Best Internet Providers in Orchard Mesa, Colorado

What is the best internet provider in Orchard Mesa?

Spectrum is CNET's pick for the best internet provider overall for most households in Orchard Mesa because of wide coverage and a gig-level top download speed. However, Spectrum service isn't available everywhere in Orchard Mesa, so T-Mobile Home Internet or Optimum Broadband are also solid picks, depending on what's available in your area. 

If you're hunting for the lowest prices or fastest speeds, we've also found those top options. Spectrum's 500Mbps plan is the cheapest widely available internet in Orchard Mesa, costing $50 per month for the first year. Spectrum also offers the fastest internet speed in Orchard Mesa, with its gig plan available across town.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Other available internet providers in Orchard Mesa

• CenturyLink: CenturyLink's DSL network reaches almost as many homes as Spectrum, but the speeds are slower. Many houses will top out at 40Mbps or 60Mbps for $55 monthly. There's an optional equipment lease for $15 per month or you can buy outright for $200. There's a $25 installation fee. Data is unlimited, and there are no contracts.
• Rise Broadband: Rural internet specialist Rise Broadband covers Orchard Mesa and much of the surrounding area with fixed wireless service. Top speeds may vary with your location. The 50Mbps plan runs $55 per month, while the 100Mbps plan runs $75 monthly. Rise has a $10 equipment rental fee, but may waive it. There are no contracts or data caps. Expect a $75 installation fee.
• Satellite internet: If you're in a rural area and can't get Spectrum, check with fixed wireless options from T-Mobile, Verizon, Rise and Optimus. If those don't pan out, look into satellite internet from Starlink, Viasat or Hughesnet. Satellite can be expensive compared with other options, but it's a lifeline for homes in remote locations with few or no options.
• Verizon 5G Home Internet: While Verizon has broad 5G coverage across Orchard Mesa, it may be tricky to find an open slot for the home internet service. You'll find two plan options if it's available at your address. The $50-per-month plan has speeds up to 100Mbps, and the $70-per-month plan has speeds up to 300Mbps. Equipment is included, and there are no data caps or contracts. Bundle with a phone plan to get a home internet discount.

Cheap internet options in Orchard Mesa

Expect to pay at least $50 monthly for home internet in Orchard Mesa. At that price point, Spectrum offers 500Mbps downloads. Be sure to calculate the cost of either renting or providing your own router. Be prepared for the price to go up to $80 per month after the first year. The competing ISPs in town also offer entry-level plans in the same general price range but don’t reach the same speeds as the dominant cable ISP. Check out these tips for lowering your internet bill.

What’s the cheapest internet plan in Orchard Mesa?

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Orchard Mesa

The best internet deals and top promotions in Orchard Mesa depend on what discounts are available during a given time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers. 

Orchard Mesa internet providers, like Spectrum, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, however, including Rise Broadband and Optimus Broadband, tend to run the same standard pricing year-round. 

For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals. 

How fast is Orchard Mesa broadband?

There’s only one gig-level internet provider in Orchard Mesa and that’s Spectrum. There are no multi-gig options. If you prioritize fast downloads, then Spectrum is your best bet. Ookla doesn’t single out Orchard Mesa, but Grand Junction pulled down a nearly 285Mbps fixed internet median download speed in a recent speed test report. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) That’s a good showing, considering Colorado residents overall have a median download speed of around 240Mbps.

Fastest internet plans in Orchard Mesa

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

What’s a good internet speed?

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 FCC. 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.

• 0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics -- browsing the internet, sending and receiving email, streaming low-quality video.
• 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
• 40 to 100Mbps should give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming. 
• 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming. 
• 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.

How CNET chose the best internet providers in Orchard Mesa

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. So what's our approach? For starters, we tap into a proprietary pricing, availability and speed database that draws from our own historical ISP data, partner data and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov. 

But it doesn’t end there. We go to 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: 

• Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds? 
• Do customers get decent value for what they're paying? 
• Are customers happy with their service? 

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, though 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.

What’s the final word on internet providers in Orchard Mesa?

Spectrum’s combination of coverage, pricing and speed makes it the default internet provider for Orchard Mesa. Rural homes outside of town can check into the fixed wireless ISPs, but most residents will opt for cable from Spectrum. If the price jump after the first year bothers you, check into T-Mobile or Verizon for 5G home internet. It’s not as fast, but it will be cheaper.

Internet providers in Orchard Mesa FAQs