Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
The average price for internet service in Seattle is just under $42 per month. If you're looking for a cheaper internet plan, you'll find the lowest starting price of $10 a month from Ziply Fiber for its 100Mbps plan. The next cheapest options are Xfinity and Astound's $20 per month plans which offer speeds up to 150Mbps and 300Mbps, respectively.
Provider | Starting monthly price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
---|---|---|---|
Ziply Fiber 100/100 | $10 | 100Mbps | $12 |
Xfinity Connect Read full review | $20 | 150Mbps | $15 (optional) |
Astound Broadband 300 Read full review | $20 | 300Mbps | None |
Quantum Fiber 500 | $50 | 500Mbps | None |
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | $55 ($40 for eligible mobile customers) | 72-245Mbps | None |
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | $60 ($35 for eligible mobile customers) | 300Mbps | None |
Show more (1 item)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
The best internet deals and top promotions in Seattle depend on the discounts available during that period. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
How many members of your household use the internet?
Seattle internet providers, such as Astound Broadband, T-Mobile, Ziply Fiber and Xfinity, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, including CenturyLink, Quantum Fiber and Verizon 5G Home Internet, run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
Seattle isn't in the espresso lane when it comes to high-speed internet options. Though the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue region is among the country's top 20 most populous metro areas, it could muster only a 97th-place finish among the fastest cities in the US for broadband. It ranked just below Denver and above Atlanta, with a median download speed of just over 118Mbps.
If you're searching for the speediest internet in the Seattle area, Ziply Fiber takes the gold with its 50Gbps (50,000Mbps) plan for $900 monthly. Ziply and Xfinity also offer 10,000Mbps options, which is still incredibly fast for home broadband.
Provider | Starting monthly price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ziply Fiber 50 Gig | $900 | 50,000Mbps | 50,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
Xfinity Gigabit Pro Read full review | $300 | 10,000Mbps (available only in select areas) | 10,000Mbps | None | Cable |
Ziply Fiber 10 Gig | $300 | 10,000Mbps | 10,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
Ziply Fiber 5 Gig | $80 ($105 after 12 months) | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
Ziply Fiber 2 Gig | $70 ($95 after 12 months) | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
Astound Broadband/Wave Read full review | $55 | 1,500Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Cable |
Xfinity Gigabit Read full review | $85 | 1,000Mbps | 35Mbps | 1.2TB | Cable |
Google Fiber Webpass Read full review | $63-70 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fixed wireless |
Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read full review | $80 ($45 for eligible mobile customers) | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fixed wireless |
Ziply Fiber Gig | $60 ($85 after 12 months) | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
Quantum Fiber | $75 | 940Mbps | 940Mbps | None | Fiber |
Show more (6 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
See all results for internet providers in Washington
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 internet service provider in a given city. What's our approach? For starters, we tap into a proprietary database of pricing, availability and speed information that draws from our own historical ISP data, partner data and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
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:
The answer to those questions is often layered and complex, but 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, 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.
If you've been keeping up with CNET's coverage of the best internet providers across the country -- and I certainly hope you have -- you may have noticed fewer options in Seattle than in other big US cities. On the other hand, Seattle can brag that it has cheaper internet options than most towns and more multi-gig providers. They're spread out throughout the area, but they're there. Xfinity's seven cable internet plans are the most widely available in Seattle. Still, Astound Broadband's four cable internet tiers are cheaper and don't require you to sign a contract to get the lowest price. As we always say, if you're serviceable for fiber internet in Seattle, including Quantum Fiber, Ziply Fiber or Xfinity's Gigabit Pro plan, that should be your top option.
What's the cheapest internet in Seattle?
On the surface, it's a pretty close race in Seattle. While Ziply takes the crown for being the cheapest -- $10 per month -- Astound Broadband and Xfinity aren't that much more expensive, with plans starting at $20 per month. Each provider's cheapest plan features a different speed. Ziply offers 100Mbps, Xfinity offers 150Mbps, whereas Astound Broadband -- the fastest of the three -- features a download speed of 300Mbps.
Show more
Can you get fiber internet in Seattle?
Yes. Quantum Fiber and Ziply Fiber offer 100% fiber-optic internet plans featuring symmetrical download and upload speeds. Ziply Fiber doesn't exclusively offer fiber plans. It includes DSL connections within its network, so you must ensure your address is serviceable for higher-quality fiber internet, not just DSL.
Show more
Which provider offers the fastest internet plan in Seattle?
The fastest residential internet provider in Seattle city limits is Ziply Fiber, offering 50,000Mbps of symmetrical speed for $900 a month. Ziply and Xfinity also offer a 10Gbps plan, both costing $300 per month. Since most of Xfinity's network is a hybrid fiber-cable connection, you'll need to contact Comcast Xfinity (and schedule a site survey) to determine if your address is eligible for the plan. For most residents in the greater Seattle area, Ziply Fiber's 50Gbps or 10Gbps plan may be more accessible.
Show more
Source: cnet.com