Best Internet Providers for Gaming in November 2024 - Broadlink Data Services, LLC.

Our picks

Why we chose these providers

Best internet for gaming overall

$50 – $120 per month

Best low-cost internet for gaming

$50 – $155 per month

Best gaming router offer

$20 – $80 per month

Best cable internet for gaming

$50 – $80 per month

Best rural internet for gaming

$90 – $120 per month

5  Internet providers Recommended

Speed range

300 – 2,000 Mbps

Price range

$50 – $120 per month

Our take – Verizon Fios speed tiers — 300Mbps, 500Mbps, 1Gbps and, in some places, 2Gbps — all offer plenty of upload and download speed for online gaming. The provider also excels at another important gaming factor: latency.

Or call to learn more: (833) 852-0491

Check with Verizon

Speed range

300 – 2,000 Mbps

Price range

$50 – $120 per month

Speed range

500 – 5,000 Mbps

Price range

$50 – $155 per month

Our take – Frontier’s new 200Mbps plan starts at just $30 per month and includes an Eero 6+ router at no extra cost. That’s plenty of speed for gaming, and the quality router will help ensure your connection is up to the task.

Or call to learn more: (877) 475-2167

Check with Frontier

Speed range

500 – 5,000 Mbps

Price range

$50 – $155 per month

Speed range

100 – 1,500 Mbps

Price range

$20 – $80 per month

Our take – Gaming routers are expensive, easily $200 to $500 or more. Astound is one of the only internet providers that gives customers the option of renting a gaming router for $13 per month. Specifically, it’s the Netgear Nighthawk Pro Gaming router, which promotes high speeds, low latency and support for Wi-Fi 6.

Or call to learn more: (877) 252-4892

Check with Astound

Speed range

100 – 1,500 Mbps

Price range

$20 – $80 per month

Speed range

500 – 1,000 Mbps

Price range

$50 – $80 per month

Our take – Spectrum is our pick for the best cable internet provider overall, but that’s not why I recommend it for gaming. It’s the unlimited data. Spectrum is one of the only major cable ISPs offering unlimited data for all plans in every market. Xfinity, Cox, Mediacom and others may come with a monthly data cap and fees of up to $50 or $100 for going over.

Or call to learn more: (855) 800-4017

Check with Spectrum

Speed range

500 – 1,000 Mbps

Price range

$50 – $80 per month

Speed range

20 – 250 Mbps

Price range

$90 – $120 per month

Our take – There are a few downsides to satellite internet, not least of which is the high latency that makes online gaming impossible. Starlink’s low-orbiting satellites relieve the latency issue with an expected range of 25 to 60 milliseconds.

Or call to learn more: (855) 874-8909

Check with Starlink

Speed range

20 – 250 Mbps

Price range

$90 – $120 per month

Plan Starting monthly price Max download speed Cost per Mbps Equipment fee Astound Broadband 300
Read full review $20 300Mbps 7 cents None; $13 for gaming router (optional) Frontier Fiber 200
Read full review $30 200Mbps 15 cents None Spectrum Internet
Read full review $50 300Mbps 17 cents Modem free; $7 router (optional) Starlink Standard
Read full review $120 150Mbps 80 cents $599 one-time purchase Verizon Fios 300
Read full review $50 300Mbps 17 cents None

Progress

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Optimum: Like Astound, Optimum offers decent speeds, fair pricing and unlimited data. Primarily a cable ISP, Optimum also has a large and growing fiber network. Optimum’s recent history of low customer satisfaction is something you’ll want to consider before signing up.

Xfinity: Ookla reports Xfinity speeds are fast and consistent. In recent speed test results, Xfinity landed the fourth-fastest median speeds, 237Mbps, and the second-highest consistency of speeds over 25Mbps at 92.2%.

How to pick the best internet for your gaming needs

Online gaming can put a strain on your internet connection, so it’s important to find an internet service that can keep up. Here’s what to consider when shopping for an internet service for gaming.

Availability in your area

I can recommend a good internet provider for gaming all day, but it doesn’t matter if it’s unavailable at your address. When shopping for an internet service you’ll be using for gaming, explore all the available providers near you, and start by checking for fiber internet providers in your area.

Latency, the most important metric for gaming

Most internet providers don’t openly advertise expected latency like they do speeds and pricing, but you may be able to find it in the provider’s FCC Broadband Label. Speed test data, such as Ookla speed test reports, can also help you compare latency from different providers. For the best online gaming experience, aim for a latency of 40ms and below.

Connection type influences speed and reliability

If you take a look at speed test data, you’ll likely notice a common theme among providers with the lowest latency: they’re fiber ISPs. Along with low latency, fiber typically offers the best reliability and fastest speed potential. I would recommend fiber service over cable or fixed wireless, even if it is a little more expensive.

Speeds, up and down

The minimum speed to be considered broadband is 100Mbps down and 20Mbps up, which should support any and all online gaming. Faster speeds will improve the experience and help ensure there’s enough for other devices. Consider the speeds you need for all your household activities, and keep in mind that using Wi-Fi and connecting more devices can slow your speeds.

How we chose the best internet providers for gaming

There are many attributes to evaluate when determining the best internet providers, but latency is higher on the list when it comes to gaming. To narrow down the top internet providers, we started by seeking out the ISPs that had the lowest latency on recent Ookla speed tests. FCC Broadband Labels and advertised expected ranges helped us to further compare latency between providers.

Other factors include availability to at least 1% of US households. A random regional provider in a local market may offer the lowest latency of any ISP, but including it in a national best list is more of a tease than a recommendation when it’s only available to a select few.

Speed and reliability are important considerations as well. The providers featured above offer a range of speeds suitable for nearly any and all gaming activity and a reliable network to keep gamers connected.

To read more about our methodology, check out how we review internet service providers.

Best internet connection types for gaming

The best gaming experience will likely come from a fiber internet provider. Fiber internet boasts the fastest upload and download speed potential and highest reliability, even during peak usage times.

If there are no fiber internet providers near you, consider cable, fixed wireless, DSL (depending on available speeds) and satellite from Starlink, in that order.

Aside from fiber, cable internet is the top choice for speed and reliability, often offering download speeds up to a gig or higher. Fixed wireless internet can be hit or miss depending on the providers in your area and your proximity to a local signal tower.

A wired connection is preferable for gaming, but DSL internet may fail to deliver the speeds and reliability of a fixed wireless service. If all else fails, satellite internet from Starlink (not Hughesnet or Viasat) should get you online with a connection suitable for gaming.

Internet for gaming recap

Online gaming doesn’t require a lot of speed, but the connection quality and latency will make all the difference. A fiber connection with low latency, like what Verizon Fios and Frontier Fiber have to offer, is the best choice when it comes to internet for gaming. Cable internet providers are worth consideration as well, particularly Astound with its gaming router option and Spectrum for its broad availability, low equipment rental cost and unlimited data.

Your best internet option for gaming will depend on the available internet providers in your area. If you find none bring you a decent gaming experience, check out Starlink. It’s expensive compared to many other ISPs, but speeds should be high enough, and latency low enough, for online gaming.

Best internet for gaming FAQs