Best ISPs in Flagstaff, Arizona

What is the best ISP in Flagstaff?

According to CNET, Optimally is the best overall ISP for most households in Flagstaff. It offers wide coverage and a maximum download speed of 1000 megabits per second. That being said, Optimum service is not available everywhere in Flagstaff, so Quantum fiber is also a solid choice, depending on what’s available in your area.

If you’re looking for the lowest prices or fastest speeds, we’ve found these top options, too. Flagstaff’s cheapest internet is Optimum’s $40 per month 300Mbps plan with equipment included. Flagstaff’s fastest internet speed is a tie between Optimum’s 1000Mbps cable plan and Quantum Fiber’s 940Mbps plan. Quantum Fiber offers just as fast uploads, but availability is extremely limited.

The best internet in Flagstaff, Arizona

Source: CNET analysis of vendor data.

Other available ISPs in Flagstaff

• Bluespan: Bluespan is one of several fixed wireless ISPs that fill coverage areas unreachable by wired Internet options like cable or DSL. Bluespan does not advertise rates or speeds, so you should check with the company for coverage and plan information for your address. Fixed wireless makes sense for rural homes that don’t have good wired internet options. Also, consider it an alternative to slow DSL. Coverage and speeds depend on your location and good visibility to the tower. Here’s how fixed wireless compares to other types of internet.
• Broadband Choice: Choice specializes in rural phone and internet services. Expect internet speeds of up to 25Mbps. Plans start at $45 per month with a $150 setup fee and a two-year contract.
• Hospitality Wireless: Fixed wireless provider Hospitality Wireless covers much of the Flagstaff area with plans starting at $60 per month for speeds up to 30Mbps with a two-year contract. No data limits.
• Satellite internet: If you live in a rural area near Flagstaff and can’t get decent service from one of our top recommended ISPs, look for satellite internet from Starlink, Viasat or Huznet. It can be expensive and speeds tend to be variable, but satellite is a viable option for remote locations. You’ll need a clear view of the sky, so keep that in mind if you’re in a heavily forested area.

Cheap internet options in Flagstaff

Optimum is the main ISP for Flagstaff and also has the cheapest plan in town (not counting T-Mobile’s home internet deal). The cable company’s 300Mbps plan costs $40 per month. If you find yourself in one of the few areas served by Quantum Fiber, then upgrade to the 500 Mbps plan for $50 per month with symmetrical speeds. Otherwise, it’s hard to beat Optimum’s price/speed equation in Flagstaff.

What is the cheapest internet plan in Flagstaff?

Source: CNET analysis of vendor data.

How to Find Internet Deals and Promotions in Flagstaff

The best internet deals and top promotions in Flagstaff depend on what discounts are available at that time. Most deals are short-lived, but we’re often on the lookout for the latest deals.

Flagstaff ISPs like Optimum may offer lower introductory rates or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, including Quantum Fiber and Bluespan, tend to use the same standard rates throughout the year.

For a more extensive list of promotions, see our guide to the best internet deals.

How fast is Flagstaff broadband?

Despite the lack of multi-concert and fiber-optic options, Flagstaff has performed decently recently Ookla Speed ​​Test Report. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) The city in the pines brought the average fixed Internet download speed down to 270Mbps, more than Average test speed in Arizona in general. Optimum checks in as Flagstaff’s fastest provider, which makes sense considering there’s little competition. CenturyLink’s widespread but slow DSL network isn’t much of a struggle, and Quantum Fiber is hard to find.

Fastest internet plans in Flagstaff

Source: CNET analysis of vendor data.

What is 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 include video conferencing, streaming video, or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a more stable connection. Here’s an overview of recommended minimum download speeds for different apps, according to the FCC. Note that these are guidelines only and that internet speed, service and performance will vary by connection type, provider and address.

For more information, see our guide to how much internet speed do you really need?.

• 0 to 5 Mbps lets you handle the basics: surfing the web, sending and receiving email, and streaming low-quality video.
• 5 to 40 Mbps gives you higher quality video streaming and video conferencing.
• 40 to 100 Mbps should provide a single user with enough bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
• 100 to 500Mbps allows one or two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities such as video conferencing, streaming and online gaming.
• 500 to 1000 Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities simultaneously.

How CNET picked the best ISPs in Flagstaff

Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest ones smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen toolit is not practical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What is 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 FCC.gov mapping information.

It doesn’t stop there: we go to the FCC website to check our data and make sure we account for every ISP that provides service in an area. We also enter local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power to gauge how satisfied customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent change; all information provided is accurate at the time of publication.

Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:

• Does the provider offer relatively fast internet access?
• Are customers getting decent value for what they pay?
• Are customers satisfied with their service?

While the answer to these questions is often layered and complex, the vendors that come closest to saying yes to all three are the ones we recommend. When choosing the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also take into account things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively easy. 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 ISPs in Flagstaff?

Flagstaff can be a tough place for internet. Most residents will opt to opt for Optimum due to availability and gig speed level if you need faster downloads. It also offers one of the most affordable plans in the city at 300Mbps. Give weight to Quantum Fiber and its symmetrical speeds if you happen to live in a pocket of coverage. If Optimum doesn’t work for you, check out T-Mobile’s 5G home internet offerings. Then contact Bluespan or another fixed wireless provider. Rural and remote homes may need to explore a backup option such as Starlink satellite internet.

ISPs in Flagstaff FAQ