Xfinity is the most dominant provider in the area, with the best plan variety and value of the big three ISPs in PDX. 

Availability: Xfinity offers internet services that cover 99% of Portland residents, but there may be small pockets where the service is unavailable. According to Comcast service, there’s rarely any downtime and any significant service outages are restored to normal fairly quickly.

Plans and pricing: There are seven plans on Xfinity’s site. But bear in mind that the available service will depend on the area’s existing internet infrastructure. Portland has a well-developed copper cable network infrastructure, so cable internet service will be the predominant option with Xfinity. To take advantage of Xfinity’s Gigabit Pro plan, you must contact Xfinity and schedule a site survey. The closer your home is to a fiber node, the better the chances you can get on its 6Gbps fiber plan. 

Fees and service details: Xfinity’s costs vary depending on whether you lock in a contract. The prices range from $20 to $300 monthly with a contract and $51 a month to $300 monthly without a contract. Expect data speeds of 75Mbps up to 6,000Mbps.

CenturyLink is an excellent choice for reliable and affordable fiber internet service. The company is well known for offering no annual contracts. 

Availability: One of the significant advantages of CenturyLink is that the company has partnered with several residential communities to preinstall the service, making it more convenient to use. To start using CenturyLink’s services, visit its website and check if it offers service in your area. If it does, follow the instructions on the website to get started. It’s a straightforward process that anyone can quickly complete. It’s important to note that CenturyLink also offers a much slower DSL service.

Plans and pricing: CenturyLink offers both DSL and fiber service. The DSL service has download speeds that go up to 100Mbps. CenturyLink’s fiber service (which might also go by Quantum Fiber in some areas) has a two-tiered pricing structure. Both plans offer unlimited data on a network that is 99.9% reliable. The download speed is 200Mbps for $30 monthly and 940Mbps for the $70 a month plan.

Fees and service details: CenturyLink’s fiber service has no installation fees or contract requirements. The 940Mbps fiber plan comes with a modem. All other plans have a $15 a month modem lease fee. There may be special pricing deals to entice new customers to try the service, but the only way to know if deals exist is to connect to the network where you want to set up the new service.

If you want to avoid dealing with installation headaches, then T-Mobile’s 5G wireless home internet service might be perfect for you.

Availability: According to the website, T-Mobile Home Internet is available throughout the greater Portland metro area. However, you must enter your address on the site to ensure the service covers your location. While you might be excited to jump on the 5G bandwagon, you need to know that having 5G service in your neighborhood does not mean that T-Mobile Home Internet will be available for your residence.

Plans and pricing: T-Mobile Home Internet offers a single plan for $50 a month. The data speeds range from 33Mbps to 182Mbps. In addition, if you’re a T-Mobile phone customer, you’re in luck. You can get a $20 monthly discount if you sign up for an eligible plan. 

Fees and service details: If you’re on the fence about 5G home internet, T-Mobile has a 15-day “worry-free” test drive, meaning you can try it out for two weeks without having to commit to a contract or even cut ties with your current provider until you’re sure T-Mobile Home Internet will work for you. The company’s price-lock guarantee ensures that your monthly bill will never increase. Additionally, T-Mobile offers unlimited data, no annual contracts and no additional equipment required. It might be time to ditch your wired internet connection permanently. 

Starlink is the new kid on the satellite internet block. The company’s website shows there is coverage in the Portland metro area. However, the service isn’t cheap. You’ll have to fork over nearly $600 to get the standard equipment or $2,500 if you’re going for the premium service. 

Availability: Though Starlink is available in Portland, there may be a waiting list, so be prepared for a delay in setting up your service.

Plans and pricing: Starlink has two plans on its website: a standard and a premium plan. The standard plan costs you $599 for the mountable satellite dish and router, while the premium plan will cost $2,500 for the equipment. On the pricing side, the company has noted that by April 24, there will be a $120 monthly fee if you live in an area with limited capacity and a $90 monthly fee in locations with excess capacity. 

Fees and service details: Data speeds for either plan range from 20Mbps to 100Mbps for the standard package and 60Mbps to 250Mbps for the premium service. According to the internet speed-tracking site Ookla, which analyzed satellite internet performance during the third quarter of 2022, the company has an average data speed of approximately 53 Mbps. It’s worth noting that the premium tier offers a different satellite dish and equipment for higher download speeds.