What is the best internet provider in Duluth?
The spectrum is the best internet service provider in Duluth, Minnesota. The largest cable Internet provider in the area offers fast speeds and unlimited data with no contract requirements. All plans include a free modem, although renting a Wi-Fi router will add $10 to your monthly bill (unless you sign up for the 1000Mbps plan).
Other top internet providers in Duluth include T-Mobile Home Internet, Mediacomand Lumen Technologies brands CenturyLink AND Quantum fiber. CenturyLink has the best broadband coverage in the area, while Mediacom offers the cheapest Internet in Duluth, with service starting at $20 per month for download speeds of up to 250 megabits per second.
Mediacom and Spectrum offer the fastest download speeds in Duluth, up to 1,000 Mbps, starting at $60 and $70 per month, respectively. Quantum fiber and Verizon 5G Home Internet can deliver similar speeds, but availability of both providers is very limited in Duluth.
In addition to T-Mobile Home Internet and possibly Verizon 5G Home Internet, other possible fixed wireless Internet options in Duluth include AirFiber and Nextera. Although the providers provide service to most of Duluth, the speeds are too slow and the prices too high to recommend.
Best Internet Providers in Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth, Minnesota, compare internet providers
| PROVIDER | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | contracts | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CenturyLink Read the full review |
DSL | 55 dollars | 20-100 Mbps | $15 (optional) | ANY | ANY | 6.7 |
| Quantum fiber | Fiber | 50-75 dollars | 500-940 Mbps | ANY | ANY | ANY | 6.7 |
| Mediacom Read the full review |
CABLES | 35-70 dollars | 100-1000Mbps | 14 dollars | 350-3000 GB | ANY | 6.4 |
| The spectrum Read the full review |
CABLES | 50-70 dollars | 500-1000Mbps | Free modem; Router $10 (free on gig plan) | ANY | ANY | 7.2 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$55 with eligible cellular plans) | 87-415 Mbps | ANY | ANY | ANY | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers) | 50-1000Mbps | ANY | ANY | ANY | 7.2 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Duluth?
| Plan | Initial price | Maximum download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mediacom Internet Read the full review |
20 dollars | 250 Mbps | $15 per month |
| Quantum fiber | 50 dollars | 500 Mbps | ANY |
| The spectrum of the Internet Read the full review |
50 dollars | 500 Mbps | $10 (optional) |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible cellular plans) | 300 Mbps | ANY |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible cellular plans) | 318 Mbps | ANY |
| CenturyLink Infinite Read the full review |
55 dollars | 100 Mbps | $15 (optional) |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find deals and promotions online in Duluth
The best internet deals and top promotions in Duluth depend on what discounts are available during that time. Most deals are short-lived, but we often look for the latest deals.
Duluth Internet providers, such as Mediacom, may offer lower introductory prices or bonus add-ons for a limited time. Many, including Spectrum and CenturyLink, have the same standard prices year-round.
For a more extensive list of promotions, check out our guide to the best internet deals.
Fastest internet plans in Duluth
| Plan | Initial price | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mediacom Internet 1 Gig Read the full review |
60 dollars | 1000 Mbps | 50 Mbps | Unlimited | CABLES |
| Spectrum Internet Concert Read the full review |
70 dollars | 1000 Mbps | 35 Mbps | ANY | CABLES |
| Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read the full review |
$70 ($45 with eligible cellular plans) | 1000 Mbps | 75 Mbps | ANY | Fixed wireless |
| Quantum fiber | 75 dollars | 940 Mbps | 940 Mbps | ANY | Fiber |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is 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 video conferencing, video streaming, or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a stronger connection. Here is a summary of the minimum recommended download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are guidelines only — 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 5 Mbps lets you get by with the basics — surfing the web, sending and receiving email, streaming low-quality video.
- 5 to 40 Mbps gives you the highest quality video streaming and video conferencing.
- 40 to 100 Mbps should give a user enough bandwidth to meet the demands of modern telecommunications, video streaming and online gaming.
- 100 to 500 Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities such as video conferencing, streaming, and online gaming.
- 500 to 1000 Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET picked the best Internet providers in Duluth, Minnesota
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router, or kitchen appliance, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what is our approach? We start by researching price, availability, and speed information based on our historical ISP data, provider sites, and map information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
But it doesn’t end there. We go to the FCC website to check our records and make sure we account for every ISP that provides service in an area. We also enter local addresses into provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look to sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power, to gauge how satisfied customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent change; all information provided is correct at the time of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three key questions:
- Does the provider provide access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Are customers getting good value for what they are paying?
- Are customers satisfied with their service?
While the answers to these questions are often layered and complex, the providers that come closest to “yes” to all three are the ones we recommend. When it comes to choosing the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also take into account things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively simple. We look at advertised upload and download speeds, and also consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
To explore our process in more depth, visit our page on how we test ISPs.
Internet Providers in Duluth, Minnesota FAQ
What is the best internet service provider in Duluth?
Spectrum is the best internet service provider in Duluth, offering the best high-speed internet coverage with download speeds up to 1000 Mbps. The contract-free service includes unlimited data and a free modem rental.
Is fiber internet available in Duluth?
According to the FCC, less than 1% of Duluth households, or about 500 addresses, are usable for fiber Internet. Service is greatest just east of the airport and around Miller Hill Mall, though availability is sparse throughout Duluth. Quantum Fiber is the only fiber internet provider in the area.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Duluth?
Mediacom has the lowest internet rate in Duluth at $20 per month for speeds up to 250 Mbps. However, the provider charges an unavoidable monthly fee of $15 to rent a modem. Among other providers that charge equipment fees, Spectrum has a $10 equipment rental fee on the 500Mbps plan, though customers can bypass it by using their own router or upgrading to the 1 gig plan.
Which internet provider in Duluth offers the fastest plan?
Spectrum and Mediacom offer download speeds of up to 1,000 Mbps, starting at $70 and $60 for the latter. As cable Internet providers, Spectrum and Mediacom do not offer symmetrical upload and download speeds. Spectrum’s maximum upload speed is just 35 Mbps, while Mediacom offers a slightly faster maximum upload speed of 50 Mbps. Quantum Fiber can deliver symmetrical upload and download speeds, but service is very limited in Duluth.
