Best Internet Providers in Montana – CNET

September 20, 2023

`Best Internet Providers in Montana - CNET`

I fondly remember summers in Montana, fishing with my grandparents and watching deer stroll through the yard. My grandparents didn’t have internet at their home in Libby, but times have changed. If they lived there today, they would probably have fiber internet from Ziply. Libby is one of the lucky locales in the Treasure State with fiber access. Most Montanans work with cable, DSL, fixed wireless or satellite internet.

Montana has no great reputation for fast, reliable and affordable internet. Ookla’s Speedtest data ranks it way down in 49th place among the states (and Washington DC), with only Wyoming and Alaska coming in behind Montana. However, most city dwellers can still access decent broadband speeds.

Spectrum is CNET’s top pick for best ISP in the state. The cable provider delivers gig-level broadband to many of the population centers in Montana. CNET examines customer service, speed, pricing and overall value before recommending the best broadband in your area. Spectrum is joined by other recommendations, including CenturyLink for availability and TDS Telecom as an ISP to watch. Whether you’re moving to Montana or looking to upgrade your current broadband situation, this guide will help you navigate your ISP options.

Best internet options in Montana

Montana can be a tricky place to shop for internet service. A few lucky households can get fiber, but most city dwellers will be comparing Spectrum and CenturyLink. Those living the rural life can weigh choices ranging from local fixed wireless ISPs to satellite internet from Starlink or Viasat. All prices listed on this page reflect available discounts for setting up paperless billing. If you decide not to go with automatic monthly payments, your price will be higher.

Note: The prices, speeds and features detailed in the article text may differ from those listed in the product detail cards, representing providers’ national offerings. Your internet service options — including prices and speeds — depend on your address and may differ from those detailed here.

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Spectrum

Best internet provider in Montana

. . . Or call to order: Call to Learn More (877) 361-3842

Product details

Price range $30- $70 per month Speed range 100 – 1,000Mbps Connection Cable Key Info Unlimited data, simple pricing, no contracts, modem included, free access to nationwide Wi-Fi hotspots

Charter Communications’ Spectrum cable internet is available to nearly half of households in Montana, according to FCC data. That fact, combined with available gig speeds, put Spectrum into my top-recommended spot. However, if fiber is available to you from Quantum Fiber, TDS Telecom or another ISP, then I recommend prioritizing that over Spectrum.

Availability: You’ll find Spectrum in most of the bigger cities in Montana, from Missoula to Billings, but with no coverage along the eastern end of the state.

Plans and pricing: Spectrum’s basic plans start at 500Mbps for $50 per month and 1,000Mbps for $70 per month. Spectrum doesn’t always advertise its full range of plans online, so you may need to call to find out all the options available for your address.

Fees and service details: Spectrum has made things simple for customers by offering plans with no contract, no data caps and a free modem. The catch is that you can expect prices to rise after your initial two-year honeymoon period.

Read our Spectrum Internet review.

. . . Or call to order: Call to Learn More (877) 361-3842

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CenturyLink

Best availability in Montana

. . . Or call to order: Call to Learn More (877) 731-3490

Product details

Price range $30 – $70 per month Speed range 200 – 940Mbps Connection Fiber Key Info Unlimited data, no contracts, equipment included with gigabit tier

CenturyLink’s parent company offers two broadband flavors: DSL from CenturyLink and fiber from Quantum Fiber. The fiber service is great if you can get it, but most households in Montana will be looking at DSL speeds. What makes CenturyLink notable is its reach across the state. It’s available in many population centers and extends into some areas that are a bit more rural.

Availability: CenturyLink covers nearly 56% of Montana households, according to FCC data, making it the state’s most widespread wired internet provider. Most of that reach is through the ISP’s older DSL network, but there are pockets of fiber in places like Billings, Helena and Bozeman.

Plans and pricing: CenturyLink’s DSL service runs $50 monthly for whatever speed you can get at your location. That may mean 3Mbps, or that may mean up to 100Mbps.

Fees and service details: While CenturyLink speeds can be pokey on the DSL side, at least there’s no contract and no data cap. You can lease a modem for $15 per month, buy it for $200 or provide your own equipment.

Read our CenturyLink Internet review.

. . . Or call to order: Call to Learn More (877) 731-3490

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T-Mobile Home Internet

Best 5G internet service in Montana

. . . Or call to order: Call to Learn More (877) 687-6988

Product details

Price range $50 per month ($30 for eligible mobile customers) Speed range 72 – 245Mbps Connection Fixed wireless Key Info Unlimited data, equipment included, no contracts, no additional fees

T-Mobile Home Internet is affordable and unfussy, provided you can pull down decent speeds in your location. Here’s what you need to know about 5G home internet.

Availability: T-Mobile’s coverage map shows its latest and greatest 5G Ultra Capacity network reaches into many cities in Montana, including Missoula, Great Falls, Helena and Bozeman. However, open slots for home internet may be limited depending on demand and location.

Plans and pricing: T-Mobile’s 5G broadband network delivers typical speeds between 72-245Mbps for $50 per month. T-Mobile phone customers with an eligible plan can bundle to get home internet at a discounted rate of $30 per month.

Fees and service details: T-Mobile has no data caps, contracts or equipment fees. Expect a $35 service fee when you sign up, but the company has been offering a $50 reward card as a bonus.

Read our T-Mobile Home Internet review.

. . . Or call to order: Call to Learn More (877) 687-6988

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Starlink

Best satellite internet in Montana

. . . Or call to order: Call to Learn More (888) 479-9467

Product details

Price range $20 – $80 per month Speed range 20 – 250Mbp Connection Satellite Key Info 1TB data limit, no term contract, low latency

Rural Montanans often have to turn to satellite internet to get online from remote locations. My satellite recommendation is almost a toss-up between Starlink and Viasat, but Starlink’s speeds and potential give it an edge. Another big bonus is that no contract is required.

Availability: Starlink is available across the state, but you’ll need a clear view of the sky. Availability can change depending on demand, but you can check your location on the Starlink map.

Plans and pricing: Pricing starts at $90 per month for standard service, but be prepared for a hefty initial $599 fee for hardware. Typical download speeds range from 25-220Mbps.

Fees and service details: There are no data caps and no contracts, and Starlink offers a 30-day trial period to test the service.

Read our Starlink overview.

. . . Or call to order: Call to Learn More (888) 479-9467

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TDS Telecom

Best potential in Montana internet

. . . Or call to order: Call to Learn More (undefined) undefined-undefined

Product details

Price range $30 – $295 per month Speed range 300 – 8,000Mbps Connection Fiber Key Info Unlimited data, no contracts, money-back guarantee

Since Montana’s internet scene isn’t the strongest, looking ahead to better times is important. TDS Telecom has expansion plans for the state that make it an ISP to watch, though fiber build-outs can take time.

Availability: TDS Telecom’s fiber network is up and running in parts of Billings. In early 2023, the company announced construction plans for Helena, Butte, Missoula, Lolo and Great Falls. The goal is to connect 150,000 homes and businesses in those locations.

Plans and pricing: TDS has a variety of plans. Monthly prices start at $30 per month for 300Mbps on up to $295 for 8,000Mbps. The ISP has been offering a special deal in Billings of $70 per month for 1,000Mbps service with a lifetime pricing guarantee. That’s a decent value if you’re planning to stick around.

Fees and service details: No data caps or contracts are required, but your pricing may go up after two years, depending on which plan you choose. Check out the price-for-life plans if that’s a concern. You can rent a modem for $12 monthly or supply your own.

. . . Or call to order: Call to Learn More (undefined) undefined-undefined

Provider	Connection type	Price range	Speed range	Data cap	Availability
CenturyLink Internet	DSL	$50	1-100Mbps	None	Covers over half of Montana households
Grizzly Broadband	Fixed wireless/fiber	$65-$150	10-1,000Mbps	None	Bitterroot area
KDS Networks	Fixed wireless/fiber	$55-$160	9-1,000Mbps	None	Great Falls area
Missoula Valley Internet Co-op	Fixed wireless	Typically $25-$100 based on usage	100-500Mbps	None	Missoula Valley
Montana Internet	Fixed wireless/fiber	$65-$89 for fixed wireless	8-500Mbps	None	Great Falls, Helena and Lewiston areas
MontanaSky Networks	Fixed wireless/fiber/cable	$55-$100	50-1,000Mbps	None	Marion, Kalispell, Whitefish, West Glacier, Libby, Troy, Lakeside and more
Rural Broadband	Fixed wireless	$50-$100	15-60Mbps	None	Billings area
Wispwest	Fixed wireless	$49-$96	15-50Mbps	None	Southern Montana

1 World Solutions Technology News & Info

1 World Solutions Technology News & Info

Best Internet Providers in Montana – CNET

`Best Internet Providers in Montana - CNET`