Our Mercury internet review
Mercury is a small provider that offers fixed wireless internet in two areas: one in northeastern Kansas, near Topeka, and another in northern Indiana, extending across the border into Michigan. The company is building its fiber-optic network near Kalamazoo, offering gigabit speeds to residents of southern Michigan.
There’s a lot to like about Mercury. Its prices are pretty reasonable when compared to other providers, and it doesn’t have any data caps, which is a policy we wish more internet providers would embrace. Read on to get our take on the provider.
Pros
- No data caps
- Fast wireless speeds
- Lots of optional features
Cons
- Termination fees
- Limited fiber availability
Jump to: Plans and pricing | Speed and data caps | Fees | Installation, equipment, and contracts | Customer ratings | Mercury vs. the competition | Bottom line | Faq
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Compare Mercury internet plans and pricing
| Package | Price | Speed | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercury Foundation | $50/month* | 30Mbps | Fixed Wireless |
| Mercury Essential | $55/month* | 72Mbps | Fixed Wireless |
| Mercury Enhanced | $70/month* | 140Mbps | Fixed Wireless |
| Essential Fiber | $79/month† | 100Mbps | Fiber |
| Enhanced Fiber | $99/month† | 500Mbps | Fiber |
| Gigabit Fiber | $119/month† | 1,000Mbps | Fiber |
| 2 Gig Fiber | $160/month† | 2,000Mbps | Fiber |
| 5 Gig Fiber | $265/month† | 5,000Mbps | Fiber |
Data effective 06/25/2025. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. See disclaimers.
Mercury’s speeds: Which is best for you?
One of the good things about Mercury is that it offers a decent range of speeds, even in areas without fiber coverage. Its fixed-wireless plans go well above the speeds you’d get from DSL, 4G LTE, or traditional satellite plans, making it a great option for homes in more rural areas.
Of course, if Mercury offers fiber service in your area, you should definitely take advantage of it. Fiber is a much better value than any other type of connection and gives you a lot more reliability.
Mercury’s data caps
Mercury doesn’t have data caps, even on its wireless plans. The lack of data caps gives it a big advantage over many other providers, including many of the big nationwide companies. Not having to worry about overage charges is a great feature for any household, but it’s especially nice for those who stream a lot of movies and other videos.
Is Mercury internet available in your area?
Our favorite plan: Mercury Enhanced internet. This plan is widely available throughout Mercury’s coverage area and gives you enough speed to do just about anything you want online.
Of course, if you live in an area where its fiber plans are available, we suggest going with the Mercury Enhanced Fiber plan, as it’s the same price as a wireless plan, but offers much more speed.
Mercury internet fees
| Cost | |
|---|---|
| Equipment Fee | Free |
| Installation Fee | Contact an agent |
| Mesh extender fee | $10 /mo. |
| Enhanced @ Home package | $5 /mo. |
| Late fee | $5 |
| Early termination Fee | $200 |
Mercury does a decent job at eliminating hidden fees. When you sign up for one of its plans, you won’t be charged any usage, overage, or equipment rental fees. However, installation and termination fees are still something to look out for.
There are also lots of extra features that Mercury offers, such as mesh extenders to improve your signal throughout your house and additional security and network management tools available through the Mercury @ Home App.
Mercury internet installation, equipment, and contracts
Mercury’s not very transparent when it comes to installation fees, which makes that initial switch more difficult than necessary. It also has a fairly hefty early termination fee, which we’re not fans of.
Mercury installation and equipment
A big hurdle when switching to fixed wireless or satellite plans is the upfront cost. The radio antennas used for services like Mercury are large, external devices that must be mounted on your house’s roof and carefully aligned to the nearest transmitter. Mercury isn’t upfront with its installation fees, so you’ll have to contact a sales agent to get an estimate.
Once you get past the installation, things are much more straightforward. All the basic Mercury equipment, including the Wi-Fi router, is included at no extra charge. You also the option to add on additional services, like renting a mesh extender or adding security features, but these are optional add-ons that aren’t necessary for internet access.
Mercury internet contracts
Mercury charges $200 for canceling your internet before the end of your contract. This fee isn’t uncommon for long-term contracts, but it’s still a pitfall you’ll want to avoid. If you’re in a profession where you move frequently or just want the flexibility of canceling at the drop of a hat, check out our list of the best no-contract internet plans.
Mercury vs. the competition
| Speed | Price | Order online | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30–5,000Mbps | $50–$265/mo.* | View Mercury Plans |
|
| 25–50Mbps | $25–$65/mo.† | View Rise Broadband Plans |
|
| 50–250Mbps | Starting at $80/mo.‡ | View Plans |
Data effective 06/25/2025. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. See disclaimers.
Mercury is a good option, even when comparing it to cutting-edge services like Starlink. Looking at its wireless plans, you’ll find high speeds at a competitive price, as well as some low-cost plans that are much more affordable. There is a decent range of speeds in Mercury’s plans, so there’s an option for almost any situation.
Is Mercury internet right for you?
Mercury has fast wireless connections, which makes it faster and cheaper than satellite. It’s also a better option than DSL or 4G LTE for those who need higher speeds and unlimited data for streaming Netflix or working remotely.
And for those in southern Michigan, Mercury’s fiber network is an even better option, though make sure to check if there are other fiber providers in your area as well.
Shop Mercury Internet for MercuryFAQ about Mercury
Does Mercury offer unlimited data?
Can I stream movies over Mercury?
How does Mercury’s fixed wireless service work?
Methodology
Our HighSpeedInternet.com editorial team bases our analyses on customer input from our annual customer satisfaction survey, results from our speed test tool, and proprietary internet provider data on speeds and pricing. To strengthen our research, we look closely at provider contracts to get hard-to-find information on price hikes, data caps, and extra fees, and we keep tabs on the latest news reports and online reviews. When applicable, we also rely on our personal experiences testing these services.
Disclaimers
Mercury plans
* Must enroll and maintain AutoPay and paperless billing to keep advertised price. AutoPay & Paperless: $5 value for AutoPay and $3 value for Paperless. A one-time activation fee of $45 applies for each plan. Advertised speeds may vary. Services not available in all areas. Pricing subject to change and for new residential customers only.
† Installation requiring more than 200ft of cable will be charged $1 per ft. Must enroll and maintain AutoPay and paperless billing to keep advertised price. AutoPay & Paperless: $5 value for AutoPay and $3 value for Paperless. A one-time activation fee of $45 applies for each plan. Advertised speeds may vary. Services not available in all areas. Pricing subject to change and for new residential customers only.
Compare Mercury
* Mercury
- Must enroll and maintain AutoPay and paperless billing to keep advertised price. AutoPay & Paperless: $5 value for AutoPay and $3 value for Paperless. A one-time activation fee of $45 applies for each plan. Advertised speeds may vary. Services not available in all areas. Pricing subject to change and for new residential customers only.
- Installation requiring more than 200ft of cable will be charged $1 per ft. Must enroll and maintain AutoPay and paperless billing to keep advertised price. AutoPay & Paperless: $5 value for AutoPay and $3 value for Paperless. A one-time activation fee of $45 applies for each plan. Advertised speeds may vary. Services not available in all areas. Pricing subject to change and for new residential customers only.
† Rise Broadband
- With successful activation. Offer available to new customers only. Limited-time offer. May not be combined with other offers. All prices are with Auto-payment enabled and are $5/month more without Auto-payment. Additional fees will apply. Service not available in all areas. Call for details and availability. Restrictions apply.
‡ Starlink
- Plus hardware, shipping & handling fees, and tax. Fully refundable. Depending on location, some orders may take 2 weeks or more to fulfill.