In this article:
These days, home internet service is showing up with ridiculously fast internet speed. Across the US, high-speed internet providers have introduced multi-gigabit plans advertising fast speeds of 2,000Mbps, 5,000Mbps or higher, with the fastest internet providers promising even faster speeds in the works. These high-speed plans can get expensive, however, and are likely way more speed than the average household actually needs.
Most cable internet and fiber-optic providers also offer plans that, while slower speeds than the ultrafast multi-gigabit plans, are more practical and affordable while still delivering plenty of speed. In fact, the speed test data for most of these might surprise you. But it’s important to note that not all high-speed ISPs are the same, since whether you want to stream, surf or do a little online gaming, a high speed internet connection is essential. Largely, though, you’ll find that zip code, and hardware and software limitations are the factors that are most likely to restrict high-speed internet plan options and performance. That said, here are my picks for the best high-speed internet providers.
Best high-speed internet service providers
Sarah Tew/CNET
Price range
$20 – $300 per month
Speed range
75 – 6,000Mbps
Highlights
Lots of plan options, solid customer satisfaction numbers
Special offers
Bundle discounts, free streaming content
Xfinity recently claimed Ookla’s top spot for fastest average download speeds in Q4 2022. With average download speeds of 226Mbps, Xfinity barely edged out Spectrum’s average of 225Mbps, but fared significantly faster than AT&T (187Mbps) and Verizon (183Mbps).
There are many factors that go into a speed test, such as testing over Wi-Fi versus Ethernet, equipment quality, distance from the router and time of day, not to mention the internet plan’s max speeds. Still, Xfinity’s place at the top is impressive, at least when it comes to download speeds.
Cable internet like that of Xfinity is capable of delivering fast download speeds, but upload speeds are often a different story. According to the Ookla speed test results, Xfinity’s average upload speeds were a 10th of its download speeds, around 20Mbps, landing it fourth on the list of fastest upload speeds.
Xfinity Internet
You’re receiving price alerts for Xfinity Internet
Sarah Tew/CNET
Price range
$70 – $100 per month
Speed range
1,000 – 2,000Mbps
Connection
Fiber
Highlights
Unlimited data, no contracts, equipment included
Google Fiber has arguably the best gigabit plan available from any major provider. Its 1 Gig plan offers symmetrical speeds up to 1,000Mbps starting at $70. The plan includes mesh Wi-Fi, 1TB of cloud storage and unlimited data with no contracts or installation fees.
Google Fiber also has a 2Gbps plan with similar perks starting at $100 per month and recently introduced a new 5Gpbs speed tier in select areas. These plans are tempting, but if you’re just looking for a capable high-speed plan under a hundred bucks, you can’t go wrong with Google Fiber 1 Gig.
Gigabit Fiber Optic Internet
Sarah Tew/CNET
Price range
$55 – $180 per month
Speed range
300 – 5,000Mbps
Highlights
Unlimited data, no contracts, equipment included
Special offers
$100 to $150 gift card if you sign up online
When it comes to internet speeds, what qualifies as “fast” will vary from one home to another. With speeds ranging from 300Mbps to 5Gbps, AT&T Fiber offers a plan to meet virtually any speed need.
In most areas serviceable for AT&T Fiber, you’ll have the option of five speed tiers: 300Mbps, 500Mbps, 1Gbps, 2Gbps and 5Gbps. Monthly pricing varies for each plan, but all plans include your equipment rental and unlimited data at no extra cost.
AT&T Fiber plans also offer symmetrical, or near-symmetrical, download and upload speeds, something you won’t get from cable internet providers like Xfinity and Spectrum. Case in point, AT&T Fiber ranked fastest for upload speeds in the Ookla speed test results with an average speed of 146Mbps. The closest cable provider, Optimum, had an average upload speed of less than 30Mbps.
AT&T Home Internet
You’re receiving price alerts for AT&T Home Internet
Sarah Tew/CNET
Price range
$50 – $120 per month
Speed range
300 – 2,000Mbps
Connection
Fiber
Highlights
Unlimited data, no contracts, free equipment with gig service
Verizon Fios has three high-speed tiers offering symmetrical speeds of 300Mbps, 500Mbps and 1Gbps (plus a 2Gbps plan now available in NYC). Its speeds and pricing are on par with many ISPs, but the bonus offers help Verizon Fios stand out as a high-speed internet provider.
Your router rental is included with all Verizon Fios plans while Fios 1 Gig also includes Whole-Home Wi-Fi service. You’ll also get a bit more by way of signup bonuses with the 1 Gig plan.
Verizon Fios frequently changes up its special offers, but it’s not uncommon for the provider to give away gift cards, streaming or specialty shopping subscriptions, electronics or more to new customers. The prizes are often best when signing up for gigabit service, but there’s usually something extra included with the lower-tiered plans as well.
Verizon Fios
You’re receiving price alerts for Verizon Fios
Sarah Tew/CNET
Ziply Fiber, a regional provider serving parts of Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington, extended 2- and 5-gig service to 170,000 households, many of which are located in suburban or rural areas. The new high-speed plans make Ziply Fiber not only the fastest provider in the Northwest, but also the fastest rural provider nationwide.
Ziply’s 2-gig plan starts at $120 per month, while the 5-gig service is $300. That sounds a little high but, for comparison, Google Fiber’s 2-gig plan is $100 per month and Xfinity’s multi-gig plan, with max speeds of 6Gbps, is also $300 per month. Still, if over $100 is more than you’d like to pay for home internet service, Ziply Fiber also offers three lower-tiered plans, including a single-gig service starting at $60 per month.
Best high-speed internet provider honorable mentions
These providers, along with regional providers that are too many to list here, also offer high-speed internet plans including gigabit service in select areas. In addition to the best high-speed internet providers listed above, these are certainly worth a look if available in your area.
Shopping for a faster internet speed?
We’ll send you the fastest internet options, so you don’t have to find them.
- Cox Communications: Cox Gigablast offers download speeds up to 940Mbps and upload speeds up to 35Mbps starting at $100 per month. Select locations will have access to Cox’s fiber network, which can deliver much faster uploads, though the plan pricing and top download speed remain the same.
- Frontier FiberOptic: Frontier’s gigabit plan offers max download speeds of 940Mbps and upload speeds of 880Mbps for a monthly price of $80 that includes unlimited data and your equipment rental. Frontier also recently introduced a 2-gigabit plan across its entire fiber footprint. The plan comes with max download and upload speeds of 2,000Mbps starting at $150 per month.
- Kinetic by Windstream: Kinetic is one of the fastest rural internet options with gig speeds available in many areas potentially underserved by cable or other fiber providers. Kinetic Gig, with download and upload speeds up to 940Mbps, is available in select areas starting at $67 per month plus $10 for equipment.
- Mediacom: Mediacom’s 1 Gig plan features download speeds up to 1,000Mbps and upload speeds up to 50Mbps with a monthly data cap of 6,000GB starting at $80 per month. Watch out for the price increase, though. After 12 months, the monthly price jumps from $80 to $140.
- Spectrum: As the second-largest cable internet provider behind only Xfinity, Spectrum is one of the leading providers of high-speed internet. Spectrum’s gigabit speed plan is available in nearly all service areas and comes with download speeds up to 940Mbps and upload speeds up to 35Mbps starting at $90 per month.
You’re likely to find the fastest speeds possible from a fiber provider, but cable internet providers offer gigabit download speeds, as well.
Oed/ullstein bild via Getty Images
Fastest internet service provider recap
You likely noticed a trend in our list of the best gigabit providers. Fiber-optic providers will often be your best bet for fast home internet, even though Xfinity — traditionally a cable provider — boasts the fastest average download speeds. Other cable internet providers such as Spectrum, Cox and Mediacom offer decent gigabit plans, but watch out for comparatively low upload speeds.
When shopping for any internet service, be sure to compare the average internet speed, pricing and features of all providers in your area to make sure you’re getting the best high-speed plan for your home.
Best high-speed internet FAQs
What is considered fast internet?
Speeds of 100Mbps and higher will handle most online activities such as streaming in HD, gaming online and working/learning remotely on multiple devices. That’s actual, tested internet speeds of 100Mbps or higher, not advertised plan speeds of 100Mbps. If your internet plan includes “max speeds” of 100Mbps, your actual speeds are likely to be much lower if you use a Wi-Fi connection and connect multiple devices. For the fastest home internet connection, consider a plan that advertises gigabit speeds, up to 940Mbps or higher.
Do I really need gigabit speeds?
In all honesty, gigabit speeds are going to be overkill for the average home, at least for now. Larger households with numerous connected devices can likely get by with 300Mbps to 500Mbps no problem. For smaller households, 100Mbps to 200Mbps may be suitable, but I wouldn’t go lower than 100Mbps if you want a “fast” connection.
That said, gigabit internet has its advantages. The biggest one is the added speed boost will compensate for speed degradation when using a Wi-Fi connection. Using Wi-Fi will often result in actual speeds half of your plan’s advertised speeds, or lower. As you move farther away from the router, actual speeds can drop even more. The best routers and a good mesh Wi-Fi system will help compensate for the speed loss, but gigabit service is your best bet for getting the fastest speeds over Wi-Fi.
Another advantage to gigabit service is value. Though gigabit plans are going to be a provider’s highest-priced plan more often than not, they usually offer the lowest cost per Mbps. For example, AT&T Internet 1000 starts at $80 a month, which is $25 more than the provider’s cheapest internet plan, AT&T Fiber 300, but when you consider cost per Mbps — that is, what you get for what you’re paying — AT&T Fiber 1000 is the better deal. AT&T Fiber 1000 has an estimated cost per Mbps of around 9 cents while AT&T Fiber 300 has a cost per Mbps of just over 18 cents.
What is the fastest internet provider?
Xfinity holds the title for fastest national ISP, with its Gigabit Pro service featuring speeds up to 6,000Mbps in select areas. But other providers, including AT&T Fiber, Frontier, Verizon Fios and Ziply Fiber, have introduced multi-gigabit plans of their own. Currently, AT&T Fiber, Frontier and Ziply Fiber are the next fastest of all major internet providers, with speeds up to 5Gbps available in select areas.
Is home internet service getting faster?
In many locations, yes. Most cable and fiber-optic internet providers already have a gigabit plan, but recent speed increases from Google Fiber and Xfinity may be an indicator of faster speeds to come. Additionally, Wi-Fi connections are getting faster as providers are adopting and implementing Wi-Fi 6 technology. Some providers, including Google Fiber, offer a Wi-Fi 6 router with select plans, but if you don’t want to wait on one from your provider, check out these Wi-Fi 6 routers that are available now.
Watch this: Slow internet? We’ve got tips to speed it up
1:33
More internet advice
Best High-Speed Internet Service Providers of 2023 – CNET
Source: Media Star Philippines
0 Comments