What is the best internet provider in Boise?

Looking for the best internet provider in Boise, Idaho? CNET has got all the answers you need to help you make the right choice. T-Mobile is CNET's pick for the best overall internet provider in Boise, Idaho. Boise doesn't have a ton of internet options, but when it comes to coverage, pricing and decent speeds, T-Mobile is the top choice. It has competitive pricing and good enough speeds for most. More importantly, it comes out on top in customer satisfaction.

There are other options to consider, too. For example, Sparklight's $45-per-month plan promises speeds as high as 300 megabits per second. It's worth noting this is an introductory price for the first 12 months of service and jumps to $60 per month afterward. CTC Telecom's Wilderness Wireless $49-per-month plan is the second cheapest in the area. Elsewhere, T-Mobile and Verizon's mobile offerings can bump down the monthly bill for eligible customers. If price consistency is what you seek, that may be the way to go. If the lowest cost is your goal, it may be worth taking advantage of the cheaper promo rate with Sparklight. 

The fastest internet speed in Boise is Quantum Fiber's 8-gig plan -- but it's available only in select locations. In most areas of Boise, Quantum Fiber and Sparklight both offer a 1-gig plan, but only Quantum Fiber offers symmetrical upload and download speeds.

When it comes to customer satisfaction, T-Mobile comes out ahead. Customer care carries the biggest weight in how CNET scores internet providers, giving T-Mobile the edge as the best overall provider in Boise.

Best internet in Boise, Idaho 

Source: CNET analysis of provider data

Other available internet providers in Boise

• CTC Telecom/Wilderness Wireless: This company provides internet service to customers in Idaho and Eastern Oregon. There are no contracts required. The base plan is $49 per month, and the top-tier plan is $95 monthly.
• Satellite Internet: These services are available virtually everywhere. Two options for this type of provider are Hughesnet and Viasat. Viasat's new all-in-one plan features download speeds up to 150Mbps for $100 monthly. Most locations we checked in Boise topped off at 12Mbps speeds with 35-65GB of data allocation. Prices ranged between $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 $50 and $65, for the Boise area with available speeds from 50 to 100Mbps. 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 10 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 $55 to $150 monthly.

Cheap internet options in Boise

Most of the internet options in Boise start around $50 per month. The cheapest internet plan in town is $40 monthly from Sparklight with 100Mbps download speed. That's a 12-month introductory rate that changes to $50 per month after the promo period ends. 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.

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