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What is the best internet provider in Bangor?
Spectrum is the top choice for Bangor’s best internet provider, according to CNET. This cable internet giant is offering solid first-year promotional prices and gigabit speeds for most of the city. Once the promotional period ends, you can expect your bill to double in the second year. On the plus side, all plans come with no contracts or data caps.
Looking for fast internet? Fidium Fiber and GoNetspeed are tied for the fastest internet in the city, with a maximum of 2,000 megabits per second. You can expect symmetrical download and upload speeds, supported by a fiber connection.
If you’re looking for cheap internet, Fidium Fiber offers the most affordable plan in town: a $25 per month plan for 100 Mbps. That price will increase to $45 in the second year, though. Verizon 5G Home Internet and T-Mobile Home Internet offer lower rates to eligible mobile customers.
Best internet in Bangor, Maine
Internet providers in Bangor compared
| Supplier | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data limit | Contract | CNET Review Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fidium fiber | Fiber | $25-$85 ($45-$100 after 12 months) | 100-2,000 Mbps | $10 gateway rental (optional) | No | No | n/a |
| GoNetspeed | Fiber | $45-$75 | 500-2,000 Mbps | No | No | No | n/a |
| Spectrum Read the full review |
Cable | $50-$70 | 500-1,000 Mbps | Modem free; $10 for router (free with gig plan) | No | No | 7.2 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless connection | $60-$70 ($40-$50 for eligible Go5G Plus and Magenta Max mobile customers) | 72-245 Mbps | No | No | No | 7.4 |
| American cell phone | Fixed wireless connection | $50 | 45-195 Mbps | None, but a monthly repair fee of $3 | 600-900GB | No | n/a |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless connection | $50 ($35 with qualifying Verizon 5G mobile plans) | 100 Mbps | No | No | No | 7.2 |
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Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Bangor?
| Supplier | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Monthly equipment costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fidium fiber | $25 ($45 after 12 months) | 100 Mbps | $10 gateway rental (optional) |
| GoNetspeed | $45 | 500 Mbps | No |
| Spectrum Read the full review |
$50 | 500 Mbps | Modem free; $10 gateway rental (optional) |
| VScellular | $50 | 195 Mbps | None, but a monthly repair fee of $3 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with qualifying Verizon 5G mobile plans) | 100 Mbps | No |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
$60 ($40 for eligible mobile customers) | 245 Mbps | No |
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Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Bangor
The best internet deals and top promotions in Bangor depend on what discounts are available at any given time. Most deals are short-lived, but we regularly check for the latest offers.
Internet providers in Bangor, such as Spectrum and T-Mobile, may offer lower introductory prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time. However, others, including Fidium Fiber and US Cellular, 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 Bangor
| Supplier | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | Data limit | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fidium Fiber 2 Gig | $85 ($100 after 12 months) | 2,000 Mbps | 2,000 Mbps | No | Fiber |
| GoNet speed 2 Gig | €75 | 2,000 Mbps | 2,000 Mbps | No | Fiber |
| Fidium Fiber Gig | $65 ($85 after 12 months) | 1,000 Mbps | 1,000 Mbps | No | Fiber |
| GoNetspeed-Gig | $55 | 1,000 Mbps | 1,000 Mbps | No | Fiber |
| Spectrum Read the full review |
$70 | 1,000 Mbps | 35 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 be enough bandwidth for one person to meet the demands of modern teleworking, video streaming, and online gaming.
- With 100 to 500 Mbps, one or two people can simultaneously participate in high-bandwidth activities such as video conferencing, streaming, and online gaming.
- With 500 to 1,000 Mbps, three or more people can participate in high-bandwidth activities simultaneously.
How CNET Picked the Best Internet Providers in Bangor
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, drawing on our own historical ISP data, the providers’ websites, and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission on 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 multi-layered and complex, the providers that come closest to “yes” to all three questions are the ones we recommend. When 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 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Internet Providers in Bangor
What is the best internet provider in Bangor?
Is fiber optic internet available in Bangor?
Yes. According to the latest data from the FCC, Fiber optic internet is available to 75% of Bangor residents. Fidium Fiber is the best fiber provider in town, with symmetrical speeds of up to 2 gigabits. GoNetspeed also has fiber internet, but it may not be as widely available.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Bangor?
The cheapest internet service is Fidium Fiber, which offers a $25 per month plan with 100 Mbps download and upload speeds. However, once the promotional period ends after a year, the price increases to $45 per month. Verizon and T-Mobile Home Internet are the next best options if you want to avoid the price increase after a year.
Which internet provider in Bangor offers the fastest plan?
Fidium Fiber and GoNetspeed are the fastest internet providers in the city, with symmetrical speeds of up to 2 gigabits.
