Best Internet Providers in Flagstaff, Arizona

What is the best internet provider in Flagstaff?

According to CNET, The optimum is the best overall internet provider for most households in Flagstaff. It offers wide coverage and a maximum download speed of 1000 megabits per second. That said, Optimum service isn’t available everywhere in Flagstaff, so Quantum Fiber is also a solid choice, depending on what’s available in your area.

If you’re looking for the lowest prices or fastest speeds, we’ve found those top options, too. Flagstaff’s cheapest internet is Optimum’s $40/month 300Mbps plan with hardware included. Flagstaff’s fastest internet speed is a tie between Optimum’s 1000 Mbps cable plan and Quantum Fiber’s 940 Mbps plan. Quantum Fiber offers just as fast uploads, but availability is extremely limited.

The best internet in Flagstaff, Arizona

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Other available internet providers in Flagstaff

• Bluespan: Bluespan is one of several fixed wireless ISPs that fill coverage areas not reached by wired Internet options like cable or DSL. Bluespan does not advertise prices or speeds, so you should check with the company for coverage and plan information for your address. Fixed wireless makes sense for rural homes that don’t have good wired internet options. Also, consider it as an alternative to slow DSL. Coverage and speeds depend on your location and a good line of sight to a tower. Here’s how wireless compares to other types of internet.
• Broadband selection: Choice specialized in rural telephone and internet service. Expect internet speeds of up to 25 Mbps. Plans start at $45 per month with a $150 setup fee and a two-year contract.
• Hospitality Wireless: Fixed wireless provider Hospitality Wireless covers most of the Flagstaff area with plans starting at $60 per month for speeds up to 30 Mbps with a two-year contract. No data limits.
• Satellite Internet: If you live in a rural area near Flagstaff and can’t get good service from one of our top recommended ISPs, check out satellite Internet from Starlink, Viasat, or Hughesnet. It can be expensive and speeds tend to be variable, but satellite is a viable option for remote locations. You’ll need a clear view of the sky, so keep that in mind if you’re in a heavily wooded area.

Cheap Internet Options in Flagstaff

Optimum is the leading ISP for Flagstaff and also has the cheapest plan in town (not counting T-Mobile’s home internet bundle deal). The cable company’s 300 Mbps plan runs $40 a month. If you’re in one of the few areas served by Quantum Fiber, then jump on the $50/month 500Mbps plan with symmetrical speeds. Otherwise, it’s hard to beat Optimum’s price/speed equation in Flagstaff.

What is the cheapest internet plan in Flagstaff?

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find deals and promotions online in Flagstaff

The best internet deals and top promotions in Flagstaff depend on what discounts are available during that time. Most deals are short-lived, but we often look for the latest deals.

Flagstaff Internet providers, like Optimum, may offer lower introductory prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many of these, including Quantum Fiber and Bluespan, tend to have the same standard price throughout the year.

For a more extensive list of promotions, check out our guide to the best internet deals.

How fast is Flagstaff broadband?

Despite the lack of multi-gig options and fiber internet, Flagstaff performed well in a recent Ookla speed test report. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) The City in the Pines posted an average fixed Internet download speed of 270 Mbps, which is more than the Arizona speed test average as a whole. Optimum checks in as Flagstaff’s fastest provider, which makes sense considering there’s little competition. CenturyLink’s widespread but slow DSL network doesn’t put up much of a fight, and Quantum Fiber is hard to find.

Fastest internet plans in Flagstaff

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 handle the basics: web browsing, sending and receiving email, and 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 Flagstaff

Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen appliance, it’s impractical to personally test every internet service provider in a given city. What is our approach? For starters, we use a proprietary database of pricing, availability, and speed information that is based on our historical ISP data, partner data, and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.

It doesn’t stop 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 as 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 answer to these questions is often layered and complex, the providers that come closest to saying “yes” to all three are the ones we recommend. When choosing the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also consider 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 consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.

To explore our process in more depth, visit our page on how we test ISPs.

What is the final word on internet providers in Flagstaff?

The flagpole can be a tricky place for the internet. Most residents will choose to go with Optimum thanks to its availability and gig speed level if you need larger downloads. It also offers one of the most affordable plans in the city at 300 Mbps. Consider Quantum Fiber and its symmetric speeds if you happen to live in a coverage pocket. If Optimum doesn’t work for you, then check out T-Mobile’s 5G home internet deals. After that, contact Bluespan or another fixed wireless provider. Rural and remote homes may need to investigate another option such as Starlink satellite internet.

ISPs in Flagstaff FAQ