GFiber vs. AT&T Fiber: Which internet is better for you?

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AT&T Fiber and GFiber (formally known as Google Fiber) are two of the most well-known internet service providers (ISPs) in the country. AT&T has a ton of history behind it, and also happens to be the largest ISP by availability. Although GFiber has been around for a few years now, it's relatively new and has a much smaller footprint in the country. Still, its name combined with a smattering of positive customer reviews makes GFiber a highly sought-after internet provider.

We compare GFiber with AT&T Internet to see how each stacks up against the other in categories like price, speed, availability, customer satisfaction, and bundles.

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GFiber vs. AT&T Fiber: Speed

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• GFiber:
• AT&T Internet:

When it comes to internet speeds, GFiber internet and AT&T have plenty of it. Both companies offer service on fiber-optic cable—the current king of broadband connectivity where speed and reliability are concerned (basically, the two most important elements of internet service).

It's standard practice for ISPs with fiber connections to offer gigabit internet speeds, or 1Gbps (download speed and upload speed). Both GFiber and AT&T follow suit here, but Google has stepped its game up, offering up an internet plan that promises 2Gbps speeds. AT&T offers no such plan.

Is 2Gbps overkill? Plenty of people argue that 1Gbps provides more than enough bandwidth for most households. However, if you live in a very large household with multiple internet users, and have suffered through fighting over internet speeds, you might be in the camp of faster is always better.

Whether you actually need 2Gbps speeds or not, the fact remains that GFiber does offer the fastest connection.

If you’re not sure how fast you need your internet, start with your current internet by running it through a speed test. If you’re not satisfied with your current internet speeds, you’ll now have a better idea of how fast your next plan should be.

AT&T Fiber vs. GFiber: Cost

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When we talk about prices for internet connections, we can't help but just talk about who has the cheapest and/or more expensive plans. Don't get us wrong, we certainly do talk about that. However, we also factor in what you get for what you pay.

GFiber sells two different internet plans, therefore it only charges two different prices:

Google includes professional installation and any required equipment, like a router, at no extra cost to you. Both plans come with unlimited data.

AT&T Fiber comes in three different price options:

Like GFiber internet, AT&T Fiber does not include data caps. However, you should expect to pay equipment fees for any necessary modem or router with your AT&T plan. These fees vary.

Comparing the two ISPs' most similar plans, you can see that GFiber charges slightly more than AT&T. However when you factor in AT&T's equipment fees, you're likely looking at prices that are much closer to each other. HBO Max included with the AT&T plan is a nice perk, but not one big enough to really give it the edge over GFiber. Also, a quick look at how each carriers' prices stack up against other industry giants shows that both charge a little more than the average provider.

GFiber vs. AT&T Fiber: Coverage and Availability

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• GFiber:
• AT&T Internet:

These two ISPs could be the absolute best in the world, but none of it means a thing if you can't actually get their services.

With its DSL and fiber networks, AT&T is the largest ISP in the country. Its fiber alone covers 84 major cities. AT&T has an especially strong presence on the west coast, in the south, and in the midwest.

GFiber's availability, on the other hand, doesn't quite compare, servicing 19 metropolitan areas. Some examples of GFiber cities include:

• Austin
• Chicago
• Nashville
• San Diego
• San Francisco
• Seattle

Really, this one's a no-brainer. AT&T's availability significantly dwarfs GFiber's.

AT&T Fiber vs. GFiber: Customer Reviews

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• GFiber:
• AT&T Fiber:

Here's the not-so-big secret everybody seems to know: telecom and ISPs generally get fairly bad customer reviews. The trick is sifting through the dramatic and likely exaggerated reactions, while also remembering that satisfied customers are less likely to go out of their way to leave reviews.

That said, GFiber tends to receive a bit more positivity from its customers than AT&T does. This probably has a little to do with the fact that AT&T's been around much longer than Google Fi—more time for customers to get really disgruntled.

GFiber's customers are also happier than AT&T customers because they experience minimal downtime and Google charges fewer hidden fees, keeping bills relatively close to advertised prices. AT&T customers seem especially frustrated by the extra fees.

GFiber vs. AT&T Fiber: Bundles

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• GFiber:
• AT&T Fiber:

If you want a live TV service along with your internet, bundling the two usually nets you a great deal. GFiber, however, doesn't really offer the classic bundle you might be used to seeing. Since GFiber stopped offering its Fiber TV, it now instead offers Google Chromecast to customers. While you can purchase a live TV streaming service for the Chromecast, like YouTube TV or Fubo, you'll be paying full price.

AT&T Fiber, however, has about a billion (yes, this is an exaggeration) bundles. Among other things, you can combine your internet with an AT&T TV live streaming package.

With the selection of AT&T internet and TV bundles, we can easily call this category for AT&T.

GFiber vs. AT&T Fiber Recap

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GFiber and AT&T Fiber are two of the most recognizable names in the internet provider game. It makes complete sense to compare the two. AT&T has Google beat when it comes to availability and bundles. Meanwhile, GFiber wins when it comes to speed, cost, and reviews.

All things considered, we think GFiber is the overall winner... if you happen to live in an area covered by the ISP. Otherwise, AT&T certainly provides a decent second choice.

GFiber vs. AT&T Internet: Frequently Asked Questions

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Is GFiber better than AT&T Fiber?

What is the difference between AT&T Internet and AT&T Fiber?

Is AT&T Fiber real fiber?

Does Google Wi-Fi work with AT&T Fiber?