What is the best internet provider in Prescott?
Sparklight is Prescott’s best internet service provider due to its broad local coverage, fast speeds and customer-friendly service terms, including no hard data caps and no contracts. Previously known as Cable One, Sparklight is the largest wired internet provider in the area and the only cable internet provider, covering more than 99% of Prescott homes, according to the FCC.
Sparklight’s $35 plan is the cheapest internet in Prescott and offers up to 300 megabits per second download. While the provider also offers gig service, it’s not quite the fastest ISP in Prescott. Quantum Fiber matches Sparklight’s max download speeds at 940Mbps and has the advantage of symmetrical upload speeds, though it has far lower availability in Prescott.
Fixed wireless providers Mile High Networks and Verizon 5G Home Internet offer Prescott’s fastest max download speeds, up to 1,000Mbps. You’re more likely to get such speeds with Mile High Networks as Verizon has significantly less availability in the area, and its fastest plan advertises a range between 85 and 1,000Mbps.
The speed and overall value of Mile High Networks can vary by the service tier (standard or airFiber) available in your area. T-Mobile Home Internet, however, has slightly greater coverage in Prescott and offers the same level of service throughout the area — $60 per month for speeds ranging from 72 to 245Mbps with no data caps, equipment fees or contracts.
A few other fixed wireless providers, such as Bolt Internet, may be available in Prescott, but speeds and overall value are too low to recommend compared to other potential internet options.
CNET considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service in Prescott across several categories. Our evaluation includes referencing a proprietary database built over years of reviewing internet services. We validate that against provider information by spot-checking local addresses for service availability. We also do a close read of providers’ terms and conditions and, when needed, will call ISPs to verify the details.
Despite our efforts to find the most recent and accurate information, our process has some limitations you should know about. Pricing and speed data are variable: certain addresses may qualify for different service tiers, and monthly costs may vary, even within a city. The best way to identify your particular options is to plug your address into a provider’s website.
Also, the prices, speed and other information listed above and in the provider cards below may differ from what we found in our research. The cards display the full range of a provider’s pricing and speed across the US, according to our database of plan information provided directly by ISPs, while the text is specific to what’s available in Prescott. The prices referenced within this article’s text come from our research and include applicable discounts for setting up automatic payments each month — a standard industry offering. Other discounts and promotions might also be available for things like signing a term contract or bundling with multiple services.
To learn more about how we review internet providers, visit our full methodology page.
Best internet in Prescott, Arizona
100 – 1,000 Mbps
$25 – $110 per month
Our take – Sparklight is Prescott’s main wired internet provider, with cable internet service available to nearly every household in the city. Speeds of 300 to 940Mbps are available, and each plan comes with a 5TB soft data cap. That’s a ton of data, but if you were to go over, it may result in temporarily slowed speeds but not overage fees.
100 – 1,000 Mbps
$25 – $110 per month
Fixed wireless
72 – 245 Mbps
$60 per month
Our take – With speeds ranging from 72 to 245Mbps, T-Mobile Home Internet isn’t the fastest ISP in the area, but the stable pricing and simple service terms (no equipment fees, data caps or contracts) make up for the potential lack of speed. There’s also a mobile bundle discount that could bring your home internet rate down to $40 or $50 per month.
Fixed wireless
72 – 245 Mbps
$60 per month
Fixed wireless
10 – 1,000 Mbps
Our take – The fixed wireless provider’s airFiber service may be the best alternative to Sparklight in Prescott, with download speeds ranging from 100 to 1,000Mbps, starting at $69 to $99 monthly. However, the standard service is somewhat less desirable, so you’ll want to determine which type is available at your address before signing up.
Fixed wireless
10 – 1,000 Mbps
200 – 8,000 Mbps
$30 – $165 per month
Our take – Availability is highly limited, but Quantum Fiber is the top choice for speed and reliability for those in Prescott fortunate enough to have access to it. Pricing is slightly higher than Sparklight for similar speed tiers, but Quantum Fiber includes equipment rental at no extra cost and offers a price-for-life guarantee.
200 – 8,000 Mbps
$30 – $165 per month
Prescott, Arizona, internet providers compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CenturyLink | DSL | $55 | 20-100Mbps | $15 (optional) | None | None | 6.7 |
| Mile High Networks | Fixed wireless | $39-$149 | 15-1,000Mbps | Varies | None | None | N/A |
| Quantum Fiber | Fiber | $50-$75 | 500-940Mbps | None | None | None | 6.7 |
| Sparklight | Cable | $35-$60 | 300-940Mbps | $13 (optional) | 5TB soft cap | None | 6.9 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet | Fixed wireless | $60 ($40-$50 with eligible mobile plans) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet | Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 with eligible mobile plans) | 50-1,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Prescott?
| Plan | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sparklight 300 | $35 | 300Mbps | $13 (optional) |
| Mile High Networks Basic | $39 | 25Mbps | Varies |
| Sparklight 600 | $45 | 600Mbps | $13 (optional) |
| Quantum Fiber | $50 | 500Mbps | None |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet | $50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 300Mbps | None |
| CenturyLink Unlimited | $55 | 100Mbps | $15 (optional) |
| T-Mobile Home Internet | $60 ($40-$50 with eligible mobile plans) | 245Mbps | None |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Prescott
The best internet deals and top promotions in Prescott depend on what discounts are available during that time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Prescott internet providers, such as Sparklight and T-Mobile Home Internet, may offer lower introductory pricing for a limited time. Others, however, including CenturyLink 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 Prescott
| Plan | Starting price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mile High Networks airFiber 1000 | $99 | 1,000Mbps | 100Mbps | None | Fixed wireless |
| Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet | $70 ($45 with eligible mobile plans) | 1,000Mbps | 75Mbps | None | Fixed wireless |
| Quantum Fiber | $75 | 940Mbps | 940Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Sparklight 1 Gig | $60 | 940Mbps | 50Mbps | 5TB soft cap | Cable |
| Sparklight 600Mbps | $45 | 600Mbps | 30Mbps | 5TB soft cap | Cable |
| Quantum Fiber 500 | $50 | 500Mbps | 500Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Mile High Networks airFiber 500 | $89 | 500Mbps | 50Mbps | None | Fixed wireless |
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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 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 Prescott
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 answers to those questions are 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.
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
Internet providers in Prescott, Arizona, FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Prescott?
Sparklight is Prescott’s best internet service provider due to its high availability, fast speeds, low introductory pricing and customer-friendly service terms. The cable provider is available to nearly every Prescott household, offering speeds of 300 to 940Mbps starting at $35 to $60 per month with no contracts or hard data caps.
Is fiber internet available in Prescott?
Fiber internet is technically available in Prescott, although availability is highly limited. According to the FCC, only around 2% of Prescott households, or roughly 630 residences, are eligible for fiber internet as of June 2023. Serviceability is highest along Dells Ranch Road, south of Centerpointe E. Drive, but again, availability is limited. Quantum Fiber is the area’s sole fiber internet provider.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Prescott?
Sparklight has the cheapest internet plan in Prescott, starting at $35 monthly for speeds up to 300Mbps. Even considering the equipment rental fee (which is optional), Sparklight has a lower starting price than Verizon 5G Home Internet, T-Mobile Home Internet, Quantum Fiber and airFiber service from Mile High Networks.
Which internet provider in Prescott offers the fastest plan?
Mile High Networks offers the fastest internet plan in Prescott. The airFiber plan offers max speeds of 1,000Mbps down and 100Mbps up starting at $99 monthly. Sparklight and Quantum Fiber offer download speeds up to 940Mbps, but upload speeds are much slower with Sparklight, topping out at 50Mbps.
