Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
The average starting price for internet service in Albuquerque is approximately $55 a month, but most households can access cheap service through Xfinity, costing only $20 per month.
If you're looking for a free connection in Albuquerque, the city itself offers the Wi-Fi in Neighborhoods program to help people access the internet at public city facilities.
How many members of your household use the internet?
Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment costs |
---|---|---|---|
Xfinity Connect Read full review | $20 | 150Mbps | $15 (optional) |
Xfinity Connect More Read full review | $30 | 300Mbps | None |
CityLink Residential Basic | $40 | 5Mbps | None |
Lobo Internet 3Mbps | $50 | 3Mbps | None |
Quantum Fiber 500 | $50 | 500Mbps | None |
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | $50 ($35 with eligible mobile plan) | 100Mbps | None |
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | $65 ($40 with eligible mobile plan) | 245Mbps | None |
NMSurf 100Mbps | $40 | 25Mbps | $5-$7.50 (optional) |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
The best internet deals and top promotions in Albuquerque depend on what discounts are available during a given time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Albuquerque internet providers, such as Xfinity, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, including Quantum Fiber and Verizon, run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
Albuquerque currently ranks 92nd for internet speeds in a list of the top 100 cities listed by Ookla. The city had a median download speed of approximately 180 megabits per second, ahead of the 126Mbps download speeds for New Mexico's broadband. Ookla ranks Xfinity's speed as the fastest in the city, at nearly 239Mbps median download speeds. You do have a few options in Albuquerque to access much faster speeds, with some plans going up to just over 1 Gig.
The fastest internet provider in Albuquerque is Xfinity, providing most households with download speeds up to 1.2 gigabits. Other ISPs, such as Quantum Fiber and Verizon, offer gigabit plans in the area as well.
Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Internet Technology |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Xfinity 1200 Mbps Read full review | $80 | 1,200Mbps | 35Mbps | 1.2TB | Cable |
Xfinity 1000 Mbps Read full review | $75 | 1,000Mbps | 20Mbps | 1.2TB | Cable |
Quantum Fiber 1 Gig | $75 | 940Mbps | 940Mbps | None | Fiber |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you're looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you'll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here's an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the Federal Communications Commission. Note that these are only guidelines and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.
For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information, drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from FCC.gov.
It doesn’t end there: We use the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
While the answers to those questions are often layered and complex, the providers that come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
Although Albuquerque residents don't have access to multi-gigabit plans, an impressive 19% have access to a 1-gigabit speed tier. To put that in perspective, 14% of New York residents have access to gigabit speeds, and, according to the FCC, fewer than 1% of Phoenix citizens can sign up for those kinds of speeds. So, with Comcast's Xfinity internet service available to just over 99% of people in Albuquerque, that cable internet provider will almost surely be your lifeline to the World Wide Web.
Is fiber internet available in Albuquerque?
Yes, you do have a few choices for fiber internet. The provider with the most fiber coverage in Albuquerque is Quantum Fiber. Additional fiber internet options will be arriving soon via Vexus Fiber.
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Which internet provider in Albuquerque offers the fastest plan?
A few internet providers in Albuquerque go up to just above 1 Gig. Quantum Fiber offers a 1-gig plan, as does Xfinity, which also boasts a Gigabit Extra plan that features 1,200Mbps download speeds.
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Is Quantum Fiber or T-Mobile Home Internet better?
Both of these ISPs can be good choices for Albuquerque residents depending on your needs. If you don’t have high-speed demands and do not have multiple users in the home, T-Mobile is a flexible, fixed wireless option with moderate pricing and no contracts or hidden fees. Speeds max out around 245Mbps. Quantum Fiber, on the other hand, is a fiber internet service that reaches speeds of either 500Mbps or 940Mbps, so households with multiple devices and heavy demands would be better served with this provider.
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Source: cnet.com