What are the best internet providers in Bloomington, MN?
Xfinity is the best internet provider in Bloomington. We have the fastest and cheapest plans in the area and are available almost everywhere. The main drawback is the increased price. After a year or two, your bill will increase significantly. Xfinity doesn’t require a contract, so you’re free to switch at any time.
Although only about 1 in 10 households has installed it, Quantum Fiber is the best fiber internet service provider in Bloomington. You get symmetrical upload and download speeds, and Quantum Fiber includes equipment costs with all plans. Wireless internet from T-Mobile and Verizon is also widely available in Bloomington, but their 5G home internet services are best suited for small households that don’t have many devices connected at once.
CNET recommends the best internet service in Bloomington across several categories, considering speed, pricing, customer service, and overall value. Our evaluations include reference to a proprietary database built over many years of reviewing Internet services. Verify against provider information by spot-checking local addresses for service availability. He also carefully reads the provider’s terms and conditions, and if necessary, he calls the ISP to find out more.
While we strive to find the most up-to-date and accurate information, there are some limitations to our process that you should be aware of. Price and speed data is subject to change. Certain addresses may have different tiers of service, and monthly costs may vary even within the same city. The best way to identify a particular option is to enter the address on the provider’s website.
In addition, the prices, speeds, and other information listed on the provider cards above and below may differ from what our research reveals. The card shows you the full range of rates and speeds from providers across the United States, based on a database of plan information provided directly by your ISP, but the text is specific to what’s available in Bloomington. The prices referenced within the body of this article are based on our research and include discounts for setting up automatic monthly payments, an industry standard service. Other discounts and promotions may also be available, such as signing up for a fixed term contract or bundling multiple services.
For more information on how we vet internet providers, please see our full methodology page.
Best Internet in Bloomington, MN
150～6,000 Mbps
$20 – $300 per month
Our view – By default, Xfinity is the best choice because it is the only cable or fiber internet provider that most Bloomington residents choose. Xfinity has some good points. The plans are incredibly cheap, you get speeds for the price, and most plans include equipment. Unfortunately, the price increases significantly once the promotional period ends. Most plans take two years.
150～6,000 Mbps
$20 – $300 per month
200～8,000 Mbps
$30 – $165 per month
Our view – Quantum Fiber is only available to 11% of Bloomington residents, but if it’s available at your address, it’s a better option than Xfinity. You get symmetrical upload and download speeds, perfect for activities like video conferencing and online gaming. All plans also include equipment at no additional charge. Unlike Xfinity, Quantum Fiber’s price doesn’t automatically increase after a year or two.
200～8,000 Mbps
$30 – $165 per month
fixed wireless
85 – 1,000 Mbps
$50 – $70 per month
Our view – Another great option available throughout Bloomington is wireless internet. Verizon and T-Mobile both offer home internet plans in the city. We gave our preference to Verizon because it’s a little cheaper, but if you have a cell phone plan with either provider, you should choose that one. You can get great discounts when you bundle it with your home internet.
fixed wireless
85 – 1,000 Mbps
$50 – $70 per month
Bloomington Internet Provider Comparison
| provider | internet technology | Monthly price range | speed range | Monthly equipment costs | data limit | contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
century link |
DSL | $55 | Up to 100Mbps | $15 (optional) | none | none | 6.7 |
| quantum fiber | fiber | $50-$75 | 500-940Mbps | none | none | none | 6.7 |
|
star link |
satellite | $120 | 25-220Mbps | Prepaid $599 | none | none | 6.5 |
|
T-Mobile Home Internet |
fixed wireless | $60 ($40-50 for mobile plans) | 72-245Mbps | none | none | none | 7.4 |
|
Verizon 5G Home Internet |
fixed wireless | $50 to $70 ($35 to $45 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers) | 100-300Mbps | none | none | none | 7.2 |
|
Xfinity |
cable | $20 – $70 | 150-1,200Mbps | $15 (included in most plans) | 1.2TB (unlimited on most plans) | option | 7 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Bloomington?
| provider | starting price | maximum download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Xfinity Connect |
$20 | 150Mbps | $15 (optional) |
|
Xfinity Connect Details |
$30 | 300Mbps | none |
| quantum fiber | $50 | 500Mbps | none |
|
Verizon 5G Home Internet |
$50 ($35 on eligible mobile plans) | 100Mbps | none |
|
xfinity first |
$50 | 500Mbps | none |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet sales and promotions in Bloomington
The best internet deals and top promotions in Bloomington depend on the discounts available during a particular period. Most sales have a short shelf life, but we check frequently for the latest offers.
Bloomington internet providers like Xfinity and Verizon 5G Home Internet may offer lower introductory prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Other services, including Quantum Fiber, have the same standard pricing throughout the year.
For a more extensive list of promotions, check out our guide to the best internet deals.
Fastest internet plans in Bloomington
| provider | starting price | maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | data limit | connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Xfinity Gigabit Extra |
$70 | 1,200Mbps | 35Mbps | none | cable |
|
xfinity gigabit |
$65 | 1,000Mbps | 20Mbps | none | cable |
| quantum fiber | $75 | 940Mbps | 940Mbps | none | fiber |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is a good internet speed?
Most internet connectivity plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for an internet plan that supports video conferencing, streaming video, and gaming, you’ll enjoy a better experience with a more robust connection. Here is an overview of the Federal Communications Commission’s recommended minimum download speeds for various applications. Please note that these are just guidelines and internet speed, service and performance will vary depending on connection type, provider and address.
For more information, see our guide to the internet speed you actually need.
- At 0-5Mbps, you can tackle basic tasks like browsing the Internet, sending and receiving emails, and streaming low-quality videos.
- 5-40Mbps allows for higher quality video streaming and video conferencing.
- 40-100Mbps provides a single user with enough bandwidth to meet the demands of modern work-from-home, video streaming, and online gaming.
- 100-500Mbps allows one or two users to simultaneously participate in high-bandwidth activities such as video conferencing, streaming, and online gaming.
- 500-1,000Mbps allows three or more users to participate in high-bandwidth activities simultaneously.
How CNET chooses the best internet providers in Bloomington
There are many Internet service providers and they vary by region. Unlike modern smartphones, laptops, routers, and kitchen tools, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a particular city. What is our approach? First, we research pricing, availability, and speed information using our own historical ISP data, provider sites, and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC.gov) .
This is not the end. We went to the FCC’s website and checked the data to ensure we considered all ISPs serving the area. Also, enter your local address on the provider’s website to find specific options for residents. Consult sources such as the US Customer Satisfaction Index and his JD Power to rate how satisfied customers are with their ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices may change frequently. All information provided is accurate at the time of publication.
Once you have this localized information, ask three main questions:
- Does your provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Are customers getting value for their money?
- Are your customers satisfied with your service?
The answers to these questions are often layered and complex, but the provider that comes closest to a “yes” to all three is recommended. When choosing the cheapest internet service, look for the plan with the lowest monthly fee, taking into account price hikes, equipment costs, contract details, etc. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively easy. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider actual speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.
To find out more about our process, please visit our How We Test ISPs page.
Bloomington Internet Provider FAQs
Who is the best internet service provider in Bloomington?
Xfinity is the best internet service provider in Bloomington. We have the widest coverage, cheapest plans, and fastest speeds of any provider in the city.
Is fiber internet available in Bloomington?
Yes, 11% of Bloomington households have access to fiber internet, according to FCC data. Quantum Fiber is the city’s only fiber provider.
Where is the cheapest internet provider in Bloomington?
Xfinity is Bloomington’s cheapest internet provider, offering plans starting at just $20 per month.
Which internet provider offers the fastest plans in Bloomington?
Xfinity offers the fastest internet plans in Bloomington with download speeds up to 1,200Mbps.
