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What is the best internet provider in Duluth?
Spectrum is the best internet provider in Duluth, Minnesota. The area’s largest cable internet provider offers fast speeds and unlimited data with no contract requirements. All plans include a free modem, but renting a Wi-Fi router adds $10 to your monthly bill (unless you sign up for the 1,000 Mbps plan).
Other top internet providers in Duluth include T-Mobile Home Internet, Mediacom, and Lumen Technologies’ CenturyLink and Quantum Fiber brands. CenturyLink has the best broadband coverage in the area, while Mediacom offers the cheapest internet in Duluth, with service starting at $35 per month for download speeds of up to 100 megabits per second.
Mediacom and Spectrum offer the fastest download speeds in Duluth, up to 1,000 Mbps, starting at $70 and $80 per month, respectively. Quantum Fiber and Verizon 5G Home Internet can deliver similar speeds, but availability of both providers is very limited in Duluth.
In addition to T-Mobile Home Internet and possibly Verizon 5G Home Internet, other possible fixed wireless internet options in Duluth include AirFiber and Nextera. While both providers offer service throughout Duluth, the speeds are too slow and the prices too high to recommend.
Best Internet Providers in Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth, Minnesota, Internet Providers Compared
| Supplier | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data limit | Contract | CNET Review Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CenturyLink Read the full review | DSL | $55 | 20-100 Mbps | $15 (optional) | No | No | 6.7 |
| Quantum fiber | Fiber | $50-$75 | 500-940 Mbps | No | No | No | 6.7 |
| Mediacom Read the full review | Cable | $35-$70 | 100-1,000 Mbps | $14 | 350-3,000 GB | No | 6.4 |
| Spectrum Read the full review | Cable | $50-$70 | 500-1,000 Mbps | Free modem; router $10 (free with gig subscription) | No | No | 7.2 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review | Fixed wireless connection | $60 ($40-$50 with qualifying mobile plans) | 72-245 Mbps | No | No | No | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review | Fixed wireless connection | $50-$70 ($35-$45 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers) | 50-1,000 Mbps | No | No | No | 7.2 |
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Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Duluth?
| Plan | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Monthly equipment costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mediacom Prime Internet 100 Read the full review | $35 | 100 Mbps | $14 |
| Quantum fiber | $50 | 500 Mbps | No |
| Spectrum Internet Read the full review | $50 | 500 Mbps | $10 (optional) |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review | $50 ($35 with qualifying mobile plans) | 300 Mbps | No |
| CenturyLink Unlimited Read the full review | $55 | 100 Mbps | $15 (optional) |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review | $60 ($40 with qualifying mobile plans) | 245 Mbps | No |
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Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.
How to Find Online Deals and Promotions in Duluth
The best internet deals and top promotions in Duluth depend on what discounts are available at the time. Most deals are short-lived, but we regularly search for the latest offers.
Internet providers in Duluth, such as Mediacom, may offer lower introductory prices or bonus add-ons for a limited time. Many providers, including Spectrum and CenturyLink, maintain the same standard prices year-round.
For a more comprehensive overview of all promotions, check out our guide to the best online deals.
Fastest Internet Plans in Duluth
| Plan | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | Data limit | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mediacom Prime Internet 1 Gig Read the full review | $70 | 1,000 Mbps | 50 Mbps | 3TB | Cable |
| Spectrum Internet Gig Read the full review | $70 | 1,000 Mbps | 35 Mbps | No | Cable |
| Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read the full review | $70 ($45 with qualifying mobile plans) | 1,000 Mbps | 75 Mbps | No | Fixed wireless connection |
| Quantum fiber | €75 | 940 Mbps | 940 Mbps | No | Fiber |
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Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.
What is a good internet speed?
Most internet plans now can handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for an internet plan that’s suitable for video conferencing, streaming video, or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here’s a look at the recommended minimum download speeds for different applications, according to the FCCPlease note that these are guidelines only and that Internet speed, service, and performance vary by connection type, provider, and address.
For more information, check out our guide to how much internet speed you really need.
- With 0 to 5 Mbps you can perform basic tasks: surfing the web, sending and receiving email, and streaming low-quality videos.
- 5 to 40 Mbps gives you higher quality video streaming and video conferencing.
- 40 to 100 Mbps should provide enough bandwidth for a single user to meet the demands of modern teleworking, video streaming, and online gaming.
- With 100 to 500 Mbps, one or two users can simultaneously participate in high-bandwidth activities such as video conferencing, streaming, and online gaming.
- With 500 to 1,000 Mbps, three or more users can participate in high-bandwidth activities simultaneously.
How CNET Picked the Best Internet Providers in Duluth, Minnesota
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router, or kitchen utensil, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So how do we approach this? We start by examining pricing, availability, and speed information based on our own historical ISP data, the providers’ websites, and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
But it doesn’t stop there. We go to the FCC website to check our data and make sure we account for every ISP that offers service in an area. We also enter local addresses into carrier websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power to evaluate how satisfied customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and pricing are subject to frequent change; all information provided is accurate at the time of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask ourselves three main questions:
- Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Do customers get value for their money?
- Are customers satisfied with their service?
While the answers to these questions are often layered and complex, the providers that come closest to “yes” to all three questions are the ones we recommend. When it comes to selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fees, though we also consider things like price increases, equipment costs, and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively simple. We look at advertised upload and download speeds, and also consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla And FCC Reports.
If you would like to take a more detailed look at our process, please visit our How We Test ISPs page.
Internet Providers in Duluth, Minnesota, Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best internet provider in Duluth?
Spectrum is the best internet provider in Duluth, offering the best high-speed internet coverage with download speeds of up to 1,000 Mbps. The contract-free service includes unlimited data and a free modem rental.
Is fiber optic internet available in Duluth?
According to the FCC, less than 2% of Duluth households, or about 500 addresses, are fiber-capable. Accessibility is greatest just east of the airport and around Miller Hill Mall, although availability is sparse throughout Duluth. Quantum Fiber is the only fiber-optic provider in the area.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Duluth?
Mediacom has the lowest internet rates in Duluth at $35 per month for speeds up to 100 Mbps. However, the provider charges an unavoidable $14 monthly fee to rent a modem. That puts the price around what you’d pay with Spectrum ($50 per month), but Spectrum offers faster speeds, up to 500 Mbps. Spectrum has a $10 equipment rental fee on the 500 Mbps plan, though customers can skip it by bringing their own router or upgrading to the 1 gig plan.
Which internet provider in Duluth offers the fastest plan?
Spectrum and Mediacom offer download speeds of up to 1,000 Mbps, starting at $70 per month. As cable Internet providers, Spectrum and Mediacom do not offer symmetrical upload and download speeds. Spectrum’s upload speeds max out at only 35 Mbps, while Mediacom offers slightly faster upload speeds of 50 Mbps. Quantum Fiber can provide symmetrical upload and download speeds, but its usability is very limited in Duluth.
