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According to CNET, Spectrum Internet ranks as the best overall provider in Mankatowith coverage reaching about 90% of the city, according to the FCC. As a cable provider, Spectrum offers download speeds of up to 1 gigabits per second, with plans starting at $50 for 500 megabits per second. However, upload speeds are not as good as those of fiber providers Honest Fiberwhich takes the top spot for speed in that area.
Fidium Fiber offers the fastest speeds in Mankato, with symmetrical download and upload speeds up to 2,000Mbps. Its fiber plans are competitively priced, starting at $25 per month, which translates to just four cents per Mbps. Covering the environment 82% of the cityFidium Fiber may not be available at every address, but it provides an excellent option where it is available.
For budget-conscious residents, most providers in Mankato start at $45-$50 per month for at least 100Mbps and down. Fidium Fiber’s entry-level plan is $25 per month for 100Mbps, though the price rises 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 speeds max out at 100Mbps.
Mankato internet providers compared
| giver | internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment | Data cap | Contract | CNET review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consolidated Communications | DSL | $54-$74 | 10-100Mbps | $8 (optional) | nothing | nothing | n/a |
| Honest Fiber | ravelled | $25-$85 | 100-2,000Mbps | $10 (optional) | nothing | nothing | n/a |
| Midco | Fixed wireless | $39 | 100Mbps | nothing | nothing | nothing | n/a |
| PCs for People | Fixed wireless | $15 | 12-40Mbps | nothing | nothing | nothing | n/a |
| Spectrum Read the full review |
Cable | $50-$70 | 500-1,000Mbps | $10 (optional) | nothing | nothing | 7.2 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$55 with eligible phone plans) | 72-245Mbps | nothing | nothing | nothing | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45) | 50-1,000Mbps | nothing | nothing | nothing | 7.2 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Mankato?
| giver | Starting price | Max download | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCs for People | $15 | 12-40Mbps | nothing |
| Honest Fiber | $25 | 100Mbps | $10 (optional) |
| Midco | $39 | 100Mbps | nothing |
| Honest Fiber | $45 | 300Mbps | $10 (optional) |
| Spectrum Read the full review |
$50 | 500Mbps | $10 (optional) |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible phone plan) | 72-245Mbps | nothing |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible phone plan) | 50-85Mbps | nothing |
| Consolidated Communications | $52 | 10Mbps | nothing |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find deals and promotions on the internet in Mankato
The best internet deals and top promotions in Mankato depend on which discounts are available at a given time. Most deals don’t last, but we’re always on the lookout for the latest offers.
Superior internet providers, such as Spectrum and Fidium Fiber, may offer lower introductory prices. Others, however, including T-Mobile and Verizon Home Internet, run the same base price year-round. Verizon has just released a new slew of streaming add-ons and bundles for just $10 extra per month, which could sweeten the deal for potential 5G internet customers.
For a more extensive list of promos, see our guide to best deals on the internet.
Fastest internet plans in Mankato
| giver | Starting price | Max download speed | Max upload SPEED | Data Cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honest Fiber | $85 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | nothing | ravelled |
| Honest Fiber | $65 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | nothing | ravelled |
| Spectrum Read the full review |
$70 | 1,000Mbps | 35Mbps | nothing | Cable |
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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 accommodates videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a fast connection with reliable download and upload speeds. Here is an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for different applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines: internet speed, service and performance will vary by connection type, provider and address.
For more information, see our guide to how much internet speed do you need?.
- 0 to 5Mbps lets you tackle the basics — browsing the internet, sending and receiving email, streaming low-quality video.
- 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
- 40 to 100Mbps should provide a person with enough 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 such as videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming.
- 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more people to participate in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET picks the best internet providers in Mankato
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphones, laptop, router or kitchen utensilsit is not practical to personally test every ISP in a city. So what is our approach? For starters, we tapped into a proprietary pricing, availability and speed database that draws from our own historical ISP data, partner data and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission in FCC.gov.
But it doesn’t end there. We go to the FCC website to check our data and make sure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses into provider websites to find specific options for residents. We looked at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power, to assess how happy customers are with ISP service. ISP plans and prices are subject to constant change; All information provided is accurate in the publication.
Once we have this local information, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Are customers getting decent value for what they paid for?
- Are customers happy with their service?
While the answer to these questions is often layered and complex, providers who are close to “yes” to all three are the ones we recommend. When choosing the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fees, 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. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
Internet providers in Mankato FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Mankato?
Spectrum Internet is the best internet service provider in Mankato because of its wide coverage in the city, competitive introductory prices and solid internet speeds. Spectrum offers two plans, from 500Mbps to 1,000Mbps. Prices start at $50 per month and go up to $70. Just remember that Spectrum raises prices after one year to $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 introductory tier for 100Mbps symmetrical download and upload speeds for just $25 per month, increasing to $70 after a year of service. All Fidium Fiber plans increase after the first year of service, but despite the price increase, the average cost per Mbps across all plans is just 12 cents. No data limits, required contracts or equipment.
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 a month for fast speeds of 100Mbps symmetrical download and upload speeds. With PCs for People, a local fixed wireless provider, you can pay just $15 per month for a max speed of 40Mbps download and 10Mbps upload. You may qualify for discounts from internet providers like Spectrum or Verizon if you meet low-income household qualifications, or you can lower your monthly internet price by bundling a internet phone plan, as is the case with T-Mobile and Verizon.
Which internet provider in Mankato offers the fastest speeds?
Like many cities, the fastest internet provider in Mankato is a fiber provider: Fidium Fiber. With speeds of up to 2,000Mbps, an intermediate level of 1,000Mbps and affordable prices for all levels, Fidium Fiber is one of the cheapest providers in the city. You can get online with fast speed without paying more than $100 per month.
