What is the best internet provider in North Dakota?
Midco is CNET’s pick for the best internet service providers for most households in North Dakota. We’ve picked it as the go-to option because the service offers fast speeds and wide availability and positive customer service. However, Midco doesn’t cover the entirety of North Dakota. If Midco isn’t available at your address, alternatives like T-Mobile Home Internet and various local fiber providers offer excellent service where available.
Looking for the lowest prices or fastest speeds? We’ve found those top options, too. Midco’s 250Mbps plan starting at $39 monthly is the most affordable widely available option, though special promotions might offer even better deals. Midco offers some of the fastest internet around with its 5,000Mbps fiber plan as well, but availability is limited. Many rural communities and smaller towns can take advantage of gigabit fiber connections from local providers. We recommend checking your address to find the best available service options for your location.
Best internet in North Dakota
North Dakota internet providers compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluepeak | Fiber | $55-$100 | 1,000-5,000Mbps | None | None | None | N/A |
| CenturyLink DSL Read full review |
DSL | $55 | 3-100Mbps | $15 (optional) | None | None | 6.7 |
| Dakota Central | Fiber | $50-$100 | 250-1,000Mbps | $10 (optional) | None | None | N/A |
| DRN | Fiber | $75-$150 | 250-1,000Mbps | Varies | None | Optional | N/A |
| Midco | Cable/fiber/fixed wireless | $39-$249 | 35-5,000Mbps | Varies | None | None | N/A |
| Sparklight Read full review |
Cable | $29-$59 | 300-1,000Mbps | $14 (optional) | 5TB soft cap | None | 6.9 |
| SRT Communications | Fiber/DSL | $50-$130 | 25-2,000Mbps | None | None | None | N/A |
| Quantum Fiber | Fiber | $50-$75 | 500-940Mbps | None | None | None | 6.7 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$55 with eligible mobile plans) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers) | 50-300Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
| Starlink Read full review |
Satellite | $90-$120 | 25-220Mbps | None (One-time $349 fee) | None | None | 6.5 |
| Plan | Starting monthly price | Monthly equipment fee | Max download speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sparklight Read full review |
$29 | $14 (optional) | 300Mbps |
| Midco | $39 | Varies | 250Mbps |
| Bluepeak 1 Gig Fiber | $55 | None | 1,000Mbps |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | None | 245Mbps |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | None | 100Mbps |
| Quantum Fiber | $50 | None | 500Mbps |
Show more (9 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s 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 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.
For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.
- 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 person sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
- 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two people to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming.
- 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more people to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in North Dakota
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 answers to those questions are often layered and complex, the providers that 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, though 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 North Dakota?
Many households in North Dakota have Midco cable, fiber or fixed wireless internet as an option. The service is solid, and the speeds range from reasonable for cable or fixed wireless to crazy-fast regarding fiber. Other providers like Quantum Fiber and Bluepeak have a small presence in North Dakota, but you’re most likely to encounter Midco as a top option.
The story of broadband runs deep and wide across North Dakota. The state’s rural areas are well served by fiber internet. A patchwork of local ISPs covers small towns and remote homes alike. Here’s a partial list of these providers: BEK Communications, Dakota Central, DRN, SRT Communications, Polar Communications, Northwest Communications, MLGC and Consolidated Telcom. You’ll find symmetrical speeds of at least a gig (and sometimes more). That’s plenty fast enough to turn your rural hideaway into an internet fast lane.
Internet providers in North Dakota FAQs
Who is the cheapest internet provider in North Dakota?
Midco’s 5,000Mbps fiber plan is one of the fastest in North Dakota but has limited availability. Check on Bluepeak’s 5,000Mbps fiber plan if you’re in Grand Forks, as well. Many of the local ISPs that service the state’s rural areas offer gig fiber speeds.
Is fiber internet available in North Dakota?
Midco’s cable, fiber and fixed wireless networks cover over 63% of North Dakota households, according to the FCC. The fiber network is the least widespread of the three connection types, but it offers the fastest speeds at up to 5,000Mbps.
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