Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Bismarck has great options for internet providers according to CNET’s analysis of locally available Internet providers even if there aren’t many of them. It’s worth looking at all your local options and choosing the best one for your needs.
Midcoour pick for the best internet in Bismarck, announced in 2021 that it will invest $200 million to expand its fiber optic network North Dakota, with a goal of serving 10 gigabit speeds by 2030. Multiple providers in the state capital currently offer performance speeds, the connections needed to stream and play with multiple devices at once. That’s rare in an American city of this size – and you should be able to access fast and reliable internet at any address in the area.
Our team takes into account speeds, prices, customer support and overall value to recommend the best internet service in Bismarck in various categories. Our assessment includes reference to a proprietary database built over years of Internet service reviews. We confirm this against the provider’s information by checking the availability of services at local addresses on the spot. We also carefully read the terms and conditions of the provider and, when necessary, we will call the ISP to check the details.
Despite our best efforts to find the most recent and accurate information, our process has some limitations that you should be aware of. Pricing and speed data are variable: Certain addresses may qualify for different levels of service, and monthly costs may vary, even within a city. The best way to identify your specific options is to include your address on the provider’s website.
Please note that the prices, speed and other information listed above and on the supplier tabs below may differ from what we found in our research. The tabs show the full range of provider prices and speeds across the US, according to our database of plans provided directly by ISPs, while the text is specific to what’s available in Bismarck. The prices quoted in the text of this article are derived from our research and include applicable discounts for setting up automatic payments each month – an industry standard offer. Other discounts and promotions may be available, for things like being on a contract or bundled with a mobile phone package.
To learn more about how we review internet providers, visit our full methodology page.
The best internet providers in Bismarck
The best internet providers in Bismarck strike a balance between speed, price and availability. The ones listed below are widely available in the area, but you’ll still need to check your address to see what plans you can get.
Overview of Bismarck Internet Service Providers
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data capacity | Contract | CNET rating rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quantum Fiber | Fibers | 35-50 dollars | 500-940Mbps | $15; none for the gig plan | None | None | 6.7 |
| Midco | cable | $29-$249 | 125-5,000 Mbps | $9-$11 | None | None | N/A |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$50 with qualifying phone plan) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 with qualifying phone plan) | 50-250Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
Show more (0 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data
What other internet options are there in Bismarck?
There are several other Internet options in Bismarck. However, they provide worse service and higher prices, and CNET’s analysis suggests you’re better off with one of the four listed above. If your address doesn’t qualify for one of these, here are other options to explore:
- Earthlink: Earthlink’s Internet service uses the networks of other providers. In Bismarck, Earthlink primarily uses CenturyLink’s DSL network. When I checked several addresses in the city, the highest speeds I could find through Earthlink were 10 Mbps – well below what most households need.
- Satellite Internet: Satellite internet is available almost everywhere in the country, but it comes with long contracts, slow speeds, low data caps and high latency. HughesNet has a slightly better outage record than its main rival, Viasatbut neither is a great option. Newer Starlink service from SpaceX provides faster speeds, but the equipment costs $349 upfront.
- Verizon 5G Home Internet: Like T-Mobile, Verizon is using its 5G cellular network to provide home internet. Speeds can reach up to 250 Mbps at some addresses, but it’s currently only available to about 20% of Bismarck households.
Bismarck Home Internet Pricing Details
Bismarck residents can expect to pay between $49 and $79 per month for Internet service, depending on the provider and connection type. On average, starting internet prices in Bismarck are around $50 per month.
Cheapest internet plans in Bismarck
| Provider | Initial price | Maximum download speed | Monthly equipment fee | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midco | $29 | 125Mbps | $9-$11 | None |
| Quantum Fiber | $35 | 940Mbps | $15 | None |
| Quantum Fiber | $50 | 500Mbps | $15 | None |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with qualifying phone plan) | 245Mbps | None | None |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with qualifying phone plan) | 50Mbps | None | None |
Show more (1 item)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data
Internet speeds in Bismarck
Bismarck residents can expect to find a wide range of options for their Internet needs, with top speeds available up to 5,000 Mbps in some fiber optic areas.
Fastest internet plans in Bismarck
| Provider | Maximum download speed | Maximum loading speed | Initial price | Data capacity | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midco | 5,000 Mbps | 250Mbps | 249 dollars | None | None |
| Quantum Fiber | 940Mbps | 940Mbps | $70 | None | None |
Show more (0 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data
There are only two internet providers that offer speeds of 1 gig or more in Bismarck, but both are great deals. Midco has surprisingly fast upload speeds of 5,000 Mbps for its fiber plan – more than enough for almost any household – while CenturyLink’s performance plan is one of the most affordable you’ll find anywhere in the country.
What’s the final word on internet providers in Bismarck?
Compared to other cities of its size, Bismarck residents have it pretty good when it comes to internet service. There are two great options, Midco and CenturyLink, that are widely available and offer a variety of features. Quantum Fiber’s 500Mbps plan for $50/month is one of the most affordable Mbps plans you’ll find in the area, but all of Midco’s plans offer great value, too.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Bismarck
Internet providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest ones smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen toolsit is impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So 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.
This guide uses an in-house artificial intelligence tool called RAMP, which is trained on our own writing and uses our database to generate content about specific internet providers that our writers can use to determine and present our choices for a given guide. Check it out CNET’s AI policy for more information on how our teams use (and don’t use) AI tools.
Since our database is not exhaustive, we go to the FCC’s website to check the primary data ourselves and make sure we are considering every ISP that provides service in a particular area. We also enter local addresses into provider websites to find specific options available to residents. To gauge how satisfied customers are with an ISP’s service, we look at sources including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent change; all information provided is correct at the time of our fact checking prior to 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?
While the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers that come closest to saying yes to all three are the ones we recommend. To explore our process in more detail, visit our how we test ISPs page.
Bismarck Internet FAX
What is the best internet provider in Bismarck?
The top Internet provider in Bismarck is Midco, according to a CNET analysis. Midco has four plans to choose from, and they are widely available across the city. Quantum Fiber is another good option, offering fiber optic internet plans with speeds up to 940Mbps, unlimited data and no contract. In addition, T-Mobile offers wireless Internet with download speeds ranging from 72 to 245 Mbps and great promotional offers for T-Mobile wireless customers.
