Optimum is the best internet provider overall for most households in Flagstaff because of its broad coverage and a top download speed of 940 megabits per second. That being said, Optimum service isn’t available everywhere in Flagstaff, so Quantum Fiber or Verizon 5G Home Internet are also solid picks, depending on what’s available in your area.
If you’re hunting for the lowest prices or fastest speeds, we’ve also found those top options. Flagstaff’s cheapest internet is Optimum’s $40-per-month 300Mbps plan with equipment included. Flagstaff’s fastest internet speed is a tie between Optimum’s 940Mbps cable plan and Quantum Fiber’s 940Mbps plan. Quantum Fiber offers equally fast uploads, but availability is extremely limited.
Our methodology
Speed range
300 – 2,000Mbps
Price range
$40 – $120 per month
Our take – Optimum doesn’t have a lot of competition in Flagstaff. The cable ISP covers 85% of area homes and offers download speeds up to 940Mbps.
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Check with Optimum
Speed range
300 – 2,000Mbps
Price range
$40 – $120 per month
Connection
DSL
Connection
DSL
Speed range
85 – 1,000Mbps
Price range
$50 – $70 per month
Our take – Verizon and T-Mobile are neck and neck when it comes to offering 5G home internet service. Verizon has the potential for lower prices, but you may prefer to try out the ISP that matches your phone service.
Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here’s an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.
0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics: browsing the internet, sending and receiving email and streaming low-quality video.
5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
40 to 100Mbps should give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming.
500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Flagstaff
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every internet service provider in a given city. What’s our approach? For starters, we tap into a proprietary database of pricing, availability and speed information that draws from our own historical ISP data, partner data and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
It doesn’t end there: We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
Are customers happy with their service?
While the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. 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 how we test ISPs page.
What’s the final word on internet providers in Flagstaff?
Flagstaff can be a tricky place for internet. Most residents will choose to go with Optimum thanks to availability and a gig speed tier if you need zippier downloads. It also offers one of the most affordable plans in town at the 300Mbps level. Give weight to Quantum Fiber and its symmetrical speeds if you happen to live in a pocket of coverage. If Optimum doesn’t work out for you, then check into Verizon and T-Mobile’s 5G home internet offerings. After that, get in touch with Bluespan or another fixed wireless provider. Rural and remote homes may need to investigate a fallback option like Starlink satellite internet.
Internet providers in Flagstaff FAQs
What is the cheapest internet provider in Flagstaff?
Optimum and Quantum Fiber are tied for the fastest download speeds in town at 940Mbps. Quantum Fiber’s uploads hit 940Mbps while Optimum’s top out at 35Mbps.
Is fiber internet available in Flagstaff?
Lumen, the parent company of CenturyLink and Quantum Fiber, has the widest wired coverage across Flagstaff, according to FCC data. The combined DSL and fiber network reaches just over 89% of homes. Optimum’s cable network isn’t far behind at just over 85%.
