Best Internet Providers in Colorado Springs, Colorado

What is the best internet provider in Colorado Springs?

Xfinity is the best internet service provider in Colorado Springs, thanks to its broad coverage throughout the area, high download speeds and low prices. If Xfinity isn't available at your address, Quantum Fiber, T-Mobile and Rise Broadband are all worth considering.

Plus, Xfinity offers a decent variety of plans that range from $55 to $85 a month. If you're after speed, Xfinity's Gigabit Extra plan is one of the fastest -- and widely available -- for $85 monthly. In some areas, you can expect download speeds of up to 8 gigs with Quantum Fiber, priced at $165 per month.

Best internet in Colorado Springs, Colorado

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Other available internet providers in Colorado Springs

• Kellin Communications: Kellin Communications is a local Colorado fixed wireless internet service provider with little availability in Colorado Springs. Compared with other options, it's one of the slower and more expensive providers; packages start at $70 per month for 15Mbps. 
• PCI Broadband: PCI Broadband is another local internet service provider, but it has very little availability in Colorado Springs. Fixed wireless and fiber prices start at $50 but offer different speeds. Fixed wireless speeds start at 15Mbps, whereas fiber speeds start at 50Mbps.
• Satellite internet: Colorado Springs residents have a couple of satellite internet options. Viasat offers satellite internet throughout Colorado Springs and is an especially good option for rural customers who rely on a satellite dish. The downside is it's pricey, with pricing set at $100 a month for typical download speeds ranging under 100Mbps Hughesnet offers satellite and wireless internet packages starting at $50 per month.
• Stratus IQ: Local Colorado Springs company Stratus IQ offers fiber internet plans to customers. It isn't fully available across Colorado Springs, but customers with access will find speeds of up to 1,000Mbps, with plans starting at $50 monthly.

Cheap internet options in Colorado Springs

You'll find decent deals on the internet in Colorado Springs. Based on our calculations, the average starting price is about $44 per month. Quantum Fiber, Stratus IQ and PCI Broadband have plans starting at $50 a month.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Colorado Springs

The best internet deals and top promotions in Colorado Springs depend on what discounts are available during a given period. Most deals are short-lived, but we check frequently for the latest offers. 

Colorado Springs internet providers, such as Xfinity and Rise Broadband, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many providers, including Quantum Fiber, run the same standard pricing year-round. 

For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide to the best internet deals.

How fast is Colorado Springs broadband?

Most internet speeds in this area are under 100Mbps, especially if you're on a budget. Quantum Fiber offers multigig plans, but it is only available in select areas. Xfinity's 1,300Mbps plan can also be a good option for $85 a month.

Colorado Springs isn't exactly known for its superfast internet speeds; only a few internet service providers offer speeds over 940Mbps. The prices are moderate for these fast speeds. 

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

What’s a good internet speed?

Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you're looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you'll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here's an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the Federal Communication Commission. Note that these are only guidelines and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.

For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.

• 0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics: browsing the internet, sending and receiving email and streaming low-quality video.
• 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
• 40 to 100Mbps should give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming. 
• 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming. 
• 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.

How CNET chose the best internet providers in Colorado Springs

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 consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. 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:

1. Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
2. Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
3. Are customers happy with their service?

The answers to those questions are often layered and complex, but the providers that come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When it comes to selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and also consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.).

To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.

What's the final word on internet providers in Colorado Springs?

Colorado Springs offers a wide variety of internet options, whether you're living in a rural area and need a satellite provider or are located downtown looking for a fiber connection. With prices starting at just $50 per month, there's a little something for everyone. Xfinity offers the widest variety of plans, but local companies like PCI Broadband or Stratus IQ are hanging in there as contenders.

Internet providers in Colorado Springs FAQs