What is the best internet provider in Coon Rapids?

Coon Rapids doesn't have the widest choice of broadband providers. But CNET's pick for the best internet service provider in Coon Rapids is Xfinity, which gets you fast speeds and broad availability. Plans start from an affordable $20 a month for 150 megabits per second and go all the way to 1200Mbps, guaranteeing something for everyone.

CenturyLink also covers much of the Coon Rapids area, but the relatively slow speeds make it less of a practical broadband option. Fellow Lumen Technologies brand Quantum Fiber is also available in select parts of Coon Rapids, but coverage is much more limited than in Minneapolis. 

If you’re looking for more high-speed internet choices, consider fixed wireless internet from Verizon 5G Home Internet or T-Mobile Home Internet. Both services are competitively priced and offer a discount for qualifying mobile customers in addition to free equipment, unlimited data and no contracts.

The best alternative to Xfinity in Coon Rapids may prove to be Gateway Fiber, a new ISP offering speeds of 300 to 2,000Mbps, the fastest in the area, starting at $65 to $150 per month with no added fees or contracts. Availability is currently somewhat random and limited in Coon Rapids while the provider continues expansion, but a Gateway Fiber spokesperson has confirmed that service is now available to thousands of households in the area.

Best internet in Coon Rapids, Minnesota

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Coon Rapids

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

Coon Rapids internet providers, such as Xfinity and T-Mobile Home Internet, may offer lower introductory pricing, unlimited data or added perks for a limited time. Others, including Gateway Fiber and Verizon 5G Home Internet, run the same standard pricing year-round. 

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

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 Federal Communications Commission. 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 Coon Rapids

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’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.

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?

While the answer to those questions is 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, 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.

Internet providers in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, FAQs