Best Internet Providers in Traverse City, Michigan

What is the best internet provider in Traverse City?

Spectrum is the best internet service provider overall for most households in Traverse City due to its wide availability and the option for gig download speeds. Spectrum service isn’t available everywhere in town, so TCLPfiber or T-Mobile Home Internet 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. The cheapest widely available internet in Traverse City is Spectrum’s 500Mbps plan, starting at $50 per month. The fastest available internet download speed in Traverse City is a tie between Spectrum, TCLPfiber and Point Broadband. They all offer download speeds of 1,000Mbps. Spectrum has the broadest coverage of the three.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Other available internet providers in Traverse City

• AT&T Internet: AT&T’s legacy DSL service is available in some parts of town, but the speeds may be unusable for many addresses. The plan costs $60 per month with no contract or equipment fees. AT&T Internet can reach 100Mbps, but some addresses in Traverse City can only get 1Mbps downloads. Look to other options like Spectrum or fixed wireless ISPs.
• 186networks Slashband Wireless: Originally Chain O’ Lakes Internet, 186networks provides fiber and fixed wireless connections in Northern Michigan. You’ll find 186networks’ fixed wireless offering in Traverse City. The $65-per-month plan comes with speeds up to 75Mbps with no data cap. Contract terms vary, but there is an option to go month-to-month. 
• Michigan Broadband Services: Michigan Broadband Services primarily works with businesses but offers residential fiber plans in some parts of Traverse City. The ISP doesn’t disclose pricing or plan terms online, so you’ll need to get in touch to discuss options if you’re within the coverage zone. 
• Point Broadband: This provider's fiber network covers a small area of homes on the west side of Traverse City. Pricing starts at $60 per month for 300Mbps and tops out at $80 per month for 1,000Mbps. Speeds are symmetrical. There’s a three-year rate lock, and Point has no contracts or data caps.
• Satellite internet: Starlink, Viasat and Hughesnet compete to bring internet to homes in rural and remote locations. Consider satellite internet if you don’t have a solid wired or fixed wireless option at your residence. It can be expensive and speeds may be slow or variable, but it may be the only choice for some locations. 
• Verizon 5G Home Internet: Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband network covers most of Traverse City, though some areas near the bay and on the west side of town are still on 4G LTE. The 5G Home Plus plan tops out at 300Mbps for $70 per month. The 5G Home plan tops out at 100Mbps for $50 per month. Bundle with a phone plan for a discount on home internet. There are no equipment fees, contracts or data caps.

Cheap internet options in Traverse City

You won’t find ISPs engaging in price wars in Traverse City. Most residents will end up with Spectrum, which starts at $50 per month for the 500Mbps plan. That price will go up after the first year, so brush up on your negotiation skills or look into 5G home internet from T-Mobile or Verizon. One way to get your monthly internet cost below $50 is to bundle an eligible phone plan with a Verizon or T-Mobile home broadband plan. Low-income households should check into the federal Lifeline program and Spectrum’s Internet Assist options.

What’s the cheapest internet plan in Traverse City?

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Traverse City

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

Traverse City internet providers, like Spectrum, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, including TCLP Fiber and AT&T Internet, 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 Traverse City broadband?

Most Traverse City residents can access gig-level download speeds, primarily through Spectrum. Some neighborhoods can get their gig via fiber from Point, TCLPfiber or Michigan Broadband Service. A recent Ookla speed test report showed a 222Mbps median download speed for fixed internet in Traverse City. That’s very close to the Michigan state average of about 230Mbps. Those Traverse City speeds can be traced to the easy availability of Spectrum’s entry-level 500Mbps plan. Internet speeds can vary at your home due to various factors, including location, equipment and network congestion.

Fastest internet plans in Traverse City

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 and 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 Traverse City

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? 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. 

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? 

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.

What’s the final word on internet providers in Traverse City?

Most Traverse City residents won’t have much choice in ISPs. Spectrum covers most homes and offers speeds up to a gig. Some scattered neighborhoods will have the option for fiber from Point, TCLPfiber or Michigan Broadband Services. Starting prices are a little higher, but you’ll enjoy symmetrical speeds. The main alternative to wired internet in Traverse City is T-Mobile or Verizon’s 5G home internet plans. Look into those if you’re not satisfied with Spectrum or if you can bundle a mobile plan to get substantial savings on your home internet bill. 

Internet providers in Traverse City FAQs