Internet Providers in Boise, ID | 4 Best Choices

What is the best internet provider in Boise?

T-Mobile named best overall internet provider in Boise, Idaho by CNET. There aren’t many network options in Boise, but for coverage, price, and decent speeds, T-Mobile is the top choice. It’s competitively priced and has good enough speeds for most people. What’s more, it ranks high in customer satisfaction.

There are other options to consider. For example, Sparklight’s $45-per-month plan promises speeds of up to 300 megabits per second. It’s worth noting that this is the introductory price for the first 12 months of service, after which it jumps to $60 per month. CTC Telecom’s Wilderness Wireless plan is $49 per month, making it the second-cheapest plan in the area. Elsewhere, mobile products from T-Mobile and Verizon can lower monthly bills for qualifying customers. If you’re looking for price consistency, this might be your best option. If you’re aiming for lowest cost, it might be worth taking advantage of Sparklight’s cheaper promotional pricing.

The fastest internet speeds in Boise are Quantum Fiber’s 8-gig plans, but they’re only available in select locations. In most areas of Boise, both Quantum Fiber and Sparklight offer 1-gig plans, but only Quantum Fiber offers symmetrical upload and download speeds.

When it comes to customer satisfaction, T-Mobile ranks high. Customer service is the biggest factor in CNET’s ratings of network providers, giving T-Mobile the edge as Boise’s best overall provider.

Best Internet in Boise, Idaho

Source: CNET analysis of provider profiles

Other available internet providers in Boise

• CTC Telecom/Wilderness Wireless: The company provides Internet services to customers in Idaho and eastern Oregon. No contract required. The basic plan is $49 per month and the top plan is $95 per month.
• satellite network: These services are available almost everywhere. Two options for this type of provider are Hughesnet and Viasat. Viasat’s new all-in-one plan has download speeds of up to 150Mbps and costs $100 per month. Most locations we checked in Boise had top speeds of 12Mbps and data allotments of 35-65GB. Prices range from $70 to $150 per month. Unlike Hughesnet, Viasat customers can enjoy their plans without being tied to a contract. Hughesnet plans are priced at $75 to $90 per month, with discounts to $50 to $65, and speeds available in the Boise area range from 50 to 100 Mbps. This also requires a two-year contract and equipment rental or purchase.
• fast network: This is another wireless provider serving the Boise area, with plans ranging from $60 to $165 per month. Download speeds range from 10 to 40Mbps, but will vary depending on your address.
• Baiyun: The Idaho-based company provides residential internet services in Boise. It’s wireless, and plans range from $55 to $150 per month.

Cheap internet options in Boise

Most Internet services in Boise start at about $50 per month. The cheapest internet plan in town is Sparklight for $40 per month, with download speeds of 100Mbps. This is the introductory rate for 12 months and will become $50 per month after the promotional period. The best speed value in Boise is Quantum Fiber, which has a fixed monthly price of $75 for a 1 GB plan and lifetime pricing currently in the Boise market.

What are the cheapest internet plans in Boise?

Source: CNET analysis of provider profiles

How to Find Boise Online Deals and Promotions

Boise’s best online deals and top promotions depend on the discounts available during that time period. Most offers are short-lived, but we’re often on the lookout for the latest deals.

Boise internet providers like Sparklight and T-Mobile Home Internet may offer lower promotional prices for a limited time. Other products, including quantum fiber, have the same standard pricing year-round.

For a more extensive list of deals, check out our guide to the best internet deals.

How fast is the Boise Kwan?

Boise doesn’t stand out among the top 100 U.S. cities, according to Ookla’s latest speed test data. Boise’s median download speed was just under 188Mbps, ranking it 83rd. That’s not great, but it’s better than Idaho’s 141Mbps. Overall, the results you see at home will vary based on your location, device, connection type, and network congestion.

What is the fastest internet plan in Boise?

Source: CNET analysis of provider profiles

What is a good internet speed?

Most Internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for a network plan that can accommodate video conferencing, streaming video, or gaming, you’ll get a better experience with a stronger connection. Below is an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications according to the FCC. Please note that these are guidelines only and Internet speeds, service and performance vary based on connection type, provider and address.

For more information, see our guide on the internet speed you really need.

• 0 to 5Mbps lets you handle the basics: browsing the Internet, sending and receiving email, and streaming low-quality video.
• 5 to 40Mbps provides you with higher quality video streaming and video conferencing.
• 40 to 100Mbps should provide enough bandwidth for one user to meet the needs of modern remote working, video streaming, and online gaming.
• 100 to 500Mbps allows one or two users to participate in high-bandwidth activities such as video conferencing, streaming media, and online gaming at the same time.
• 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities simultaneously.

CNET How to choose the best internet provider in Boise

Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What is our approach? First, we leverage a proprietary database of pricing, availability, and speed information drawn from our own historical ISP data, partner data, and map information from the Federal Communications Commission’s FCC.gov.

It didn’t end there: We visited the FCC’s website to check our data and make sure we accounted for every ISP offering service in a certain area. We will also enter your local address on the provider website to find specific options for residents. We evaluate customer satisfaction with ISP services by looking at sources such as the US Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power. ISP plans and prices may change frequently; all information provided is accurate as of publication time.

Once we have localized information, we ask three main questions:

• Does the provider offer reasonably fast internet speeds?
• Are customers getting value for money?
• Are customers satisfied with their service?

The answers to these questions are often layered and complex, but we recommend the provider who comes closest to a “yes” on these three questions. When choosing the cheapest internet service, we look for the plan with the lowest monthly fee, although we also consider factors like price increases, equipment costs, and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively simple. 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 to Test ISPs page.

What’s the final decision on Boise’s internet provider?

Boise has numerous internet providers that can cater to many different customer preferences. You can choose a cheap wireless plan or go all out and go for a top-tier fiber optic plan. Either way, you’re likely to find reliable, fast service for your home in the metro area.

Boise Internet Provider FAQs