Best Internet Providers in Meridian, Idaho

What is the best internet provider in Meridian?

Quantum Fiber is the best internet service provider in Meridian, Idaho, due to its local fiber coverage, fast speeds and straightforward pricing, including a price-for-life guarantee. Quantum Fiber offers fiber internet service to around a quarter of Meridian households, offering symmetrical upload and download speeds up to 500 and 940Mbps. 

TDS Telecom also offers fiber internet in Meridian but to fewer homes than Quantum Fiber. If your address is serviceable for TDS, you’ll have access to the cheapest internet in Meridian, $35 per month for 300Mbps, and the fastest speeds, up to 2,000Mbps for $165 monthly.

If fiber internet isn’t available in your area, look to Sparklight for high-speed internet in Meridian. The cable internet provider, known for its fast speeds, competitive pricing and simple service terms, is available throughout the Meridian area.

Finally, fixed wireless internet from a variety of providers may be available at your address. Rise Broadband and T-Mobile Home Internet are top choices, but Verizon 5G Home Internet is Meridian's best option for speed and value.

Best internet in Meridian, Idaho

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Meridian

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

Meridian internet providers, such as Sparklight and T-Mobile Home Internet, may offer lower introductory pricing or other incentives for a limited time. Many providers, including Quantum Fiber and TDS Telecom, 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 videoconferencing, 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 and streaming low-quality video.
• 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
• 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 videoconferencing, 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 Meridian, Idaho

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:

1. Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
2. Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
3. Are customers happy with their service?

While the answers to those questions are often layered and complex, the providers that 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. (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.

Internet providers in Meridian, Idaho, FAQs