Best Internet Providers in Seattle

As I see it, if a metropolis can declare to be the birthplace of Starbucks and Jimi Hendrix, it should be doing one thing proper. That mentioned, Seattle is not precisely within the espresso lane relating to high-speed web choices. Whereas the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area rings in because the nation’s fifteenth most populous metro space, it may solely muster a spot at 91 among the many quickest cities within the US for broadband.

That information arrived with the most recent knowledge from the Pace-testing firm Ookla, which tracks the highest 100 cities within the US and categorizes them based mostly on their median obtain speeds. Based on Ookla’s report masking the primary quarter of 2022, Seattle positioned within the backside 10, simply forward of Denver, with a median obtain pace of 116 megabits per second. 

The Ookla report additionally famous that Seattle’s quickest supplier — once more, based mostly on median obtain pace — was Astound Broadband (additionally identified within the space as Wave), a cable web supplier whose common pace was about 145 megabits per second. As we have written many instances in CNET’s broadband protection, cable web connections — although providing quick speeds and respectable 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 of these suppliers, 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 right down to earth — and it additionally means that there is a lot to maintain observe of should you’re looking for a brand new web plan in Seattle. 

In any case, whether or not you’ve got relocated to the realm or are a long-time Seattleite, you’ve got bought some choices for getting linked. Let’s dive into your selections and discover one of the best web service suppliers within the space.

Sarah Tew/CNET

• Worth vary: $49 to $65 a month
• Pace vary: 200 to 940Mbps
• Highlights: No contracts, no knowledge caps, and no tools rental charge (gigabit plan solely) 

To be clear, not all CenturyLink service in Seattle is fiber-optic web service. Based on the Federal Communication Fee’s knowledge, you will nonetheless discover DSL connections in lots of areas throughout town, maybe as a lot as 75% (although, admittedly, these December 2020 numbers aren’t precisely present). But when you will get CenturyLink’s fiber service you will discover a high quality providing that options limitless knowledge and does not ask you to signal a time period settlement to get the bottom value. It is also referred to as Quantum Fiber in some, however not all, areas — do not ask, it is simply rebranding. 

Anticipate particularly good worth with the gigabit plan, which provides matching obtain and add speeds of as much as 940Mbps for $65 a month. That is a wonderful worth that comes out to 7 cents per Mbps, which is powerful even by fiber requirements. By comparability, cable plans sometimes run between 20 and 50 cents per Mbps, which fits even larger as soon as the promo value wears off after a 12 months. On prime of that, your modem rental is included with CenturyLink’s gigabit plan, which prices a further $15 a month should you select the 200Mbps choice.

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

Learn our CenturyLink residence web overview.

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Sarah Tew/CNET

• Worth vary: $20 to $300 a month
• Pace vary: 50 to six,000Mbps
• Highlights: A variety of plans that will help you customise in your wants, good buyer satisfaction numbers
• Particular provides: Bundle reductions with Xfinity Cellular

You will need to look far and broad earlier than discovering a supplier that gives as many choices as Comcast’s cable web service, Xfinity. Seven completely different tiers make it easier to discover the correct match in your family, from one of many space’s most cost-effective web plans (50Mbps for $20 a month) to the area’s quickest residential providing (6,000Mbps for $300 a month). 

Xfinity’s Gigabit Professional is notable not only for its superior pace but in addition as a result of it is Xfinity’s solely fiber-to-the-home product. Which means you will get symmetrical obtain and add pace, whereas all different Xfinity plans may have a max add pace of 10 to 35Mbps. That mentioned, Gigabit Professional is proscribed to pick addresses, so there is a good probability it is not obtainable at yours. It is not precisely low cost, both — it is one of the costly broadband plans on the market. You will get lots, however you will pay lots, too.

Xfinity additionally does nicely in buyer satisfaction surveys. It scored two factors above the trade common in the newest American Buyer Satisfaction Index report and completed above common in all 4 areas of the J.D. Energy examine for 2021.

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So why is not it greatest total? Cable, contracts and caps. Cable web, whereas dependable, does not carry out in addition to fiber web, with add speeds restricted to 35Mbps. Additionally, to get one of the best promo charges with Xfinity, you will need to signal a contract (often one 12 months, however Gigabit Professional requires a two-year dedication). Lastly, all Xfinity plans have a month-to-month knowledge cap of 1.2 terabytes. You may join limitless knowledge, however that’ll add further charges to your month-to-month invoice. 

Learn our Xfinity residence web overview.

 

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Sarah Tew/CNET

• Worth vary: $50 a month ($30 for eligible T-Cellular Magenta Max clients)
• Pace vary: 33 to 182Mbps
• Highlights: Limitless knowledge, tools included, no contracts, no further charges
• Particular provides: Worth Lock assure, 15-day Take a look at Drive, free Paramount Plus for 12 months, 50% off YouTube TV for a 12 months (for eligible Magenta Max clients)

T-Cellular has been aggressively campaigning for its residence web product. Exhibit A: Its latest “Web Freedom” push contains the tagline, “Free your self from web BS.” T-Cellular Residence Web is appealingly easy, as one month-to-month charge covers all of your tools wants and you will not have to fret about time period agreements, knowledge caps or added charges. Prospects appear to be responding nicely, too: T-Cellular Residence Web was second solely to Verizon Fios within the ACSI survey of People’ satisfaction with their ISPs.

Moreover, T-Cellular provides a $20 low cost for eligible Magenta Max clients. All new clients, irrespective of in the event that they’re additionally wi-fi clients or not, can strive the service for 15 days with out penalty and with a full money-back assure.

The largest catch with T-Cellular Residence Web is that it nonetheless is not broadly obtainable. Whereas the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue market is among the many 40 million households that may get it, you will nonetheless want to find out if it is obtainable at your deal with. For instance, I can get T-Cellular 5G cell service at residence, however my deal with nonetheless is not eligible for T-Cellular Residence Web. To comply with up in your family’s availability, plug in your deal with (T-Cellular clients may also use their cell phone quantity) on the T-Cellular Residence Web website.  

Learn our T-Cellular Residence Web overview.

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Sarah Tew/CNET

• Worth vary: $20 to $50 a month 
• Pace vary: 100 to 940Mbps
• Highlights: Extremely aggressive promo charges, no contract necessities

This cable web supplier is hard to beat relating to aggressive beginning charges. Living proof: Its most cost-effective plan matches probably the most inexpensive Xfinity tier at $20 however doubles its pace (Xfinity’s $20 plan options 50Mbps obtain pace, whereas Astound will get your speeds as much as 100Mbps). Which means you are getting an honest worth of 20 cents per Mbps in comparison with Xfinity’s larger price per Mbps of 40 cents.

You may emphasize that worth additional whenever you take a look at Astound’s gigabit plan, which provides 940Mbps for $50 monthly. That comes out to a stellar 5 cents per Mbps. That is one of the best worth you will discover from any plan, irrespective of the supplier, all through the Seattle space.

However (and also you needed to really feel it coming), there is a caveat: Astound Broadband options a number of the highest one-year value will increase amongst ISPs. Per the corporate’s fee card, that $20 plan may bounce up as excessive as $70 a month. Whereas a spokesperson for the corporate advised CNET that almost all clients wouldn’t see a full improve to the usual retail fee, I believe you want to pay attention to what may await you after the rosy returns of the primary 12 months.

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Learn our Astound Broadband overview.

 

Which different web suppliers provide service in Seattle?

The town set on the Puget Sound has extra ISPs searching for what you are promoting than the 4 we highlighted above. Listed here are a number of the different web suppliers in Seattle.  

• Google Fiber Webpass: Do not be confused by the fiber within the title. It is a fixed-wireless choice from Google Fiber that is targeted solely on condo buildings. Regardless that it is not fiber web, it is nonetheless lots zippy: It provides symmetrical gigabit speeds for $70 a month (or a median of $63 a month should you join the yearly plan, however it requires a full, $750 upfront fee). Webpass additionally options free set up, limitless knowledge and no tools charges. In case your constructing can’t help the total gig speeds, Webpass will scale back the pricing. Google Fiber Webpass is just about centered inside Seattle metropolis limits, together with the neighborhoods of Belltown, Capitol Hill, First Hill, Fremont, Queen Anne and Uptown.

• Satellite tv for pc web: This all the time feels a bit like dishonest, however it should be mentioned that irrespective of which metropolis or space by which you reside within the US, this mode of web connectivity is all the time an choice. Is it an ideal choice for Seattle residents? In case you dwell within the metropolis, no. You will 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, however should you do end up in a rural city with restricted choices, then you definitely may think about it. HughesNet and Viasat shall be your prime picks, though each require you to decide to a two-year contract. A extra intriguing chance is Starlink, which isn’t a viable choice in the meanwhile — the Starlink availability map notes the Seattle space is on the waitlist till 2023. As soon as it arrives, it guarantees sooner obtain speeds and no knowledge cap or time period settlement.

• Verizon 5G Residence Web: Why select Verizon’s fastened wi-fi residence web product over T-Cellular Residence Web? On the plus facet, it has a a lot sooner common obtain pace (300Mbps) than T-Cellular and, should you’re amongst eligible Verizon Wi-fi subscribers, it is cheaper too, with the identical “all-in” strategy the place tools, set up and costs are all lined in your flat, month-to-month fee. The place it falls in need of T-Cellular is availability. Its unique use of its 5G community — T-Cellular makes use of its 4G LTE community along with 5G, to extra rapidly enhance its territory — means it does not fairly hit the identical attain.  

• Ziply Fiber: Regardless of being comparatively new to the sport — it launched companies in the midst of 2020 — Ziply Fiber is a viable choice should you’re eligible for its fiber web, which boasts limitless knowledge and no long-term contract necessities. Nevertheless, regardless of its title, a few of its community is of the a lot slower DSL sort, so positively be certain that your deal with can entry its fiber plans earlier than you join. Additionally of observe, Ziply Fiber can also be rolling out a number of multi-gigabit plans as nicely. Confirmed cities the place multi-gig plans are presently obtainable embrace Bellevue, Kirkland and Redmond.

Is there extra to learn about residence web in Seattle?

As any good shopper is aware of, you must look past simply the model title to know should you’re getting a very good deal. The identical is true when evaluating web suppliers in Seattle. You could go additional than simply our overview to get extra particular particulars in regards to the obtainable web plans within the Emerald Metropolis. So let’s take a deeper dive into each the most cost effective web plans within the space, in addition to the quickest web plans you will get within the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area.

Seattle residence web pricing 

When you think about the beginning costs of all ISPs (which takes into consideration the promo costs, not the common charges that take maintain after a 12 months), the common value for web service in Seattle is slightly below $42 a month. That is in regards to the center of the pack among the many cities CNET has examined up thus far. That features Brooklyn ($36 a month), Los Angeles ($38 a month), San Francisco ($40 a month), New York ($41 monthly), Austin ($43 a month), Houston ($45 monthly) and, all at $50 a month, Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Las Vegas, Orlando, San Diego and St. Louis. 

However digging in a bit on particular choices, you will discover the bottom beginning value of $20 a month shared by three suppliers: Astound Broadband, Xfinity and Ziply Fiber. Each Xfinity and Ziply Fiber characteristic 50Mbps obtain speeds at that value level however Astound Broadband doubles that to 100Mbps. Nevertheless, it does have a knowledge cap (400GB) that’s lower than half of Xfinity’s knowledge cap (1.2TB). Ziply Fiber, however, options limitless knowledge. So, relying in your family’s utilization and desires, you’ve gotten just a few components to think about. 

Additionally, at any time when speaking about low cost web, we should always all the time point out there are further, low-income web choices. Such is the case in Seattle. All suppliers we have talked about take part within the FCC’s Reasonably priced Connectivity Program, which supplies a $30 a month low cost to eligible low-income households for high-speed web. You should use the ACP in the direction of any web plan (not simply the most cost effective ones) from collaborating suppliers. Moreover, a number of suppliers joined forces with the White Home on its plans to handle the digital divide and can make obtainable plans of no less than 100Mbps that clients would primarily get without cost as soon as joined with the ACP low cost. 

Web speeds in Seattle

As I discussed close to the beginning of this text, Seattle is not precisely lighting issues up on the dial in terms of common obtain speeds. That mentioned, you will discover loads of choices should you really feel the necessity for excessive pace. The principle caveat is that a number of the quickest plans within the space aren’t broadly obtainable all through the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area. However a few of our pals within the Bellevue space, for instance, ought to have entry to a few of Ziply Fiber’s quickest, multi-gig plans. Whereas choose addresses all through Seattle might be able to entry Comcast’s Gigabit Professional plan, which is absolutely the quickest within the space (no less than for the second) with symmetrical speeds of 6,000Mbps. 

What is the backside line on Seattle web?

In case you’ve been maintaining on CNET’s protection of one of the best web suppliers throughout the nation — and I definitely hope you’ve gotten — you might have seen there are fewer choices in Seattle than you discover in different massive US cities. However, Seattle can brag that it is bought each extra low cost web choices than most cities, and extra multi-gig suppliers too. They’re kinda unfold out all through the realm, however they’re there. Xfinity’s seven completely different cable web plans are probably the most broadly obtainable in Seattle however Astound Broadband’s three cable web tiers are cheaper and do not require you to signal a contract to get the bottom value. However as we all the time say, should you’re serviceable for fiber web — and in Seattle that features CenturyLink, Ziply Fiber or, in rarer instances, Xfinity’s Gigabit Professional plan — that needs to be your prime choice. 

Finest web suppliers in Seattle FAQs