What is the best internet provider in Boise?

Our CNET experts found that T-Mobile is the best internet provider in Boise for most households, thanks to its affordability, reliable speeds and high customer satisfaction. With limited options in the Boise area, T-Mobile stands out with competitive pricing and speeds that meet the needs of most households. Plans start at $50 per month but eligible mobile customers can get coverage for as low as $35 per month.

Beyond T-Mobile, there are a few other providers that may be worth considering. If you are after affordable plans, Sparklight starts at $42 per month for 100Mbps, which is the most affordable plan in the area. CTC Telecom’s Wilderness Wireless plan is another budget-friendly option at $49 a month, making it the second most affordable in the region. Mobile internet from Verizon can also be a cost-effective alternative, offering stable pricing without fluctuating introductory rates. Prices start at $50 but you can get a $15 discount when you bundle with an eligible phone plan.

For those seeking the fastest speeds, Quantum Fiber’s 8-gig plan is the top choice, although it’s only available in select areas. Quantum Fiber also offers a 3-gig and 2-gig plan, Quantum Fiber and Sparklight offer 1-gig plans citywide but Quantum Fiber stands out with symmetrical upload and download speeds.

Customer satisfaction plays a key role in CNET’s ranking, with T-Mobile earning the highest marks, further cementing its position as Boise’s best overall internet provider.

Best internet in Boise, Idaho 

Source: CNET analysis of provider data

Other available internet providers in Boise

• Satellite Internet: These services are available virtually everywhere. Two options for this type of provider are Hughesnet and Viasat. Most locations we checked for Viasat in Boise topped off at 12Mbps speeds with 35-65GB of data allocation. Prices ranged from $70 to $150 monthly. Unlike Hughesnet, Viasat customers can enjoy their plans without being tied down by contracts. Hughesnet plans will run from $75 to $90 monthly, discounted down to a range of $50 to $65 monthly for the Boise area with available speeds from 50Mbps to 100Mbps. The higher-end $120 plan discounted to $95 combines satellite and wireless internet for lower latency. This also requires a two-year contract and equipment rental or purchase.
• SpeedyQuick Networks: This is another wireless provider serving the Boise region, with plans costing anywhere between $60 and $165 per month. Download speeds range from 10Mbps to 40Mbps but will vary based on your address.
• White Cloud: This Idaho-based company offers residential internet in Boise. It’s a wireless connection and plans range from $50 to $150 monthly.
• CTC Telecom/Wilderness Wireless: This company provides internet service to customers in Idaho and Eastern Oregon. There are no contracts required but you will need to pay a $129 installation fee. The base plan is $49 per month and the top-tier plan is $95 monthly. It’s available in the extreme outskirts of the city.

Cheap internet options in Boise

Most of the internet options in Boise start around $50 per month. The cheapest internet plan in town is $42 monthly from Sparklight with 100Mbps download speed. The best value for speed in Boise is Quantum Fiber, whose 1-gigabit plan is a monthly fixed price of $75 and is currently priced for life in the Boise market.

What’s the cheapest internet plan in Boise?

Source: CNET analysis of provider data

How to find internet deals and promotions in Boise

The best internet deals and top promotions in Boise depend on what discounts are available during that time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers. 

Boise internet providers, such as Sparklight and T-Mobile Home Internet, may offer lower introductory pricing for a limited time. Others, including Quantum Fiber, run the same standard pricing year-round. 

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

How fast is Boise broadband?

Boise didn’t distinguish itself too well among the top 100 cities in the US, per Ookla’s most recent speed test data. Boise’s median download speed was just shy of 188Mbps, which was good for 83rd place. That’s not great but it’s better than the 141Mbps that Idaho scored as a state. Overall, the results you’ll see at home will vary based on your location, equipment, internet connection type and network congestion. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)

What are the fastest internet plans in Boise?

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 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 at the same time.

How CNET chose the best internet providers 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 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? 

The answers to those questions are often layered and complex, but 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, 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 Boise?

Boise has a good range of internet providers, meeting lots of different customer preferences. You can opt for a cheap wireless plan or go all in on a top-of-the-line fiber plan. Either way, you’re likely to find reliable, fast service for your home in the metro area.

Internet providers in Boise FAQs