Montana is a beautiful state, but it lacks good options for fast, reliable and affordable internet. It ranks at the 50th place in Ookla’s Speedtest data of the states (and Washington, D.C.), beating only Wyoming. Most city dwellers can still access decent broadband speeds.
I fondly remember summers in Montana, fishing with my grandparents and watching deer stroll through the yard. My grandparents didn’t have internet at their home in Libby, but times have changed with fiber internet now available from Ziply. Libby is one of the lucky locales in the Treasure State with fiber access. Most of the state has to rely on cable, DSL, fixed wireless or satellite internet.
What is the best internet provider in Montana?
Spectrum is CNET’s top pick for Montana’s best internet service provider. The cable provider delivers gig-level broadband to many of the population centers in Montana. CNET examines customer service, speed, pricing and overall value before recommending the best broadband in your area. This provider offers two plans in the area; for $50 and $70 a month.
Spectrum is joined by other recommendations, including CenturyLink for availability and TDS Telecom as an ISP to watch. Whether you’re moving to Montana or looking to upgrade your current broadband situation, this guide will help you navigate your ISP options.
Best internet options in Montana
Rural internet options in Montana
| Provider | Connection type | Price range | Speed range | Data cap | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CenturyLink Internet Read full review |
DSL | $55 | 1-140Mbps | None | Covers over half of Montana households |
| Grizzly Broadband | Fixed wireless/fiber | $70-$130 | 10-1,000Mbps | None | Bitterroot area |
| KDS Networks | Fixed wireless/fiber | $60-$160 | 150-1,000Mbps | None | Great Falls area |
| Missoula Valley Internet Co-op | Fixed wireless | Typically $25-$100 based on usage | 100-500Mbps | None | Missoula Valley |
| Montana Internet | Fixed wireless/fiber | $65-$89 for fixed wireless | 8-25Mbps | None | Great Falls, Helena and Lewiston areas |
| MontanaSky Networks | Fixed wireless/fiber/cable | $55-$110 | 10-1000Mbps | None | Marion, Kalispell, Whitefish, West Glacier, Libby, Troy, Lakeside and more |
| Rural Broadband | Fixed wireless | $50-$100 | 15-60Mbps | None | Billings area |
| Wispwest | Fixed wireless | $48-$90 | 15-50Mbps | None | Southern Montana |
Show more (4 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
People who live in rural homes, ranches and farms need decent internet for work and play. That can be a challenge in some parts of Montana. Satellite internet from Starlink, Viasat or Hughesnet is a fallback, but it tends to be expensive, and speeds may be less than desirable. When it comes to wired internet, your best bet will likely be CenturyLink DSL, which often has a wider coverage area than most other alternatives. Speeds can be extremely variable by location and max out at 100Mbps.
How many members of your household use the internet?
Montana is dotted with local ISPs that offer fixed wireless for rural locations, sometimes paired with a smaller fiber footprint. Our chart covers some options available across the state, but there are more than we’ve listed here. Fixed wireless speeds can vary based on location. You’ll need a good line of sight to a tower. Here’s how fixed wireless compares to other types of internet connections. Most fixed wireless ISPs have fairly standard plans with pricing based on speed. The Missoula Vallery Internet Co-op is an exception. It charges based on usage. Montana could use some improvement in rural broadband options. The state is well aware of the issue and is in the process of pouring funding into improving access to more remote communities as well as ranches and farms.
Internet breakdown by city in Montana
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 Montana. We tackle details such as internet connection types, maximum speeds, cheapest providers and more. Check back later if you don’t find the city you’re looking for below. We’re working to add more locations every week.
- Best internet providers in Billings
- Best internet providers in Bozeman
- Best internet providers in Helena
- Best internet providers in Missoula
Montana broadband at a glance
The FCC National Broadband Map shows all Montana households can access broadband internet, but that doesn’t give a complete picture of the internet scene in the Treasure State. The FCC defines broadband as at least 25Mbps down and 3Mbps up, and it includes satellite internet in its estimate. Satellite internet can be expensive and slow and is not necessarily a good fit for all rural locations. The state government says 5% of Montanans live in underserved areas and 13% live in unserved areas.
FCC data shows less than 29% of Montana households can access fiber internet, and if we’re talking at least gigabit speeds, that number drops to 21%. Not surprisingly, you’re most likely to find fiber in bigger cities, but even then, it’s a bit scattershot. There are some exceptions. Libby, a town of less than 3,000 residents, is covered by Ziply Fiber. If fiber is important to you for remote work or gaming, that narrows your options for places to live in Montana. If you can get by with gig downloads and 35Mbps uploads, Spectrum covers much more ground.
Montana broadband speeds
Montana’s poor showing in Ookla’s state speed test rankings indicates the challenges involved with rural broadband in the state. (Disclaimer: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) It’s also tied to a lack of fiber offerings and ISP competition in the cities. Regarding gig speeds, FCC data shows only 16% of Montana homes are covered.
Ookla highlights Spectrum as Montana’s fastest provider, with a median download speed of 241Mbps. The downside of cable is that you’re stuck with slower upload speeds. For symmetrical speeds, you need to turn to fiber. Montana includes some coverage from Quantum Fiber, Ziply Fiber, TDS Telecom or local ISPs like Montana Internet and Grizzly Broadband. If you’re currently battling pokey internet speeds, there are some things you can try to improve your situation. Check out these four essential steps for speeding up your internet connection.
Internet pricing in Montana
Home internet pricing is variable in Montana. On the low end, you can bundle an eligible T-Mobile phone plan with an internet plan to bring your internet price down to $35 monthly. Most ISPs start at the $50 and above level. That includes CenturyLink’s DSL networks and Quantum Fiber’s lowest tier, with the fiber plan being a superior deal for 500Mbps service. Availability is a big issue. You can always try to negotiate back to a better deal.
The future of broadband in Montana
Since Montana is already near the bottom in internet speed for the US, there’s nowhere to go but up. Fortunately, there’s some movement in that direction, particularly regarding fiber availability. TDS Telecom announced in early 2023 that it would bring fiber speeds of up to 8 gigs to Helena, Butte, Missoula and Great Falls. It was already working on fiber in Billings. By the time TDS is done, it will service 150,000 homes and businesses.
A considerable amount of funding is coming to expand broadband to underserved and unserved areas of the state. The federal Broadband Equity Access and Deployment program is delivering $630 million in funding. That’s in addition to a $309 million infrastructure investment announced by Governor Greg Gianforte in late 2022. That money aims to bring reliable broadband to 62,000 homes, small businesses, farms and ranches.
Internet in Montana FAQs
Does Montana have good internet?
While some pockets of Montana have access to gig speeds and even fiber internet, Montana is near the bottom in internet speeds for the nation. State and federal investments should help connect more Montanans to fast and affordable broadband over the next few years. If fast internet is a must, look to the bigger population areas and check your options for the locations you’re considering. Chances are good you’ll at least have access to Spectrum’s gig tier.
Is there fiber internet in Montana?
There is limited fiber available in Montana, but more is coming. Quantum Fiber, Ziply Fiber, TDS Telecom and local ISPs like Montana Internet and Grizzly Broadband have fiber networks in pockets of the state. Big national contenders like AT&T Fiber and Google Fiber have so far passed over Montana.
Is Spectrum or CenturyLink better for internet in Montana?
While Spectrum and CenturyLink have a decent-sized presence in Montana, there isn’t much competition between them. Spectrum offers superior download speeds if you’re choosing between Spectrum and CenturyLink’s older DSL network. If you’re lucky enough to be within the small service area for fiber from CenturyLink’s sister brand, Quantum Fiber, then give weight to the fiber option, particularly if you need the gigabit-level service and will use the zippy upload speeds. Read CNET’s comparison of Spectrum and CenturyLink.