Best Internet Providers in Marquette, Michigan

What is the best internet provider in Marquette?

Looking for the best internet provider in Marquette, Michigan? CNET’s experts have got you covered. Right now, Spectrum is CNET's pick for the best internet service provider overall for most households in Marquette because of widespread availability and plans that go up to a gig. However, Spectrum service isn't available everywhere in Marquette, so T-Mobile Home Internet is also a solid pick, depending on what's available in your area. 

If you’re hunting for the lowest prices or fastest speeds, we’ve also found those top options. The cheapest wired internet in Marquette is Spectrum’s $50-per-month 500Mbps plan. The fastest widely available internet speed also comes from Spectrum, with its 1,000Mbps plan for $70 per month. It’s available across most of Marquette.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Other available internet providers in Marquette

• AT&T Internet: AT&T Internet is the ISP’s old-school DSL network. The network reaches across most of Marquette, but the speeds are nothing to write home about. While AT&T Internet can get up to 100Mbps downloads in some locations, Marquette residents will mostly look at much slower speeds, sometimes as slow as just 3Mbps. The plan costs $60 monthly, and most speed levels have a 1.5TB data cap. Consider this a fall-back option if Spectrum doesn’t work out for you.
• 906 Technologies: Local ISP 906 Technologies offers fiber and fixed wireless connections, focusing on rural homes in Marquette County that don’t have access to a service like Spectrum. Fiber costs $90 per month for 100Mbps symmetrical speeds, with a one-time installation fee of $450. Fixed wireless internet runs $65 monthly, with typical download speeds of around 70Mbps. There’s also a one-time setup fee of $450. 
• Satellite internet: If you’re outside Spectrum’s cable footprint and fixed wireless options don’t work out, check into satellite internet from Starlink, Viasat or Hughesnet. It’s pricey and speeds may be slower than you’d like, but it can keep you connected, even from a rural location.

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Cheap internet options in Marquette

You won’t find bargain-basement internet prices in Marquette, thanks partly to a lack of competition. The NMU EAN wireless LTE internet service tops out at 25Mbps and costs $35 monthly for community members. Veterans, alums and students of affiliate institutions can get a lower price.

Spectrum’s $50-per-month 500Mbps option is the most affordable wired internet plan, though that price will increase by $30 after the first year. But you can get it for $30 monthly with select Spectrum bundle plans. Similarly, if you’re already a T-Mobile phone user, consider bundling with a 5G home internet plan to get a discount that brings your internet down as low as $40 per month. Low-income households should also check their eligibility for Spectrum’s Internet Assist and the federal Lifeline program.

What’s the cheapest internet plan in Marquette?

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Marquette

The best internet deals and top promotions in Marquette depend on what discounts are available during a given time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers. 

Marquette internet providers, like Spectrum, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, however, including AT&T Internet and T-Mobile Home Internet, tend to run the same standard pricing year-round. 

For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals. 

How fast is Marquette broadband?

Marquette matches up well with typical wired internet speeds found across Michigan as a whole. A recent Ookla speed test report shows Marquette with a 223Mbps median download speed for fixed internet. That’s due largely to the widespread availability of Spectrum and its 500Mbps entry-level plan. Compare that with Michigan’s nearly 230Mbps median download speed overall. If you need peppier speeds, consider Spectrum’s 1,000Mbps plan starting at $70 monthly.

Fastest internet plans in Marquette

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 FCC. 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.

• 0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics -- browsing the internet, sending and receiving email, streaming low-quality video.
• 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and video conferencing.
• 40 to 100Mbps should give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming. 
• 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like video conferencing, streaming and online gaming. 
• 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.

How CNET chose the best internet providers in Marquette

Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it's impractical to personally test every internet service provider in a given city. So what's our approach? For starters, we tap into a proprietary database of pricing, availability and speed information that draws from our own historical ISP data, partner data and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov. 

But 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 publication. 

Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions: 

• Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds? 
• Do customers get decent value for what they're paying? 
• Are customers happy with their service? 

While 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 selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, though 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 consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.

To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.

What’s the final word on internet providers in Marquette?

Spectrum’s cable network rules the roost in Marquette. It reaches almost every home in town and offers speeds up to a gig. If price is a big factor and you don’t need fast speeds, then consider NMU’s LTE network, especially if you’re a student, veteran or alumnus and qualify for the lowest-cost EAN plans. Otherwise, look to T-Mobile Home Internet as one of the few alternatives to Spectrum. Chances are, you’ll end up with Spectrum. 

Internet providers in Marquette FAQs