What is the best internet provider in Prior Lake?
Prior Lake has plenty of internet providers, but Metronet remains CNET’s top pick for the best internet service provider. It's got fast fiber coverage and competitively priced plans. Elsewhere, Mediacom offers tough competition, providing some of the region’s fastest internet with 1,000Mbps plans running $60 per month. It's even got some of the cheapest internet plans in the area, with a 250Mbps plan that's just $20 monthly.
In addition to Metronet, Lumen Technologies (CenturyLink, Quantum Fiber) and local ISP Nuvera Communications offer fiber internet in Prior Lake. However, the two largely use DSL-based networks and may have slower max speeds than what’s available from other providers and connection types.
Regarding other connection types, Mediacom is Prior Lake’s main cable internet provider, covering more than 97% of the city with speeds up to 1,000Mbps. Wireless internet is available from Verizon 5G Home Internet and T-Mobile Home Internet in parts of Prior Lake, too. Both ISPs are worth considering for their low pricing and hassle-free service, but the overall value will vary depending on the speeds you can get.
Best internet in Prior Lake, Minnesota
Prior Lake, Minnesota internet providers compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CenturyLink Read full review | DSL | $55 | 20-100Mbps | $15 (optional) | None | None | 6.7 |
| Mediacom Read full review | Cable | $20-$60 | 250-1,000Mbps | $14 | 350-3,000GB | None | 6.4 |
| Metronet Read full review | Fiber | $35-$70 | 150-2,000Mbps | None, $13 monthly tech fee | None | None | 6.9 |
| Nuvera Communications | DSL, fiber | $35-$60 | 30-100Mbps DSL, 100-1,000Mbps fiber | $10 plus $7 or $12 Wi-Fi fee (optional) | None | None | N/A |
| Quantum Fiber | Fiber | $50-$75 | 500-940Mbps | None | None | None | 6.7 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | Fixed wireless | $65-$75 ($50-$70 with eligible mobile plans) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | Fixed wireless | $60-$80 ($35-$45 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers) | 50-300Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What's the cheapest internet plan in Prior Lake?
| Plan | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metronet Read full review | $35 | 150Mbps | None, $13 monthly tech fee |
| Mediacom Prime Internet 250 Read full review | $20 | 250Mbps | $14 |
| Nuvera Essential | $35 | 30Mbps | $10 plus $7 or $12 Wi-Fi fee (optional) |
| Quantum Fiber | $50 | 500Mbps | None |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | $50 ($40 with eligible mobile plans) | 245Mbps | None |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | $50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 300Mbps | None |
| Nuvera 100Mbps | $60 | 100Mbps | $10 plus $7 or $12 Wi-Fi fee (optional) |
| CenturyLink Internet Read full review | $55 | 20-100Mbps | $15 (optional) |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Prior Lake
The best internet deals and top promotions in Prior Lake 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?
Prior Lake internet providers, such as Metronet, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, however, including Nuvera Communications and Quantum Fiber, run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
Fastest internet plans in Prior Lake
| Plan | Starting price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mediacom Prime Internet Gig Read full review | $60 | 1,000Mbps | 50Mbps | None | Cable |
| Metronet 2Gbps Read full review | $70 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Metronet 1Gbps Read full review | $50 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Nuvera 1 Gig | $100 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read full review | $80 ($45 with eligible mobile plans) | 300Mbps | 75Mbps | None | Fixed wireless |
| Quantum Fiber | $75 | 940Mbps | 940Mbps | None | Fiber |
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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 person sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
- 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two people to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming.
- 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more people to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Prior Lake
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? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites 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 answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who 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. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
Internet providers in Prior Lake FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Prior Lake?
Metronet is the best internet service provider in Prior Lake thanks to its local fiber coverage, selection of competitively priced plans and straightforward service terms that include unlimited data and no contracts. Metronet also received the highest CNET review score (6.9 out of 10) of all wired ISPs in the Prior Lake area, including Mediacom (6.4) and CenturyLink/Quantum Fiber (6.7).
Is fiber internet available in Prior Lake?
According to the most recent FCC data, less than half (around 62%) of Prior Lake residences are eligible for fiber internet. Metronet is the largest fiber internet provider in Prior Lake, covering approximately 30% of households. Nuvera Communications and Quantum Fiber also offer fiber internet service in parts of Prior Lake.
Who is the cheapest internet provider in Prior Lake?
Mediacom has the lowest starting price of any major Prior Lake ISP at $20 a month for speeds up to 250Mbps. Starting rates for Nuvera and Metronet are just slightly higher at $35 monthly for speeds up to 30Mbps and 150Mbps, respectively. All three providers have mandatory equipment or service fees that add $10 to $14 or more to your monthly bill.
While it doesn’t have the lowest standard introductory rate, T-Mobile Home Internet is potentially the cheapest internet option in Prior Lake. Qualifying Magenta Max customers can get $15 off the cost of home internet, and all customers can enjoy free equipment and a price guarantee for as long as they keep their service.
Which internet provider in Prior Lake offers the fastest plan?
Metronet, Nuvera, Quantum Fiber and Mediacom all offer a gigabit plan in Prior Lake with speeds up to 940 or 1,000Mbps. Metronet has the lowest pricing on gig service, starting at $50 per month, Quantum Fiber ($75), Mediacom ($60), and Nuvera ($100).
Fiber internet connections (Metronet, Nuvera, Quantum Fiber) can deliver symmetrical upload and download speeds. Cable internet often comes with significantly slower upload speeds, ranging from 10 to 50Mbps, in the case of Mediacom.