What is the best internet provider in Bend?
Bend may lack variety in internet providers, but after careful research, our CNET experts concluded that TDS Broadband stands out as the top choice in Bend, Oregon. It offers the fastest speeds in the area along with reliable service and a range of plans to fit different needs.
If your need for speed is a bit more moderate, T-Mobile Home Internet is a solid backup choice, thanks to its affordability. Plans offering up to 245Mbps speeds start at $50 per month. If other options are unavailable, Starlink and CenturyLink provide good backup choices, though their speeds and pricing can be on the higher side.
Best internet in Bend, Oregon, for 2024
Bend internet providers compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CenturyLink Read full review |
DSL | $55 | Up to 140Mbps | $15 (optional) | None | None | 6.7 |
| Starlink Read full review |
Satellite | $120 | 25-220Mbps | $499 upfront | None | None | N/A |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50 ($40 with eligible mobile plans) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| TDS (Bend Broadband) | Cable | $45-$80 | 300-1,000Mbps | $12 (optional) | None | None | N/A |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Other available internet providers in Bend
- Fixed wireless: A few regional fixed wireless networks in Bend are worth considering. Blue Mountain Networks, PrineTime and Webformix all operate in the area, but none of them are great options, and you’ll have to fill out a form to see what plans are available at your address. US Cellular is a national fixed wireless provider available almost everywhere in Bend, but the company doesn’t say what speeds you can expect.
- Satellite internet: Besides Starlink, HughesNet and Viasat offer satellite internet service in Bend. You won’t have to pay the $499 upfront to purchase the satellite dish, but both require a two-year contract, charge a monthly equipment fee and offer lower speeds than Starlink.
Cheap internet options in Bend
There are a few cheap internet options in Bend, but several come with low speeds or data caps that they’re not good for much besides checking your email or browsing web pages. T-Mobile Home Internet is your best bet for cheap internet in Bend at $50 monthly.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Bend?
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| PrineTime | $44 | 3Mbps | None |
| TDS (Bend Broadband) | $45 ($74 after one year) | 300Mbps | $12 (optional) |
| HughesNet Select Read full review |
$50 | 50Mbps | $15 |
| HughesNet Elite Read full review |
$55 | 100Mbps | $15 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
$50 ($40 with eligible mobile plans) | 245Mbps | None |
| CenturyLink Read full review |
$55 | Up to 140Mbps | $15 (optional) |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Bend
The best internet deals and the top promotions in Bend depend on what discounts are available during that time period. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Bend internet providers such as T-Mobile Home Internet may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, however, including CenturyLink, Starlink and US Cellular, run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
Fastest internet plans in Bend, Oregon
Overall, the internet in Bend is extremely slow. According to the FCC, only 8% of residents have access to 250/25Mbps speeds, compared to 84% of Oregon and 88% of the US. TDS is the fastest option, but like all cable internet plans, its upload speeds are much slower than download.
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, streaming low-quality video.
- 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
- 40 to 100Mbps should give one person sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
- 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two people to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming.
- 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more people to engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming all at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Bend
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 FCC.gov.
This guide leverages an in-house artificial intelligence tool called RAMP, which is trained on our own writing and uses our database to generate content about specific internet service providers that our writers can use in determining and presenting our picks for a given guide. Check CNET’s AI policy for more information about how our teams use (and don’t use) AI tools.
Because our database is not exhaustive, we use the FCC’s website to check the primary data for ourselves and make sure we’re considering every ISP that provides service in an area. Plans and prices also vary by location, so we input local addresses on provider websites to find the specific options available to 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 our pre-publication fact-check.
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 it comes to 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 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, you can visit our how we test ISPs page.
What’s the final word on internet providers in Bend?
There’s a lot to love about living in Bend, but good internet isn’t one of them. TDS (formerly Bend Broadband) is the best option by default — it’s the only wired internet service widely available in the city. While its speeds are plenty fast for most homes, TDS increases prices significantly after the promotional period ends, and a couple of annoying fees add to the monthly bill. T-Mobile Home Internet and Starlink are good backup options, but both are more prone to outages.
Internet providers in Bend FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Bend?
TDS (formerly Bend Broadband) is Bend’s best internet service provider. It offers plans starting at $45 a month for speeds up to 300Mbps, and it’s available almost everywhere in the city. T-Mobile Home Internet is a good backup option at $50 a month, and it can be bundled with an eligible T-Mobile cellphone plan for an additional $10 in monthly savings.
Is fiber internet available in Bend?
Yes, fiber internet is available to 8% of households in Bend, according to FCC data. Quantum Fiber and TDS offer some fiber services in the area, but neither is very prevalent.
Who is the cheapest internet provider in Bend?
T-Mobile Home Internet is the cheapest internet provider in Bend at $50 per month. While TDS offers a $45 monthly plan, the price is offset by $15 in monthly fees and a $26 increase in year two. With T-Mobile, your price is locked in for as long as you stay a customer.
Which internet provider in Bend offers the fastest plan?
TDS (formerly Bend Broadband) offers the fastest internet plan in Bend at 1,000Mbps. Quantum Fiber also offers 940Mbps speeds at some addresses, but it’s not widely available.
