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Bellingham is unofficially known as the City of Muted Thrills. The nickname dates from a mural painted in the ’90sbut it’s still there as a tribute to the more relaxed city compared to its big city neighbor to the south, Seattle. However, Bellingham doesn’t offer much excitement about availability high speed home internetdue to the lack of ISP competition in this area.
What is the best internet provider in Bellingham?
Heavy contenders for home internet in Bellingham are CenturyLink, Quantum Fiber and Xfinites. Thanks to its optical network, Quantum Fiber enters the position of the best internet provider. It also offers the fastest plan, which gets you 2,000 Mbps for $95 a month.
Whenever you finish your scenic cruise along Chuckanut Drive or return from a visit to the Whatcom Museum, take a moment to tour Bellingham’s best ISPs with us. Let’s see if we can achieve muted excitement for fibers, cable, DSL and 5G home internet.
The best internet in Bellingham
Most Bellingham residents (I can’t bring myself to call them Bellinghamsters) will choose between DSL, cable, or fiber. Quantum Fiber’s fast uploads and simple plans earn it a special award among the best ISPs in town.
Bellingham Internet Providers Compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data capacity | Contract | CNET rating rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CenturyLink Read the full review |
DSL | $55 | 30-100Mbps | $15 (optional) | None | None | 6.7 |
| PogoZone | Fixed Wireless/Fiber | $35-$85 | 5-1,000 Mbps | N/A | None | None | N/A |
| Quantum Fiber | Fibers | 50-75 dollars | 500-940Mbps | None | None | None | 7.3 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($40-$50 with eligible mobile plans) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Xfinites Read the full review |
cable | 20-90 dollars | 150-1,200 Mbps | It varies | 1.2 TB | It varies | 7 |
| Zippy | DSL | $75 | Up to 115 Mbps | $10 (optional) | None | None | 7.2 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Other available internet providers in Bellingham
Xfinity, CenturyLink and Quantum Fiber are the biggest competitors in Bellingham, but they aren’t the only ISP options in town. Rural residents with few choices should check their local PogoZone provider or consider satellite internet if other ISPs don’t work.
- Astound Broadband: A few households in the Bellingham area may be able to get Astound (formerly Wave Broadband) cable Internet, but it’s unlikely. “While Astound serves a significant business customer base in Bellingham, the company’s network reaches a much more limited residential footprint – and most residential consumers in and around Bellingham do not have access to Astound’s network and services,” said an Astound spokesperson. me. It is still worth noting the presence of ISPs in this area.
- PogoZone: Bellingham is mostly served by the big ISPs, but there is a local alternative with PogoZone. PogoZone specializes in fixed wireless and most county Whatcom services, so it should be on the radar for rural residents who need to get online. Speeds will vary by location. The ISP also offers some optical services in this area. PogoZone doesn’t advertise speeds, so you’ll need to speak with a sales representative to get pricing and plan details for your address.
- Zippy: You won’t find Zipli in the main part of Bellingham, but it is an option for some of the surrounding areas primarily through the ISP’s DSL network. This has the usual disadvantages of DSL, with the main advantages being slow speeds. For example, I found Zipli DSL service at a Bellingham address in the north that maxed out at just 18 Mbps for $75 a month. For Zipley’s fiber network, you have to go to another city, such as Ferndale.
- Satellite Internet: When even DSL and fixed wireless don’t reach your home, you may need to look at satellite service Starlink, Hughesnet or Viasat. The downside is that speeds aren’t always great and can be expensive. Starlink has the potential for faster speeds than its competitors, but be prepared for the hefty price tag of $299.
Bellingham broadband at a glance
Xfinity and CenturyLink dominate home internet in Bellingham, but you can find alternative home internet with T-Mobile or PogoZone. Prices vary between ISPs, but there are some very affordable ways to get online and some good value plans to consider.
Bellingham Home Internet Pricing Details
Limited choice with ISPs also means limited plan options. Xfinity has a wide variety of plans and prices, with its cheapest options costing less than $40 per month. If you have some breathing room in your budget, check out Quantum Fiber’s introductory 500Mbps fiber plan for $50 per month. That’s a decent value, but you can also consider jumping to the $95/month tier for full 2,000 Mbps upload and download speeds.
Cheap internet options in Bellingham
When it comes to low starting prices for home internet, Xfinity has you covered. It’s hard to find anything cheaper than the Xfinity Connect 150Mbps plan, but it’s only a great deal if you have your own equipment and don’t need to drop an extra $15 a month on equipment rental. Instead, check out the 300Mbps plan for $35/month with modem included. Be sure to brush up on your negotiation skills for when your price goes up down the line.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Bellingham?
| Provider | Initial price | Maximum download speed | Monthly equipment fee | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xfinity Connect Read the full review |
$20 | 150Mbps | $15 (optional) | 1 year |
| Xfinity Connect More Read the full review |
$40 | 300Mbps | None | 1 year |
| Quantum Fiber | $50 | 500Mbps | None | None |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
$60 ($40 with qualifying mobile plan) | 245Mbps | None | None |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How fast is broadband in Bellingham?
A recent look at Speedtest.net’s Ookline data showed Bellingham with an average landline download speed of just under 198 Mbps. It’s possible to beat the download speed performance if you’re on Xfinity’s fastest 1,200 Mbps plan. Quantum Fiber comes in just below gig level. CenturyLink’s DSL network may be widespread, but speeds can be lacking.
Fastest Internet Providers in Bellingham
Quantum Fiber offers the fastest residential Internet in the city with a maximum speed of 2000 Mbps. Xfinity goes up to 1,200 Mbps for $90. Bellingham residents don’t have access to some of them yet plans for more gigs which appeared in other cities. If pure download speed is your goal, Quantum Fiber is the ISP to consider.
What are the fastest internet plans in Bellingham?
| Provider | Maximum download speed | Maximum loading speed | Initial price | Data capacity | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xfinity Gigabit Extra Read the full review |
1,200Mbps | 40Mbps | 90 dollars | 1.2 TB | None |
| Xfinity Gigabit Read the full review |
1,000Mbps | 35Mbps | $75 | 1.2 TB | None |
| Quantum Fiber | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | $95 | None | None |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Bellingham
Internet providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest ones smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen toolsit is impractical to personally test every internet service provider in a given city. What is our approach? For starters, we use a proprietary pricing, availability, and speed database that is drawn from our 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 website to check our data and make sure we account for every ISP that provides service in an area. We also enter local addresses into supplier websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power, to gauge how satisfied customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent change; all information provided is correct as of the date of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider offer access to reasonably high internet speeds?
- Are customers getting decent value for what they are paying for?
- Are customers satisfied with their service?
The answer to those questions is often layered and complex, but the providers that come closest to saying yes to all three are the ones we recommend. When choosing the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also take into account things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively simple. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider actual speed data from sources such as Ookla and The FCC reports. (Disclaimer: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
To explore our process in more detail, visit our how we test ISPs page.
What’s the final word on Internet providers in Bellingham?
Bellingham is essentially a two-ISP city. There’s Xfinity and CenturyLink (which includes Quantum Fiber’s fiber service). Local provider PogoZone is available as an alternative if you are not satisfied with the service of larger competitors. Xfinity has reasonable speeds with wide availability. Quantum fiber is a strong option if you can get it. If it’s CenturyLink DSL or Xfinity cable, you’ll probably be happier with Xfinity’s faster offering.
Frequently Asked Questions about Internet Service Providers in Bellingham
Is fiber optic internet available in Bellingham?
Quantum Fiber is your ticket to residential fiber internet in Bellingham. It’s not available everywhere in town, but it’s good value for those who can get it. Top speed is 2,000 Mbps for both download and upload for $95 per month.
Which ISP in Bellingham offers the fastest plan?
Quantum Fiber’s 2000 Mbps plan is the speed king for Bellingham. If this is more speed than you need, consider Xfinity’s 1200 Mbps plan for $90 per month.
Is CenturyLink or Xfinity better in Bellingham?
The answer to this question depends on the CenturyLink Internet connection to your home. CenturyLink DSL is an older network; speeds may be slow, depending on your location. If DSL is faster cable than Xfinity, go with Xfinity. If it’s between Quantum Fiber (CenturiLink’s sister company) and Xfinity, you may prefer Quantum Fiber’s fast uploads and simpler plans and pricing. Read CNET’s CenturyLink and Xfinity home internet comparison.
