Best Internet Providers in St. Paul, Minnesota – CNET

What is the best internet provider in St. Paul?

Quantum Fiber is the best internet provider for most people in St. Paul. It offers fast, symmetrical speeds at a reasonable price, and you won’t have to worry about equipment fees, data caps or contracts. The downside: It’s only available to about half of St. Paul residents, but Xfinity and T-Mobile are both solid backup options. 

Xfinity has the cheapest internet in St. Paul by a mile, with plans starting at just $20 a month. That said, prices increase significantly after one or two years (or both), and some plans require a contract to get the lowest price. If those caveats sound like they’re not worth the headache, T-Mobile offers a refreshingly simple option: one plan for $50 a month with no price increases, hidden fees or data caps.

Our methodology

Quantum Fiber

Best internet provider in St. Paul

. . .

Product details

Xfinity

Cheapest internet in St. Paul

. . .

Product details

T-Mobile Home Internet

Best fixed wireless internet in St. Paul

. . .

Product details

Provider Internet technology Monthly price range Speed range Monthly equipment costs Data cap Contract CNET review score Quantum Fiber Fiber $50-$75 500-940Mbps None None None 6.7 T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed wireless $50 ($30 with eligible mobile plans) 72-245Mbps None None None 7.4 Verizon 5G Home Internet Fixed wireless $50-$70 ($35-$45 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers) 85-1,000Mbps None None None 7.2 Xfinity Cable $20-$70 75-1,200Mbps $15 (included on most plans) 1.2TB on some plans Optional 7

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Other available internet providers in St. Paul

  • Nextera Communications: Nextera offers fixed wireless internet in St. Paul, but it’s an undesirable combination of expensive and slow. Plans start at $125 a month for just 10/3Mbps speeds — and that’s with a two-year contract. Another minor annoyance: Nextera makes you fill out a form to see what its plans cost and you’ll have to wait for it to email you back to find out. This is one of the rare situations where I’d go with a satellite provider instead.
  • Satellite internet: You can technically get satellite internet from HughesNet and Viasat everywhere in St. Paul, but I’d only recommend it if your only other option is Nextera. Both ISPs have slow speeds, steep prices and data caps that make things like streaming TV and working from home unrealistic. SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet gives you faster speeds, but it’s expensive at $120 per month for service, plus $599 upfront for the equipment.
  • Verizon 5G Home Internet: Like T-Mobile, Verizon 5G Home Internet uses its mobile network to offer home internet services in St. Paul. It’s not as widely available in the city as T-Mobile, but it reaches faster speeds and you can save by bundling with an eligible Verizon cellphone plan.
Alexander Lamar/Getty Images

Cheap internet options in St. Paul

Residents of St. Paul can expect to find a range of internet prices between $20 and $70 per month. That is a much lower starting price than most cities offer, and it’s thanks to Xfinity’s dirt-cheap Connect and Connect More plans. In the third year, these prices increase to $51 and $63, respectively.

What’s the cheapest internet plan in St. Paul?

Show more (2 items)

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in St. Paul

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

St. Paul internet providers such as Xfinity may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, however, including Quantum Fiber, T-Mobile and Verizon, run the same standard pricing year-round. 

For a more extensive list of deals, check out our guide on the best internet deals

How fast is St. Paul broadband?

According to Ookla speed test data, St. Paul ranks 89th out of the 100 most populous cities in the US when it comes to internet speed. Residents experience median speeds of 160Mbps download and 20Mbps upload in the city, with Xfinity being the fastest provider. That’s actually slightly higher than neighboring Minneapolis, which ranks 93rd.

Fastest internet plans in St. Paul

Is fiber internet available in St. Paul?

Which internet provider in St. Paul offers the fastest plan?

Leave a Reply