According to CNET, The spectrum of the Internet ranked as the best overall provider in Mankatowith coverage extending to about 90% of the city, according to the FCC. As a cable provider, Spectrum offers download speeds of up to 1 gigabit per second, with plans starting at $50 for 500 megabits per second. However, upload speeds won’t match those of fiber providers like Fidium Fiber, which ranks first for speed in the area.
Fidium Fiber offers the fastest speeds in Mankato, with symmetrical download and upload speeds of up to 2000 Mbps. Its fiber plans are competitively priced, starting at $25 per month, which translates to just four cents per Mbps. Covering around 82% of the city, Fidium Fiber may not be available at every address, but it offers a great option where it is available.
For budget-conscious residents, most providers in Mankato start around $45-$50 per month for at least 100 Mbps down. Fidium Fiber’s entry-level plan is $25 per month for 100Mbps, though the price increases to $70 after the first year. Spectrum offers a similar deal at $50 for 500Mbps, which also increases after 12 months. Fixed wireless options, such as Midco, offer cheaper plans starting at $39, but top speeds are 100 Mbps.
Compare Mankato internet providers
| PROVIDER | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment | Data cap | contracts | CNET review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consolidated Communications | DSL | 54-74 dollars | 10-100Mbps | $8 (optional) | ANY | ANY | n/a |
| Fidium thread | Fiber | $25-$85 | 100-2000Mbps | $10 (optional) | ANY | ANY | n/a |
| Midco | Fixed wireless | 39 dollars | 100 Mbps | ANY | ANY | ANY | n/a |
| PC for the people | Fixed wireless | 15 dollars | 12-40 Mbps | ANY | ANY | ANY | n/a |
| The spectrum Read the full review |
CABLES | 50-70 dollars | 500-1000Mbps | $10 (optional) | ANY | ANY | 7.2 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$55 with eligible phone plans) | 72-245 Mbps | ANY | ANY | ANY | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45) | 50-1000Mbps | ANY | ANY | ANY | 7.2 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Mankato?
| PROVIDER | Initial price | Maximum discharge | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| PC for the people | 15 dollars | 12-40 Mbps | ANY |
| Fidium thread | 25 dollars | 100 Mbps | $10 (optional) |
| Midco | 39 dollars | 100 Mbps | ANY |
| Fidium thread | 45 dollars | 300 Mbps | $10 (optional) |
| The spectrum Read the full review |
50 dollars | 500 Mbps | $10 (optional) |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with an eligible phone plan) | 72-245 Mbps | ANY |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with an eligible phone plan) | 50-85 Mbps | ANY |
| Consolidated Communications | 52 dollars | 10 Mbps | ANY |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find deals and promotions online in Mankato
The best internet deals and top promotions in Mankato depend on what discounts are available during a certain time. Most deals are short-lived, but we often look for the latest deals.
Superior internet providers, such as Spectrum and Fidium Fiber, may offer lower introductory prices. Others, however, including T-Mobile and Verizon Home Internet, have the same standard prices year-round. Verizon has recently released a new series add-ons and streaming packages for just $10 extra per month, which could sweeten the deal for potential 5G internet customers.
For a more extensive list of promotions, check out our guide to the best internet deals.
Fastest internet plans in Mankato
| PROVIDER | Initial price | Maximum download speed | Maximum load speeds | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fidium thread | 85 dollars | 2000 Mbps | 2000 Mbps | ANY | Fiber |
| Fidium thread | 65 dollars | 1000 Mbps | 1000 Mbps | ANY | Fiber |
| The spectrum Read the full review |
70 dollars | 1000 Mbps | 35 Mbps | ANY | CABLES |
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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 fast connection with reliable download and upload speeds. Here is a summary of the minimum recommended download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are guidelines only: 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 person enough bandwidth to meet the demands of modern telecommunications, video streaming, and online gaming.
- 100 to 500 Mbps allows one to two people to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities such as video conferencing, streaming, and online gaming.
- 500 to 1000 Mbps allows three or more people to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET chose the best Internet providers in Mankato
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? For starters, we use a proprietary pricing, availability, and speed database that’s based on our historical ISP data, partner data, and mapping 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 as of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three key questions:
- Does the provider offer 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 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 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 Mankato Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best internet service provider in Mankato?
Spectrum Internet is the best internet service provider in Mankato because of its city wide coverage, competitive introductory prices and solid internet speeds. Spektri offers two plans, from 500 Mbps to 1,000 Mbps. Prices start at $50 per month and go up to $70. Just keep in mind that Spectrum raises prices after a year by $30.
Is fiber internet available in Mankato?
You can get a fiber Internet connection in Mankato from Fidium Fiber, the only fiber provider in this Midwestern city. Fidium Fiber has an entry-level symmetrical 100 Mbps download and upload speed for just $25 per month, which increases to $70 after one year of service. All Fidium Fiber plans increase after the first year of service, but even with the price increase, the average cost per Mbps across all plans is just 12 cents. There are no data limits, required contracts or device ees.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Mankato?
Most Internet providers in Mankato start at $45 to $50 per month. Fidium Fiber offers one of the cheapest plans at $25 per month for fast 100Mbps symmetrical download and upload speeds. With PCs for People, a local wireless provider, you can pay just $15 per month for maximum speeds of 40 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload. You may qualify for discounts from Internet providers like Spectrum or Verizon if you meet low-income household qualifiers, or you can lower your monthly Internet price by bundling a phone plan with Internet, as is the case with T-Mobile and Verizon.
Which internet provider in Mankato offers the fastest speed?
As in many cities, the fastest Internet provider in Mankato is a fiber provider: Fidium Fiber. With speeds reaching 2,000 Mbps, a mid-tier of 1,000 Mbps and affordable prices for all tiers, Fidium Fiber is one of the most affordable providers in town. You can get high-speed internet without paying over $100 a month.
