Best Internet Providers in Portland, ME

Spectrum by Charter Communications is the fifth-best internet provider in the country. It uses a hybrid dual-cable transmission model to distribute download speeds up to 1,000 Mbps across its 41-state footprint. Currently, Spectrum Internet has over 32 million subscribers, and it alone dominates one-third of the U.S. broadband market share.

Spectrum is the most widely available wired and terrestrial internet provider in Portland, ME. Its vast coaxial cable network covers 99.8 percent of the city. From the northernmost neighborhoods in mainland Portland, like North Deering and East Deering, to the southernmost neighborhood of Stroudwater, all of Portland is connected to the Spectrum cable system.

Wide Scale Availability Meets Affordability

Spectrum Internet plans start at $49.99 per month (for 12 months), and you can enjoy gigabit download speeds with unlimited data and contract-free service. Spectrum plans include a free internet modem, free antivirus software activation on 3 devices and 24/7 on-call tech support. Spectrum's nominal additional costs, like an extra $5 charge for the full-home WiFi router, make it one of the most affordable internet providers in Portland, ME.

Get All-in-One with Spectrum One

In October 2022, Spectrum rolled out its cost-saving Spectrum One promo deal that combines high-speed internet, enhanced WiFi, and unlimited 5G cellular phone service in one plan. The Spectrum One bundle deals start at $49.99 per month, and you get internet speeds up to 1 Gig, with a free Advanced Home WiFi system and a Spectrum Mobile™ Unlimited line. The promo offer lasts 12 months, during which Spectrum One bundle customers can save up to $35 per month (or $420 in a year).

No to Low-Cost Connectivity with Spectrum ACP

Spectrum has partnered with the Federal Communications Commission to bridge the digital divide prevalent across America. Its government-sponsored initiative called the Spectrum Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), offers free and discounted internet service to eligible low-income households. Poverty-stricken Portlanders can sign up for the Spectrum ACP and get $30 off on their monthly internet fees.

Share as You Roam with Spectrum Out-of-Home

Spectrum, one of the leading internet providers in Portland, has installed over 530,000 WiFi hotspots nationwide. These out-of-home WiFi hotspots are located in public spaces, like airports, bus/ train stations, parks, parking lots, restaurants, and malls, to offer free on-the-go connectivity to Spectrum Internet® users.

Spectrum Internet customers can log in to the wireless network by searching for "Spectrum Free Trial" and entering their Spectrum username and password in the pop-up window. This will grant them 30 minutes of free access to Spectrum’s countrywide WiFi hotspot network. In Portland, Spectrum’s out-of-home WiFi hotspots are concentrated in Downtown, Old Port, and Waterfront. You can use this link to find a free Spectrum WiFi access point nearest to you.

Spectrum’s citywide broadband coverage, affordable monthly plans, cost-saving bundle deals, corporate social responsibility, and nationwide free WiFi access make it the best internet provider in Portland, ME.

Portland is the 6th-richest city in Maine. Despite a significantly high median income of $66,109 per annum, Portland has a poverty rate of 12.7 percent. This is mainly due to the city’s high cost of living. The average cost of living in Portland is $2,496 per month for one person. By that rank, Portland’s cost of living is 10 percent higher than the state average and 15 percent higher than the national average, making it one of the top 2 percent of the most expensive cities in the world.

The unemployment rate of 4 percent further exacerbates the financial challenges for Portlanders. All these stats reveal that close to 8,000 families in Portland struggle to afford basic amenities like food, housing, and transport. In such dire circumstances, subscribing to an internet plan that costs between $40 and $60 seems lavish to these low-income families. Thankfully, one Portland internet provider, ME, offers relief through lifetime price guarantees and supersaver bundle deals.

T-Mobile Home Internet Plan in Portland, Maine

T-Mobile is one of the leading internet providers in Portland and its 5G wireless home internet service is available in more than 98 percent of the city. The plan costs a flat $50 per month, and you get unlimited data, download speed up to 182 Mbps, free cutting-edge equipment, and contract-free service. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet subscribers can reduce their monthly broadband fee to $30 per month by bundling their internet with a Go5G Plus or Magenta Max line.

Customers can sign up for a free 15-day trial period to test the service, which includes free installation and T-Mobile Tuesdays benefits. Every Tuesday, T-Mobile subscribers get freebies like discounts, vouchers, cash-back deals, and more just “for being a customer”. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet plan supports multi-device connectivity for basic to moderate broadband usage.

T-Mobile 5G Home Internet plan’s fixed monthly charge of $50 with a price lock guarantee, a free starter kit, a 15-day money-back guarantee, and weekly giveaways make it the cheapest internet provider in Portland, ME.

Located in the southwest of Maine, Portland was built in 1786 on two hilly peninsulas overlooking Casco Bay and its numerous islands. Generally, Portland is a low-land area with pristine sandy beaches, gently sloping river sanctuaries, and acres-wide golf turfs. But as we move northwest from the city center towards the White Mountains (50 miles away), the flat terrain morphs into rising planes with a maximum elevation of 52 feet (16 meters).

Portland’s raised linear landform is characterized by 1 mile by 3-mile ridge that runs from the southwest corner to the northeast of the city. The overall leveled urbanscape of Portland has helped the construction of wired and wireless internet networks across the city. Collectively, the internet providers in Portland, ME, offer broadband coverage in 100 percent of the city. The long list of providers includes satellite, fixed wireless, fiber-optic, cable, and DSL network carriers.

There are a total of 24 internet providers in Portland, ME. Among them:

• 7 offer fiber-optic internet service
• 7 offer DSL internet connections
• 5 offer fixed wireless internet service
• 3 offer coaxial cable internet
• 2 offer satellite internet service

In the table below, we have listed the citywide coverage of the top 10 Portland internet providers, ME, to help you select the best internet carrier for your home.

Final Word