Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
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.
Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
---|---|---|---|
Spectrum Read full review | $50 | 500Mbps | Free modem; $10 router (optional) |
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | $50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 100Mbps | None |
CenturyLink Read full review | $55 | 100Mbps | $15 (optional) |
Rise Broadband Read full review | $55 | 50Mbps | $10 |
Optimus Broadband | $57 | 25Mbps | None |
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | $60 ($30 with eligible mobile plans) | 245Mbps | None |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
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.
How many members of your household use the internet?
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.
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.
Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Spectrum Read full review | $70 | 1,000Mbps | 35Mbps | None | Cable |
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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 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.
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:
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.
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.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Orchard Mesa?
Both Spectrum and Verizon have entry-level plans for $50 per month. Spectrum’s price jumps after the first year. Verizon 5G Home Internet includes equipment, but finding an open slot at your address in Orchard Mesa may be challenging. T-Mobile Home Internet typically costs $60 per month but often runs deals that bring that down to $50 with equipment included.
Which internet provider in Orchard Mesa offers the fastest plan?
Spectrum’s 1,000Mbps cable plan is the fastest in town. Uploads top out at 35Mbps.
Is fiber internet available in Orchard Mesa?
There’s a tiny bit of fiber in the broader Grand Junction area, of which Orchard Mesa is a part, but you’re not likely to find it in Orchard Mesa itself.
What internet provider has the best coverage in Orchard Mesa?
Spectrum sneaks just past CenturyLink for the wired internet coverage crown in Orchard Mesa. Spectrum’s cable network reaches over 98% of homes.
Source: cnet.com