What is the best internet provider in Tucson?

If you’re looking for internet service in Tucson, Arizona, you’re in luck. Tucson is home to several top-tier internet service providers, including T-Mobile, Verizon and CenturyLink, though CNET's pick for the best internet provider in Tucson is Xfinity. Xfinity offers several plans, including a cheap option at just $20 per month and others with speeds up to 1,200 megabits per second. Though fiber is the buzziest internet connection right now -- and you can get fiber in Tucson through Quantum Fiber -- it isn't as widely available yet in the city. You'll find more connectivity through cable and fixed wireless in Tucson while the fiber network grows.

Tucson may have been the setting for many old-school Western films full of tumbleweeds and saloons, but the real city is now sleek, modern and full of high-speed internet options. Quantum Fiber offers the speediest plan in the area, costing $165 a month for download speeds up to 8,000 Mbps. However, it is not widely available so you might want to look at the 2-gig plan by Cox Communications, which costs $150 a month. If you're searching for the most affordable service, check out Xfinity's 150 Mbps plan for $20 monthly.

Best internet in Tucson, Arizona

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Other available internet providers in Tucson

• CenturyLink: CenturyLink, which is owned by the same parent company, Lumen, as Quantum Fiber and operates on much of the same network, runs its DSL service throughout Tucson. The company’s limited 6Mbps plan is available for $55 per month, which doesn’t include an additional $15 monthly equipment rental fee.
• Cox Communications: Cox Communications offers cable service in Tucson, with speeds ranging from 100Mbps to 2Gbps. It operates on a hybrid fiber-coax network, so speeds will vary, and prices start at $50 per month. While customers won’t have to deal with contracts, you will have a data cap of 1.25TB.
• Verizon 5G Home Internet: Verizon’s 5G home internet service is available to about 27% of Tucson, and speeds range from 100Mbps to 300Mbps. While prices start at $60 per month, eligible mobile customers could pay as little as $35 per month with qualifying phone plans.
• Satellite internet: There are a couple of options for satellite service in Tucson: Viasat, Starlink and Hughesnet. With Hughesnet, prices start at $50 for 50Mbps. With Viasat, prices start at $55 per month for 6Mbps. Starlink’s prices start at $120, with speeds reaching as high as 220Mbps. With each ISP, you’ll pay a monthly equipment fee as well as get locked into a contract (except for Starlink, which is a bit more flexible). You may also see a price hike after just a few months, depending on what kind of contract you sign at the start.

Cheap internet options in Tucson

The average starting price for internet service in Tucson is about $47 per month. Most providers offer a $50 monthly plan, but one provider offers plans even lower than that. 

Xfinity offers the cheapest plan you’ll find in Tucson with its $20-per-month plan for download speeds of 150Mbps. Or if you need more speed, Xfinity Connect costs $35 monthly and reaches speeds up to 300Mbps.

What's the cheapest internet plan in Tucson?

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Tucson

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

Tucson internet providers, such as Xfinity and Cox, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, however, including Quantum Fiber and Verizon, 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 Tucson broadband?

In the most recent Tucson speed tests, Xfinity came out on top in expected download speeds, with Cox just behind. And in the most recent Ookla data of the entire US, Tucson came in at number 76 overall in median download speed.

Quantum Fiber, Cox Communications, Verizon and Xfinity all offer high-speed gigabit plans in Tucson, with Quantum offering the fastest speeds -- 8,000Mbps for $165 per month.

Fastest internet plans in Tucson

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 video conferencing, 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.

• 0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics -- browsing the internet, sending and receiving email, streaming low-quality video.
• 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and video conferencing.
• 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 video conferencing, streaming and online gaming. 
• 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.

For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.

How CNET chose the best internet providers in Tucson

Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike with the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information, drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.

But 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:

1. Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
2. Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
3. Are customers happy with their service?

Though the answers to those questions are 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, though 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 Tucson?

Though we rate Xfinity as the best bet in Tucson, your address will dictate which ISP is best for you. The speeds and providers vary throughout the city and the surrounding areas, so you’ll have to plug in your location to find your best options.

Internet providers in Tucson FAQ