Best Internet Providers in Saint Paul, Minnesota for 2026
Compare the Best Internet Service Providers in Saint Paul, MN
Speedtest aggregates all of the millions of daily tests across our website and apps by users just like you. We’ve filtered those tests down to those taken in Saint Paul, Minnesota, to give you a real sense of what performance is like across the top providers, and to help you make a more informed ISP decision.
Speedtest aggregates all of the millions of daily tests across our website and apps by users just like you. We’ve filtered those tests down to those taken in Saint Paul, Minnesota, to give you a real sense of what performance is like across the top providers, and to help you make a more informed ISP decision.
| Download | 299.10 | Mbps |
|---|---|---|
| Upload | 40.92 | Mbps |
| Latency | 28 | ms |
Speedtest aggregates all of the millions of daily tests across our website and apps by users just like you. We’ve filtered those tests down to those taken in Saint Paul, Minnesota, to give you a real sense of what performance is like across the top providers, and to help you make a more informed ISP decision.
| Download | 279.98 | Mbps |
|---|---|---|
| Upload | 213.08 | Mbps |
| Latency | 10 | ms |
Speedtest aggregates all of the millions of daily tests across our website and apps by users just like you. We’ve filtered those tests down to those taken in Saint Paul, Minnesota, to give you a real sense of what performance is like across the top providers, and to help you make a more informed ISP decision.
| Download | - | Mbps |
|---|---|---|
| Upload | - | Mbps |
| Latency | - | ms |
Speedtest aggregates all of the millions of daily tests across our website and apps by users just like you. We’ve filtered those tests down to those taken in Saint Paul, Minnesota, to give you a real sense of what performance is like across the top providers, and to help you make a more informed ISP decision.
| Download | - | Mbps |
|---|---|---|
| Upload | - | Mbps |
| Latency | - | ms |
Speedtest aggregates all of the millions of daily tests across our website and apps by users just like you. We’ve filtered those tests down to those taken in Saint Paul, Minnesota, to give you a real sense of what performance is like across the top providers, and to help you make a more informed ISP decision.
| Download | - | Mbps |
|---|---|---|
| Upload | - | Mbps |
| Latency | - | ms |
Speedtest aggregates all of the millions of daily tests across our website and apps by users just like you. We’ve filtered those tests down to those taken in Saint Paul, Minnesota, to give you a real sense of what performance is like across the top providers, and to help you make a more informed ISP decision.
| Download | - | Mbps |
|---|---|---|
| Upload | - | Mbps |
| Latency | - | ms |
Speedtest aggregates all of the millions of daily tests across our website and apps by users just like you. We’ve filtered those tests down to those taken in Saint Paul, Minnesota, to give you a real sense of what performance is like across the top providers, and to help you make a more informed ISP decision.
| Download | - | Mbps |
|---|---|---|
| Upload | - | Mbps |
| Latency | - | ms |
Speedtest aggregates all of the millions of daily tests across our website and apps by users just like you. We’ve filtered those tests down to those taken in Saint Paul, Minnesota, to give you a real sense of what performance is like across the top providers, and to help you make a more informed ISP decision.
| Download | - | Mbps |
|---|---|---|
| Upload | - | Mbps |
| Latency | - | ms |
Speedtest aggregates all of the millions of daily tests across our website and apps by users just like you. We’ve filtered those tests down to those taken in Saint Paul, Minnesota, to give you a real sense of what performance is like across the top providers, and to help you make a more informed ISP decision.
| Download | - | Mbps |
|---|---|---|
| Upload | - | Mbps |
| Latency | - | ms |
Speedtest aggregates all of the millions of daily tests across our website and apps by users just like you. We’ve filtered those tests down to those taken in Saint Paul, Minnesota, to give you a real sense of what performance is like across the top providers, and to help you make a more informed ISP decision.
| Download | - | Mbps |
|---|---|---|
| Upload | - | Mbps |
| Latency | - | ms |
Not all plans are available in all areas. Provider plan, availability, and speed tier data provided by BroadbandNow.com. Speedtest real-world data is only present where sample size has reached significance within a region. Additionally, averages may include aggregated tests across multiple Internet Types (Fiber, DSL, Cable, etc.).
St. Paul is a city with layers; they’ve got historic brownstones, icy winters, summer festivals, college campuses, small businesses, and a whole lot of Minnesotan charm that somehow feels both cozy and sophisticated. People here are creative, practical, and online more than ever. From graduate students at Macalester zooming through research papers to families streaming movies in Highland Park to remote professionals working from renovated homes on Summit Avenue, the city’s digital life is in full motion.
And because St. Paul weather can shut down an entire day’s plans in 30 seconds, a reliable internet connection is survival-level essential. With fiber expanding, wireless service improving, and cable still covering most neighborhoods, residents have options. The trick, of course, is figuring out which one actually delivers when you’re balancing work, school, streaming, and so much more.
How much speed do you really need? Speed needs vary household to household. If you’re living alone in a cozy apartment near Cathedral Hill, streaming shows and keeping your browsing pretty chill, 25 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload will hold you over. But that’s just the baseline folks. What do you do if your usage is much higher?
If you have a larger family that consists of people working from home, attending meetings and webinars, teens who want to watch hockey highlights, preteens gaming online, a younger kid on a tablet, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg—how in the world does the baseline help in that situation? You’ll need around 200–300 Mbps to feel comfortable without the service stalling.
If you’re uploading large files for work, running a side hustle online, or editing videos, you’ll want fiber speeds of 1 Gbps or more. Symmetrical upload and download speeds (which means they’re as close to equal as possible) make everything feel more fluid.
Latency (how long it takes data to travel from one server to another) is also important, as you want to stay under 20 ms to keep gaming and video calls crisp instead of choppy. If you’ve ever frozen mid-sentence during a meeting, you know this is not negotiable.
What’s Coming Down the Pipeline?
St. Paul has been steadily improving its broadband infrastructure, with both local and statewide programs supporting expansion:
- Gateway Fiber—Expansion into Cottage Grove (St. Paul Metro): Gateway Fiber began construction in Cottage Grove (southeast of St. Paul) in July 2025, delivering symmetrical multi-gig fiber and free public Wi-Fi in parks.
- Comcast Twin Cities—$525M Network Expansion: Comcast is investing over $525 million in Minnesota infrastructure, including symmetrical multi-gig service and Xfinity/Comcast Business upgrades across the St. Paul metro. Coverage includes: Prior Lake, Savage, Victoria, Waconia, and surrounding areas.
- Minnesota Border-to-Border Broadband Program: A statewide program funding new fiber builds, especially in underserved and developing regions surrounding the Twin Cities.
With these investments, St. Paul’s future looks even faster and more connected, which is great news for remote workers, creatives, students, and anyone streaming through those long winter nights.
How to Choose the Right Internet Plan in St. Paul
Choosing an internet plan here really comes down to your lifestyle. If you’re a light user who mostly streams casually or checks emails, a mid-range cable plan will be more than enough. If your household has multiple remote workers, gamers, or upload-heavy tasks, fiber is absolutely worth the upgrade.
Always read the fine print on promotional pricing, equipment fees, and possible data caps. Fiber plans tend to be more straightforward, but cable providers sometimes sneak in price jumps or rental charges.
And don’t assume your neighbor’s setup matches yours; St. Paul coverage varies from one area to the next. Always run your exact address through each provider’s website before choosing.
How Much Speed Do I Need?
Download speeds of at least 100 Mbps and upload speeds of at least 10 Mbps are widely considered fast enough to handle nearly any online activity. A quick guide to what speeds you need for different online activities is below, and you can read our full guide to internet speeds and performance for more information. Keep in mind that the numbers below are the bare minimum for one device at a time. If you’re trying to use multiple devices on a network at the same time, you’ll want higher speeds.
0–5 Mbps (Slow)
- Stream SD video
- Connect on Slack
- Use Microsoft Teams
- Write and read email
- Scroll social media
- General web browsing
5–20 Mbps (Better)
- Stream HD video at 1080p
20–40 Mbps (Solid)
- Stream 4K video
- Play games online
40–100 Mbps (Good)
- Stream HD games
100+ Mbps (Fast)
- Engage in multi-player gaming
- Download huge files
1+ Gbps (Very fast)
- Do anything you want on multiple devices
ISP Speeds in Saint Paul, MN
St. Paul has one of the stronger broadband landscapes in the Midwest, with solid fiber availability and fast cable options. According to Speedtest Intelligence®, as of January 2026, the city posts median fixed broadband downloads of 303.60 Mbps, uploads near 74.22 Mbps, and latency around 10 ms.
Based on Speedtest data collected in the second half of 2025, here’s how the major providers compare:
- Xfinity: The most widely available provider, covering around 92% of St. Paul homes. It delivers median downloads of 299.10 Mbps, uploads of 40.92 Mbps, and latency around 28 ms. Solid performance for streaming, browsing, and multitasking, though uploads are still modest compared to fiber options.
- CenturyLink Fiber: Available in 59% of the city, this option offers downloads averaging 279.98 Mbps, uploads at 213.08 Mbps, and latency of just 10 ms. The near-symmetrical speeds make it ideal for remote work, content creation, and gaming. Plus, it’s affordable with plans starting around $50–$75/month.
- AT&T Fiber: Covering 69% of St. Paul, AT&T offers fiber and 5G internet options with plans ranging from $34–$255/month. Real-world Speedtest data is not yet available for this provider.
- Quantum Fiber: A fiber provider with 38% geographic reach in St. Paul, offering speeds up to 8000 Mbps. Real-world Speedtest data is not yet available, but pricing ranges from $50–$165/month.
- Spectrum: A cable provider covering 33% of St. Paul with plans from $30–$90/month. Real-world Speedtest data is not yet available for this provider.
Most of St. Paul has cable, but fiber is steadily expanding, delivering the kind of upload strength that makes Zoom meetings, cloud backups, and creative projects feel effortless.
Saint Paul Fixed Speeds
Download Mbps
Median download speed
Upload Mbps
Median upload speed
Latency ms
Median latency
To be added to this list for mobile or fixed broadband, 75% of a city's monthly unique user totals over a 13-month period must have a minimum of 200 monthly unique user results. To be updated for mobile or fixed broadband, 75% of a city's monthly unique user totals over a 13-month period must have a minimum of 100 monthly unique user results.
An operator or ISP must account for 3% or more of total test samples in the market to be on this list. We display data if at least two operators or ISPs meet this threshold in a designated region or city.
Internet Providers in Nearby Cities
Minnesota
Home Internet in Saint Paul
Living in St. Paul means adapting to the seasons—from extreme cold snaps to blistering summers—and the internet has to keep up with your indoor life. Remote workers rely on stable connections to do their jobs from home offices; students depend on fast Wi-Fi for deadlines; families stream everything from cooking shows to retro holiday movies; and gamers in Frogtown and Como are battling latency like it’s personal.
Cable plans from Xfinity are widespread and dependable for everyday users. They handle streaming, browsing, and video calls with ease, especially in smaller households. But if you upload regularly, as what tends to be the case with photographers, graphic designers, and such, fiber is easily the better choice.
Let’s take St. Anthony Park. There’s pretty good service in that area, but if one household has a lot going on, such as someone on a Zoom call, someone else uploading a data-heavy project, a kid watching cartoons, and so on, you might run into some issues. On cable, someone’s connection gets the short end of the stick. On fiber, everything probably still feels smooth, quiet, and lag-free.
At the time of this writing, internet pricing typically starts around $30–$40/month for basic cable, while gigabit fiber plans range from $50–$95/month. Expect promo pricing to increase after a year, and plan for $10–$15/month in equipment rental fees unless you bring your own router.
What About Wireless and Satellite Options?
Wireless internet has grown fast across St. Paul. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet covers 59% of the city with plans around $50–$70/month, while Verizon 5G Home Internet covers 44% at $35–$75/month. These services typically deliver 200–400 Mbps downloads depending on tower proximity and signal quality. Setup takes minutes, and renters especially love the simplicity. Real-world Speedtest data isn’t available for these providers yet.
Satellite service is more common in rural areas outside the metro, but still available in St. Paul for those who need it. Starlink, Viasat, and HughesNet all offer 100% coverage. Starlink plans range from $80–$165/month, Viasat from $69.99–$119.99/month, and HughesNet from $39.99–$119.99/month. Real-world Speedtest data isn’t available for satellite providers in St. Paul. Satellite is a solid option for people on the city’s very outer edges or in pockets where fiber hasn’t reached yet, though higher latency makes it less ideal for gaming or frequent video calls.
How we test the speed of ISPs
Speedtest is the definitive way to test the performance and quality of an internet connection. Millions of users like you use Speedtest.net and our Android and iOS apps every day to test internet performance (including bandwidth, latency, coverage, video metrics, and more) in real world situations. We then use rigorous scientific approaches to aggregate and anonymize those results to empower people like you with content like this so you can understand and optimize your internet experience.
The data found within has not been subjected to the rigorous Speedtest marketing claims and data methodology, and therefore cannot be used in commercial applications. Additionally, promised speeds and plans offered are always subject to change.
How to test your internet speed
Speedtest can help you test the speed and overall performance of your internet for free from any device. Click here to open a new page and take a Speedtest. You can then compare your results with what you’ve learned about internet performance near you. If you aren’t getting the results you expect, you can either use this guide to use your Speedtest results to talk to your internet provider or you can shop for a new provider.