobile presents a $20 low cost for eligible Magenta Max prospects. 

Fees and repair particulars: That one month-to-month charge covers all of your gear wants, and you will not have to fret about time period agreements, knowledge caps or added charges. All new prospects, regardless of in the event that they’re additionally wi-fi prospects or not, can attempt the service for 15 days with out penalty and with a full money-back assure.

Read our T-Mobile Home Internet overview.

Check T-Mobile availability

Astound Broadband/Wave

Best web supplier for affordable web in Seattle

Check availability

Product particulars

Price vary

$20 – $80 per thirty days

Speed vary

100 – 1,200Mbps

Connection

Cable

Highlights

Unlimited knowledge, low promo costs, no contracts

This cable web supplier is hard to beat for aggressive beginning charges. 

Availability: You can discover Astound Broadband protection in simply over 10% of the Seattle metro space, together with Bellevue, Bremerton and downtown Seattle. 

Plans and pricing: Its least expensive plan is $5 greater than Xfinity’s and Ziply Fiber’s least expensive choices at $20, however it’s notably sooner. Ziply Fiber’s plan options 50Mbps obtain velocity and Xfinity’s is at 75Mbps obtain velocity, whereas Astound will get your speeds as much as 100Mbps. That means you are getting a good worth of 25 cents per Mbps in comparison with Xfinity’s increased value per Mbps of 27 cents (and Ziply’s at 40 cents).

You can additional emphasize that worth whenever you take a look at Astound’s quickest plan, which presents 1,200Mbps for $80 month-to-month. That comes out to simply below 7 cents per Mbps. 

Fees and repair particulars: But (and also you needed to really feel it was coming), there is a caveat: Astound Broadband options among the highest price will increase amongst ISPs. Per the corporate’s price card, that $25 plan might soar as excessive as $70 month-to-month. While a spokesperson for the corporate advised CNET that almost all prospects wouldn’t see a full enhance to the usual retail price, I feel you want to concentrate on what would possibly await you after the rosy returns of the primary 24 months.

Read our Astound Broadband overview.

Check Astound Broadband availability

Other obtainable Seattle residential web suppliers

The metropolis set on Puget Sound has extra ISPs in search of what you are promoting than the 4 we highlighted above. Here are among the different web suppliers in Seattle. 

• Google Fiber Webpass: Don’t be confused by the fiber within the identify. This is a fixed-wireless possibility from Google Fiber that is centered solely on residence buildings. Even although it isn’t fiber web, it is nonetheless a lot zippy: It presents symmetrical gigabit speeds for $70 a month (or a median of $63 a month when you join the yearly plan through a full, $750 upfront cost). Webpass additionally options free set up, limitless knowledge and no gear charges. If your constructing can’t assist the total gig speeds, Webpass will scale back the pricing. You can discover Google Fiber Webpass inside Seattle metropolis limits, together with the neighborhoods of Belltown, Capitol Hill, First Hill, Fremont, Queen Anne and Uptown.

• Satellite web: This at all times looks like dishonest, however it should be stated that regardless of town or space by which you reside within the US, this mode of web connectivity is at all times an possibility. Is it an incredible possibility for Seattle residents? If you reside within the metropolis, no. You’ll have a lot sooner and cheaper selections obtainable to you. Even areas south of Tacoma or north of Everett ought to have some viable alternate options, but when you end up in a rural city with restricted choices, you would possibly think about it. HughesNet and Viasat can be your prime picks, though each require you to decide to a two-year contract. A extra intriguing risk is Starlink, which simply turned obtainable within the space in 2023. It options sooner obtain speeds and no time period settlement.

• Verizon 5G Home Internet: Why select Verizon’s fastened wi-fi dwelling web product over T-Mobile Home Internet? On the plus facet, it has a a lot sooner common obtain velocity (300Mbps) than T-Mobile and, when you’re amongst eligible Verizon Wireless subscribers, it is cheaper too, with the identical “all-in” strategy the place gear, set up and costs are all coated in your flat, month-to-month price. Where it falls in need of T-Mobile is availability. Its heavy reliance on its 5G community — T-Mobile makes use of its 4G LTE community extra aggressively, along with 5G, to spice up its protection territory — means it would not fairly hit the identical attain. 

• Ziply Fiber: Despite being comparatively new to the sport — it launched providers in the course of 2020 — Ziply Fiber is a viable possibility when you’re eligible for its fiber web, which boasts limitless knowledge and no long-term contract necessities. However, regardless of its identify, a few of its footprint contains the a lot slower DSL sort. A Ziply spokesperson tells CNET that the corporate is actively constructing a fiber various for these communities, together with over 80 initiatives in Seattle and the larger Northwest. Also of notice, Ziply Fiber is rolling out a number of multi-gigabit plans, together with a zippy 10Gbps possibility. Confirmed cities round Seattle the place multi-gig plans are at the moment obtainable embody Bellevue, Bothell, Brier, Edmonds, Everett, Kenmore, Kirkland, Lake Stevens, Lynnwood, Marysville, Mill Creek, Mountlake Terrace, Mukilteo, Redmond, Shoreline, Snohomish and Woodinville.

Seattle web particulars at a look

As any good shopper is aware of, you have to look past the model identify to know when you’re getting a superb deal. The similar is true when evaluating web suppliers in Seattle. You must transcend our overview to get extra particular particulars in regards to the obtainable web plans within the Emerald City. So let’s dive deeper into the most affordable web plans within the space and the quickest web plans you will get within the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area.

Average pricing for Seattle web suppliers 

When you think about the beginning costs of all ISPs (which means, the promo costs, not the common charges that take maintain after the introductory price), the typical worth for web service in Seattle is slightly below $42 per thirty days. That’s in regards to the center of the pack among the many cities CNET has examined up up to now. That contains Brooklyn ($36 a month), Los Angeles ($38 month-to-month), Denver ($39 per thirty days), San Francisco ($40 a month), New York ($41 per thirty days), Austin, Dallas and Philadelphia ($43 a month), Houston ($45 per thirty days), Phoenix ($46 month-to-month), Atlanta ($47 a month), Orlando and San Antonio ($48 per thirty days) and, all at $50 a month, Charlotte, Chicago, Las Vegas, San Diego and St. Louis. 

But digging in a bit on particular choices, you will discover the bottom beginning worth of $20 a month shared by two suppliers: Xfinity and Ziply Fiber. Ziply Fiber options 50Mbps obtain speeds at that worth level, whereas Xfinity begins at 75Mbps. However, Xfinity’s sooner plan has an information cap (1.2TB). Ziply Fiber, however, options limitless knowledge. So, relying in your family’s utilization and desires, you will have a number of parts to think about. 

Cheap web choices in Seattle

Also, at any time when speaking about low-cost web, we must always at all times point out there are extra, low-income web choices. Such is the case in Seattle. All suppliers we have talked about take part within the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program, which supplies eligible low-income households a $30 month-to-month low cost for high-speed web. You can use the ACP in direction of any web plan (not simply the most affordable ones) from collaborating suppliers. Additionally, a number of suppliers joined forces with the White House on its plans to handle the digital divide. They will make obtainable plans of no less than 100Mbps that prospects get at no cost as soon as they be a part of the ACP low cost. 

Internet speeds in Seattle

As I discussed close to the beginning of this text, Seattle is not precisely lighting issues up concerning common obtain speeds. That stated, you’ll find loads of choices when you really feel the necessity for excessive velocity. The essential caveat is that among the quickest plans within the space aren’t extensively obtainable all through the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area. But a few of our mates within the Bellevue space, for instance, ought to have entry to Ziply Fiber’s quickest, multi-gig plans. Select addresses all through Seattle might be able to entry Comcast’s Gigabit Pro plan, with symmetrical speeds of 6,000Mbps. 

What’s the underside line on Seattle web suppliers?

If you’ve got been maintaining with CNET’s protection of the perfect web suppliers throughout the nation — and I definitely hope you will have — you might have seen there are fewer choices in Seattle than you discover in different massive US cities. On the opposite hand, Seattle can brag that it is received each cheaper web choices than most cities and extra multi-gig suppliers. They’re unfold out all through the realm, however they’re there. Xfinity’s seven totally different cable web plans are probably the most extensively obtainable in Seattle however Astound Broadband’s 4 cable web tiers are cheaper and do not require you to signal a contract to get the bottom worth. But as we at all times say, when you’re serviceable for fiber web — and in Seattle, that features CenturyLink, Ziply Fiber or, in rarer instances, Xfinity’s Gigabit Pro plan — that must be your prime possibility. 

Best web suppliers in Seattle FAQ