I grew up just north of Boulder, Colorado, so I may be biased, but I consider it one of the country's most unique and beautiful cities. Boulder has much to offer, from its exciting college football team, the Colorado Buffaloes, to its gorgeous trails and mountains. Beyond the sights and sports, it also stands out for the speed of its internet connections relative to the rest of the state.
Boulder residents can expect median download speeds of approximately 319 megabits per second, according to Ookla Speedtest data -- just a tick above the Colorado statewide median of 316Mbps and the national median of 291Mbps. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) Not too shabby.
If you live in Boulder (or plan to move there), you have a few options, but the two most widely available internet service providers are Xfinity and CenturyLink. Our pick for the best overall internet service provider in Boulder is Xfinitybecause of its extensive coverage across the city and wide selection of plans. Other options include CenturyLink, which is widely available but limited to slower DSL plans, along with fiber from Quantum Fiber and 5G home internet from T-Mobile -- and to a lesser extent, Verizon.
Boulder internet providers compared Provider Internet technology Monthly price range Speed range Monthly equipment costs Data cap Contract CNET review score CenturyLink
Read full review DSL $55 3-100Mbps $15 (optional) None None 6.7 Quantum Fiber Fiber $50-$95 500-2,000Mbps None None None N/A Rise Broadband
Read full review Fixed wireless $35-$40 25-100Mbps $10 modem; $5-$15 router (optional) 250GB or unlimited None, but required for some promotions 6.2 T-Mobile 5G Home Internet
Read full review Fixed wireless $40-$70 ($35-$55 with eligible phone plans) 87-415Mbps None None None 7.4 Verizon 5G Home Internet
Read full review Fixed wireless $50-$70 ($35-$45 with eligible phone plans) 50-250Mbps None None None 7.2 Xfinity
Read full review Cable $40-$90 400-2,000Mbps None None None 7 Show more (2 items) Shop providers at my address
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
... continue reading