Internet Providers in Seattle, Washington

Best Internet Providers in Seattle, WA

Our top recommendation for broadband internet service in Seattle is Quantum Fiber. Quantum Fiber offers speeds that can reach 940 Mbps — essentially gigabit speeds; in addition, it delivers those speeds on a fiber-optic network, which is the best type of internet connection that you can get. According to our customer review data, Quantum Fiber also gets relatively good marks from its Seattle customers; they seem to be happier than their counterparts who get service through Xfinity.

That being said, Xfinity is a solid second choice behind Quantum Fiber — and many customers will find that it’s their best option; Quantum Fiber only covers about half of the city, leaving many Seattle residents without a fiber-optic internet option. Cable is a good fallback choice, and Xfinity has been improving its reputation for customer service in recent years. Xfinity offers internet-only plans that start at $30 per month and bundles that start at $55 per month; plus, its internet service can reach speeds up to 1 Gbps.

Seattle is also served by CenturyLink, which offers DSL internet in the city. We generally don’t recommend DSL connections over better alternatives like cable and fiber internet; however, CenturyLink’s plans can be a decent budget option for customers who don’t need overwhelmingly fast internet. CenturyLink’s plans start at $55 per month.

Fastest Internet Providers in Seattle, WA

For the fastest broadband connection in town, turn to Xfinity; it offers speeds that can reach up to 1 Gbps on its fastest plans.

When considering speeds, remember that fiber-optic networks have symmetrical speeds. That means that their top advertised download speeds are also their top advertised upload speeds — their upload speeds always match their download speeds. That’s very different from how cable, DSL, and other connection types work; those other connection types always prioritize download traffic. Plus, they generally have maximum upload speeds that are much slower than their top advertised download speeds.

It’s also worth noting that not every household needs the same internet speed. A good baseline for truly “fast” internet is 500 Mbps to 1 Gbps; however, some households with more mild internet speed needs will be able to get by with 250 Mbps or even 100 Mbps. Figure out how much internet speed you need before you decide how much speed to pay for!

Internet Availability in Seattle, WA

Depending on where you live in Seattle, you may have access to different internet providers.

The first question to ask yourself is whether you can get fiber internet. In Seattle, that means Quantum Fiber, which has taken over most of the area that was once served by CenturyLink’s fiber network. Happily, that’s a pretty extensive area. There are only a few places that you’re likely to have a hard time signing up for a Quantum Fiber plan. Quantum’s coverage is limited in areas between Route 5 and the Duwamish Waterway, like Georgetown, Greater Duwamish, and Sodo. It’s also a little spotty in Downtown, Belltown, and Uptown.

But almost everywhere else Quantum’s availability is great. Down in Delridge and West Seattle, you should be able to sign up for Quantum. From Rainier Beach up to Columbia City and Mt. Barker, you should have no problem (as long as you’re on the east side of Route 5, as we mentioned earlier). Most of Capitol Hill is pretty well covered (particularly as you move east toward Miller Park and the Japanese Garden); the story is similar in Queen Anne and Magnolia (especially in the northern reaches of these neighborhoods).

And everything north of the University of Washington is Quantum territory, too: Ballard, Ravenna, Northgate, and so on.

Next, we need to talk about cable internet. Xfinity’s coverage is pretty straightforward: You can get plans from them at just about any residential address in any neighborhood of Seattle. But Astound by Wave is a little trickier; it covers only about one-tenth of Seattle’s area. You’re most likely to find it south of the canal and Lake Union — from Queen Anne and Capitol Hill down to Georgetown and Rainier Valley.