Best Internet Providers in Great Falls, Montana

What is the best internet provider in Great Falls?

There are several internet providers that serve Great Falls, but for many it is difficult to Spectrum will be the best choice for home internetSpectrum has the best broadband coverage in Great Falls, the lowest starting price of $50 per month and equals the fastest download speed of 1,000 megabits per second.

Spectrum is the only cable internet provider in Great Falls, but fiber service may be available through Quantum Fiber, KDS, or 3 Rivers, depending on where you live. Quantum Fiber offers the best value and local coverage of the three, though fiber availability from any ISP is sparse in Great Falls. Lumen Technologies’ CenturyLink brand is available in much of the area, but you’ll probably want to skip the slow, inconsistent speeds that come with DSL service.

If fiber isn’t available and you’re looking for an alternative to Spectrum’s cable Internet, fixed wireless Internet may be an option. A few wireless ISPs serve the area, including KDS and Amaze Wireless, but T-Mobile Home Internet and Verizon 5G Home Internet are the only ones capable of delivering broadband speeds of at least 100 megabits per second down and 20 Mbps up.

Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.

Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.

How to Find Internet Deals and Promotions in Great Falls

The best internet deals and top promotions in Great Falls depend on what discounts are available during that period. Most deals are short-lived, but we regularly search for the latest offers.

Internet providers in Great Falls, such as T-Mobile Home Internet, may offer lower introductory rates or other incentives for a limited time. Many providers, including Spectrum and Quantum Fiber, maintain the same standard rates year-round.

For a more comprehensive overview of all offers, please consult our guide to the best online deals.

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 Federal Communications CommissionPlease 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 Chose the Best Internet Providers in Great Falls, Montana

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.

And 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 J.D. 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:

1. Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
2. Do customers get value for their money?
3. Are customers satisfied with their service?

The answer to these questions is often multi-layered and complex, and the providers that come closest to “yes” to all three are the providers we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fees, although 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 such as 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 Great Falls, Montana