Best Internet Providers in Seattle, Washington

Seattle is a data-driven, interconnected city. From tech workers to students, remote professionals to streamers, fast and reliable internet is essential. Fortunately, Seattle offers a rich mix of internet service technologies—fiber, cable, fixed wireless (including 5G), and satellite. Here's a detailed look at the best ISPs in Seattle, helping you choose based on speed, reliability, price, and availability.

Top Internet Providers in Seattle

1. Quantum Fiber (formerly CenturyLink fiber)

• Type: Fiber-optic

• Speed Options: Up to 8 Gbps (8,000 Mbps) (broadbandmap.com, compareinternet.com)

• Availability: Nearly city-wide (99%)

• Pros:

  • Ultra-high speeds

  • Symmetrical upload/download

  • No data caps

  • Competitive for multi‑gig households

• Cons:

  • Still rolling out in some zones

Seattle locals rate fiber from Quantum very highly. CNET named it “best internet provider in Seattle” for its symmetrical speeds and unlimited data starting at just $50 for 500 Mbps (tech.yahoo.com, ziplyfiber.com).

2. Xfinity by Comcast

• Type: Cable

• Speed Options: Up to 2 Gbps (1,200 Mbps typical plans) (highspeedinternet.com)

• Availability: Very high (~91%) (broadbandmap.com)

• Pros:

  • Widely available

  • Multiple plan tiers from budget to gigabit+

  • Strong customer base

• Cons:

  • Data cap (~1.2 TB) with overage fees

  • Slowdowns during peak use

Xfinity leads in speed and coverage, with ratings showing very strong download performance (highspeedinternet.com, wsj.com).

3. EarthLink Fiber

• Type: Fiber (reselling AT&T/Wave networks)

• Speeds: Up to 5 Gbps (broadbandsearch.net)

• Pros:

  • No data caps

  • Strong customer service reputation

  • Competitive pricing (plans starting ~$40/month) (broadbandsearch.net)

• Cons:

  • Not as extensively available

EarthLink is frequently recommended by local comparison sites for high-speed fiber at affordable prices (highspeedinternet.com).

4. CenturyLink (DSL + Fiber)

• Type: DSL and Fiber

• Top Fiber Speed: 940 Mbps (highspeedinternet.com)

• Pros:

  • Offers both DSL and fiber

  • No contracts

  • Flat $65/month for gigabit fiber (reddit.com)

• Cons:

  • DSL speeds are limited

Reddit users note:

“Century Link is great if you are in range of their fiber. We've been paying a flat $65 per month for gigabit speeds, with zero issues for 4 years straight.” (bestneighborhood.org, axios.com, reddit.com)

5. Astound Broadband (includes Wave)

• Type: Cable and Fiber

• Speeds: Up to 2 Gbps (fiber)/1.5 Gbps (cable) (broadbandsearch.net)

• Availability: 43% fiber, 18% cable (reddit.com)

• Pros:

  • No data caps

  • Good speeds

• Cons:

  • Limited coverage

Astound is strong in certain neighborhoods, especially where Wave offers fiber.

6. Ziply Fiber

• Type: Fiber-optic

• Speeds: Up to 10 Gbps available (highspeedinternet.com)

• Pros:

  • Symmetrical multi‑gig speeds

  • No contracts or data caps

  • Local firm rooted in the Pacific Northwest (ziplyfiber.com)

• Cons:

  • Not fully city-wide; mainly in former Frontier areas

Amazon's acquisition interest shows industry confidence in Ziply’s future expansion (en.wikipedia.org).

7. Fixed Wireless & 5G (Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, Webpass)

• Provider Options:

  • Verizon – up to 1 Gbps (broadbandsearch.net)

  • T-Mobile – ~100–245 Mbps

  • AT&T fixed wireless – ~100 Mbps (ispreports.org)

  • Webpass (by Google) – 1 Gbps in select buildings (broadbandmap.com)

• Pros:

  • Minimal setup, no cables

  • Good value and flexibility

• Cons:

  • Speed varies by location

  • May face congestion issues

The Seattle government highlights Verizon and T-Mobile’s 5G home internet options (ispreports.org, wsj.com, seattle.gov).

8. Satellite (HughesNet, Viasat, Starlink, Project Kuiper)

• Speed Range: Up to ~150 Mbps

• Pros:

  • Available virtually everywhere

• Cons:

  • High latency

  • Low data caps

  • More costly

Satellite is a remote-area fallback. Upcoming services like Starlink and Amazon’s Project Kuiper may expand options (rsinc.com, en.wikipedia.org).

Comparison Table

Availability by Neighborhood

Seattle shows strong ISP coverage across neighborhoods:

• Downtown / South Lake Union / Capitol Hill:
  Quantum, CenturyLink/Ziply, Xfinity, Webpass, Verizon/T-Mobile (ispreports.org, highspeedinternet.com, en.wikipedia.org, axios.com)

• Ballard / Queen Anne / Magnolia:
  Fiber from CenturyLink/Ziply, cable from Xfinity (highspeedinternet.com)

• Belltown / Chinatown-International District:
  Xfinity and Astound most common; fiber access limited (highspeedinternet.com)

In general: Fiber is nearly universal (CenturyLink/Ziply), while Xfinity covers 91%, and Astound fiber reaches ~43% .

What Seattle Users Say

• Reddit praise:

  “Century Link is great if you are in range of their fiber. We've been paying a flat $65 per month for gigabit speeds, with zero issues for 4 years straight.” (reddit.com)

• Fixed wireless satisfaction:
  Seattle city data shows Verizon’s fixed wireless reaching up to 1 Gbps and covering 96% of Capitol Hill homes (ispreports.org)

Tips for Choosing the Right ISP

1. Check address-specific availability. Fiber like Ziply may not reach all addresses.

2. Match speed to usage.

   • Light use: <200 Mbps

   • Remote work/streaming: ~500 Mbps+

   • Gaming, smart homes, future-proofing: 1 Gbps or higher

3. Consider data caps. Avoid cable facilities if you’re a heavy data user.

4. Evaluate contracts and pricing. Contract-free plans offer flexibility.

5. Look at installation costs. Fiber sometimes requires install fees; fixed wireless is usually plug-and-play.

6. Assess support reputation. Providers like CenturyLink, EarthLink, and Ziply often get higher marks for service.

The Broader Trend

Fixed wireless (5G) is pressuring traditional cable providers, leading many to offer long-term price guarantees or promotional deals (ziplyfiber.com, wsj.com, bestneighborhood.org). Meanwhile, AT&T’s $5.75 billion acquisition of Lumen fiber assets in the region—including Seattle—fuels a continued fiber expansion (axios.com).

Final Takeaways

• Top-tier speeds & reliability? Go for Quantum, Ziply, or EarthLink Fiber.

• Widest coverage & versatile plans? Choose Xfinity or Astound/Wave.

• Budget-conscious with flexibility? CenturyLink fiber or fixed wireless (Verizon/T‑Mobile) are great picks.

• Remote or rural? Satellite like Starlink or Viasat provides coverage where wired options can’t reach.

No matter where you are in Seattle or what type of user you are—techie, gamer, remote worker, student—you'll find a plan that suits your need for speed, reliability, and value.