When it comes to internet providers in Utah, your options will vary depending on exactly where you live in the state. While Xfinity and CenturyLink offer widespread coverage in populated areas, certain addresses might score even better blazing-fast fiber internet.
What is the best internet provider in Utah?
Xfinity earns CNET’s top pick for Utah’s best internet provider. It offers broad availability, impressive speeds and diverse plans. However, fiber contenders like Quantum Fiber and Google Fiber are worth considering if they’re available in your area. Google Fiber’s 8,000 megabits per second plan for $150 a month is an incredible value, though its reach is mostly limited to Salt Lake City.
If you’re planning a move to Utah, your best bet for the widest selection of ISPs is to settle in a city. Fiber internet is fantastic but scarce, so rural residents often rely on CenturyLink DSL, fixed wireless providers like Rise Broadband or satellite options. Dive into our guide to finding the best internet service providers in Utah.
Best internet options in Utah
Rural internet options in Utah
ProviderConnection typePrice rangeSpeed rangeData capAvailability Airband Wireless Internet Fixed wireless$49-$8930-80MbpsNoneCache ValleyCentraCom Fixed wireless$36-$130100-1,000MbpsNoneCentral and northern Utah CenturyLink
Read full review DSL$55 1-100MbpsNoneMany areas from Logan to St. George InfoWest Fixed wireless/Fiber$55-$10025-2,000MbpsNoneSouthwest UtahKayenta Technologies Fixed wireless$40-$12025-400MbpsNoneSouthern Utah Rise Broadband
Read full review Fixed wireless$30-$5525-50MbpsNoneNorthern UtahUtah Broadband Fixed wireless$50-$6025-100Mbps1TBDavis, Salt Lake, Summit, Tooele, Utah, Wasatch and Weber counties
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
When it comes to wired internet, CenturyLink’s DSL network often reaches more remote locations than most other wired ISPs. That may come with a tradeoff of slow speeds. Compare with fixed wireless from Rise Broadband or satellite from Starlink, Viasat or Hughesnet as alternatives. Here’s how these connection types compare. Satellite will likely be your fallback if other ISPs don’t work out.
Several local ISPs in Utah offer fiber in some limited areas while servicing more rural spots with fixed wireless. CentraCom, Utah Broadband and InfoWest are examples. CentraCom’s CentraWave network reaches out to places around Delta, Elsinore, Oak City, Mt. Pleasant and other towns in Central Utah, alongside a small coverage area around Tremonton. Utah Broadband services homes in seven counties with fixed wireless internet but also offers fiber plans in parts of Heber City, Midway, Park City, Jeremy Ranch, Summit Park and Synderville. The company doesn’t advertise fiber pricing but asks prospective customers to call. InfoWest offers fixed wireless, primarily in the southwest region of Utah.
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There are more local ISPs than we’ve included here. One way to track down internet service for your rural home is to run your address through the FCC National Broadband Map under the “Location Summary” option. You may find a local or regional ISP you weren’t familiar with.
Utah broadband at a glance
The FCC defines broadband as at least 100Mbps downloads with 20Mbps uploads. That isn’t a high bar to clear. The FCC says all Utah households can access those internet speeds, but satellite internet is included in that calculation. If we look at wired connections (like DSL, cable and fiber), the number dips to about 95.5%. Regarding fiber, about 56% of Utah residents have access to the latest internet technology. Google Fiber and Quantum Fiber are big names, but other fiber providers exist, including SC Broadband, TDS and the Utopia Fiber network (more on this unusual option later).
Internet breakdown by city in Utah
It’s hard to cover the broadband options of an entire state and give individual cities the attention they deserve. That’s why we also compile lists of the best internet providers in cities across the US, including those in Utah. We tackle details such as internet connection types, maximum speeds and cheapest providers. If you don’t find the city you’re looking for below, check back later. We’re working to add more locations every week.
How fast is Utah broadband?
While the FCC says everyone in Utah can access broadband, the availability of gig-level speeds is one area that could use some improvement. Less than 67% of households can connect to networks with at least 1,000Mbps downloads and 100Mbps uploads. Ookla’s Speedtest.net list of state (and Washington, D.C.) fixed internet speeds puts Utah in 19th place. That’s not bad. Ookla recently calculated Utah’s median download speed at about 213Mbps and highlighted Google Fiber as the state’s fastest provider. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
Ookla also tracks internet speeds on a city-by-city basis. SLC recently logged a median download speed of about 317Mbps. Down south in St. George, you’re looking at about 245Mbps. If you’re moving to Utah and have some choice in where to land, then aim for a Google Fiber area for the best combination of price and speed. That means you’ll be looking at Salt Lake City and Provo, but Google announced it would expand to its northernmost Utah city by offering fiber in Logan in 2024.
If you aren’t able to hop around to a faster ISP, you can still make the most of the internet you have. Try these four essential steps for speeding up your internet connections.
Internet pricing in Utah
Price is an important factor in picking an internet plan. Xfinity offers cheap introductory deals, especially the bargain-basement $20-per-month 150Mbps Connect plan. That doesn’t include equipment and requires a one-year contract. You can skip the additional $15-per-month equipment lease if you have your own modem and router. Otherwise, you might find that the 300Mbps Connect More plan (with no contract and an xFi Gateway included) is a better deal at $40 per month.
T-Mobile phone customers can check into bundling service with an eligible mobile plan to get home internet for $40 monthly. When it comes to value, both Google Fiber and Quantum Fiber have reasonable prices for fast downloads and uploads. When you need ludicrous speed, it’s hard to top Google Fiber’s $150 per month plan for 8,000Mbps service.
Tight budget? Here are ways to save on your internet bill. You may find yourself signed on with an ISP that raises prices after an initial promotional period is up. If that’s the case, check out these tips for negotiating a better home internet deal.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Utah
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every internet service provider in a given city. What’s our approach? For starters, we tap into a proprietary pricing, availability and speed database that draws from our own historical ISP data, partner data and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
It doesn’t end there: We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
- Are customers happy with their service?
The answer to those questions is often layered and complex, but the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. 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.
The future of broadband in Utah
Utah is a fascinating state for internet service. Most city dwellers have some competition in ISPs, but rural coverage can be more challenging and expensive. To help bridge the gap, the federal Broadband Equity Access and Deployment program is set to pour $317 million into the state to expand broadband access to unserved and underserved areas. Utah is still in the planning stages and has been accepting public feedback on where BEAD money should be spent.
The municipal broadband trend is alive and well in Utah. Utopia (Utah Telecommunication Open Infrastructure Agency) Fiber is a project that brings fiber to many cities, including Brigham City, Cedar Hills, Payson, Pleasant Grove and Woodland Hills. Customers sign up through an ISP partner. Prices and speeds vary depending on the location and ISP. The ISP charges a plan fee, and then Utopia adds a $30 fee on top of that. That means typical pricing ranges from $35 for a 250Mbps service to $200 for a 10-gig service. That’s pricey on the high end, but it also represents some of the fastest residential speeds in the nation. Lehi City has launched its own fiber network under a similar model.
Boston Omaha Corporation acquired local ISPs Utah Broadband, InfoWest and Go Fiber over the last few years. The company announced its intention to invest in fiber expansion in those ISPs’ territories. If you’re in their service area, watch for new fiber projects. Between wider fiber availability and federally funded broadband expansion, Utah’s internet future is looking up.
Internet in Utah FAQ
Does Utah have good internet?
Utah has decent internet if you go by a recent Ookla state ranking that puts Utah in 19th place with 213Mbps median download speeds. Compare that with top-place Rhode Island with about 257Mbps. Rural areas can be trickier places to get decent internet, so do your homework before choosing a place to move to in Utah if fast downloads and uploads are necessary for work or entertainment.
Is there fiber internet in Utah?
Besides the big names of Google Fiber and CenturyLink/Quantum Fiber, you’ll find SC Broadband providing gig speeds in Cedar City. The Utopia Fiber network delivers up to 10 gig download speeds in a smattering of cities. TDS also has some fiber coverage, and you may find some local ISPs with limited fiber networks as well, like Direct Communications Fiber in Eagle Mountain, Utah. If fiber is a must for you, then be sure to scope out Google Fiber-covered locations in Salt Lake City for speeds up to 8,000Mbps.
AT&T Fiber is often at the top of CNET’s internet provider best lists, thanks to affordable plans and fast speeds. Unfortunately for Utahans, AT&T Fiber is unavailable in the Beehive State.
Is Xfinity or CenturyLink better for internet in Utah?
Xfinity’s cable network has a slight coverage advantage over CenturyLink in Utah, but CenturyLink is more likely to service more rural residents. In general, Xfinity’s speeds can top CenturyLink’s older DSL network. That advantage fades when Xfinity goes up against CenturyLink’s Quantum Fiber plans. If it’s down to cable versus fiber, fiber has an edge. If it’s cable versus DSL, give weight to Xfinity’s faster cable plans. Check out CNET’s comparison of CenturyLink vs. Xfinity for a more detailed examination.
