Best Internet Providers in Montana

I fondly remember summers in Montana, fishing with my grandparents and watching deer wander through the yard. My grandparents didn’t have internet in their house in Libby, but times have changed. If they lived there today, they’d probably have fiber optic internet from Ziply. Libby is one of the lucky places in the Treasure State with fiber optic access. Most Montanans have cable, DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite internet.

Montana isn’t exactly known for its fast, reliable, and affordable internet. Speedtest data from Ookla places it well below 50th among the states (and Washington, DC), trailing only Wyoming behind Montana. Most city dwellers can still get decent broadband speeds.

What is the best internet provider in Montana?

Spectrum is CNET’s top pick for Montana’s best internet providerThe cable provider delivers gig-level broadband to many of Montana’s population centers. CNET examines customer service, speed, pricing and overall value before recommending the best broadband in your area. Spectrum is joined by other recommendations, including CenturyLink for availability and TDS Telecom as an ISP to watch. Whether you’re moving to Montana or looking to upgrade your current broadband situation, this guide will help you navigate your ISP options.

Best Internet Options in Montana

Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.

People who live in rural homes, ranches, and farms need decent internet for work and play. That can be a challenge in some parts of Montana. Satellite internet from Starlink, Viasat, or Hughesnet is an alternative, but it is often expensive and the speeds may be less than desirable. When it comes to wired internet, your best bet is probably CenturyLink DSL, which often has a larger coverage area than most other alternatives. Speeds can vary greatly by location, and can max out at 100 Mbps.

Montana is littered with local ISPs that offer fixed wireless connections to rural areas, sometimes combined with a smaller fiber footprint. Our chart covers some of the options available in the state, but there are more than we’ve listed here. Fixed wireless speeds can vary based on location. You’ll need a good line of sight to a tower. Here’s how fixed wireless compares to other types of internet connections. Most fixed wireless ISPs have fairly standard plans with pricing based on speed. The Missoula Vallery Internet Co-op is an exception. It charges by usage. Montana could use some improvement in its rural broadband options. The state is well aware of the problem and is investing money into improving access to more remote communities, as well as ranches and farms.

Internet Distribution by City in Montana

It’s hard to cover an entire state’s broadband options and give individual cities the attention they deserve. That’s why we’re also compiling lists of the best internet providers in cities across the U.S., including Montana. We’ll tackle details like internet connection types, max speeds, cheapest providers, and more. Check back later if you don’t see the city you’re looking for below. We’re working to add more locations every week.

Montana Broadband at a glance

The FCC National Broadband Map shows that all Montana households have broadband access, but that doesn’t give a complete picture of the Treasure State’s internet scene. The FCC defines broadband as at least 25 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up, and it includes satellite internet in its estimate. Satellite internet can be expensive and slow, and it’s not necessarily suitable for all rural areas. state government says 5% of Montana residents live in underserved areas and 13% live in unserved areas.

FCC data shows that less than 20% of Montana households have access to fiber internet, and when we’re talking at least gigabit speeds, that number drops to 16%. Not surprisingly, you’re most likely to find fiber in larger cities, but even then it’s a bit scattered. There are a few exceptions. Libby, a city of less than 3,000 people, is covered by Ziply Fiber. If fiber is important to you for remote work or gaming, that limits your options for places to live in Montana. If you can get by with gigabit downloads and 35 Mbps uploads, Spectrum covers a lot more ground.

Montana broadband speeds

Montana’s poor performance in Ookla’s state speed test rankings highlights the challenges of rural broadband in the state. It’s also linked to a lack of fiber offerings and ISP competition in cities. As for gig speeds, FCC data shows that only 16% of Montana homes are covered.

Ookla highlights Spectrum as Montana’s fastest provider, with an average download speed of 241 Mbps. The downside to cable is that you’re stuck with slower upload speeds. For symmetrical speeds, you’ll need to upgrade to fiber. Montana includes some coverage from Quantum Fiber, Ziply Fiber, TDS Telecom, or local ISPs like Montana Internet and Grizzly Broadband. If you’re currently struggling with slow internet speeds, there are a few things you can try to improve your situation. Check out these four essential steps to speeding up your internet connection.

Internet prices in Montana

Home internet prices vary widely in Montana. On the low end, you can combine a qualifying T-Mobile phone plan with an internet plan to bring your internet price down to $40 per month. Most ISPs start at $50 and up. That includes CenturyLink’s DSL networks and Quantum Fiber’s lowest tier, with the fiber plan being a superior deal for 500 Mbps service. Availability is a big issue. You can always try to negotiate your way down to a better deal.

The Future of Broadband in Montana

Since Montana is already near the lowest point for internet speeds in the US, there is nowhere to go but up. Fortunately, there is some movement in that direction, particularly with fiber availability. TDS Telecom has announced By early 2023, it would bring fiber speeds of up to 8 gigabytes to Helena, Butte, Missoula and Great Falls. It was already working on fiber in Billings. By the time TDS is complete, it will serve 150,000 homes and businesses.

Significant funding is coming to expand broadband to underserved and unserved areas of the state. The federal Broadband Equity Access and Deployment program is providing $630 million in funding. That’s in addition to a $309 million infrastructure investment announced by Governor Greg Gianforte in late 2022. That money is intended to provide reliable broadband to 62,000 households, small businesses, farms and ranches.

Frequently Asked Questions About Internet in Montana