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What is the best internet provider in Duluth?
Spectrum is the best internet service provider in Duluth, Minnesota. The largest in the area cable internet provider offers fast speed and unlimited data with no contract requirements. All plans include a free modem, though renting a Wi-Fi router adds $10 to your monthly bill (unless you sign up for a 1,000Mbps plan).
The others top internet providers in Duluth included T-Mobile Home Internet, Mediacomand brands of Lumen Technologies CenturyLink and Quantum Fiber. CenturyLink has the best broadband coverage in the area, while Mediacom offers the cheapest internet in Duluth, with service starting at $20 per month for download speeds of up to 250 megabits per second.
Mediacom and Spectrum offer the fastest download speeds in Duluth, up to 1,000Mbps, starting at $60 and $70 a month, respectively. Quantum Fiber and Verizon 5G Home Internet can provide similar speeds, but the availability of both providers is very limited in Duluth.
Besides T-Mobile Home Internet and possibly Verizon 5G Home Internet, other potential fixed wireless internet options in Duluth include AirFiber and Nextera. Although the providers offer service throughout the Duluth area, the speeds are too low and the prices too high to recommend.
Best internet providers in Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth, Minnesota, internet providers compared
| giver | internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | The monthly cost of equipment | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CenturyLink Read the full review |
DSL | $55 | 20-100Mbps | $15 (optional) | nothing | nothing | 6.7 |
| Quantum Fiber | ravelled | $50-$75 | 500-940Mbps | nothing | nothing | nothing | 6.7 |
| Mediacom Read the full review |
Cable | $35-$70 | 100-1,000Mbps | $14 | 350-3,000GB | nothing | 6.4 |
| Spectrum Read the full review |
Cable | $50-$70 | 500-1,000Mbps | Free modem; $10 router (free on gig plan) | nothing | nothing | 7.2 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$55 with eligible mobile plans) | 87-415Mbps | nothing | nothing | nothing | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers) | 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 Duluth?
| plan | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mediacom Internet Read the full review |
$20 | 250Mbps | $15 per month |
| Quantum Fiber | $50 | 500Mbps | nothing |
| Spectrum Internet Read the full review |
$50 | 500Mbps | $10 (optional) |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 300Mbps | nothing |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 318Mbps | nothing |
| CenturyLink Unlimited Read the full review |
$55 | 100Mbps | $15 (optional) |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Duluth
The best internet deals and top promotions in Duluth depend on what discounts are available at that time. Most deals don’t last, but we’re always on the lookout for the latest offers.
Duluth internet providers, such as Mediacom, may offer lower introductory prices or bonus add-ons for a limited time. Many, including Spectrum and CenturyLink, run the same base price year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, see our guide to best deals on the internet.
Fastest internet plans in Duluth
| plan | Starting price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mediacom Internet 1 Gig Read the full review |
$60 | 1,000Mbps | 50Mbps | There is no limit | Cable |
| Spectrum Internet Gig Read the full review |
$70 | 1,000Mbps | 35Mbps | nothing | Cable |
| Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read the full review |
$70 ($45 with eligible mobile plans) | 1,000Mbps | 75Mbps | nothing | Fixed wireless |
| Quantum Fiber | $75 | 940Mbps | 940Mbps | nothing | ravelled |
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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 are looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you will have a better experience with a stronger connection. Here is an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for different applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines — and 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 user with enough bandwidth to satisfy the needs of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
- 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities such as videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming.
- 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to participate in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET picks the best internet providers in Duluth, Minnesota
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? We started by researching pricing, availability and speed information drawing on our own historical ISP data, provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission of 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 at the time of 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 answers to these questions are often layered and complex, providers who are close to “yes” to all three are the ones we recommend. When it comes to 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 also consider real-world speed data from sources such as 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 Duluth, Minnesota, FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Duluth?
Spectrum is the best internet service provider in Duluth, offering the best high-speed internet coverage with download speeds up to 1,000Mbps. The contract-free service includes unlimited data and a free modem rental.
Is fiber internet available in Duluth?
According to the FCCless than 1% of Duluth homes, or about 500 addresses, have access to fiber internet. Serviceability is greatest east of the airport and around Miller Hill Mall, although availability is scarce throughout Duluth. Quantum Fiber is the only fiber internet provider in the area.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Duluth?
Mediacom has the lowest internet rates in Duluth at $20 per month for speeds up to 250Mbps. However, the provider charges an unavoidable monthly fee of $15 to rent a modem. Among other providers that charge equipment fees, Spectrum has a $10 equipment rental fee on the 500Mbps plan, although customers can bypass it by using their own router or upgrade plan to 1 gig.
Which internet provider in Duluth offers the fastest plan?
Spectrum and Mediacom offer download speeds of up to 1,000Mbps, starting at $70 and $60 for the latter. As cable internet providers, Spectrum and Mediacom do not offer symmetrical upload and download speeds. Spectrum upload speeds max out at 35Mbps, while Mediacom offers a slightly faster max upload speed of 50Mbps. Quantum Fiber can provide symmetrical upload and download speeds, but service in Duluth is very limited.
