What is the best internet provider in Aurora?
Aurora residents have plenty of options for internet service. CNET experts recommend Xfinity as the top internet service provider in Aurora, Colorado. Xfinity earns the top spot thanks to its fast speeds and affordable prices. Plans start at $40 monthly for 400 megabits per second and go all the way up to 2,100Mbps for $70 a month.
If Xfinity doesn't service your neighborhood, look to Quantum Fiber as a solid option. Its fiber-optic service offers the fastest internet plan in the area at up to 8 gigabits, in some parts. That said, less than a third of the city has access to fiber internet.
Aurora is also home to multiple fixed wireless internet providers. Verizon 5G Home Internet offers the fastest speeds for the money but T-Mobile 5G Home Internet is also a practical option, particularly in rural areas to the east. Remember -- availability, pricing and overall value from other fixed wireless providers, including Aerux Broadband, CenturyLink and Rise Broadband, will vary by location.
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Aurora
The best internet deals and top promotions in Aurora depend on what discounts are available during that time. Most deals are short-lived but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Aurora internet providers, such as Xfinity, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, including Quantum Fiber, CenturyLink and Rise Broadband, run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s a good internet speed?
Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you're looking for an internet plan that can accommodate video conferencing, streaming video or gaming, you'll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here's an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the Federal Communications Commission. Note that these are only guidelines and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.
For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Aurora
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
It doesn’t end there: We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of the time of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
The answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When it comes to selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and also take into account real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.