Deciding which internet provider to choose can be a daunting task, especially in an age when high-speed internet access feels like a basic necessity. With more people working from home, streaming entertainment, playing online video games, and using smart home devices, having fast, reliable internet in Washington is crucial.
Washington boasts some of the fastest mean download speeds in the nation at over 200 Mbps on average, putting it among the top 10 connected states. This guide will walk you through the top internet provider options in Washington, including availability, speeds, pricing, and the pros and cons of each type of connection.
Overview of Top Providers in Washington
The most common internet provider types available in Washington are:
- Cable: Using coaxial cables, cable internet tends to offer faster speeds than DSL with minimum speeds of 200 Mbps available from some providers. However, reliability can suffer during peak usage times.
- DSL: Digital subscriber line internet uses telephone lines for data transmission. Speeds max out around 100 Mbps.
- Fiber: Fiber optic cables provide extremely fast symmetrical download and upload speeds, low lag times, and excellent reliability. However, availability is still limited in some areas.
- Fixed Wireless: Providers beam internet signals from towers to fixed antennas on homes and buildings. Offers speeds up to 1 Gbps in some areas.
- Satellite: For remote areas without wired infrastructure, satellite internet relies on satellites in space. Speeds and reliability still lag behind other options.
- 5G Home Internet: New 5G networks from cell providers offer an alternative to cable and DSL, with increasing availability.
Below are 10 of the top internet providers in Washington, including the major cable and telecom companies as well as some regional fixed wireless providers:
| Provider | Max Download Speed | Availability | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xfinity | 1200 Mbps | Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma | $20/mo |
| Ziply Fiber | 5 Gbps | Seattle metro, Tri-Cities | $40/mo |
| CenturyLink | 1 Gbps | Statewide | $49/mo |
| Astound | 1 Gbps | Seattle metro, Tacoma | $40/mo |
| Rainier Connect | 1 Gbps | Seattle metro, Tacoma | $50/mo |
| Spectrum | 1000 Mbps | Central/Eastern WA | $50/mo |
| Viasat | 100 Mbps | Statewide | $65/mo |
| T-Mobile | 182 Mbps | Statewide | $50/mo |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet | 300 Mbps | Statewide | $50/mo |
| HughesNet | 25 Mbps | Statewide | $60/mo |
Below we break down some of the key details on availability, speeds, technology, and pricing for the top contenders for internet service in Washington.
1. Xfinity
Xfinity from Comcast is widely available in most of western Washington‘s population centers. With maximum download speeds ranging from 200 Mbps to 1.2 Gbps depending on your location and plan selected, it offers some of the fastest cable internet in the state.
Xfinity leverages its large national network to provide consistent speeds and decent reliability compared to other cable options. One drawback is that upload speeds remain comparatively low, with maximum uploads ranging from 5 to 35 Mbps.
Availability: Seattle metro, Tacoma, Olympia, Spokane, Tri-Cities, Vancouver
Max Download Speed: Up to 1200 Mbps
Max Upload Speed: Up to 35 Mbps
Starting Price: $20/mo for 200 Mbps
2. Ziply Fiber
Ziply Fiber is making major investments to expand high-speed fiber internet across Washington. With symmetrical gigabit speeds available to over 40% of households in its service footprint, Ziply offers blazing fast speeds with excellent reliability.
Fiber internet provides lower lag times for gaming and video streaming compared to cable, DSL, and satellite. Ziply also offers price-for-life guarantees, meaning your monthly bill won’t randomly increase.
Availability: Seattle metro, Tri-Cities, Spokane, Yakima
Max Download Speed: 5 Gbps
Max Upload Speed: 5 Gbps
Starting Price: $40/mo for 500 Mbps
3. CenturyLink
CenturyLink primarily uses DSL and fiber internet to provide service across the state of Washington. With over 125 years of telecommunications experience, it continues to expand fiber availability using its massive nationwide network.
CenturyLink fiber provides symmetrical gigabit speeds in many parts of the state. Its DSL internet offers slower speeds but can still deliver 100 Mbps in some areas. Reliability is generally decent, but fiber will provide lower lag times.
Availability: Statewide
Max Download Speed: 1 Gbps ( 940 Mbps VDSL)
Max Upload Speed: 1 Gbps (880 Mbps fiber)
Starting Price: $49/mo
4. Astound Broadband
Astound, formerly Wave Broadband, provides cable internet primarily in the greater Seattle metro area and Tacoma, with availability in select buildings in Spokane as well. Speeds up to 1 Gbps are offered, providing super fast downloads.
Reliability is fairly good and they have excellent customer service ratings. One downside is slower upload speeds, typical of cable internet. But with competitive pricing and availability in Seattle, they make the list.
Availability: Seattle metro, Tacoma
Max Download Speed: 1 Gbps
Max Upload Speed: 20 Mbps
Starting Price: $40/mo
5. Rainier Connect
Rainier Connect is a fixed wireless internet provider bringing speeds up to 1 Gbps to Seattle and Tacoma area residences and businesses. They offer symmetrical speeds with equal performance whether uploading or downloading data.
With direct line of sight between transmission towers and receiver equipment, Rainier provides low lag times that rival fiber. Reliability is generally better than satellite or cellular options. They continue to expand service across the Puget Sound region.
Availability: Seattle metro, Tacoma
Max Download Speed: 1 Gbps
Max Upload Speed: 1 Gbps
Starting Price: $50/mo
6. Spectrum
Spectrum relies on coaxial cable and fiber infrastructure to deliver fast and reliable internet across central and eastern Washington. With wide availability in cities like Spokane, Yakima, and the Tri-Cities region, it offers download speeds up to 1000 Mbps.
As a major cable provider, Spectrum suffers from slower uploads capped at 50 Mbps and some peak usage congestion. But it otherwise provides quality internet access across much of the state.
Availability: Spokane, Tri-Cities, Yakima, Walla Walla, Moses Lake
Max Download Speed: 1000 Mbps
Max Upload Speed: 50 Mbps
Starting Price: $50/mo
7. Viasat
Viasat provides satellite internet coverage across the entire state of Washington. For rural areas lacking cable or fiber availability, Viasat is often the only high-speed internet option outside of cellular plans.
Satellite internet cannot match the speeds and reliability of wired connections. But Viasat offers up to 100 Mbpsdownload speeds and unlimited data plans across its three pricing package tiers. This makes it a decent option for streaming and web browsing.
Availability: Statewide
Max Download Speed: 100 Mbps
Max Upload Speed: 3 Mbps
Starting Price: $65/mo
8. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet
T-Mobile is rapidly expanding availability of its 5G home internet service leveraging its fast mid-band 5G network. Speeds average around 182 Mbpsdown, faster than entry-level cable plans.
The benefit to 5G home internet is accessibility, with coverage spanning most of the state. It provides an alternative to satellite internet for rural users while matching quality cable/DSL speeds. Reliability is still developing however and lag times are higher than fiber.
Availability: 93% statewide
Max Download Speed: 182 Mbps
Max Upload Speed: 21 Mbps
Starting Price: $50/mo
9. Verizon 5G Home Internet
Similar to T-Mobile, Verizon offers 5G home internet statewide leveraging its fast Ultra Wideband 5G frequencies (where available). Speeds range from around 30 Mbps to 300 Mbps depending on your location.
Verizon continues to rapidly expand its 5G coverage in the state, providing an alternative high-speed option for home use. Because it relies on cellular towers, reliability can be mixed, but Verizon 5G offers another path to ditch slow DSL or satellite internet.
Availability: 80% statewide
Max Download Speed: 300 Mbps
Max Upload Speed: 50 Mbps
Starting Price: $50/mo
10. HughesNet
HughesNet is one of the major satellite internet providers available as a rural internet solution across Washington. Satellite cannot match the speeds and reliability of wired connectivity. But HughesNet offers download speeds up to 25 Mbps.
While good enough for web browsing and basic video streaming, satellite does carry some major drawbacks like high latency, throttled data speeds, restrictive data caps, and weather interference. But HughesNet continues to invest in expanding satellite capacity for rural areas.
Availability: Statewide
Max Download Speed: 25 Mbps
Max Upload Speed: 3 Mbps
Starting Price: $60/mo
What to Consider When Choosing an Internet Provider
With this overview of top Washington internet providers on the table, what are the key decision points for selecting the right ISP for your home?
1. Availability – The starting point is checking which providers actually offer serviceability at your address. No provider is one-size-fits all statewide.
2. Speed Requirements – Consider how many users/devices in your home and your usage habits—are you satisfied with 50 Mbps or do you need the fastest gigabit plan?
3. Price – Balance your speed wants versus budget reality. Many providers offer introductory discounts for 12 months or more.
4. Connection Reliability – If uptime is crucial for work or gaming, fiber and fixed wireless tend to offer the best consistency and uptime outside of occasional maintenance.
5. Customer Service – Check provider ratings and testimonials from other locals on responsiveness if connection issues occur.
Using these criteria and the overview of each major ISP above will help you find the right balance of factors for your home. Be sure to check on specials and discounts on plans and equipment installation for the best deal.
Conclusion
Washington residents have an ever-expanding array of options to get connected, with 95% of households having access to wired broadband. Fiber and 5G expansion is also helping close the gaps in rural parts of the state without cable or DSL infrastructure.
Hopefully this breakdown gives you a headstart in exploring the internet providers available in your area. With the FCC defining broadband as a minimum of 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload, Washingtonians have their choice of speed tiers to meet their connectivity needs.
