Find the best fiber providers in your area
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Fastest tested speeds
- Fastest fiber-optic speeds according to our speed test
- Very limited availability
- Speeds: 1,000–2,000 Mbps
- Prices: $70.00–$100.00/mo.
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Lowest latency
- Lowest latency rates
- Expensive gigabit plan
- Speeds: 300–2,048 Mbps
- Prices: $49.99 - $119.99/mo.
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Best satisfaction ratings
- Top-rated customer service
- Slow bottom-tier plans
- Speeds: 10–5,000 Mbps
- Prices: $49.99 - $189.95/mo.
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Fast advertised speeds
- Multi-gigabit internet plans
- Unnecessarily fast speeds on fastest plans
- Speeds: 100–5,000 Mbps
- Prices: $55.00–$180.00/mo.
Popular fiber internet providers
Data as of 7/01/2022. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*w/ Auto Pay + taxes.
†Plus taxes. Price after $5/mo Autopay & Paperless bill discount (w/in 2 bills). Monthly State Cost Recovery Charge in TX, OH, NV applies.
‡Terms and Conditions: Plus taxes and fees. Service not available in all areas. If you live in an apartment or condo, Google Fiber’s ability to construct and provide Fiber is subject to the continued agreement between Google Fiber and the property owner. Upload/download speed and device streaming claims are based on maximum wired speeds. Actual Internet speeds are not guaranteed and may vary based on factors such as hardware and software limitations, latency, packet loss, etc
§Rate requires paperless billing. Additional taxes, fees, and surcharges apply. Speeds may not be available in your area. Maximum download/upload speed of up to 940 Mbps via a wired connection.
║per month. One-year agreement, early termination fee, and one-time charge apply. Max speeds are wired. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary.
**w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill plus taxes,fees & charges.
††with a 12 month contract.
Best fiber internet plans
Plan | Speed | Prices | Order online |
---|---|---|---|
Google Fiber 1 Gig | 1,000 Mbps | $70.00/mo.** | |
Verizon Fios Gigabit Connection | Up to 940 Mbps | $89.99/mo.* | |
CenturyLink Fiber Internet | 940 Mbps | $70.00/mo.‡ | |
Frontier Fiber Fiber Gig | 940 Mbps | $74.99/mo. w/Auto Pay & Paperless Bill§ | |
AT&T Internet 5000 | Up to 5,000 Mbps† | $180.00/mo.*** |
**Terms and Conditions: Plus taxes and fees. Service not available in all areas. If you live in an apartment or condo, Google Fiber’s ability to construct and provide Fiber is subject to the continued agreement between Google Fiber and the property owner. Upload/download speed and device streaming claims are based on maximum wired speeds. Actual Internet speeds are not guaranteed and may vary based on factors such as hardware and software limitations, latency, packet loss, etc.
*w/ Auto Pay + taxes
‡Rate requires paperless billing. Additional taxes, fees, and surcharges apply. Speeds may not be available in your area. Maximum download/upload speed of up to 940 Mbps via a wired connection.
§per month for 36 mos. One-year agreement, early termination fee, and one-time charge apply. Max wired speed 940/880 Mbps. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary.
†Internet speed claims represent maximum network service capability speeds and based on wired connection to gateway. 1GIG speeds avail. to new customers with the latest router (“BGW320”) and recommended setup. For 5 GIG speed, single device wired speed maximum 4.7 Gbps. Actual customer speeds may vary based on a number of factors and are not guaranteed. For more information, go to www.att.com/speed101.
***Plus taxes. Price after $5/mo Autopay & Paperless bill discount (w/in 2 bills). Monthly State Cost Recovery Charge in TX, OH, NV applies.
Cheapest fiber internet plans
Plan | Download/upload speed | Prices | Order online |
---|---|---|---|
Optimum Fiber Internet 100 | 100 Mbps/100 Mbps | $29.99/mo.‡ | |
Verizon Fios Internet 200/200 | 200 Mbps/200 Mbps | $49.99/mo.† | |
Frontier Fiber Internet 500 | 500 Mbps/500 Mbps | $49.99/mo. w/Auto Pay & Paperless Bill║ | |
MetroNet 500/500 Mbps | 500 Mbps/500 Mbps | $49.95/mo. |
†for 12 mos, plus taxes & equip. fee. Autopay & Paperless Bill req’d. $10/mo equip. fee applies
‡for 1-yr. Plus taxes, fees, and other charges. Includes AutoPay and Paperless Billing.
†w/ Auto Pay + taxes & equip. charges.
§w/ Auto Pay + taxes & equip. Charges
║per month for 12 mos. One-year agreement, early termination fee, and one-time charge apply. Max speeds are wired. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary.
Fiber internet FAQ
How does fiber internet work?
Fiber uses bundled strands of fiberglass to deliver internet to your home. It’s the most reliable internet connection you can get and has better upload speeds than cable and DSL. The fastest fiber plan available today is 10,000 Mbps (10 Gbps), while cable stops at 1,200 Mbps (1.2 Gbps).
So, why is fiber the best? Both light and electricity travel at the same speed in a vacuum, but they slow down when they interact with atoms. But unlike the radio waves used in cable and DSL internet, light signals aren’t affected by radio interference. Fiber by design is simply more efficient and can reach speeds up to 10,000 Mbps—much faster than any other internet type. Fiber networks are newer, too, compared to the aging infrastructure of DSL and cable, which helps boost performance.
Fiber is so reliable that the world’s major data routes and network access points are linked together between oceans and continents through massive bundles of fiber-optic cabling.3 If fiber is good enough for the vast global backbone of the internet infrastructure, then you know it’s the best way to wire up your own home internet.
Where can I get fiber internet?
You can get fiber internet from more than 200 fiber internet providers in the US, but those providers are found mainly in cities. According to FCC data, about 42% of the US has access to fiber internet. But the actual number is possibly lower, considering the unreliable way the FCC collected that data.4
How fast is fiber internet?
Fiber internet reaches speeds up to 10,000 Mbps, but most fiber providers offer top speeds of 1,000 Mbps.
To put that in perspective, Netflix recommends just 25 Mbps to stream video in 4K on one device. But supercharged gigabit speeds (1,000 Mbps) give you the ability to perform many more tasks on many more devices simultaneously. That way, you and everyone else on your Wi-Fi will never have to worry about whether your internet speed will slow down or cut out, because it will always be humming smoothly with bountiful bandwidth.
In practical terms, fiber is fast enough to keep up with extremely heavy internet use and a range of advanced online activities. It can also maintain a steady and reliable internet connection for multiple users who need to do speed-intensive tasks over the same Wi-Fi network at the same time.
Fiber is great for any of these tasks:
- Streaming 4K video on numerous devices
- Downloading massive files
- Uploading content to cloud servers and social media accounts
- Gaming online
- Teleconferencing on Zoom
- Connecting multiple smart home devices
What is Google Fiber?
Google Fiber also offers fiber TV and home phone services in a few markets.
What is AT&T Fiber?
You can bundle TV and home phone services with your AT&T internet plan. The company also offers mobile service.
How much does Google Fiber cost?
What is gigabit internet?
Are fiber internet and gigabit internet the same thing?
But even if it doesn’t offer gigabit speeds, fiber internet is still the best option for fast upload speeds, minimal network congestion, and low latency.
How do I get fiber internet?
If you’re not sure whether you live in a fiber area or not, run your zip code in our tool to check for fiber internet providers near you.
Do I need fiber internet for home security systems?
A fiber connection comes in handy for Wi-Fi–connected home security systems and security devices like Nest cameras and Ring doorbells. Fiber’s fast speeds and symmetrical uploads ensure you get a smooth connection and make it a lot less likely you’ll experience a security breach due to a lost connection. However, many of these tools also work well over cable internet, so long as you have adequate speeds.
Sources
- Federal Communications Commission, “Compare Broadband Availability in Different Areas,” December 2020. Accessed May 23, 2022.
- Jessica Rosenworcel, Federal Communications Commission, “Statement of Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, Dissenting,” January 2021. Accessed March 24, 2021.
- Peter Christiansen, HighSpeedInternet.com, “Why Can I Only Get a Few Internet Providers?,” October 27, 2020. Accessed March 24, 2021.
- Kate Patrick, Government Technology, “FCC to Rework Its Inaccurate National Broadband Maps,” August 6, 2019. Accessed March 29, 2021.
- Seattle Times staff, The Seattle Times, “Frontier to Finalize $1.35 Billion Sale of Northwest Assets to Kirkland-Based Ziply Fiber,” May 1, 2020. Accessed June 16, 2021.