What is the best internet provider in Portland?
CNET’s team of experts’ top pick for broadband service provider in Portland is Xfinity. It covers over 99% of the city and offers flexible, no-contract plans. If Xfinity isn’t available at your address, Quantum Fiber, Starlink and T-Mobile are strong alternatives.
For the most affordable options, Xfinity and Ziply Fiber both offer affordable monthly plans. Xfinity Connect gives you speeds of up to 150 megabits per second for just $20 a month, while Ziply Fiber has 100Mbps for only $20. For super-fast internet, Ziply Fiber offers a plan that matches Xfinity’s 2000Mbps option. Some areas are also eligible for the 8-gig plan by Quantum Fiber. If you’re thinking about bundling your internet with TV, cable companies like Xfinity and Astound Broadband have plans that can deliver over a gigabit of speed.
Portland internet providers compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astound Broadband Read full review |
Cable | $20 | 300-1,000Mbps | None | Varies; 500GB-1TB or unlimited | None | 7 |
| CenturyLink Read full review |
DSL | $55 | 10-100Mbps | $15 modem | None | None | 6.7 |
| Quantum Fiber | Fiber | $30-$165 | 200-8000Mbps (varies by location) | None | None | None | 6.7 |
| Starlink Read full review |
Satellite | $120 | 25-220Mbps | $249 one-time purchase | 40GB-5TB on some plans | None | 6.5 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$55 for eligible mobile customers) | 87-415Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 for eligible mobile customers) | 50-250Mbps (varies by location) | None | None | None | 7.2 |
| Xfinity Read full review |
Cable/Fiber | $20-$85 | 150-2000Mbps | $15-$25 (included in most plans) | 1.2TB for some plans | 1 year for some plans | 7 |
| Ziply Fiber | Fiber | $20-$70 | 100-2000Mbps | $15 | None | None | 7.2 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Portland
The best internet deals and top promotions in Portland depend on the available discounts. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Internet providers in popular cities near Portland
See all results for internet providers in Oregon.
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 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 like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming all at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Portland
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 Portland?
When choosing an internet service provider, you’re always better off choosing fiber internet over all other options if it’s available. Ziply Fiber and CenturyLink offer the best fiber internet plans in Portland. If fiber is unavailable in your neighborhood, cable internet or 5G fixed wireless providers offer fast and reliable connections. Just steer clear of data caps or any binding long-term contracts.
Internet providers in Portland FAQ
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