Our picks
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Best fiber internet provider
$55 – $250 per month
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Searching for an internet provider is often a painstaking, teeth-grinding process. I’ve been working the broadband beat for more than five years and I know the task can be daunting if you don’t know where to start or what to look for. But CNET has done the work for you by gathering our top broadband picks based on pricing, speeds, service terms and internet connection types. Here’s everything you need to know to find the best internet provider for your home.
What’s the best internet provider overall?
Verizon Fios and AT&T Fiber are two providers that stand out as the best internet service providers overall. Those in the Northeast will have a tough time finding a better ISP than Verizon Fios, while many in the South and Midwest will find AT&T Fiber the best option. As we often say in our ISP reviews, fiber internet almost always trumps other internet connection types. Don’t hesitate to sign up if you can get fiber broadband at your address for a reasonable price.
There are times when cable internet, like that of Xfinity, Spectrum and Cox, is the best option. Cable is often a solid choice for cheap internet or if you’re interested in bundling internet and TV or internet and mobile. Cable internet also boasts the highest availability of any non-satellite connection type, often making it the best option if there are no fiber providers in your area. Let’s take a closer look at which internet providers made CNET’s cut.
Our methodology
300 – 5,000 Mbps
$55 – $250 per month
Our take – It’s not the cheapest internet provider, but in terms of overall value, AT&T Fiber is one of the best. Considering cost-per-Mbps, which is a way of comparing apples to apples, AT&T Fiber is one of the top values out there. Free equipment rental, unlimited data and no set price increases add to the provider’s overall appeal.
Fiber
AT&T Fiber plans and prices
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Cable
500 – 1,000 Mbps
$50 – $80 per month
| Plan | Starting monthly price | Max speeds | Monthly equipment fee | Data cap | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum 500 Internet Read full review |
$50 | 300Mbps download, 20Mbps upload | Modem free; $10 for router (optional) | None | None |
| Spectrum Gig Internet Read full review |
$70 | 1,000Mbps download, 35Mbps upload | Modem and router free | None | None |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Fiber
300 – 2,000 Mbps
$50 – $120 per month
| Plan | Max speeds | Starting monthly price | Monthly equipment fee | Data cap | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fios 300 | 300Mbps download, 300Mbps upload | $50 | None | None | None |
| Fios 500 | 500Mbps download, 500Mbps upload | $75 | None | None | None |
| Fios 1 Gig | 940Mbps download, 880Mbps upload | $90 | None | None | None |
| Fios 2 Gig | 2,300Mbps download, 1,500Mbps upload | $110 | None | None | None |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Take our quiz
200 – 8,000 Mbps
$30 – $165 per month
Our take – CenturyLink offers DSL internet plans across 16 states, but roughly half of the coverage map also has access to its sibling company’s fiber plans, branded as Quantum Fiber. It’s worth noting that speeds and pricing vary slightly by market. Overall, the plans offer decent cost per Mbps, with the entry-level plan starting at $45 monthly for matching upload and download speeds of 200Mbps (22 cents per Mbps), all the way up to $165 a month for 8 gigabits with matching speeds of 8,000Mbps. There are no data caps or contracts with those plans, and, best of all, the ISP offers a price-for-life guarantee, pledging to never raise your rate for as long as you keep your plan.
Fiber
Quantum Fiber plans and prices
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Fixed wireless
25 – 50 Mbps
$45 – $65 per month
| Plan | Starting monthly price | Max speeds | Monthly equipment fee | Data cap | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rise Broadband 50 Read full review |
$55 | 50Mbps download, 5Mbps upload | $10 modem; $15 router (optional) | None | None, but required for some promotions |
| Rise Broadband 100Mbps Read full review |
$75 | 100Mbps download, 15Mbps upload | $10 modem; $15 router (optional) | None | None, but required for some promotions |
| Rise Broadband Fiber 300 Read full review |
$60 | 300Mbps download, 300Mbps upload | $5 router (optional) | None | None, but required for some promotions |
| Rise Broadband Fiber 500 Read full review |
$80 | 500Mbps download, 500Mbps upload | $5 router (optional) | None | None, but required for some promotions |
| Rise Broadband Fiber 1000 Read full review |
$85 | 1Gbps download and upload | $5 router (optional) | None | None, but required for some promotions |
Show more (3 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Fiber
1,000 – 8,000 Mbps
$70 – $150 per month
| Plan | Starting monthly price | Max speeds | Monthly equipment fee | Data cap | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Fiber 1 Gig Read full review |
$70 | 1Gbps download and upload | None | None | None |
| Google Fiber 2 Gig Read full review |
$100 | 2Gbps download, 1Gbps upload | None | None | None |
| Google Fiber 5 Gig Read full review |
$125 | 5Gbps download and upload | None | None | None |
| Google Fiber 8 Gig Read full review |
$150 | 8Gbps download and upload | None | None | None |
| Google Webpass Read full review |
$70 ($63 with a yearly plan) | 1Gbps download and upload | None | None | None |
Show more (0 item)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Fiber
100 – 50,000 Mbps
$20 – $900 per month
| Plan | Starting monthly price | Max speeds | Monthly equipment fee | Data cap | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ziply Internet (DSL) | $75 | 1-115Mbps download, 7Mbps upload | $15 router (optional) | None | None |
| Ziply Fiber 100/100 | $10 ($20 after three months) | 100Mbps download and upload | $15 router (optional) | None | None |
| Ziply Fiber 300/300 | $30 | 300Mbps download and upload | $15 router (optional) | None | None |
| Ziply Fiber Gig | $50 | 1Gbps download and upload | $15 router (optional) | None | None |
| Ziply Fiber 2 Gig | $60 | 2Gbps download and upload | $15 router (optional) | None | None |
| Ziply Fiber 5 Gig | $80 | 5Gbps download and upload | $15 router (optional) | None | None |
| Ziply Fiber 10 Gig | $300 | 10Gbps download and upload | $15 router (optional) | None | None |
| Ziply Fiber 50 Gig | $900 | 50Gbps download and upload | None | None | None |
| Plan | Starting price | Max download speed | Cost per Mbps | Equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altafiber Fioptics 100 | $35 | 100Mbps | 35 cents | None |
| Armstrong Zoom Express Read full review |
$35 | 25Mbps | $1.40 | $11 (optional) |
| Astound Broadband 300 Read full review |
$20 | 300Mbps | 7 cents | None |
| AT&T Fiber 300 Read full review |
$55 | 300Mbps | 18 cents | None |
| AT&T Internet Air Read full review |
$60 ($47 with an eligible AT&T wireless plan) | 225Mbps | 27 cents | None |
| Brightspeed Fiber 200 | $39 | 200Mbps | 19 cents | None |
| CenturyLink Simply Unlimited Read full review |
$55 | 100Mbps | 55 cents | $15 (optional) |
| Cox Go Faster Internet | $50 | 250Mbps | 50 cents | $15 (optional) |
| Earthlink Fiber 100 Read full review |
$40 | 100Mbps | 40 cents | $10-$15 |
| Frontier Fiber 200 Read full review |
$30 | 200Mbps | 15 cents | None |
| GoNetspeed 500 | $40 | 500Mbps | 8 cents | $10 (optional) |
| Google Fiber 1 Gig Read full review |
$70 | 1,000Mbps | 7 cents | None |
| Hughesnet Select Read full review |
$50 | 50Mbps | $1 | $15 monthly or $300 one-time purchase |
| Kinetic Fiber 300 | $50 | 300Mbps | 16 cents | $11 (optional) |
| Mediacom Xtream Internet 250 Read full review |
$20 | 250Mbps | 8 cents | $14 (optional) |
| Metronet 150 Read full review |
$35 | 150Mbps | 23 cents | None |
| Nomad Unlimited Read full review |
$100 | 100Mbps | $1 | None |
| Optimum 300 Read full review |
$40 | 300Mbps | 13 cents | None |
| Point Broadband Performance Plus | $59 | 300Mbps | 13 cents | $14 (optional, free in select locations) |
| Quantum Fiber 200 | $45 | 200Mbps | 22 cents | None |
| Rise Broadband 50 Read full review |
$55 | 50Mbps | $1.10 | $10 modem; $15-25 router (optional) |
| Sparklight Connect 100 Read full review |
$40 | 100Mbps | 40 cents | $15 |
| Spectrum Internet Read full review |
$50 | 500Mbps | 10 cents | Modem free; $10 for router (optional) |
| Starlink Standard Read full review |
$120 | 150Mbps | $1.20 | $349 one-time purchase |
| Starry Internet 200 Read full review |
$40 | 200Mbps | 20 cents | None |
| T-Mobile 5G Home Internet Unlimited Read full review |
$50 | 245Mbps | 20 cents | None |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
$50 | 300Mbps | 17 cents | None |
| Verizon Fios 300 Read full review |
$50 | 300Mbps | 17 cents | None |
| Viasat Unleashed Read full review |
$100 | 150Mbps | 66 cents | $15 or $250 one-time purchase |
| WOW Internet 300 Read full review |
$30 | 300Mbps | 10 cents | None |
| Xfinity Connect Read full review |
$20 | 150Mbps | 13 cents | $15 (optional) |
| Ziply Fiber 100/100 | $10 in the first three months, $20 after | 100Mbps | 20 cents | $15 (optional) |
