Any metropolis that may say it is the birthplace of Starbucks and Jimi Hendrix have to be doing one thing proper. Nonetheless, concerning high-speed web choices, Seattle is not precisely within the espresso lane. Although the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area is among the many nation’s prime 20 most populous metro areas, it may muster solely a 97th-place end among the many quickest cities within the US for broadband.
That is primarily based on the most recent knowledge from the speed-testing firm Ookla, which tracks the highest 100 cities within the US and categorizes them primarily based on their median obtain speeds. Per Ookla’s second-quarter report for 2023, Seattle positioned within the backside 5 — barely above Denver, Atlanta and Detroit — with a median obtain pace of simply over 115 megabits per second.
The Ookla report additionally famous that Seattle’s quickest supplier, primarily based on median obtain pace, was Xfinity (Comcast’s cable web service), whose common pace within the space was roughly 217Mbps. As we have written many instances in CNET’s broadband protection, cable web connections provide quick speeds and first rate reliability however aren’t the speediest mode accessible. That declare belongs to fiber-optic web service. And whereas you may get fiber web in and round Seattle, every supplier, together with CenturyLink and Ziply Fiber, additionally provides web service through DSL connections, that are far slower than fiber and fewer reliable than cable. That brings these common speeds again right down to Earth — and it additionally means there’s loads to maintain monitor of in case you’re looking for a brand new web plan in Seattle.
That is the place CNET can assist. We think about customer support, accessible web speeds, pricing and general worth to advocate one of the best broadband choices for you. Let’s dive into one of the best web suppliers in Seattle.
Finest web suppliers within the Emerald Metropolis
Whether or not you have relocated to the realm or are a longtime Seattleite, you have acquired some choices for getting related. Let’s look at your decisions and discover Seattle web suppliers. Yet another phrase as we start: all costs on this web page embody the accessible reductions for organising automated month-to-month funds. In the event you select to obtain paper billing, your costs might be larger.
Observe: The costs, speeds and options detailed within the article textual content could differ from these listed within the product element playing cards, which signify suppliers’ nationwide choices. Your explicit web service choices — together with costs and speeds — rely in your tackle and will differ from these detailed right here.
CenturyLink/Quantum Fiber Finest fiber service
Worth vary
$30 – $70 per 30 days
Pace vary
200 – 940Mbps
Connection
Fiber
Key Information
Limitless knowledge, no contracts, tools included with gigabit tier
To be clear, not all CenturyLink service in Seattle is fiber-optic web service. In response to the Federal Communication Fee’s knowledge, you will nonetheless discover DSL connections in lots of areas throughout the town, maybe as a lot as 50% in some areas. But when you may get CenturyLink’s fiber service, you will discover a high quality providing that is additionally referred to as Quantum Fiber in some, however not all, areas. (Do not ask; it is simply rebranding.)
Availability: Most of CenturyLink’s fiber service might be in and round Seattle, however some folks will discover availability as far south as Bonney Lake, Gig Harbor and Orting. You can even discover it east of Seattle in Issaquah or west of the town in Poulsbo, simply off Liberty Bay.
Plans and pricing: Count on particularly good worth with the gigabit plan, which presents matching obtain and add speeds of as much as 940Mbps for $70 per 30 days. That is a wonderful worth of simply over 7 cents per Mbps, which is powerful even by fiber requirements. By comparability, cable plans sometimes run between 20 and 50 cents per Mbps, which fits even larger as soon as the promo worth wears off after a yr.
Charges and repair particulars: CenturyLink fiber service options limitless knowledge and would not ask you to signal a time period settlement to get the bottom worth. On prime of that, your modem rental, which prices a further $15 month-to-month in case you select the 200Mbps possibility, is included with CenturyLink’s gigabit plan.
Learn our CenturyLink residence web assessment.
Astound Broadband Finest web supplier for reasonable web
Worth vary
$20 – $80 per 30 days
Pace vary
100 – 1,200Mbps
Connection
Cable
Key Information
Limitless knowledge, low promo costs, no contracts
This cable web supplier is hard to beat for aggressive beginning charges.
Availability: Astound Broadband covers simply over 10% of the Seattle metro space, together with Bellevue, Bremerton and downtown Seattle.
Plans and pricing: Its most cost-effective plan is $5 greater than Xfinity’s most cost-effective providing at $20, however it’s notably quicker. Xfinity is at 75Mbps obtain pace, whereas Astound will get your speeds as much as 100Mbps. Which means you are getting a good worth of 25 cents per Mbps in comparison with Xfinity’s larger value per Mbps of 27 cents.
You’ll be able to additional emphasize that worth if you have a look at Astound’s quickest plan, which presents 1,200Mbps for $80 month-to-month. That comes out to simply underneath 7 cents per Mbps.
Charges and repair particulars: However (and also you needed to really feel it was coming), there is a caveat: Astound Broadband options among the highest charge will increase amongst ISPs. Per the corporate’s charge card, that $25 plan may bounce as excessive as $70 month-to-month. Whereas a spokesperson for the corporate instructed CNET that the majority prospects wouldn’t see a full enhance to the usual retail charge, I believe you want to concentrate on what would possibly await you after the rosy returns of the primary 24 months.
Learn our Astound Broadband assessment.
T-Cellular Residence Web Finest fastened wi-fi service
Worth vary
$50 per 30 days ($30 for eligible cellular prospects)
Pace vary
72 – 245Mbps
Connection
Mounted wi-fi
Key Information
Limitless knowledge, tools included, no contracts, no extra charges
T-Cellular has been aggressively campaigning for its residence web product. Exhibit A: Its “Web Freedom” push included the tagline, “Free your self from web BS.” Prospects appear to reply effectively, too: T-Cellular Residence Web was tops amongst all non-fiber suppliers within the ACSI survey of Individuals’ satisfaction with their ISPs.
Availability: The most important catch with T-Cellular Residence Web is that it nonetheless is not uniformly accessible. Whereas the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue market is among the many 50 million households that may get it (and technically, about 95% of individuals within the space ought to have the ability to get it), you will nonetheless want to find out if it is accessible at your tackle. For instance, I can get T-Cellular 5G cell service at residence, however my tackle nonetheless is not eligible for T-Cellular Residence Web. To comply with up in your family’s availability, plug in your tackle (T-Cellular prospects can even use their cell phone quantity) on the T-Cellular Residence Web web site.
Plans and pricing: T-Cellular Residence Web is appealingly easy — there’s one plan, costing $50 per 30 days. That one plan will get you speeds starting from 72 to 245Mbps. Moreover, T-Cellular presents a $20 low cost for eligible Go5G Plus and Magenta Max prospects.
Charges and repair particulars: That one month-to-month payment covers all of your tools wants, and you will not have to fret about time period agreements, knowledge caps or added charges. All new prospects, regardless of in the event that they’re additionally wi-fi prospects or not, can strive the service for 15 days with out penalty and with a full money-back assure.
Learn our T-Cellular Residence Web assessment.
Xfinity Finest availability
Worth vary
$20 – $300 per 30 days
Pace vary
75 – 6,000Mbps
Connection
Cable
Key Information
Information caps on some plans, a number of plan choices, stable buyer satisfaction numbers
You will should look far and large earlier than discovering a supplier that gives as many choices as Comcast’s cable web service, Xfinity.
Availability: In response to the FCC’s Nationwide Broadband Map, Xfinity is out there to over 94% of the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metropolitan space.
Plans and pricing: Seven totally different tiers provide help to discover the fitting match in your family, from one of many space’s most cost-effective web plans (75Mbps for $20 a month) to the area’s quickest residential providing (10,000Mbps for $300 per 30 days). Xfinity’s Gigabit Professional is notable not only for its superior pace but additionally as a result of it is Xfinity’s solely fiber-to-the-home product. Which means you will get symmetrical obtain and add pace, whereas all different Xfinity plans can have a max add pace of 10 to 35Mbps. That stated, Gigabit Professional is proscribed to pick addresses, so there is a good likelihood it is not accessible at yours. It is not low cost, both — it is one of the vital costly broadband plans on the market. You will get loads however pay loads, too.
Charges and repair particulars: Xfinity additionally does effectively in buyer satisfaction surveys. It scored two factors above the trade common in the newest American Buyer Satisfaction Index report and completed above common in three of 4 areas within the J.D. Energy research for 2022.
So why is not it one of the best general? Cable, contracts and caps. Cable web, whereas dependable, would not carry out in addition to fiber web, with add speeds restricted to 35Mbps. Additionally, to get one of the best promo charges with Xfinity, you should signal a contract (normally one yr, however Gigabit Professional requires a two-year dedication). Lastly, some Xfinity plans have a month-to-month knowledge cap of 1.2 terabytes. You’ll be able to join limitless knowledge, however that’ll add further charges to your month-to-month invoice.
Learn our Xfinity Web assessment.
Overview of Seattle web suppliers
ProviderInternet technologyMonthly worth rangeSpeed rangeMonthly tools costsData capContractCNET assessment rating Astound Broadband/Wave Cable$25-$65100-1,200Mbps$12 (elective)400GB-UnlimitedNone7CenturyLink DSL/fiber$49-$6520-940Mbps$15 (elective)NoneNone6.7Google Fiber Webpass Mounted wi-fi$63-$701,000MbpsNoneNoneNone7.4T-Cellular Residence Web Mounted wi-fi$50 ($30 with eligible telephone plan)72-245MbpsNoneNoneNone7.4Verizon 5G Residence Web Mounted wi-fi$50-$70 (50% off with eligible telephone plan)85-1,000MbpsNoneNoneNone7.2Xfinity Cable$20-$30075-10,000Mbps$15 (elective)1.2TB1-2 years for some plans7Ziply Fiber DSL/fiber$20-$300100-10,000Mbps$10 (elective)NoneNone7.2
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Different accessible Seattle residential web suppliers
Town set on Puget Sound has extra ISPs in search of your enterprise than the 4 we highlighted above. Listed below are among the different web suppliers in Seattle.
Google Fiber Webpass: Do not be confused by the fiber within the identify. This can be a fixed-wireless possibility from Google Fiber that is targeted solely on house buildings. Despite the fact that it is not fiber web, it is nonetheless loads zippy: It presents symmetrical gigabit speeds for $70 a month (or a median of $63 a month in case you join the yearly plan through a full, $750 upfront fee). Webpass additionally options free set up, limitless knowledge and no tools charges. In case your constructing can not help the complete gig speeds, Webpass will cut back the pricing. You will discover Google Fiber Webpass inside Seattle metropolis limits, together with the Belltown, Capitol Hill, First Hill, Fremont, Queen Anne and Uptown neighborhoods.Satellite tv for pc web: This all the time looks like dishonest, however it have to be stated that regardless of the town or space during which you reside within the US, this mode of web connectivity is all the time an possibility. Is it a fantastic possibility for Seattle residents? In the event you reside within the metropolis, no. You will have a lot quicker and cheaper decisions accessible to you. Even areas south of Tacoma or north of Everett ought to have some viable options, but when you end up in a rural city with restricted choices, you would possibly think about it. HughesNet and Viasat might be your prime picks, though each require you to decide to a two-year contract. A extra intriguing risk is Starlink, which simply turned accessible within the space in 2023. It options quicker obtain speeds and no time period settlement.Verizon 5G Residence Web: Why select Verizon’s fastened wi-fi residence web product over T-Cellular Residence Web? On the plus aspect, it has a a lot quicker common obtain pace (300Mbps) than T-Cellular, and in case you’re amongst eligible Verizon Wi-fi subscribers, it is cheaper, too, with the identical “all-in” strategy the place tools, set up and costs are all coated in your flat, month-to-month charge. The place it falls in need of T-Cellular is availability. Its heavy reliance on its 5G community — T-Cellular makes use of its 4G LTE community extra aggressively, along with 5G, to spice up its protection territory — means it would not fairly hit the identical attain. Ziply Fiber: Regardless of being comparatively new to the sport — it launched providers in the course of 2020 — Ziply Fiber is a viable possibility in case you’re eligible for its fiber web, which boasts limitless knowledge and no long-term contract necessities. Nonetheless, regardless of its identify, a few of its footprint contains the a lot slower DSL kind. A Ziply spokesperson tells CNET that the corporate is actively constructing a fiber different for these communities, together with over 112 tasks in Seattle and the higher Northwest. Additionally, Ziply Fiber is rolling out a number of multi-gigabit plans, together with a zippy 10Gbps possibility. Confirmed cities round Seattle the place multi-gig plans are at the moment accessible embody Bellevue, Bothell, Brier, Edmonds, Everett, Kenmore, Kirkland, Lake Stevens, Lynnwood, Marysville, Mill Creek, Mountlake Terrace, Mukilteo, Redmond, Shoreline, Snohomish and Woodinville. Joel Rogers/Getty Photos
Common pricing for Seattle web suppliers
When you think about the beginning costs of all ISPs (the promo costs, not the common charges that take maintain after the introductory charge), the typical worth for web service in Seattle is just below $42 per 30 days. That is in regards to the center of the pack among the many cities CNET has examined thus far. That features Brooklyn ($36 a month), Los Angeles ($38 month-to-month), Denver ($39 per 30 days), San Francisco ($40 a month), New York ($41 per 30 days), Austin, Dallas and Philadelphia ($43 a month), Houston ($45 per 30 days), Phoenix ($46 month-to-month), Atlanta ($47 a month), Orlando and San Antonio ($48 per 30 days) and, all at $50 a month, Charlotte, Chicago, Las Vegas, San Diego and St. Louis.
However digging in a bit on particular choices, you will discover the bottom beginning worth of $20 a month shared by two suppliers: Xfinity and Ziply Fiber. Ziply Fiber options 100Mbps obtain speeds at that worth level, whereas Xfinity begins at 75Mbps. Additionally, Xfinity’s barely slower plan has an information cap (1.2TB). Ziply Fiber, alternatively, options limitless knowledge.
Low-cost web choices in Seattle
Additionally, at any time when speaking about low cost web, we must always all the time point out there are extra, low-income web choices. Such is the case in Seattle. All suppliers we have talked about take part within the FCC’s Inexpensive Connectivity Program, which supplies eligible low-income households a $30 month-to-month low cost for high-speed web. You should use the ACP in direction of any web plan (not simply the most affordable ones) from taking part suppliers. Moreover, a number of suppliers joined forces with the White Home on its plans to deal with the digital divide. They’ll make accessible plans of at the least 100Mbps that prospects get at no cost as soon as they be a part of the ACP low cost.
Least expensive web plans in Seattle
ProviderStarting month-to-month priceStandard month-to-month priceMax obtain speedMonthly tools feeData cap Ziply Fiber 100/100 $20 $40 100Mbps$10 NoneXfinity Join $20$50 75Mbps$15 (elective)1.2TBAstound Broadband/Wave $25$70 100Mbps$12 (elective)400GBHughesNet $50$65 25Mbps$15 or $350 one-time purchase2 yearsCenturyLink/Quantum Fiber $49 $49 200Mbps$15 (elective)NoneT-Cellular Residence Web $50 ($30 with cellular plan low cost)$50 245MbpsNoneNoneVerizon 5G Residence Web $50 ($35 with cellular plan low cost)$50 300MbpsNoneNoneViasat $70$10012Mbps$15 or $300 one-time purchase2 yearsGoogle Fiber Webpass $70 ($63 with yr dedication)$70 ($63 with yr dedication)1,000MbpsNoneNone
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What qualifies as quick web in Seattle?
As I discussed close to the beginning of this text, Seattle is not precisely lighting issues up concerning common obtain speeds. That stated, you could find loads of choices in case you really feel the necessity for excessive pace. The principle caveat is that among the quickest plans within the space aren’t broadly accessible all through the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area. However a few of our pals within the Bellevue space, for instance, ought to have entry to Ziply Fiber’s quickest multi-gig plans, as much as 10 gigs or 10,000Mbps. Choose addresses all through Seattle could possibly entry Comcast’s Gigabit Professional plan, additionally with symmetrical speeds of 10 gigs (10,000Mbps).
Quickest web plans in Seattle
ProviderMax obtain speedMax add speedStarting month-to-month priceData capContract Ziply Fiber 10 Gig 10,000Mbps10,000Mbps$300 NoneNoneXfinity Gigabit Professional 10,000Mbps10,000Mbps$300 None2 yearsZiply Fiber 5 Gig 5,000Mbps5,000Mbps$120NoneNoneZiply Fiber 2 Gig 2,000Mbps2,000Mbps$80NoneNoneAstound Broadband/Wave 1,200Mbps50Mbps$80NoneNoneXfinity Gigabit Further 1,200Mbps35Mbps$80 NoneNoneZiply Fiber Gig 1,000Mbps1,000Mbps$60 NoneNoneGoogle Fiber Webpass 1,000Mbps1,000Mbps$70 ($63 with yr dedication)NoneNoneXfinity Gigabit 1,000Mbps20Mbps$75 NoneNoneCenturyLink/Quantum Fiber 940Mbps940Mbps$70NoneNoneAstound Broadband/Wave 940Mbps20Mbps$65NoneNone
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What is the backside line on Seattle web suppliers?
In the event you’ve been maintaining with CNET’s protection of one of the best web suppliers throughout the nation — and I actually hope you’ve got — you’ll have seen fewer choices in Seattle than in different large US cities. However, Seattle can brag that it has cheaper web choices than most cities and extra multi-gig suppliers. They’re unfold out all through the realm, however they’re there. Xfinity’s seven totally different cable web plans are probably the most broadly accessible in Seattle, however Astound Broadband’s 4 cable web tiers are cheaper and do not require you to signal a contract to get the bottom worth. However as we all the time say, in case you’re serviceable for fiber web — and in Seattle, that features CenturyLink, Ziply Fiber or, in rarer instances, Xfinity’s Gigabit Professional plan — that ought to be your prime possibility.
How CNET selected one of the best web suppliers in Seattle
Web service suppliers are quite a few and regional. Not like the most recent smartphone, laptop computer, router or kitchen device, it’s impractical to personally take a look at each ISP in a given metropolis. So what’s our strategy? We begin by researching the pricing, availability and pace data drawing on our personal historic ISP knowledge, the supplier websites and mapping data from the Federal Communications Fee at FCC.gov.
However it doesn’t finish there. We go to the FCC’s web site to verify our knowledge and guarantee we think about each ISP that gives service in an space. We additionally enter native addresses on supplier web sites to seek out particular choices for residents. We have a look at sources, together with the American Buyer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Energy, to judge how glad prospects are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and costs are topic to frequent modifications; all data offered is correct as of the time of publication.
As soon as we now have this localized data, we ask three major questions:
Does the supplier provide entry to fairly quick web speeds? Do prospects get first rate worth for what they’re paying? Are prospects proud of their service?
Whereas the reply to these questions is usually layered and sophisticated, the suppliers who come closest to “sure” on all three are those we advocate. Inside these suggestions, we additionally search for the most affordable and quickest ISPs from that area. To additional discover our course of, go to our how we take a look at ISPs web page.
Web suppliers in Seattle FAQs
What is the most cost-effective web in Seattle?
On the floor, it is a shut race between Astound Broadband, Xfinity and Ziply Fiber. Every supplier presents an inexpensive web plan from $20 to $25 month-to-month. Nonetheless, every supplier’s most cost-effective plan includes a totally different pace. Xfinity presents 75Mbps for a $20-per-month payment. Astound Broadband is a little more costly but additionally quicker, that includes a obtain pace of 100Mbps for $25 per 30 days. Ziply Fiber, nonetheless, beats them each, by that includes a plan with a most obtain pace of 100Mbps for $20, in order that’s the most affordable. It additionally presents one of the best worth: it is acquired a decrease value of 20 cents per Mbps, in comparison with 25 cents for Astound and 27 cents for Xfinity.
Are you able to get fiber web in Seattle?
Sure. CenturyLink and Ziply Fiber provide 100% fiber-optic web plans that includes symmetrical obtain and add speeds. Nonetheless, neither supplier completely presents fiber plans. Every additionally contains DSL connections inside their networks, so you should guarantee your tackle is serviceable for higher-quality fiber web, not simply DSL.
Which supplier presents the quickest web plan in Seattle?
The quickest residential web plan in Seattle metropolis limits is Xfinity’s Gigabit Professional plan, which options 10,000Mbps of symmetrical pace. Nonetheless, since most of Xfinity’s community is a hybrid fiber-cable connection, you will want to succeed in out to Comcast Xfinity (and schedule a web site survey) to find out in case your tackle is eligible for the plan. For many residents within the higher Seattle space, the extra accessible multi-gig plan could also be Ziply Fiber’s 2-gig, 5-gig or 10-gig tier, which is tied for the quickest plan accessible within the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area.