What is the best internet provider in Portland?
CNET’s team of experts’ top pick for broadband service provider in Portland is Xfinity. It covers nearly 99% of the city and offers flexible, no-contract plans. If Xfinity isn’t available at your address, Quantum Fiber, Starlink and T-Mobile are also strong alternatives.
For the most affordable options, Xfinity and Ziply Fiber both offer affordable monthly plans. Xfinity Connect gives you speeds of up to 150 megabits per second for just $20 a month, while Ziply Fiber has 100Mbps for only $10. For super-fast internet, Ziply Fiber offers a plan that matches Xfinity’s 2000Mbps option. Some areas are also eligible for the 8-gig plan by Quantum Fiber. If you’re thinking about bundling your internet with TV, cable companies like Xfinity and Astound Broadband have plans that can deliver over a gigabit of speed.
Portland internet providers compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astound Broadband Read full review |
Cable | $20-$55 | 300-1,500Mbps | None | Varies; 500GB-1TB or unlimited | None | 7 |
| CenturyLink Read full review |
DSL | $55 | 10-100Mbps | $15 modem | None | None | 6.7 |
| Quantum Fiber | Fiber | $30-$110 | 200-2000Mbps (varies by location) | None | None | None | 6.7 |
| Starlink Read full review |
Satellite | $120 | 25-220Mbps | $349 one-time purchase ($2,500 for Priority) | 40GB-5TB on some plans | None | 6.5 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$50 for eligible Go5G Plus and Magenta Max mobile customers) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 for eligible mobile customers) | 80-1,000Mbps (varies by location) | None | None | None | 7.2 |
| Xfinity Read full review |
Cable/Fiber | $20-$85 | 150-2000Mbps | $15-$25 (included in most plans) | 1.2TB for some plans | 1 year for some plans | 7 |
| Ziply Fiber | Fiber | $10-$70 | 100-2000Mbps | $15 | None | None | 7.2 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Other available internet providers in Portland
- Astound Broadband: This ISP provides a cable internet service and covers 6% of the Portland area, according to the latest data from the FCC. The service starts at $20 a month and offers data speeds between 300Mbps and 1,500Mbps.
- EarthLink: This ISP provides internet service and covers 33% of the Portland area. EarthLink’s prices will vary based on your location but its plans typically offer download speeds starting from 100Mbps up to 1,000Mbps.
- Verizon 5G Home Internet: As one of the largest mobile phone operators in the US, Verizon has expanded into the 5G home internet market like its competitor T-Mobile. The company offers home internet services that start at $50 per month and go up to $70 (or $35-$45 with qualifying Verizon 5G mobile plans). The data speed for the 5G service is between 80Mbps to 1,000Mbps. There are no data caps, no contracts and no equipment charges.
- Ziply Fiber: Ziply offers both DSL and fiber internet service. The fiber service costs $10 per month and has a $15 monthly router rental fee. The data speed for the fiber service starts at 100Mbps and goes all the way up to 2000Mbps.
- Satellite internet service from Hughesnet and Viasat is available throughout the greater Portland metro area, including all suburbs and rural areas. With plenty of other internet options, including Starlink, satellite internet service is usually not worth the cost.
Cheap internet options in Portland
In Portland, the average starting price for broadband service is approximately $44 a month. There are many options under and over that $50 mark, depending on how much internet speed you want. If cost is a major factor in choosing an internet provider, Xfinity, Ziply Fiber and Astound Broadband offer a $20 base plan for speeds up to 150Mbps and 100Mbps respectively.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Portland?
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ziply Fiber | $10 | 100Mbps | $15 |
| Xfinity Connect Read full review |
$20 | 150Mbps | $15 modem and router ($25 after 12 months) |
| Astound Broadband Read full review |
$20 | 300Mbps | ($17 infrastructure fee) |
| Ziply Fiber | $40 | 300Mbps | $15 |
| Astound Broadband Read full review |
$20 | 300Mbps | ($17 infrastructure fee) |
| Quantum Fiber | $45 | 200Mbps | None |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
$50 ($35 for eligible mobile customers) | 245Mbps | None |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
$50 ($35 for eligible mobile customers) | 300Mbps | None |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Portland
The best internet deals and top promotions in Portland depend on the available discounts. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Portland internet providers, such as Xfinity, Starlink and Astound Broadband, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, including CenturyLink, Quantum Fiber and Verizon, run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide to the best internet deals.
How fast is Portland broadband?
Portland’s ISPs offer speeds ranging from 20Mbps to 50,000Mbps, despite the city’s ranking 81st for internet speeds among the 100 most populated cities in the US. A recent report published by Ookla shows that Xfinity has the fastest median data speed in Portland, coming in at around 226Mbps. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) Yet Ziply Fiber offers several of the fastest plans: 2000Mbps for $70 monthly.
Fastest internet plans in Portland
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ziply Fiber | $70 ($95 after 12 months) | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Astound Broadband Read full review |
$55 | 1,500Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Cable |
| Xfinity Gigabit Extra Read full review |
$85 | 2000Mbps | 35Mbps | 1.2TB | Cable |
| Verizon 5G Home Plus Read full review |
$70 ($45 for eligible mobile customers) | 1,000Mbps | 75Mbps | None | Fixed wireless |
| Xfinity Gigabit Read full review |
$65 | 1,000Mbps | 20Mbps | 1.2TB | Cable |
| Ziply Fiber | $60 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Quantum Fiber | $110 | 2000Mbps | 2000Mbps | None | Fiber |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Internet providers in popular cities near Portland
See all results for internet providers in Oregon.
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 like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming all at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Portland
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?
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.
What’s the final word on internet providers in Portland?
When choosing an internet service provider, you’re always better off choosing fiber internet over all other options if it’s available. Ziply Fiber and CenturyLink offer the best fiber internet plans in Portland. If fiber is unavailable in your neighborhood, cable internet or 5G fixed wireless providers offer fast and reliable connections. Just steer clear of data caps or any binding long-term contracts.
Internet providers in Portland FAQ
What is the cheapest internet provider in Portland?
Ziply Fiber’s 100Mbps plan is $10 a month with no contract. Xfinity offers a base plan for $20, reaching up to 150Mbps. Those are the cheapest internet plans in the city, offering 10 cents and 7.5 cents per Mbps.
Is fiber internet service available in Portland?
Yes. Most households in Portland will have access to fiber connectivity, the best internet connection you can get. Quantum Fiber, Ziply Fiber and (in some areas) Xfinity’s fiber service are Portland’s top ISPs offering fiber internet.
Which internet provider in Portland offers the fastest plan?
Xfinity and Ziply both offer 2000Mbps speeds in Portland and are priced at $85 and $70 a month respectively.