Our Mercury Broadband internet review
Mercury Broadband is a small provider that offers fixed wireless internet in two areas: one in northeastern Kansas, near Topeka, and another in northern Indiana, extending across the border into Michigan. The company is building its fiber-optic network near Kalamazoo, offering gigabit speeds to residents of southern Michigan.
There’s a lot to like about Mercury Broadband. Its prices are pretty reasonable when compared to other providers, and it doesn’t have any data caps, which is a policy we wish more internet providers would embrace. Read on to get our take on the provider.
Pros
- No data caps
- Fast wireless speeds
- Lots of optional features
Cons
- Termination fees
- Limited fiber availability
Jump to: Plans and pricing | Speed and data caps | Fees | Installation, equipment, and contracts | Customer ratings | Mercury Broadband vs. the competition | Bottom line | Faq
Jump to:
Compare Mercury Broadband internet plans and pricing
Package | Price* | Speed | View on Mercury Broadband site |
---|---|---|---|
Mercury Foundation | $50/month | 30Mbps | Shop Plans |
Mercury Essential | $65/month | 75Mbps | Shop Plans |
Mercury Enhanced | $99/month | 150Mbps | Shop Plans |
Mercury Essential Fiber | $65/month | 100Mbps | Shop Plans |
Mercury Enhanced Fiber | $99/month | 500Mbps | Shop Plans |
Mercury Gigabit Fiber | $119/month | 1,000Mbps | Shop Plans |
Data effective 4/25/2023. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
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Mercury Broadband’s speeds: Which is best for you?
One of the good things about Mercury Broadband is that it offers a decent range of speeds, even in areas without fiber coverage. Its fixed-wireless plans go well above the speeds you’d get from DSL, 4G LTE, or traditional satellite plans, making it a great option for homes in more rural areas.
Of course, if Mercury Broadband offers fiber service in your area, you should definitely take advantage of it. Fiber is a much better value than any other type of connection and gives you a lot more reliability.
Mercury Broadband’s data caps
Mercury Broadband doesn’t have data caps, even on its wireless plans. The lack of data caps gives it a big advantage over many other providers, including many of the big nationwide companies. Not having to worry about overage charges is a great feature for any household, but it’s especially nice for those who stream a lot of movies and other videos.
Is Mercury Broadband internet available in your area?
Our favorite plan: Mercury Enhanced internet. This plan is widely available throughout Mercury Broadband’s coverage area and gives you enough speed to do just about anything you want online.
Of course, if you live in an area where its fiber plans are available, we suggest going with the Mercury Enhanced Fiber plan, as it’s the same price as a wireless plan, but offers much more speed.
Mercury Broadband internet fees
Cost | |
---|---|
Equipment Fee | Free |
Installation Fee | Contact an agent |
Mesh extender fee | $10 /mo. |
Enhanced @ Home package | $5 /mo. |
Late fee | $5 |
Early termination Fee | $200 |
Mercury Broadband does a decent job at eliminating hidden fees. When you sign up for one of its plans, you won’t be charged any usage, overage, or equipment rental fees. However, installation and termination fees are still something to look out for.
There are also lots of extra features that Mercury Broadband offers, such as mesh extenders to improve your signal throughout your house and additional security and network management tools available through the Mercury @ Home App.
Mercury Broadband internet installation, equipment, and contracts
Mercury Broadband’s not very transparent when it comes to installation fees, which makes that initial switch more difficult than necessary. It also has a fairly hefty early termination fee, which we’re not fans of.
Mercury Broadband installation and equipment
A big hurdle when switching to fixed wireless or satellite plans is the upfront cost. The radio antennas used for services like Mercury Broadband are large, external devices that must be mounted on your house’s roof and carefully aligned to the nearest transmitter. Mercury Broadband isn’t upfront with its installation fees, so you’ll have to contact a sales agent to get an estimate.
Once you get past the installation, things are much more straightforward. All the basic Mercury Broadband equipment, including the Wi-Fi router, is included at no extra charge. You also the option to add on additional services, like renting a mesh extender or adding security features, but these are optional addons that aren’t necessary for internet access.
Mercury Broadband internet contracts
Mercury Broadband charges $200 for canceling your internet before the end of your contract. This fee isn’t uncommon for long-term contracts, but it’s still a pitfall you’ll want to avoid. If you’re in a profession where you move frequently or just want the flexibility of canceling at the drop of a hat, check out our list of the best no-contract internet plans.
Mercury Broadband vs. the competition
Speed | Price | Order online | |
---|---|---|---|
30–1,000Mbps | $50–$119/mo.* | View Mercury Broadband Plans | |
25–50Mbps | $25–$65/mo.† | View Rise Broadband Plans | |
50–250Mbps | $110/mo.‡ | View Plans |
Mercury Broadband is a good option, even when comparing it to cutting-edge services like Starlink. Looking at its wireless plans, you’ll find high speeds at a competitive price, as well as some low-cost plans that are much more affordable. There is a decent range of speeds in Mercury Broadband’s plans, so there’s an option for almost any situation.
Is Mercury Broadband internet right for you?
Mercury Broadband has fast wireless connections, which makes it faster and cheaper than satellite. It’s also a better option than DSL or 4G LTE for those who need higher speeds and unlimited data for streaming Netflix or working remotely.
And for those in southern Michigan, Mercury Broadband’s fiber network is an even better option, though make sure to check if there are other fiber providers in your area as well.
Shop Mercury Broadband InternetFAQ about Mercury Broadband
Does Mercury Broadband offer unlimited data?
Can I stream movies over Mercury Broadband?
How does Mercury Broadband’s fixed wireless service work?
Methodology
Our HighSpeedInternet.com editorial team bases our analyses on customer input from our annual customer satisfaction survey, results from our speed test tool, and proprietary internet provider data on speeds and pricing. To strengthen our research, we look closely at provider contracts to get hard-to-find information on price hikes, data caps, and extra fees, and we keep tabs on the latest news reports and online reviews. When applicable, we also rely on our personal experiences testing these services.
Disclaimers
Mercury Broadband vs the Competition
Data effective 4/25/2023. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*plus install.
† With successful activation. Offer available to new customers only. Limited-time offer. May not be combined with other offers. All prices are with Auto-payment enabled and are $5/month more without Auto-payment. Additional fees will apply. Service not available in all areas. Call for details and availability. Restrictions apply.
‡Plus hardware, shipping & handling fees, and tax. Fully refundable. Depending on location, some orders may take 6 months or more to fulfill.