Alaska has loads to supply, together with rugged pure magnificence, nationwide parks, gorgeous glaciers and contemporary seafood. Nevertheless, the choices are restricted relating to web choices out there to the state’s 730,000 residents. Whether or not it is fiber, mounted wi-fi, DSL or satellite tv for pc, you will need to make some compromises when choosing an web service supplier in Alaska. In accordance with our CNET specialists, GCI is the highest choose for many within the state — if it is out there in your neighborhood.
What’s the finest web supplier in Alaska?
GCI is CNET’s choose for one of the best web service supplier in Alaska, because of prime speeds of two.5 gigabits per second and the widest (and nonetheless rising) availability of any wired supplier within the state.
For those who’re trying to find the bottom costs round or the quickest blazing speeds, we have additionally discovered these prime choices. One of many most cost-effective web plans in Alaska is obtainable by Alaska Communications that includes as much as 2,500Mbps beginning at $80 a month.
Virtually any selection of web supplier in Alaska will include some compromises, whether or not in pace, worth or reliability. Rural residents usually have to decide on between satellite tv for pc, mounted wi-fi or DSL connections, with satellite tv for pc as the one viable possibility for some. Whereas the broadband scene could sound slightly bleak, there are causes for optimism as over $1 billion in federal funding is pouring into the state to enhance web entry in underserved communities.
Greatest web choices in Alaska in 2025
Alaska web suppliers in contrast
| Supplier | Web know-how | Month-to-month worth vary | Pace vary | Month-to-month tools prices | Knowledge cap | Contract | CNET evaluation rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Communications | Cable, Fiber | $70-$185 | 250-2,500Mbps Fiber; 10-75Mbps Cable (varies by location) | None | Limitless | None | N/A |
| Borealis Broadband | Fastened wi-fi | Varies; $50 beginning worth | 100-500Mbps (varies by location) | None | 1TB | 2-years | N/A |
| GCI | Cable | $90-$190 | 250-2,500Mbps | None | Varies | 2-years | N/A |
| Hughesnet Learn full evaluation |
Satellite tv for pc | $50-$95 ($75-$120 after 12 months) | 50-100Mbps (varies by location) | $15-$20 or $300-$450 one-time buy | 100-200GB | 2-years | 6 |
| SpitwSpots | Fastened wi-fi | $89-$199; $99-$249 (Plus) | 10-150Mbps; 18-300Mbps (Plus) | $9 | None | Varies | N/A |
| Starlink Learn full evaluation |
Low orbit satellite tv for pc | $120; $50-$150 (Roam); $250-$5,000 (Boats) | 100-220Mbps | $249 one-time buy | Limitless; 1TB-5TB (Precedence) | None | N/A |
| Viasat Learn full evaluation |
Satellite tv for pc | $100 | 25-150Mbps | $15 or $250 one-time buy | Limitless | Month-to-month | 6.1 |
Present extra (3 gadgets)
Rural web choices in Alaska
| Supplier | Connection kind | Value vary | Pace vary | Knowledge cap | Availability | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Borealis Broadband | Fastened wi-fi | Varies; $50 beginning worth | 100-500Mbps (varies by location) | 1TB | Anchorage, Eagle River | |
| Bristol Bay Communications Group | DSL | $30-$275 | 2Mbps-25Mbps | None | Bristol Bay space | |
| Bush-Inform | DSL | $39-$229 | 512Kbps-6Mbps | Varies as much as 100GB | Grayling, Holy Cross, Kalskag, Stony River areas | |
| Cordova Telecom Cooperative | DSL | $40-$123 | 8-100Mbps | Varies | Cordova space | |
| Mountain Beam | Fastened wi-fi | $30-$180 for 30-day interval | 8-48Mbps | None | Fairbanks space | |
| MTA | DSL | $70-$180 | Varies | 250GB or limitless | Anderson, Wasilla, Talkeetna, Palmer, Eagle River | |
| SpitwSpots | Fastened wi-fi | $89-$199; $99-$249 (Plus) | 10-150Mbps; 18-300Mbps (Plus) | None | Anchor Level, Soldotna and Fairbanks areas |
Present extra (3 gadgets)
Supply: CNET evaluation of supplier information
Web breakdown by metropolis in Alaska
It’s laborious to cowl the broadband choices of a complete state like Alaska and provides particular person cities the eye they deserve. That’s why we additionally compile lists of one of the best web suppliers throughout completely different cities in Alaska. We sort out particulars resembling web connection varieties, most speeds, most cost-effective suppliers and extra. Examine again later in the event you don’t discover the town you’re on the lookout for under. We’re working so as to add extra areas each week.
Low-cost web choices in Alaska
You gained’t discover discount basement costs on web service in Alaska. Lots of the companies that are available in on a budget facet within the contiguous 48 states aren’t out there on this northern state. Which means no bundling bargains with the likes of 5G house web service from Verizon 5G Residence Web or T-Cellular Residence Web. In case your month-to-month web invoice is below $100 for an honest pace stage, you then’re doing fairly nicely in Alaska. GCI and Alaska Communications have plans for below 100, however speeds will differ based mostly on location and the kind of web connection.
What is the most cost-effective web plan in Alaska?
| Supplier | Beginning worth | Max obtain pace | Month-to-month tools price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Viasat Limitless Learn full evaluation |
$100 | 75Mbps | $15 a month or $250 one-time buy |
| Hughesnet Choose Plan Learn full evaluation |
$50 ($75 after 12 months) | 50Mbps | $15 a month or $300-one time buy |
| Alaska Communications Web Now | $70 | 250Mbps | None |
| Alaska Communications Fiber 250 | $85 | 250Mbps | None |
| GCI Quick | $100 | 250Mbps | None |
Present extra (1 merchandise)
Alaska broadband particulars at a look
Many rural Alaska ISPs have roots in long-time phone cooperatives which have developed to supply web companies. That’s why DSL is a typical possibility for these native corporations. There are some drawbacks with legacy DSL networks, like slower prime speeds than you’d get with cable or fiber. DSL will be serviceable when there are few different choices. FCC information means that 100% of residents can entry broadband speeds, outlined as not less than 25Mbps down and 3Mbps up. That quantity contains the attain of satellite tv for pc web, which is not an incredible answer for everybody attributable to expense or lack of a transparent view of the sky.
The story of fiber in Alaska is fairly slim in the mean time. The FCC exhibits solely about 10% of residents can entry fiber. If we have a look at gig speeds and better, that drops to only 7%. What little fiber entry there’s tends to be targeted on extra populated areas. There are some sudden pockets of fiber. Native ISP Copper Valley Telecom companies Valdez, a metropolis of below 4,000 individuals, with speeds as much as 1,000Mbps. Fiber is at all times on the prime of house web want lists, however Alaska’s terrain and distant areas make it a difficult place to construct intensive fiber networks.
Easy methods to discover web offers and promotions in Alaska
The most effective web offers and prime promotions in Alaska rely upon what reductions can be found throughout a given time. Most offers are short-lived, however we glance continuously for the most recent affords.
Giant suppliers run the identical normal pricing year-round in some elements of the nation. The smaller and extra native suppliers in Alaska, resembling GCI, don’t observe a sure timeline when altering their costs.
For a extra intensive listing of promos, take a look at our information on the finest web offers.
How briskly is Alaska’s broadband?
In the case of house web, Alaska is available in at 49 for Ookla’s This autumn 2023 Speedtest.web rating of web speeds for the 50 states (and Washington, DC). Alaska ranks on the backside of the listing with a median obtain pace of 119Mbps. The US general is at 262Mbps. That is fairly a distinction. Ookla lists GCI as Alaska’s quickest supplier, with a decent median obtain pace of 284Mbps.
Quick web will be laborious to come back by within the Final Frontier. About 100% of Alaska properties can entry web speeds of not less than 100Mbps, based on the FCC. Transfer as much as 250Mbps, and that dips to 70%. If quick web is a should for you and also you’re shifting to Alaska, you’ll need to do some homework about the place to land. Your finest guess for gig speeds can be within the greater cities.
As of February 2025, Ookla experiences that Alaska has a median obtain pace of 165Mbps for mounted web. Ookla city-level information confirmed Anchorage with a median mounted web obtain pace of 250Mbps, Fairbanks was 258Mbps, and Juneau logged 272Mbps. These numbers can change over time.
With restricted choices, switching to a sooner supplier is just not at all times possible. You may take advantage of your web connection by following these steps to hurry up your Wi-Fi.
Quickest web plans in Alaska
| Supplier | Beginning worth | Max obtain pace | Max add pace | Knowledge cap | Connection kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Communications Fiber 2500 | $185 | 2,500Mbps | 2,500Mbps | None | Fiber |
| GCI Purple Limitless | $190 | 2,500Mbps | 75Mbps | None | Cable |
| GCI Quickest | $165 | 1,000Mbps | 40Mbps | 1TB | Cable |
Present extra (0 merchandise)
What’s an excellent web pace?
Most web connection plans can now deal with primary productiveness and communication duties. For those who’re on the lookout for an web plan that may accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you will have a greater expertise with a extra strong connection. Here is an outline of the advisable minimal obtain speeds for numerous purposes, based on the FCC. Notice that these are solely pointers and that web pace, service and efficiency differ by connection kind, supplier and handle.
For extra info, discuss with our information on how a lot web pace you actually need.
- 0 to 5Mbps permits you to sort out the fundamentals: looking the web, sending and receiving e mail and streaming low-quality video.
- 5 to 40Mbps offers you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
- 40 to 100Mbps ought to give one person ample bandwidth to fulfill the calls for of recent telecommuting, video streaming and on-line gaming.
- 100 to 500Mbps permits one to 2 customers to concurrently interact in high-bandwidth actions like videoconferencing, streaming and on-line gaming.
- 500 to 1,000Mbps permits three or extra customers to interact in high-bandwidth actions on the identical time.
How CNET selected one of the best web suppliers in Alaska
Web service suppliers are quite a few and regional. Not like the most recent smartphone, laptop computer, router or kitchen instrument, it is impractical to personally take a look at each web service supplier in a given metropolis. What’s our method? For starters, we faucet right into a proprietary database of pricing, availability and pace info that pulls from our personal historic ISP information, accomplice information and mapping info from the Federal Communications Fee at FCC.gov.
It doesn’t finish there. We go to the FCC’s web site to verify our information and guarantee we contemplate each ISP that gives service in an space. We additionally enter native addresses on supplier web sites to seek out particular choices for residents. We have a look at sources, together with the American Buyer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Energy, to guage how glad prospects are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and costs are topic to frequent modifications; all info supplied is correct as of publication.
As soon as we now have this localized info, we ask three foremost questions:
- Does the supplier provide entry to moderately quick web speeds?
- Do prospects get first rate worth for what they’re paying?
- Are prospects proud of their service?
Whereas the reply to these questions is commonly layered and complicated, the suppliers who come closest to “sure” on all three are those we suggest. When deciding on the most affordable web service, we search for the plans with the bottom month-to-month price, though we additionally consider issues like worth will increase, tools charges and contracts. Selecting the quickest web service is comparatively simple. We have a look at marketed add and obtain speeds and contemplate real-world pace information from sources like Ookla and FCC experiences. (Ookla is owned by the identical mum or dad firm as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
To discover our course of in additional depth, go to our how we take a look at ISPs web page.
What is the ultimate phrase on web suppliers in Alaska?
Alaska poses plenty of challenges to the enlargement of high-speed and reasonably priced broadband. The terrain will be unforgiving, the climate will be excessive and plenty of communities are in distant areas. Luckily, there was a give attention to broadband enlargement, particularly in these distant areas. Cordova Telecom Cooperative introduced in 2023 it will be putting in a submarine fiber optic cable from Cordova to Juneau to ship fiber to Pelican, Yakutat, Gustavus and Hoonah. The mission may take 5 years to finish. Alaska may also obtain $100 million in US Division of Agriculture funding to construct out fiber (and a few wi-fi) web within the Bethel, Yukon-Kuskokwim, Kusilvak and Hoonah-Angoon areas. GCI’s work to carry fiber-based wired connections to distant communities can be notable. In December 2023, GCI linked over 4-thousand Alaskans to entry speeds of as much as 2.5Gigs via its Aleutians Fiber Challenge. Relating to bettering broadband, Alaska has nowhere to go however up.
Residents can count on to select from a variety of DSL, satellite tv for pc and glued wi-fi plans. Though, choices are restricted in most distant areas, Alaskans sometimes have entry to satellite tv for pc suppliers like Starlink with plans beginning at $120 a month. GCI affords prime speeds of two,500Mbps for $190 a month.
Web in Alaska FAQs
Does Alaska have good web?
In accordance with broadband rankings, Alaska is on the backside for web speeds nationwide. Lack of entry in rural communities and restricted and costly plans make accessing “good,” reasonably priced and quick web tough. Hefty federal funding is coming to the state to enhance broadband entry.
What’s the most cost-effective web supplier in Alaska?
The most affordable web supplier in Alaska is Hughesnet with its choose plan which options 50Mbps at $50 a month for the primary 12 months.
Which web supplier in Alaska affords the quickest plan?
It relies upon. Answering this query begins with discovering out which ISPs service your handle. You could discover you solely have entry to both GCI or Alaska Communications, making this a easy query to reply. GCI affords obtain speeds of as much as 2,500Mbps in most areas, placing GCI excessive for a lot of.
Is fiber web out there in Alaska?
Sure, however All of it is dependent upon your location. Some areas solely have entry to DSL and satellite tv for pc connections. Alaska Communications is likely one of the few ISPs that supply fiber plan tiers.
What web supplier has one of the best protection in Alaska?
GCI has one of the best protection in Alaska. The FCC Nationwide Broadband Map exhibits GCI companies over 70% of Alaska households, making it probably the most widespread wired ISP within the state. In accordance with GCI’s information, the ISP reaches over 97% of residents.
GCI’s protection space contains cities like Anchorage and Fairbanks, however the ISP additionally reaches smaller cities like Sitka and Nome. GCI is actively increasing its community of fiber-cable hybrid connections and fiber-to-the-premises companies.