Internet providers in Denver, CO

What is the best internet provider in Denver?

• Xfinity - High speeds widely available
• CenturyLink - Low-cost options
• Viasat - Widely available
• HughesNet - Perfect for rural areas

There are 23 internet service providers (ISPs) sending internet signals through the mountains and plains of the Mile High City. Among those, the best internet provider in Denver is Xfinity.

Xfinity is widely available across the Denver metro area. It has tons of options. Customer satisfaction surveys show that Xfinity’s bad customer service has been getting a lot better. It’s a cable network, so it’s dependable. And it maintains public hotspots across the city, available for Performance Internet subscribers or higher to get speedy Wi-Fi while hitting the streets.

CenturyLink is another solid option. Sure, it doesn’t have as many package options as Xfinity, but there is a Price for Life guarantee on all of CenturyLink’s DSL plans. And if it’s available in your area, CenturyLink’s fiber gigabit plan is one of the best deals around. With it you’ll have more money to pay for those delicious Cerebral oak-aged lagers, and more bandwidth to stream a Broncos game in 4K.

Spectrum provides some service in rural areas far outside Denver. Like CenturyLink, it has relatively fewer options compared to Xfinity. But none of Spectrum’s plans have data caps, meaning your internet won’t get throttled if you go over the data allowance for each month.

But what about the local providers? Friendly neighborhood ISP Live Wire Networks, Inc. delivers max speeds of 25 Mbps—not too shabby, if you ask us. Pick Live Wire or another local like Kentec Communications, Inc. if you place a high value on customer service and want money flowing back into the community.

Also, you may have noticed that there are some mountains in Denver. They are very big and quite “rocky,” which may interfere with your internet signal if you live in a rural area. If that’s your conundrum, then satellite providers Viasat and HughesNet can help out by beaming an internet connection down from space.

Yeah. Space.

Where can you find cheap internet in Denver?

The cheapest internet plan in Denver comes from Xfinity, which offers a dirt cheap Performance Starter plan that delivers 25 Mbps.

If you need fast speeds but want it at a cheap price, CenturyLink’s fiber gigabit plan is one of the most affordable gigabit plans you could find anywhere. CenturyLink also has Price for Life offers on all of its DSL plans, meaning you won’t have to worry about surprise price hikes months after signing up.

Spectrum’s cheapest plan starts at under $50 per month (for the first 12 months) and delivers 100 Mbps speeds. That’s a fair price especially for such a fast speed over cable internet.

Many internet service providers also offer regular promotions and deals as incentives to sign up, so be sure to consult our internet deals page for more resources.

What are the best TV providers in Denver?

On top of all those sweet internet options, there are also cable and satellite TV providers in Denver that will hook you up with some solid TV options. Xfinity is the best TV provider in Denver, and it delivers some sweet cable TV and bundle packages. DIRECTV and DISH are also solid TV providers that both deliver satellite TV in Denver.

Xfinity’s X1 platform is both affordable and versatile, featuring cloud DVR and HD options as well as a remote that is so well designed it literally won an Emmy. (We’ve used it ourselves, and it’s dope.)

Depending on your X1 package, you can get up to 220 channels. Along with premium networks like HBO^® and SHOWTIME^®, Xfinity has the most sports channels out of any of the TV providers in the Mile High City. Even better, Xfinity’s new Sports Zone feature lets you keep track of your favorite teams—letting you stay on top of stats and schedules for Broncos, Nuggets, and Rockies games all in one place.

Even if you don’t want a TV subscription, you can get an Xfinity Flex streaming box free with a regular Xfinity internet subscription. The Flex’s Pluto TV app hooks it up with 24/7 broadcasts of old TV classics like Baywatch and Degrassi: The Next Generation. You can also use the Flex to rent or buy movies, such as Stanley Kubrick’s Rocky Mountain classic, The Shining.

As far as satellite TV goes, DIRECTV has some good stuff too. DIRECTV plans in Denver feature as many as 330 channels—including all the favorites like ESPN, HBO, and Cartoon Network. Many of the plans also come with the NBA League Pass, giving you access to dozens of NBA games each week.

DISH’s satellite TV packages come with ESPN as well as ESPNU, the channel devoted to college sports. This is the deal for all you ice hockey fans who want to watch the Denver Pioneers take on Colorado College for the Gold Pan.

Internet and TV packages in Denver

If you want your internet with a side of TV, you can bundle up for an internet and TV package from Xfinity in Denver. One of the best cable providers in the city, it offers prices starting at $79.99 a month (for the first 12 months) for packages with 200–1,000 Mbps speeds.

All of the plans come with cloud DVR services, support for HD resolution, and the nifty voice remote that comes as part of the X1 TV box. You can also watch premium channels such as HBO, SHOWTIME, ESPN, and connoisseur picks like the Outdoor Channel, BYU TV, and VICE.

Highest-rated internet providers in Denver

According to our 2020 customer satisfaction survey, the two best Denver internet providers overall are EarthLink and Xfinity. They’re large companies offering reliable service, solid customer support, and fast speeds. Xfinity ranked fifth overall with a score of 3.88 out of 5, while EarthLink ranked first overall with a score of 4.01 out of 5.

Xfinity also ranked first for speed and fourth for reliability, making it a great choice for users looking for internet service in Denver that gets both the basics and the higher-end packages right.

In addition to ranking first overall, EarthLink also came in first for customer satisfaction in installation and setup, monthly bill, tech support, customer service, mobile app, and equipment. And with fiber speeds reaching up to 1,000 Mbps, EarthLink has solidified itself as a solid choice for customers who want to be taken care of.

Fastest internet service providers in Denver

Xfinity offers internet at speeds up to 1000 Mbps

Aerux Broadband offers internet at speeds up to 1000 Mbps

CenturyLink offers internet at speeds up to 940 Mbps

Starry Internet offers internet at speeds up to 200 Mbps

Xfinity performs an epic slam dunk when it comes to fast internet—it’s the only internet provider in Denver that offers a 2 Gbps (2,000 Mbps) plan.

That’s mind-bendingly fast. It will also be extremely expensive. The plan in question, Gigabit Pro, is $299.95 per month with a two-year agreement. There’s also a $1,000 fee to cover installment and activation. Yes, you read that right—one thousand smackers.

And don’t forget the $19.95 per month extra to rent Xfinity’s fiber modem.

Thankfully, you won’t need a Scrooge McDuck–style money bin to get really fast internet from Xfinity in Denver. Xfinity also has cable internet plans ranging from 175 Mbps to 1,000 Mbps.

A large household with people streaming on 10 or more devices simultaneously will still have fast, reliable internet with 175 Mbps download speeds. A 1,000 Mbps plan will be perfect for an online gamer or home professional who routinely downloads massive files and holds marathon teleconferencing sessions.

CenturyLink has much better pricing on its Fiber Internet plan. Its fiber service also comes with a free modem and installation. If this fiber option is available in your neighborhood, definitely consider it.

Spectrum also has really fast speeds, ranging from 100 Mbps to 940 Mbps. Spectrum doesn’t have much of a footprint in Denver though—its coverage area centers around parts directly south and east of the Pawnee National Grassland.

Denver residential internet coverage

Denver’s booming tech economy and stunning natural landscape have made it a major destination point over the past decade—and with growth comes more demand for high-speed internet service. Thankfully, a range of fiber, DSL, and cable internet providers are available across the city.

Two of the major internet providers in Denver are CenturyLink and Xfinity, and these two cover most of the city and surrounding areas. There are also several smaller providers that offer more localized service.

CenturyLink offers expansive coverage for the Denver area, from the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport to the Centennial Airport. Some parts of the city have access to CenturyLink’s fast fiber connection, including Washington Park. The rest of the city gets affordable CenturyLink DSL service. Heads up: CenturyLink offers speeds up to 1,000 Mbps in the fiber service areas.

Xfinity offers a similar range of coverage for both high-speed cable internet and cable TV service. In fact, Xfinity is one of the top cable providers in Denver. Xfinity speeds also run up to 1,000 Mbps. For the most part, all of Denver is covered by Xfinity—there are only a few small gaps in the downtown area near Stout Street and 15th. Xfinity also offers Xfinity Wi-Fi hotspots, which allow you to connect when you’re away from home. This is a great way to enjoy streaming and social media on the go without draining your data.

Smaller providers in the area include Live Wire Networks and Kentec Communications. Live Wire offers internet service to residents on the west side of the city, between 17th and 10th and over past Santa Fe Drive. Kentec covers a small area on the east side of downtown from 17th Avenue to 1st.

If none of those internet providers offer good service where you live, you can also consider Viasat satellite internet, which offers nationwide coverage. Satellite internet services tend to be a little slower and more expensive than their land-based counterparts, but their wide availability is their strong point.

Free internet (Wi-Fi) at Denver libraries

Just like in any big city, Denver is full of public hotspots where you can catch some Wi-Fi for free.

This isn’t always the most reliable or secure way to access the internet—you can never be sure about the malware or hacking you may be vulnerable to on an open Wi-Fi network, especially one that isn’t password protected.

But one really nifty option is to get a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot from the Denver Public Library. Just whip out your library card to get access to a free hotspot and micro USB charger for up to three weeks: dozens are available from library branches across the city, and you can check them out just like you would a book, CD, or DVD.

It might be better to look into other options in the meantime, though, because as of mid-February there’s a waiting list of over 200 people to get one.