What is the best internet provider in Bloomington, Minnesota?
Xfinity is the best internet provider in Bloomington. It has the fastest and cheapest plans in the area and is available almost everywhere. The main disadvantage is the price increase: after a year or two your bill will rise significantly. Xfinity requires no contract, so you’re free to switch at any time.
It only applies to about 1 in 10 households, but Quantum Fiber is the best fiber optic internet service provider in Bloomington. You get symmetrical upload and download speeds, and Quantum Fiber is included in the cost of the equipment on all plans. Wireless internet from T-Mobile and Verizon is also widely available in Bloomington, but these 5G home internet services are best for smaller homes that don’t have a lot of devices connected at once.
CNET recommends the best internet services in Bloomington 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 Bloomington. 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 Bloomington, MN
150-6,000 Mbps
$20-$300 per month
What we think – Xfinity is the only cable or fiber internet provider available to most residents in Bloomington, so it’s your best choice by default. Xfinity has some advantages: plans are very cheap, you can get good speeds for the same price, and most plans include equipment. Unfortunately, prices increase significantly after the promotional period ends; most plans are two years.
150-6,000 Mbps
$20-$300 per month
200-8,000 Mbps
$30-$165 per month
What we think – Only 11% of Bloomington residents have access to quantum fiber, but if it’s available at your address, it’s a better choice than Xfinity. You get symmetrical upload and download speeds – perfect for activities like video conferencing and online gaming – and equipment is included on all plans at no extra cost. Unlike Xfinity, Quantum Fiber prices don’t automatically increase after a year or two.
200-8,000 Mbps
$30-$165 per month
fixed wireless
85-1,000 Mbps
$50-$70 per month
What we think – Another great option available throughout Bloomington is Wi-Fi. Verizon and T-Mobile both offer home internet plans in the city. We give Verizon the edge because it’s slightly cheaper, but if you have a cell phone plan with either provider, this is the one you should choose. Bundle with home internet to get big discounts.
fixed wireless
85-1,000 Mbps
$50-$70 per month
Bloomington 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 |
| Quantum fiber | fiber | $50-$75 | 500-940Mbps | not any | not any | not any | 6.7 |
|
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 |
|
unlimited |
cable | $20-$70 | 150-1,200Mbps | $15 (included in most plans) | 1.2TB (unlimited on most plans) | Elective | 7 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What are the cheapest internet plans in Bloomington?
| provider | starting price | Maximum download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Xfinity connection |
20 dollars | 150Mbps | $15 (optional) |
|
Xfinity connects more |
$30 | 300Mbps | not any |
| Quantum fiber | 50 U.S. dollars | 500Mbps | not any |
|
Verizon 5G Home Internet |
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 100Mbps | not any |
|
Xfinity fast |
50 U.S. dollars | 500Mbps | not any |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to Find Internet Deals and Promotions in Bloomington
Bloomington’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.
Bloomington internet providers, such as Xfinity and Verizon 5G Home Internet, may offer lower introductory prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Other products, including quantum fiber, have 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 Bloomington
| provider | starting price | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | data cap | Connection Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Xfinity Gigabit Extra |
$70 | 1,200Mbps | 35Mbps | not any | cable |
|
Xfinity Gigabit |
$65 | 1,000Mbps | 20Mbps | not any | cable |
| Quantum fiber | $75 | 940Mbps | 940Mbps | not any | fiber |
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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. Here’s an overview of the Federal Communications Commission’s recommended minimum download speeds for various apps. Please note that these are guidelines only and 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: browsing the Internet, sending and receiving email, and streaming 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 Bloomington
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 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.
It doesn’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 the plan with the lowest monthly fee, although we also consider factors like price increases, equipment costs, 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.
Bloomington Internet Providers FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Bloomington?
Xfinity is the best internet service provider in Bloomington. It has the broadest coverage, cheapest plans, and fastest speeds of any provider in the city.
Is there fiber optic internet in Bloomington?
Yes, 11% of Bloomington homes have access to fiber optic internet, according to FCC data. Quantum Fiber is the only fiber optic provider in the city.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Bloomington?
Xfinity is Bloomington’s cheapest internet provider, offering plans starting at $20 per month.
Which internet provider in Bloomington offers the fastest plans?
Xfinity offers the fastest internet plans in Bloomington, with download speeds up to 1,200Mbps.