What is the best internet provider in Rochester, Minnesota?
Metronet is the best internet service provider in Rochester. Fiber providers offer fast, symmetrical upload and download speeds at reasonable prices—at least for the first year. Since then, prices have risen sharply for three or four consecutive years. Metronet also includes hidden fees that you don’t typically see with internet providers.
Spectrum has the most extensive coverage in Rochester. Its cable internet plans are available in 92% of homes in Rochester, making them very cost-effective overall. Spectrum prices also increase significantly, but most plans don’t kick in until year three.
If you don’t want to deal with price increases, wireless internet is a good option – especially for smaller homes that don’t require a lot of bandwidth. T-Mobile Home Internet is our favorite option in the area. It only has one plan for $60 per month, but if you bundle it with a cell phone plan, you’ll pay just $40.
CNET recommends Rochester’s best internet services across multiple categories, considering speed, pricing, customer service and overall value. Our assessment includes reference to a proprietary database built over years of reviewing Internet services. We verify this against provider information by spot-checking service availability at local addresses. We also read the provider’s terms and conditions carefully and call the ISP to verify details if needed.
While we strive to find the most up-to-date, accurate information, there are some limitations to our process that you should be aware of. Pricing and speed figures are variable: Some addresses may qualify for different service levels, and monthly costs may vary even within the same city. The best way to determine your specific options is to plug your address into the provider’s website.
Additionally, the prices, speeds, and other information listed above and in the provider cards below may differ from what we found in our research. Based on our database of plan information provided directly by ISPs, these cards show the full range of pricing and speeds from providers across the United States, while the text is specific to what’s available in Rochester. The prices quoted in this article are from our research and include applicable discounts for setting up automatic payments each month – which is standard industry offering. Other discounts and promotions may also apply, such as signing a fixed-term contract or bundling multiple services.
To learn more about how we review internet providers, visit our full methodology page.
Best Internet in Rochester, MN
100-3,000 Mbps
$30-$115 per month
What we think – About three-quarters of Rochester homes have access to fiber-optic Internet through Metronet. This means you’ll get symmetrical upload and download speeds – perfect for families doing a lot of video conferencing or working from home. The main drawback is the price increases: Metronet raises rates every year for three to four years, depending on which plan you get. You’ll also pay a $12 monthly “Technical Assurance” fee.
100-3,000 Mbps
$30-$115 per month
300-1,000 Mbps
$50-$80 per month
What we think – Available in 92% of Rochester homes, Spectrum is your reliable backup choice. Plans start at $40 per month for 300Mbps, and in some areas you can even get symmetrical upload and download speeds. The main downside to Spectrum is the price increase—after a year or two, your bill will jump $45 to $55 a month.
300-1,000 Mbps
$50-$80 per month
fixed wireless
72-245 Mbps
$60 per month
What we think – If you don’t want to deal with the steep price increases that come with Metronet and Spectrum, T-Mobile Home Internet is a good choice. One plan costs $60 per month, but you can save by bundling it with an eligible cellphone plan. The speeds aren’t as fast as cable or fiber optic connections, but they’re more than enough for a small home.
fixed wireless
72-245 Mbps
$60 per month
Rochester, MN Internet Providers Comparison
| provider | Internet technology | monthly price range | speed range | Monthly equipment cost | data cap | contract | CNET Review Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
21Vianet |
DSL | $55 | Up to 100Mbps | $15 (optional) | not any | not any | 6.7 |
| Metropolis Network | fiber | $30-$50 | 100-1,000Mbps | not any | not any | not any | 6.9 |
|
spectrum |
cable | $40-$60 | 300-1,000Mbps | $5 (optional) | not any | not any | 7.2 |
|
Starlink |
satellite | $120 | 25-220Mbps | $599 upfront | not any | not any | 6.5 |
|
T-Mobile Home Internet |
fixed wireless | $60 (Mobile plan $40-$50) | 72-245Mbps | not any | not any | not any | 7.4 |
|
Verizon 5G Home Internet |
fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers) | 100-300Mbps | not any | not any | not any | 7.2 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What are the cheapest internet plans in Rochester?
| provider | starting price | Maximum download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| MetroNet 100 Mb | $30 | 100Mbps | not any |
| MetroNet 500 Mb | $40 | 500Mbps | not any |
|
Spectrum Internet |
$40 | 300Mbps | $5 (optional) |
| Metro 1 GB | 50 U.S. dollars | 1,000Mbps | not any |
|
spectrum internet super |
50 U.S. dollars | 500Mbps | $5 (optional) |
|
Verizon 5G Home Internet |
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 100Mbps | not any |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to Find Rochester Internet Deals and Promotions
Rochester’s best internet deals and top promotions depend on the discounts available during a specific time. Most offers are short-lived, but we’re often on the lookout for the latest deals.
Rochester internet providers like Metronet, T-Mobile Home Internet and Verizon 5G Home Internet may offer lower introductory prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time. However, others, including Spectrum, use the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of deals, check out our guide to the best internet deals.
The fastest internet plans in Rochester
| provider | starting price | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | data cap | Connection Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metro 1 GB | 50 U.S. dollars | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | not any | fiber |
|
Spectrum Internet Performance |
$60 | 1,000Mbps | 35Mbps | not any | cable |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider 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 accommodate video conferencing, streaming video, or gaming, you’ll get a better experience with a stronger connection. Below is an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications according to FCC regulations. Please note that these are guidelines only – Internet speeds, service and performance vary based on connection type, provider and address.
For more information, see our guide on the internet speed you really need.
- 0 to 5Mbps allows you to handle the basics—browse the Internet, send and receive email, stream low-quality video.
- 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher quality video streaming and video conferencing.
- 40 to 100Mbps should provide one user with enough bandwidth to meet the needs of modern remote working, video streaming, and online gaming.
- 100 to 500Mbps allows one or two users to participate in high-bandwidth activities such as video conferencing, streaming and online gaming simultaneously.
- 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities simultaneously.
CNET How to choose the best internet provider in Rochester
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 specific city. So what is our approach? We first looked at pricing, availability, and speed information, using our own historical ISP data, provider sites, and map information from the Federal Communications Commission’s FCC.gov.
But it didn’t end there. We went to the FCC’s website to check our data and make sure we accounted for every ISP offering service in a certain area. We also enter local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We evaluate customer satisfaction with ISP services by looking at sources such as the US Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power. ISP plans and prices may change frequently; all information provided is accurate as of publication time.
Once we have localized information, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider offer reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Are customers getting value for money?
- Are customers satisfied with their service?
While the answers to these questions are often layered and complex, we recommend the provider that comes closest to a “yes” on these three questions. When choosing the cheapest internet service, we look for plans with the lowest monthly fees, although we also consider factors like price increases, equipment fees, and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively simple. 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.
Rochester Internet Providers FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Rochester?
Metronet is Rochester’s best internet service provider, offering fast, symmetrical speeds at affordable prices. That said, Metronet has significantly increased prices on all plans.
Is there fiber optic internet in Rochester?
Yes, 74% of Rochester homes have access to fiber optic internet, according to FCC data. Metronet is the only fiber provider in the city.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Rochester?
Metronet is Rochester’s cheapest internet provider, offering plans starting at $30 per month.
Which internet provider in Rochester offers the fastest plans?
Metronet and Spectrum offer the fastest internet plans in Rochester, with download speeds up to 1,000Mbps.