What are the best internet providers in Anchorage?
Looking for reliable internet in anchorages? Our broadband experts have completed the assignments so you don’t have to. GCI is the first choice for CNET’s best Internet service provider in Anchorage. With speeds of 2,500Mbps, wired connections are not too easy to fail due to Alaska’s notorious weather conditions, GCI provides the most reliable service in the region.
If you are looking for cheap options, Arctic broadband is your next best choice. It offers a more wallet-friendly alternative for $40 per month. While you won’t get the same high speed as GCI, their fixed wireless service provides reasonable performance for everyday internet needs. For those who choose a limited area Starlink Satellite Internet is worth considering, though it is to be prepared for a monthly fee of $120 and a upfront equipment fee of $499.
The best internet in Anchorage, Alaska
Comparison of anchorage internet providers
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment cost | Data cap | contract | CNET Comment Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Newsletter | DSL | $70- $80 | 250-2500Mbps | Nothing | Nothing | Nothing | N/A. | |
| Northern Broadband | Fixed wireless | $40-$170 | 3-30Mbps | Nothing | 1TB | Nothing | N/A. | |
| GCI | cable | $90- $190 | 250-2,500Mbps | Nothing | 250GB unlimited | Nothing | N/A. | |
| Hughesnet Read the full review |
satellite | $50- $90 | 50-100Mbps | $15 | unlimited | Two years | 5.7 | |
| Starlink Read the full review |
satellite | $120 | 25-220Mbps | Expected $499 | Nothing | Nothing | N/A. | |
| Viasat Read the full review |
satellite | $100 | 25-100Mbps | $15 | 850GB | Nothing | 6.1 |
Show more (2 items)
Shopping provider at my address
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Other Internet providers in Anchorage
- Alaska Newsletter: While it provides fiber internet at several Anchorage addresses, Alaska Communications is primarily a DSL provider with coverage of 74% of Anchorage homes. The price is the same slower than GCI, but you will get unlimited data for two Alaska communication plans.
- Satellite Internet: Except Starlink, Hughes Net and Vias Satellite Internet services are provided in Anchorage. ((Hughesnet contract satellite service Go out to local retailers in Alaska. ) There are both high prices, high prices, slow speeds and limited data caps, which can make streaming media or video conferencing unrealistic. If you are using satellites, it is best to swallow the high equipment cost of star-stripe links.
Cheap Internet Options for Anchorage
There are few cheap internet options in anchorages. Borealis Broadband is the only provider that offers a program under $50, and at this price you have to deal with extremely slow speeds. This is better than the available options Junothere is no internet plan under $50.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Anchorage?
| Provider | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Broadband Bronze | $40 | 3Mbps | Nothing |
| Hughesnet chooses Read the full review |
$50 ($75 in a year) | 50Mbps | $15 |
| Hughesnet Elite Read the full review |
$65 ($90 after one year) | 100Mbps | $15 |
| Northern Broadband Iron | $55 | 5Mbps | Nothing |
| Viasat Read the full review |
$100 | 50-100Mbps | $15 (optional) |
Show more (1 item)
Shopping provider at my address
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Anchorage
The best Internet deals and the highest promotions in Anchorage depend on the discounts available when you search. Most transactions are short-lived, but we often look for the latest quotes.
Anchorage Internet providers such as Viasat may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many providers, including GCI, Borealis broadband and Starlink, share the same standard pricing throughout the year.
For a wider list of promotions, check out our guide The best internet transactions.
How fast is the anchorage broadband?
Among the 100 most populous cities in the United States, Anchorage is the 79th fastest. Ookla’s speed test data. (Ookla is owned by Ziff Davis’s CNET parent company.) The median residents are 250Mbps download and 32Mbps upload speeds. The fastest Internet provider in Anchorage is GCI, with a median download speed of 293Mbps.
Anchorage’s fastest internet plan
| Provider | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GCI Red Infinite | $190 | 2,500Mbps | 75Mbps | Nothing | cable |
| The fastest GCI | $165 | 1,000Mbps | 40Mbps | 1,000GB | cable |
| GCI faster | $115 | 500Mbps | 20mbps | 600GB | cable |
| GCI fast | $90 | 250Mbps | 10Mbps | 250GB | cable |
| Starlink Read the full review |
$120 | 220Mbps | 20mbps | Nothing | satellite |
Show more (1 item)
Shopping provider at my address
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is good internet speed?
Most Internet connectivity programs can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you are looking for an internet plan that can accommodate video conferencing, streaming videos, or games, you will get a better experience and have a stronger connection. Here is an overview of the minimum download speeds recommended for various applications, According to FCC. Note that these are just guides, internet speed, services and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.
For more information, see our guide How much internet speed do you really need.
- 0 to 5Mbps allows you to solve the basics: browse the internet, send and receive emails and stream low-quality video.
- 5 to 40Mbps provides you with higher quality video streaming and video conferencing.
- 40 to 100Mbps should provide a user with enough bandwidth to meet the needs of modern remote office, video streaming and online gaming.
- 100 to 500Mbps allows one to one or two users to perform high-broadband activities simultaneously, such as video conferencing, streaming and online gaming.
- 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high bandwidth activities simultaneously.
How CNET chooses the best internet provider in anchoring
There are numerous and regional Internet service providers. Different from the latest smartphone,,,,, laptop,,,,, router or Kitchen toolsit is impractical to test each ISP in a given city in person. What is our method? We start by studying pricing, availability and speed information, drawing on our own historical ISP data, providing the site and mapping information from the FCC fcc.gov.
Additionally, we visit the FCC’s website to check our data and make sure that we consider all ISPs that provide services in a certain area. We also enter a local address on the provider’s website to find specific options for residents. We evaluate resources such as the U.S. Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power to assess satisfaction with ISP services. ISP plans and prices change frequently; all information provided is accurate as of the time of publication.
Once this local information is obtained, we ask three main questions:
- Can providers access reasonable and fast internet speeds?
- Do customers get decent value for the money they pay?
- Are customers satisfied with their service?
Although the answers to these questions are often layered and complex, the three we recommend are closest to the provider of “yes”. When it comes to choosing the cheapest internet service, we look for the lowest monthly plan, although we also consider issues such as price increase, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively simple. We view the upload and download speeds on ads, as well as from such Ookla and FCC Report.
To explore our process more deeply, visit us How we test ISP Page.
What is the last word for Anchorage Internet Provider?
There are a lot of great things to do in Anchorage, but good internet is not one of them. The best provider we found was GCI, the only wired connection available in the city. After that, there was a big decline. Starlink offers decent speeds, but requires a $499 satellite disk, and it’s still expensive per month at $120. Borealis broadband offers the cheapest internet plan in anchorages, but streaming or video conferencing is too slow.
Internet providers in Anchor FAQ
What are the best Internet service providers in Anchorage?
GCI is the best internet service provider in Anchorage, reaching a mile at the fastest speed. Prices start at $90 per month, and most plans include data caps, but this is still the best choice for the region.
Is there a fiber-optic Internet in the anchorage?
According to 1% of Anchorage’s homes use fiber Internet. FCC data.
Who is the cheapest internet provider in Anchorage?
Borealis Broadband is the cheapest internet provider in Anchorage, with plans to download and upload speeds of $40 per month.
Which internet provider in Anchorage offers the fastest plan?
GCI offers the fastest internet plan in Anchorage, with download speeds up to 2,500Mbps for $190 per month.
