Best Internet Providers in Vermont

What is the best internet provider in Vermont?

Although Vermont ranks 46th in Ookla’s latest speed test data, that doesn’t mean you won’t find high speeds and a variety of local, rural internet service providers in the state. For most households in Vermont, CNET picks Xfinity as the best ISP thanks to its fast speeds, widespread availability and reasonable pricing. However, if Xfinity isn’t available, you might want to take a look at some of the other options available.

If you’re hunting for the lowest prices around or the fastest speeds, we’ve also found those top options. The cheapest internet in Vermont is Xfinity’s introductory offering of 300 megabits per second for $30 a month. The fastest available internet speed in Vermont comes from fiber providers. Local ISPs VTel and Boundless offer 10 gigabits a second, available in some southern parts of the state and around the St. Johnsbury area. Vermont has more ISPs than we’ve listed in this guide, but it represents the most widely available providers alongside a selection of smaller and local internet companies.

Best internet in Vermont in 2024

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Rural internet options in Vermont

• ECFiber: There’s a push for fiber to reach underserved areas in Vermont. ECFiber is one of the ISPs working to expand broadband access. It covers a chunk of east-central Vermont and will expand into the Woodstock and Brookfield areas. Symmetrical speeds range from 75Mbps for $72 to 1,000Mbps for $134 a month. There are no data caps or contracts. Installation costs $100.
• Franklin Telephone Co.: Local ISP Franklin Telephone Co. covers Franklin and surrounding areas with DSL and fiber. DSL service is slow, so fiber is the preferable option. Fiber prices can run from $40 a month for 25Mbps down/25Mbps to $80 a month for 1000Mbps down/1000Mbps up. There are no contracts, data caps, or monthly equipment fees. Installation is $100.
• Mansfield Community FIber: Mansfield Community Fiber is a small, local fiber ISP that covers areas in and around Cambridge, Belvidere, Waterville and North Fairfax. A single $90 plan offers 1000Mbps speeds. There are no data caps, and speeds are symmetrical. There’s a one-time $120 installation fee. 
• Satellite internet:  Starlink, Hughesnet and Viasat are fighting to provide satellite internet to rural homes with few or no other internet options. Of the three, Starlink makes a strong case in Vermont based on the potential for higher speeds and not requiring a contract. However, there is a hefty upfront equipment cost of $499.
• Boundless Broadband: Formerly called Tilson, the Boundless fiber network reaches Danville, Lunenburg, St. Johnsbury and parts of neighboring communities. The entry-level plan offers 1000Mbps speeds for $100. The only other plan offers 10,000Mbps speeds for $300 a month. There are no data caps and no contracts.
• Fidium Fiber: Fidium Fiber is Consolidated Communications’ fiber-optic internet offering. The entire company covers around 63% of Vermont, according to the FCC, and Fidium Fiber is available to Montpelier, Rutland, Manchester Center, Bennington and Fairfield. Fidium Fiber offers plans starting at $25 monthly for 100Mbps (that price increases to $45 monthly after one year) and up to 2,000Mbps for $85 monthly ($100 monthly after one year). Monthly equipment costs are $10 per month. There are no data caps or contracts.

Internet breakdown by city in Vermont

It’s hard to cover the broadband options of an entire state like Vermont and give individual cities the attention they deserve. That’s why we also compile lists of the best internet providers in cities across the US, including those in the Green Mountain State. We tackle details such as internet connection types, max speeds, cheapest providers and more. If you don’t find the city you’re looking for below, check back later. We’re working to add more cities every week. 

Cheap internet options in Vermont

Xfinity has the most widely available cheap plan in the state at $30 per month for 300Mbps downloads with unlimited data. That pricing is good for a year, but you also need to factor in either an equipment rental fee at $15 a month or the cost of buying your own gear. When it comes to bang-for-the-buck plans, look into Burlington Telecom’s symmetrical gig service for $73 a month. Fidium Fiber offers one of the lowest introductory prices in Vermont, $25 monthly for 100Mbps down/100Mbps up, which increases to $45 after one year.

What’s the cheapest internet plan in Vermont?

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Vermont

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

Vermont internet providers, such as Xfinity, Fidium Fiber or Verizon, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, however, including Burlington Telecom and T-Mobile Home Internet, tend to run the same standard pricing year-round. 

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

How fast is Vermont broadband?

Vermont was the 46th fastest state in a recent Ookla speed test ranking, with a median download speed of just under 142Mbps. That’s not a great showing. For comparison, Rhode Island took the top spot with a 257Mbps median download speed. Many Vermont ISPs offer at least a gig-level plan. For a fast download speed, look to Xfinity’s 2,000Mbps plan as an option available to a good chunk of the state. Spectrum’s gig plan for $80 a month is another option if you’re outside Xfinity’s service area.

Vermont doesn’t have a lot of multigig internet options beyond some local fiber ISPs, but a few addresses can pull down 10,000Mbps from Boundless Internet or VTel. The downside is the high price. If you are in Fidium Fiber’s coverage area, look for an introductory deal of $85 a month for 2,000Mbps service, a good value at just 4 cents per Mbps. Burlington Telecom delivers gig fiber across Burlington at $73 monthly.

Speed test data can give you a general sense of how fast the internet is in a state, but speeds can vary depending on the internet connection, network congestion, Wi-Fi equipment and location. Here are some tips for speeding up your internet.  

Fastest internet plans in Vermont

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

What’s a good internet speed?

Most internet connection plans can handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you want 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 FCC. 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, streaming low-quality video.
• 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
• 40 to 100Mbps should give one person sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming. 
• 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two people to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming. 
• 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more people to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.

How CNET chose the best internet providers in Vermont

Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every internet service provider in a given city. So what’s our approach? For starters, we tap into a proprietary database of pricing, availability and speed information that draws from our own historical ISP data, partner data and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov. 

But 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 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. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, though 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 consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.

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

What’s the final word on internet providers in Vermont?

For a small state, there are a lot of different ISPs covering Vermont. The best option for you will depend on which ones service your address. Fiber is nice if you can get it. Most Burlington residents will be in luck with Burlington Telecom. Elsewhere, look for Fidium Fiber or a local ISP like VTel or Tilson Broadband. Xfinity covers much of the state (except for some Spectrum territory in the northeast). It has a variety of plans to choose from and a good top speed of 2,000Mbps. It also has some of the most affordable introductory deals, but you must be prepared for future price hikes. 

Internet providers in Vermont FAQs