Best Internet Providers in Bloomington, IL
EarthLink
$64.95/mo.
Download Speed: 115 Mbps
Internet Type: DSL & Fixed Wireless
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Table of Contents
Top 10 Internet Providers in Bloomington, IL
| Providers | Speed | Starting Price | Type |
| Frontier | 115 Mbps | $49.99/mo. | DSL |
| EarthLink | 115 Mbps | $64.95/mo. | Fixed Wireless & DSL |
| Xfinity | 1,200 Mbps | $35.00/mo. | Cable |
| HughesNet | 50 Mbps | $64.99/mo. | Satellite |
| Viasat | 150 Mbps | $49.99/mo. | Satellite |
| T-Mobile Home | 245 Mbps | $50.00/mo. | Fixed Wireless |
| Metronet | 1,000 Mbps | $39.95/mo. | Fiber-optic |
| Xtreme | 1,000 Mbps | $24.99/mo. | Cable |
| Consolidated Comm. | 50 Mbps | $33.00/mo. | DSL |
| Rise Broadband | 250 Mbps | $45.00/mo. | Fixed Wireless |
Types of Internet Providers in Bloomington, IL
Bloomington is the 14th most digitally connected city in Illinois. 97.2 percent of its population (76,202 residents) can access broadband internet with a minimum download speed of 25 Mbps. There are a total of 22 internet providers in Bloomington, Illinois. Among them:
- 6 offer fixed wireless internet
- 5 offer fiber-optic internet
- 5 offer DSL internet connections
- 3 offer coaxial cable internet
- 3 offer satellite internet service
Fiber Internet Providers in Bloomington, IL
The wide availability of fiber-optic internet keeps Bloomington buzzing with socio-economic activity. Bloomington is one of the best metropolitans in Illinois for fiber-optic internet connectivity. Around 87.23 percent of the city can connect to the fiber internet network that runs from the north to the south, distributing gigabit speeds to densely populated neighborhoods, like South Oakland, Founder’s Grove, Burns-Hendrix, and Barnes.
Fiber internet is the fastest source of internet technology in Bloomington. Fiber internet providers in Bloomington, IL use light (the fastest physical thing in the universe) to distribute internet data at the speed of 1 gigabit per second. The light is passed through a transparent strand made of silica glass. Instead of “leaking” through the walls, the light photons refract against the clear surface, causing a wave-like motion and creating high-intensity pulses. As a result, the digital data is distributed over long distances at the maximum speed of 10 gigabits per second, with minimal data loss on the way.
Currently, 5 internet providers in Bloomington, IL offer fiber internet service for as low as $39.95 per month. Metronet is the largest fiber internet provider in Bloomington and can distribute an equal upload and download speed of up to 1,000 Mbps to 41.5 percent of the city.
| Top 3 Fiber Internet Providers in Bloomington, IL | |||
| Provider | Starting Price | Max. Speed | Overall Rating |
| Metronet | $39.95/mo. | 1,000 Mbps | 3.73/ 5 stars |
| Pavlov Media | $69.99/mo. | 1,000 Mbps | 2.62/ 5 stars |
| CIRBN | N/A | 1,000 Mbps | 3.80/ 5 stars |
Cable Internet Providers in Bloomington, IL
Around 95.76 percent of the city can get download speeds of up to 1,000 Mbps through the coaxial cable system in Bloomington. Cable internet is delivered through the same transmission lines that distribute cable TV service to homes. Internet data is converted to analog (electrical) signals inside the data centers and delivered to subscribers’ homes via coaxial cables. The structure of a coaxial cable prevents data loss and signal interference and offers wider bandwidths and greater reliability. Hence, cable internet providers in Bloomington, IL, can easily distribute gigabit internet speeds with 99.9 percent reliability.
Xfinity, owned by Comcast Corporation, is the most popular cable internet provider in Bloomington, IL. It can offer download speeds of up to 1,200 Mbps for a starting price of $35 to 92.6 percent of the city.
Xtreme, powered by Mediacom, is the most affordable cable internet provider in Bloomington, IL. Its ‘Prime Internet’ plans start at $24.99 per month and can be bought in more than 19 percent of Bloomington.
| Top 3 Cable Internet Providers in Bloomington | |||
| Provider | Starting Price | Max. Speed | Overall Rating |
| Xfinity | $35.00/mo. | 1,200 Mbps | 3.45/ 5 stars |
| Xtreme | $24.99/mo. | 1,000 Mbps | 3.32/ 5 stars |
| Tel-star Cablevision | $59.95/mo. | 1,000 Mbps | 3.50/ 5 stars |
Fixed Wireless Internet Providers in Bloomington, IL
Bloomington has an extensive network of fixed wireless internet services. Out of 22 internet providers in Bloomington, IL, the largest share goes to fixed wireless internet. At the moment, 89.83% percent of Bloomington can receive broadband speeds without wires of any sort. The 5G (fifth-generation) wireless internet technology uses cellular towers to transmit ultra-wideband frequencies and disseminate download speeds of up to 1,000 Mbps.
5G home internet providers in Bloomington, IL, can offer a median download speed of 298 Mbps for a monthly fee as low as $45. Fixed wireless internet may not be the best option for speed reliability, especially if your house is on the edge of its 3-mile radius. However, it is the most preferred method of internet access in remote locations of Bloomington due to its wireless nature, affordability, and greater data allowance.
| Top 3 Fixed Wireless Internet Providers in Bloomington | |||
| Provider | Starting Price | Max. Speed | Overall Rating |
| T-Mobile Home | $50.00/mo. | 245 Mbps | 4.23/ 5 stars |
| Rise Broadband | $45.00/mo. | 250 Mbps | 2.95/ 5 stars |
| Watch Communications | $59.99/mo. | 400 Mbps | 3.63/ 5 stars |
DSL Internet Providers in Bloomington, IL
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) internet is the most widely available source of wired internet in Bloomington. Nearly 99.26 percent of the city can get download speeds of up to 100 Mbps through telephone lines that deliver internet data in the form of analog signals.
An average Bloomington home receives up to 46 Mbps download speed on the DSL internet network. However, speeds within the 100 Mbps and 115 Mbps range are rare and available only to 11.25 percent of the residents. The best neighborhoods in Bloomington for getting 100+ Mbps of download speeds are Downtown, Bloomington South, and Bloomington Southeast.
Frontier is the largest DSL internet provider in Bloomington, IL. For just $49.99 per month, Frontier Internet can offer download speeds of up to 115 Mbps to 72.7% of the city.
Collectively, the 2 best DSL internet providers in Bloomington, IL, promise basic internet coverage for an average monthly price of $45.
| Top 3 DSL Internet Providers in Bloomington | |||
| Provider | Starting Price | Max. Speed | Overall Rating |
| EarthLink | $64.95/mo. | 115 Mbps | 4.37/ 5 stars |
| Frontier | $49.99/mo. | 115 Mbps | 3.50/ 5 stars |
| Consolidated Comm. | $33.00/mo. | 50 Mbps | 3.33/ 5 stars |
Satellite Internet Providers in Bloomington, IL
Satellite Internet offers unrestricted broadband access throughout Bloomington. Even the rural, underserved, and small residential communities in the outskirts of Bloomington-Normal area, like Shirely, Towanda, and Downs, can receive download speeds of up to 220 Mbps via satellite internet.
The satellite internet providers in Bloomington, IL, use a fleet of geostationary satellites to receive internet data from faraway ground stations, adjust them to the subscribers’ requirements, and redirect them to the dish antennas installed on the rooftops/ open spaces. Satellite internet customers in Bloomington can expect uninterrupted internet service, as long as the dish antennas have a clear view of the southern sky.
A satellite modem is plugged inside the house, which converts radio signals into digital data for wireless internet access.
Satellite internet providers in Bloomington, IL, often become the last resort for broadband access. Their highly-priced plans, slow speeds, data caps, and biennial contracts discourage customers, leading to just 1 percent of the market share, despite 100 percent availability.
The following 3 satellite internet providers in Bloomington, IL, are filling the connectivity gap in the city with their 100 percent coverage, decent speeds, and network reliability.
| Top 3 Satellite Internet Providers in Bloomington | |||
| Provider | Starting Price | Max. Speed | Overall Rating |
| HughesNet | $64.99/mo. | 50 Mbps | 3.78/ 5 stars |
| Viasat | $49.99/mo. | 150 Mbps | 3.18/ 5 stars |
| Starlink | $99.00/mo. | 220 Mbps | 3.20/ 5 stars |
Fastest Internet Provider in Bloomington, IL
Fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) connections are purpose-built to deliver equally fast upload and download speeds, an attribute impossible to achieve while using other types of internet services. Although the maximum upstream and downstream capacity of residential fiber internet providers in the USA is 10 Gbps (10,000 Mbps), Bloomington is yet to celebrate the launch of multigigabit fiber internet plans. However, symmetrical gigabit speeds are accessible in almost half the city through Metronet’s fiber-rich 1 Gig internet service.
Metronet Internet Plans
Metronet is the fastest internet provider in Bloomington, Illinois. For rates as low as $39.95 per month, it can offer the same upload and download speeds of up to 1,000 Mbps in 41.5 percent of the city. Metronet Fiber plans include unlimited data, free installation, free WiFi equipment, promo price guarantees for up to 12 months, and contract-free service. New customers of the Metronet Fiber 1 Gig plan may be eligible for a $100 Visa gift card after they have paid in full for the first 2 months.
| Metronet Fiber Internet Plans in Bloomington | |||
| Plan | Promo Price | Regular Price | Speed |
| Fiber 100 | $39.95/mo. | $49.95/mo. | 100 Mbps |
| Fiber 500 | $49.95/mo. | $69.95/mo. | 500 Mbps |
| Fiber 1 Gig | $59.95/mo. | $89.95/mo. | 1,000 Mbps |
The latency of Metronet Internet is between 20 ms and 30 ms, making it the fastest internet provider in Bloomington for pro-level gamers and heavy streamers.
Cheapest Internet Provider in Bloomington, IL
An average high-speed internet plan costs $70 per month in Bloomington. This price tag is 50 percent more than a decade ago. At least 12 percent of the households in Bloomington (close to 3,970 families) cannot afford broadband service at home with the current month-to-month internet plans available to them.
But now, thanks to one Bloomington internet provider, low-cost internet plans are available in 20 percent of the city, offering basic internet connectivity for as low as $33 per month.
Consolidated Communications Internet Plans
Consolidated Communications is one of the most trustworthy internet providers in Bloomington, IL. It offers above-average service at below-average market rates. Consolidated Communications offers 3 DSL internet plans, starting at $33 per month, delivering a download speed of up to 50 Mbps. All 3-speed tiers include uncapped data, a 30-day money-back guarantee, free cloud storage, and round-the-clock technical support.
Consolidated Communications’ DSL internet service is perfect if you are looking for an inexpensive starter internet plan. However, the second-year price hike will put it in the same category as other top-rated Bloomington internet providers.
Currently, only one internet provider in Bloomington offers a lifetime price lock guarantee. T-Mobile’s 5G home internet service costs a flat $50 per month (with AutoPay), and if you bundle it with a Go5G, Go5G Plus, or Magenta Max mobile phone plan, the price drops further to a regular rate of $30 per month. So, in reality, T-Mobile is the cheapest internet provider in Bloomington, keeping its rates fixed to a $50 charge for new account holders.
Best Low-income Bloomington Internet Provider
The exorbitant costs associated with broadband access deprive almost 4,000 Bloomington families of improving their livelihoods. Lack of digital skills and knowledge obstructs their career advancement and keeps them bound to low-paid work. The prevalence of a 12 percent digital divide in Bloomington affects students, too. They cannot access online resources, complete their assignments, and connect with the global student community to exchange ideas.
To eradicate digital inequality, the City Government is widely implementing the Federal Communications Commission’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) in partnership with the best internet providers in Bloomington, IL.
Frontier is the best Bloomington internet provider for eligible low-income households and offers free DSL internet plans with download speeds of up to 115 Mbps.
| Frontier ACP Plans in Bloomington, IL | |||
| Plan | Standard Price | Price After ACP | Max. Speed |
| Frontier Essentials | $29.99/mo. | FREE | 115 Mbps |
| Frontier 100 | $29.99/mo. | FREE | 100 Mbps |
OR, you can consider the following ACP internet providers in Bloomington to receive up to 100 Mbps of download speeds for free.
| Top 3 Low-Income Internet Providers in Bloomington | |||
| Provider | Plan Price | Plan Speed | Price After ACP |
| Xfinity | $29.95/mo. | 100 Mbps | $0.00/mo. |
| Xtreme | $30.00/mo. | 100 Mbps | $0.00/mo. |
| Metronet | $29.95/mo. | 100 Mbps | $0.00/mo. |
Availability of Bloomington Internet Providers
Known as one of the ‘geekiest cities’ in the United States, over 68.7 percent of Bloomington’s workforce is employed in STEM-related occupations. Innovation and entrepreneurship drive the city’s economy, propelling it towards attaining a ‘Smart City’ status. Renowned internet providers in Bloomington are making this dream a reality by creating a robust internet infrastructure.
With 100 percent coverage and gigabit download speeds reaching 95 percent of the residents, Bloomington internet providers are accelerating technological advancement in the city.
Here is a breakdown of the coverage areas of wired and unwired internet services available in Bloomington.
| Internet Availability in Bloomington, IL | |
| Type of Internet Service | Coverage Area in Bloomington |
| Satellite Internet | 100% |
| DSL Internet | 99.26% |
| Cable Internet | 95.76% |
| Fixed Wireless Internet | 89.83% |
| Fiber-optic Internet | 87.23% |
Together, the satellite, fixed wireless internet, fiber-optic, cable, and DSL internet providers in Bloomington, offer a median internet speed of 175.35 Mbps, which is 0.23 Mbps slower than the state average.
| Citywide Availability of Bloomington Internet Providers | ||
| Bloomington Internet Providers | Citywide Availability | Type of Internet |
| HughesNet | 100% | Satellite |
| Viasat | 100% | Satellite |
| Xfinity | 92.6% | Cable |
| Rise Broadband | 76.5% | Fixed Wireless |
| Frontier | 72.7% | DSL |
| EarthLink | 67.1% | Fixed Wireless & DSL |
| T-Mobile Home | 50.3% | Fixed Wireless |
| Metronet | 41.5% | Fiber-optic |
| Consolidated Communications | 20.0% | DSL |
| Xtreme | 19.7% | Cable |
Best Bloomington Internet Provider
Xfinity is the best cable internet provider in Bloomington, IL. Its ultrafast download speed of 1,200 Mbps is available in 92.6 percent of the city for a starting price of $35 per month.
Frontier is the best DSL internet provider in Bloomington, IL for light internet users. Around 70 percent of the residents can get download speeds of up to 115 Mbps for $49.99 per month.
But if you are looking for symmetrical internet speeds, ultra-low latency, 99.9 percent network reliability, and freebies, then Metronet is your best bet. Metronet’s fiber-powered internet plans are available in 41.5 percent of the city, offering equal download and upload speeds of up to 1 Gig for monthly fees as low as $39.95.
FAQs
Bloomington is one of the best cities in Illinois for ultrafast fiber-optic internet connectivity. Almost 87.23 percent of the city can access symmetrical internet speeds of up to 1,000 Mbps (1 Gbps) for a starting price of $39.95 per month. Metronet is the best and most widely available fiber internet provider in Bloomington, IL. Its gigabit internet speeds are available in more than 41 percent of Bloomington. Xfinity’s fiber-rich internet plans are accessible in less than 1.5 percent of the city for rates as low as $35 per month.
Xfinity by Comcast Corporation is the most widely available wired internet provider in Bloomington. Its high-speed coaxial cable network covers 92.6 percent of the city, distributing download speeds of up to 1,200 Mbps for $35 a month.
The median download speed in Bloomington for fixed broadband is 175.35 Mbps. The speed was last updated in July 2023. Figures are based on millions of user-initiated speed tests taken daily on Ookla. Xfinity offers the fastest average download speed in Bloomington, ranging between 85 Mbps and 433 Mbps.
The average upload speed in Bloomington for fixed broadband internet is 88.12 Mbps. The results also show that the median latency in the city is 6 milliseconds (ms), which is 8 ms less than the state average.
Yes. Free Internet services are available across Bloomington via various government and private initiatives, like the Affordable Connectivity Program, Internet Essentials deals, and Students and Educator Specials. Low-income families can get free internet plans from internet providers in Bloomington, IL, like Frontier, Xfinity, Metronet, and Mediacom, by qualifying for the Affordable Connectivity Program and getting $30 off on their monthly internet bills. The City of Bloomington Public Library offers 24-hour WiFi connectivity for free. People can access the password-less WiFi network, even from the library’s parking lot.
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