CenturyLink/Quantum Fiber – Finest fiber web supplier in Seattle
- Costs from $30 – $70 per thirty days
- Speeds from 200 – 940Mbps
- Limitless information
Xfinity – Finest availability amongst Seattle web suppliers
- Costs from $20 – $300 per thirty days
- Speeds from 75 – 6,000Mbps
- Information caps on some plans
T-Cell Dwelling Web – Finest mounted wi-fi web supplier in Seattle
- Costs from $50 per thirty days
- Speeds from 72 – 245Mbps
- Limitless information
Astound Broadband/Wave – Finest web supplier for affordable web in Seattle
- Costs from $20 – $80 per thirty days
- Speeds from 100 – 1,200Mbps
- Limitless information
Any metropolis that may say it is the birthplace of Starbucks and Jimi Hendrix should 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 might muster solely a 94th-place end among the many quickest cities within the US for broadband.
That is based mostly on the newest information from the speed-testing firm Ookla, which tracks the highest 100 cities within the US and categorizes them based mostly on their median obtain speeds. Per Ookla’s first-quarter report for 2023, Seattle positioned within the backside 10 — simply barely above Denver, Dallas and Atlanta — with a median obtain velocity of simply over 122 megabits per second.
The Ookla report additionally famous that Seattle’s quickest supplier, based mostly on median obtain velocity, was Xfinity (Comcast’s cable web service), whose common velocity within the space was roughly 217Mbps. As we have written many occasions in CNET’s broadband protection, cable web connections, although providing quick speeds and first rate reliability, aren’t the speediest mode accessible. That declare belongs to fiber web. And whereas you will get fiber web service in and round Seattle, every supplier, together with CenturyLink and Ziply Fiber, additionally provides web service by way of 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 for those who’re searching for a brand new web plan in Seattle.
Finest web suppliers within the Emerald Metropolis
Whether or not you have relocated to the world or are a long-time Seattleite, you have acquired some choices for getting related. Let’s dive into your decisions and discover Seattle web suppliers.
CenturyLink/Quantum Fiber
Finest fiber web supplier in Seattle
Product particulars
Worth vary
$30 – $70 per thirty days
Velocity vary
200 – 940Mbps
Connection
Fiber
Highlights
Limitless information, no contracts, gear 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 information, you may nonetheless discover DSL connections in lots of areas throughout the town, maybe as a lot as 50% in some areas. But when you will get CenturyLink’s fiber service, you may discover a high quality providing that is additionally known as Quantum Fiber in some, however not all, areas — do not ask, it is simply rebranding.
Availability: Most of CenturyLink’s fiber service will likely 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 affords matching obtain and add speeds of as much as 940Mbps for $70 per thirty days. That is a superb worth of simply over 7 cents per Mbps, which is robust even by fiber requirements. By comparability, cable plans sometimes run between 20 and 50 cents per Mbps, which works even increased as soon as the promo worth wears off after a yr.
Charges and repair particulars: CenturyLink fiber service options limitless information 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 for those who select the 200Mbps choice, is included with CenturyLink’s gigabit plan.
Learn our CenturyLink house web assessment.
Xfinity
Finest availability amongst Seattle web suppliers
Product particulars
Worth vary
$20 – $300 per thirty days
Velocity vary
75 – 6,000Mbps
Connection
Cable
Highlights
Information caps on some plans, a lot of plan choices, stable buyer satisfaction numbers
You may 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 accessible to over 94% of the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metropolitan space.
Plans and pricing: Seven totally different tiers assist you to discover the best match to 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 (6,000Mbps for $300 per thirty days). Xfinity’s Gigabit Professional is notable not only for its superior velocity but in addition as a result of it is Xfinity’s solely fiber-to-the-home product. Meaning you may get symmetrical obtain and add velocity, whereas all different Xfinity plans could have a max add velocity of 10 to 35Mbps. That mentioned, Gigabit Professional is restricted to pick out addresses, so there is a good probability it is not accessible at yours. It is not low-cost, both — it is one of the crucial costly broadband plans on the market. You may get loads however pay loads, too.
Charges and repair particulars: Xfinity additionally does nicely in buyer satisfaction surveys. It scored two factors above the business common in the newest American Buyer Satisfaction Index report and completed above common in three of 4 areas within the J.D. Energy examine for 2022.
So why is not it the very 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 the very best promo charges with Xfinity, you will need to signal a contract (often one yr, however Gigabit Professional requires a two-year dedication). Lastly, some Xfinity plans have a month-to-month information cap of 1.2 terabytes. You’ll be able to join limitless information, however that’ll add further charges to your month-to-month invoice.
Learn our Xfinity house web assessment.
T-Cell Dwelling Web
Finest mounted wi-fi web supplier in Seattle
Product particulars
Worth vary
$50 per thirty days ($30 for eligible T-Cell Magenta Max prospects)
Velocity vary
72 – 245Mbps
Connection
Mounted wi-fi
Highlights
Limitless information, gear included, no contracts, no extra charges
T-Cell has been aggressively campaigning for its house web product. Exhibit A: Its “Web Freedom” push included the tagline, “Free your self from web BS.” Clients appear to reply nicely, too: T-Cell Dwelling Web was second solely to Verizon Fios within the ACSI survey of People’ satisfaction with their ISPs.
Availability: The most important catch with T-Cell Dwelling 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 be capable to get it), you may nonetheless want to find out if it is accessible at your tackle. For instance, I can get T-Cell 5G cell service at house, however my tackle nonetheless is not eligible for T-Cell Dwelling Web. To observe up in your family’s availability, plug in your tackle (T-Cell prospects may use their cell phone quantity) on the T-Cell Dwelling Web website.
Plans and pricing: T-Cell Dwelling Web is appealingly easy — there’s one plan, costing $50 per thirty days. That one plan will get you speeds starting from 33 to 182Mbps. Moreover, T-Cell affords a $20 low cost for eligible Magenta Max prospects.
Charges and repair particulars: That one month-to-month payment covers all of your gear wants, and you will not have to fret about time period agreements, information 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-Cell Dwelling Web overview.
Astound Broadband/Wave
Finest web supplier for affordable web in Seattle
Product particulars
Worth vary
$20 – $80 per thirty days
Velocity vary
100 – 1,200Mbps
Connection
Cable
Highlights
Limitless information, low promo costs, no contracts
This cable web supplier is hard to beat for aggressive beginning charges.
Availability: Yow will discover Astound Broadband protection in 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 and Ziply Fiber’s most cost-effective choices at $20, however it’s notably sooner. Ziply Fiber’s plan options 50Mbps obtain velocity and Xfinity’s is at 75Mbps obtain velocity, whereas Astound will get your speeds as much as 100Mbps. Meaning you are getting an honest worth of 25 cents per Mbps in comparison with Xfinity’s increased price per Mbps of 27 cents (and Ziply’s at 40 cents).
You’ll be able to additional emphasize that worth whenever you take a look at Astound’s quickest plan, which affords 1,200Mbps for $80 month-to-month. That comes out to only 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 a few of the highest price will increase amongst ISPs. Per the corporate’s price card, that $25 plan might bounce as excessive as $70 month-to-month. Whereas a spokesperson for the corporate informed CNET that almost all prospects wouldn’t see a full enhance to the usual retail price, I believe you want to concentrate on what may await you after the rosy returns of the primary 24 months.
Learn our Astound Broadband assessment.
Overview of Seattle web suppliers
| Supplier | Web expertise | Month-to-month worth vary | Velocity vary | Month-to-month gear prices | Information cap | Contract | CNET assessment rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astound Broadband/Wave | Cable | $25-$65 | 100-1,200Mbps | $12 (skippable) | 400GB-Limitless | None | 7 |
| CenturyLink | DSL/fiber | $49-$65 | 20-940Mbps | $15 (skippable) | None | None | 6.7 |
| Google Fiber Webpass | Mounted wi-fi | $63-$70 | 1,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| T-Cell Dwelling Web | Mounted wi-fi | $50 ($30 with eligible telephone plan) | 33-182Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Dwelling Web | Mounted wi-fi | $50-$70 (50% off with eligible telephone plan) | 85-1,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
| Xfinity | Cable | $20-$300 | 75-6,000Mbps | $14 (skippable) | 1.2TB | 1-2 years for some plans | 7 |
| Ziply Fiber | DSL/fiber | $20-$300 | 50-10,000Mbps | $10 (skippable) | None | None | 7.2 |
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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 here are a few of the different web suppliers in Seattle.
- Google Fiber Webpass: Do not be confused by the fiber within the identify. It is a fixed-wireless choice from Google Fiber that is centered solely on house buildings. Though it isn’t fiber web, it is nonetheless a lot zippy: It affords symmetrical gigabit speeds for $70 a month (or a median of $63 a month for those who join the yearly plan by way of a full, $750 upfront cost). Webpass additionally options free set up, limitless information and no gear charges. In case your constructing can’t assist the total gig speeds, Webpass will scale back the pricing. Yow will discover Google Fiber Webpass inside Seattle metropolis limits, together with the neighborhoods of Belltown, Capitol Hill, First Hill, Fremont, Queen Anne and Uptown.
- Satellite tv for pc web: This at all times looks like dishonest, but it surely should be mentioned that regardless of the town or space during which you reside within the US, this mode of web connectivity is at all times an choice. Is it an awesome choice for Seattle residents? In case you stay within the metropolis, no. You may have a lot sooner and cheaper decisions accessible to you. Even areas south of Tacoma or north of Everett ought to have some viable alternate options, but when you end up in a rural city with restricted choices, you may contemplate it. HughesNet and Viasat will likely be your prime picks, though each require you to decide to a two-year contract. A extra intriguing chance is Starlink, which simply turned accessible within the space in 2023. It options sooner obtain speeds and no time period settlement.
- Verizon 5G Dwelling Web: Why select Verizon’s mounted wi-fi house web product over T-Cell Dwelling Web? On the plus aspect, it has a a lot sooner common obtain velocity (300Mbps) than T-Cell and, for those who’re amongst eligible Verizon Wi-fi subscribers, it is cheaper too, with the identical “all-in” strategy the place gear, set up and charges are all coated in your flat, month-to-month price. The place it falls wanting T-Cell is availability. Its heavy reliance on its 5G community — T-Cell 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 companies in the course of 2020 — Ziply Fiber is a viable choice for those who’re eligible for its fiber web, which boasts limitless information 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 various for these communities, together with over 80 initiatives in Seattle and the better Northwest. Additionally of observe, Ziply Fiber is rolling out a number of multi-gigabit plans, together with a zippy 10Gbps choice. Confirmed cities round Seattle the place multi-gig plans are at the moment accessible embrace Bellevue, Bothell, Brier, Edmonds, Everett, Kenmore, Kirkland, Lake Stevens, Lynnwood, Marysville, Mill Creek, Mountlake Terrace, Mukilteo, Redmond, Shoreline, Snohomish and Woodinville.
Seattle web particulars at a look
As any good shopper is aware of, you will need to look past the model identify to know for those who’re getting a very good deal. The identical is true when evaluating web suppliers in Seattle. You must transcend our overview to get extra particular particulars concerning the accessible web plans within the Emerald Metropolis. So let’s dive deeper into the most cost effective web plans within the space and the quickest web plans you will get within the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area.
Broadband availability
N/Afolks have entry to broadband web of any kind
No supplier information accessible
Most accessible web expertise
Common pricing for Seattle web suppliers
When you think about the beginning costs of all ISPs (that means, the promo costs, not the common charges that take maintain after the introductory price), the typical worth for web service in Seattle is slightly below $42 per thirty days. That is concerning the center of the pack among the many cities CNET has examined up up to now. That features Brooklyn ($36 a month), Los Angeles ($38 month-to-month), Denver ($39 per thirty days), San Francisco ($40 a month), New York ($41 per thirty days), Austin, Dallas and Philadelphia ($43 a month), Houston ($45 per thirty days), Phoenix ($46 month-to-month), Atlanta ($47 a month), Orlando and San Antonio ($48 per thirty 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 may discover the bottom beginning worth of $20 a month shared by two suppliers: Xfinity and Ziply Fiber. Ziply Fiber options 50Mbps obtain speeds at that worth level, whereas Xfinity begins at 75Mbps. Nonetheless, Xfinity’s sooner plan has a knowledge cap (1.2TB). Ziply Fiber, then again, options limitless information. So, relying in your family’s utilization and desires, you could have just a few parts to contemplate.
Low-cost web choices in Seattle
Additionally, every time speaking about low-cost web, we should always at all times 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 Reasonably priced Connectivity Program, which provides eligible low-income households a $30 month-to-month low cost for high-speed web. You should utilize the ACP in direction of any web plan (not simply the most cost effective ones) from collaborating suppliers. Moreover, a number of suppliers joined forces with the White Home on its plans to deal with the digital divide. They are going to make accessible plans of no less than 100Mbps that prospects get at no cost as soon as they be part of the ACP low cost.
Least expensive web plans in Seattle
| Supplier | Beginning month-to-month worth | Commonplace month-to-month worth | Max obtain velocity | Month-to-month gear payment | Information cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ziply Fiber 50/50 | $20 | $40 | 50Mbps | $10 | None |
| Xfinity Join | $20 | $50 | 75Mbps | $14 (skippable) | 1.2TB |
| Astound Broadband/Wave | $25 | $70 | 100Mbps | $12 (skippable) | 400GB |
| HughesNet | $50 | $65 | 25Mbps | $15 or $450 one-time buy | 2 years |
| CenturyLink/Quantum Fiber | $49 | $49 | 200Mbps | $15 (skippable) | None |
| T-Cell Dwelling Web | $50 ($30 with cellular plan low cost) | $50 | 182Mbps | None | None |
| Verizon 5G Dwelling Web | $50 ($25 with cellular plan low cost) | $50 | 300Mbps | None | None |
| Viasat | $70 | $100 | 12Mbps | $13 or $299 one-time buy | 2 years |
| Google Fiber Webpass | $70 ($63 with yr dedication) | $70 ($63 with yr dedication) | 1,000Mbps | None | None |
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Web speeds in Seattle
As I discussed close to the beginning of this text, Seattle is not precisely lighting issues up concerning common obtain speeds. That mentioned, yow will discover loads of choices for those who really feel the necessity for excessive velocity. The principle caveat is that a few of the quickest plans within the space aren’t broadly accessible all through the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area. However a few of our buddies within the Bellevue space, for instance, ought to have entry to Ziply Fiber’s quickest, multi-gig plans. Choose addresses all through Seattle might be able to entry Comcast’s Gigabit Professional plan, with symmetrical speeds of 6,000Mbps.
Quickest web suppliers in Seattle
| Supplier | Max obtain velocity | Max add velocity | Beginning month-to-month worth | Information cap | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ziply Fiber 10 Gig | 10,000Mbps | 10,000Mbps | $300 | None | None |
| Xfinity Gigabit Professional | 6,000Mbps | 6,000Mbps | $300 | None | 2 years |
| Ziply Fiber 5 Gig | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | $120 | None | None |
| Ziply Fiber 2 Gig | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | $80 | None | None |
| Astound Broadband/Wave | 1,200Mbps | 50Mbps | $80 | None | None |
| Xfinity Gigabit Further | 1,200Mbps | 35Mbps | $80 | None | None |
| Ziply Fiber Gig | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | $60 | None | None |
| Google Fiber Webpass | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | $70 ($63 with yr dedication) | None | None |
| Xfinity Gigabit | 1,000Mbps | 20Mbps | $75 | None | None |
| CenturyLink/Quantum Fiber | 940Mbps | 940Mbps | $70 | None | None |
| Astound Broadband/Wave | 940Mbps | 20Mbps | $65 | None | None |
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What is the backside line on Seattle web suppliers?
In case you’ve been maintaining with CNET’s protection of the very best web suppliers throughout the nation — and I definitely hope you could have — you’ll have seen there are fewer choices in Seattle than you discover in different huge US cities. Then again, Seattle can brag that it is acquired each cheaper web choices than most cities and extra multi-gig suppliers. They’re unfold out all through the world, however they’re there. Xfinity’s seven totally different cable web plans are essentially 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 at all times say, for those who’re serviceable for fiber web — and in Seattle, that features CenturyLink, Ziply Fiber or, in rarer circumstances, Xfinity’s Gigabit Professional plan — that needs to be your prime choice.
Finest web suppliers in Seattle FAQ
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 affords an inexpensive web plan from $20 to $25 month-to-month. Nonetheless, every supplier’s most cost-effective plan incorporates a totally different velocity. Ziply Fiber incorporates a plan with a most obtain velocity of 50Mbps for $20, in order that’s technically the most cost effective. Xfinity affords 75Mbps for a $20-per-month payment. Astound Broadband, nevertheless, beats them each, with a obtain velocity of 100Mbps for $25 per thirty days. By way of worth, the Astound choice might not be the most cost effective, but it surely’s acquired a decrease price per Mbps of 25 cents in comparison with 40 cents for Ziply Fiber and 27 cents for Xfinity.
Are you able to get fiber web in Seattle?
Sure. Each CenturyLink and Ziply Fiber provide 100% fiber-optic web plans that includes symmetrical obtain and add speeds. Nonetheless, neither supplier completely affords fiber plans. Every additionally contains DSL connections inside their networks, so you will need to guarantee your tackle is serviceable for the higher-quality fiber web, not simply DSL.
Which supplier affords the quickest web plan in Seattle?
The quickest residential web plan yow will discover in Seattle metropolis limits is at the moment Xfinity’s Gigabit Professional plan, which options 6,000Mbps of symmetrical velocity. Nonetheless, since most of Xfinity’s community is a hybrid fiber-cable connection, you may want to achieve out to Comcast Xfinity (and schedule a website survey) to find out in case your tackle is eligible for the plan. For many residents within the better Seattle space, the extra accessible multi-gig plan could also be Ziply Fiber’s 2-gig, 5-gig or 10-gig tier (which is at the moment the quickest plan accessible within the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area).
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