Fiber internet offers the fastest internet speeds currently available, reaching upwards of lightning-fast 2Gbps download speeds. The service uses fiber-optic cables made of thin strands of glass or plastic to transmit data as pulses of light. The result is unparalleled speeds and massive bandwidth capabilities.
As fiber footprints have grown across the country and more customers want the hook up, it’s worth looking at which providers offer the best service. Fiber internet pricing ranges from cheap $20/month plans with slower speeds (of about 100Mbps) to $100/month plans at 1Gbps.
Our overall top pick for the best fiber internet provider is AT&T because of its wide availability and plan options. That said, Frontier takes the award for best coverage since it has expanded into more states. Our pick for the cheapest fiber internet provider is Ziply Fiber. Finally, we think that GFiber (formally known as Google Fiber) offers the best speeds overall.
Read on to learn more about each of these providers and some of the best plans you can take advantage of from each.
Compare fiber internet providers
| Provider | Plan | Best for | Price | Shop this plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Fiber | Internet 300 | Overall | $50/month | View Plan |
| Frontier | Fiber 200 Internet | Coverage | $40/month | |
| Ziply Fiber | Fiber 100/100 | Cheapest | $20/month | View Plan |
| GFiber | Fiber 1Gig | Speed | $70/month | View Plan |
Best overall
fiber internet provider
AT&T—Overall best fiber internet provider
AT&T Fiber is our pick for the best overall fiber internet provider. The telecom giant’s fiber footprint currently services 21 states. It offers fiber to more people across the United States than any other internet provider. Plus, AT&T offers plenty of plan options, starting at 300Mbps and stretching to 5Gbps. AT&T’s wide availability and plentiful plan options make this a great choice for customers to find a fiber plan to meet their needs. That said, only certain parts of the country have access. Customers in the Northeast will struggle to get fiber internet from AT&T.
One of the most popular AT&T fiber plans is the Internet 300 plan. It offers a maximum download speed of 300Mbps, which is fast enough to stream your favorite show and game online. There are also no data caps, and AT&T gives you a modem for free. The plan starts at $50 a month, which is a decent price for fiber internet.
- Pros: Plenty of availability, fast speeds, multiple plan options
- Cons: Mostly limited to the Southeast and Midwest
Best fiber internet
coverage
Frontier—Best fiber internet coverage
Frontier is one of the best providers for widespread fiber internet coverage. While AT&T technically serves more customers, Frontier covers a larger area, adding up to a total of 27 states. Essentially, AT&T has focused much of its fiber infrastructure in urban areas and cities to cover the most people. Frontier, on the other hand, offers specific hotspots (albeit scattered nationwide) including cities and states that AT&T currently doesn’t reach, like Arizona, Nebraska, and Utah.
The Frontier fiber 200 plan costs $40 per month and includes download speeds up to 200Mbps. This speed should be fast enough for most average internet users. That said, if you are a family of heavy internet users or need faster speeds for things like competitive video gaming, you may want to opt for a Frontier fiber option with faster internet speeds. The Fiber 1 Gig plan gets you speeds of 1Gbps at $70/month, and the Fiber 2 Gig plan promises download speeds of 2Gbps, but it’s pricey at $110 per month.
- Pros: Large coverage area, fast speeds
- Cons: Mostly limited to the Southwest and Northeast
Verizon Fios—Best fiber internet coverage runner-up
Verizon Fios certainly falls behind AT&T in terms of coverage area, but it rivals AT&T for the number of people it serves. While AT&T’s fiber coverage is mainly locked in the Southeast and Midwest, Verizon Fios covers almost all the major cities in the Northeast. If you’re one of the millions of people living in cities like Washington D.C., New York, or Boston, Verizon Fios is one of your best choices for fiber internet.
Another great feature of Verizon Fios is the opportunity for discounts and bundles. You may qualify for a discount on your bill if you’re already a Verizon Mobile customer. Plus, you can bundle home phone and cable TV services with your Fios subscription for extra savings.
Verizon Fios offers only four plans, but the good news is that the plans cover a wide range—one of them should definitely meet your needs. There is a lower-tier 300Mbps plan for average users that costs $49.99 a month. A faster 500Mbps plan costs you $69.99 per month if you need a bit more speed. And finally, for those who want top-tier speeds and plenty of bandwidth, there’s a 1 Gig plan for $89.99 a month or a 2 Gig plan for $109.99/month.
- Pros: Simple plan options, excellent availability in Northeast cities
- Cons: Coverage footprint limited to the Northeast
Can’t get Verizon fiber? Try Verizon 5G Home internet
If you want to hook up to Verizon’s internet but Fios isn’t available at your location, considerVerizon 5G Home Internet. This service uses Verizon’s 5G network to provide wireless home internet service. Because it relies on a wireless network and not physical cables, Verizon 5G home internet is available to more people. Plus, like the Fios plans above, you can get a discounted internet price if you’re also a Verizon mobile customer.
Cheapest
fiber internet provider
Ziply Fiber—Cheapest fiber internet provider
If you live in the Pacific Northwest, you might be lucky enough to score a cheap fiber plan from Ziply Fiber. This provider earns our pick for the cheapest because its basic plan starts at just $20/month. Even its Internet Gig plan—with speeds up to 1Gbps—is just $60/month, making it cheaper than the gig plans from AT&T and Verizon.
The cheapest Ziply internet plan is the Fiber Internet 100/100 plan for just $20 per month. The 100/100 plan is one of the cheapest fiber plans on the market with download speeds of 100Mbps, enough for most online tasks like browsing or casual gaming. This plan fits perfectly for someone who wants a stable and cheap internet connection but doesn’t need overly fast speeds.
Ziply Fiber also offers an Internet 300/300 plan for $40 a month. That’s a steal for decent internet speed at a cheap price, cheaper than Verizon or AT&T. Just keep in mind that Ziply’s coverage doesn’t stretch super far. So if you’re in the Pacific Northwest, take advantage of Ziply’s inexpensive fiber plans. Ziply also offers super fast fiber plans that climb all the way to 10Gbps, but these plans have limited availability and are incredibly expensive. Plus, the majority of customers don’t come close to needing that much speed.
- Pros: Cheap fiber plan options, plans to meet different needs
- Cons: Coverage limited to the Pacific Northwest
Fastest
fiber internet provider
GFiber—Fastest fiber internet provider
GFiber receives our pick for the fastest fiber internet provider because it offers the fastest average speeds for all its customers. A few carriers technically offer plans with faster speeds than GFiber, but you can’t find those speeds everywhere. When looking at the overall experience of most customers, GFiber had the advantage with the fastest and most consistent speeds. The only issue that plagues GFiber is that it’s not widely available. Right now, you can only find coverage in about 31 cities across the country, like Salt Lake City, Houston, and Atlanta.
Google only offers two plans: a 1Gig plan and a 3Gig plan (although both of them are fast enough for most people’s needs). The GFiber 1Gig plan costs $70 a month, which puts it on par with most 1Gbps plans from other providers. The GFiber 3Gig plan is $100/month, an average price compared to providers like AT&T.
- Pros: Fastest average speed
- Cons: Limited availability, limited internet plan options
What is fiber internet?
Fiber internet is one of the newest and fastest types of internet services. While other wired connections use coaxial cables or copper wires for their connection, fiber uses cables made of thin strands of glass or plastic to transmit data through pulses of light. These materials make it faster than other types of services like cable, DSL, satellite, and fixed wireless internet.
These fiber-optic cables sit underground, which protects them from interference from the elements. Unfortunately, underground installation is an expensive and time-consuming process, and the physical fiber-optic cable itself carries a high price tag. These costs turn fiber internet’s expansion into new areas into a long process.
Where is fiber internet available?
Fiber internet isn’t widely available as of right now—reaching only about 40% of U.S. households. But with infrastructure being built, availability continues to grow. DSL, cable, satellite, and even 5G home internet offer greater coverage nationwide.
You can mostly find Fiber in urban hubs or larger cities, less so in rural areas. Availability differs between states, cities, and even from one neighborhood to the next. Although fiber offers the fastest and most reliable connections, underground installation means slow growth. But hey, good things (and great internet speeds) come to those who wait. In the meantime though, check out the best fiber internet plans currently on the market. And if you can’t get fiber in your area, see if 5G home internet can compare to fiber for you.
Who is fiber internet best for?
Fiber internet is best for customers who need super fast speeds and reliable connections. It’s the perfect service for competitive video gamers or households with several heavy internet users. That said, fiber internet may not be right for everyone. If you don’t need the fast speeds or don’t use a lot of bandwidth, you may not need fiber’s larger data speeds. Plus, fiber internet service can be difficult to get and is mainly limited to urban areas. Rural customers may struggle to get hooked up unless a fiber connection happens to run through their town.
Fiber plans can also be incredibly expensive as the fastest option because of the installation issues mentioned above. While you can find many reasonably priced plans for lower speeds, not every provider offers them. If you don’t want to pay highly for premium internet, you may want to explore other options.
Pros & cons of fiber internet
- Incredibly fast speeds
- Excellent bandwidth
- Limited availability
- High prices for some plans
Best fiber internet providers: FAQs
Max McCaskill
Sr. Staff Writer
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