Which Internet Provider Streams Netflix the Fastest?

Chris Holmes Staff Writer

Updated 08 December 2023

Which Internet Provider Streams Netflix the Fastest

In this Guide

Best Internet Service Providers for Netflix;
Which ISP Streams Netflix the Fastest?
Which ISPs Stream Netflix the Slowest?
How Netflix Collects the Data
What Internet Speeds Do You Need for Netflix?
What Type of Internet Connection Do You Need for Netflix?
What Internet Speeds Are You Currently Getting?

Netflix collects data each month to determine which internet service providers (ISPs) stream their service the fastest—and publishes the rankings. We consulted this list and found that several internet service providers are tied for first when it comes to streaming Netflix the fastest.

The ISPs with the fastest Netflix streaming speeds include:

Xfinity
Cox
Mediacom
Optimum
Spectrum
Verizon Fios

Coming in a close second is AT&T Fiber Internet. If you’re a big Netflix fan, you may want to consider switching to an internet plan offered by one of these fast providers.

#1	Mediacom	Mediacom Speed 1000 Mbps Cable Connection $50/mo	1000 Mbps	View Plan
#2	Spectrum	Spectrum Speed 1000 Mbps Cable Connection $70/mo	1000 Mbps	View Plan
#3	Xfinity	Xfinity Speed 500 Mbps Cable Connection $45/mo	500 Mbps	View Plan
#4	Optimum	Optimum Speed 500 Mbps Cable Connection $70/mo	500 Mbps	View Plan

#1	Optimum	Optimum Speed 8000 Mbps Fiber Connection $90/mo	8000 Mbps	View Plan
#2	AT&T	AT&T Speed 5000 Mbps Fiber Connection $135/mo Deal: Get up to $32/mo savings off your internet bill for the first 12 months.	5000 Mbps	View Plan
#3	Verizon Fios	Verizon Fios Speed 2300 Mbps Fiber Connection $94.99/mo	2300 Mbps	View Plan
#4	Cox	Cox Speed 2000 Mbps Fiber Connection $115/mo	2000 Mbps	View Plan
#5	Xfinity	Xfinity Speed 1200 Mbps Fiber Connection $100/mo	1200 Mbps	View Plan

Best Internet Service Providers for Netflix

Did you know that Netflix takes stock of how fast various internet providers stream their service? Their "ISP Leaderboard" ranks internet providers according to internet speeds in megabytes-per-second (Mbps).

Which ISP Streams Netflix the Fastest?

As you can see, cable provider Comcast Xfinity streams Netflix the fastest. Also tied for first is Cox, Mediacom, Optimum, Spectrum, and Verizon Fios. AT&T Fiber Internet finishes just behind that list, followed by Frontier, Verizon DSL, and Windstream. That said, all of these carriers are within a few small decimal points of one another, so you’re unlikely to encounter the dreaded Netflix spinning circle with any of them.

Which ISP Streams Netflix the Slowest?

Things are well and good with providers’ Netflix streaming speeds until you get to the DSL providers. DSL tends to offer slower internet speeds than cable or fiber connections.

For more on internet speed, and which ISPs are generally the fastest, check out this guide. The remaining providers on this list are all DSL providers—Verizon DSL, AT&T DSL, and Windstream. CenturyLink offers both DSL and fiber plans, but still, its internet speeds fall a bit short.

How Netflix Collects the Data

Netflix measures the average prime-time bitrates transmitted by various internet providers during peak viewing hours, generally between 7 PM and 11 PM. The index isn’t a measure of overall performance for other services/data that may travel across the specific internet carrier’s network.

What Internet Speeds Do You Need for Netflix?

Netflix recommends a minimum of .5Mbps download speeds in order to stream Netflix but the minimum is likely going to result in a lot of speed bumps. Check out the Netflix internet streaming speeds by setting:

Recommended: 1.5Mbps
Best for SD: 3Mbps
Best for HD: 5Mbps
Best for 4K Ultra HD: 25Mbps

All of the ISPs published on Netflix’s leaderboard get Netflix streaming speeds of over 3Mbps, but just barely—the top providers have average speeds of 3.8Mbps while the slowest stream Netflix at 3.2Mbps. You’ll also want to keep in mind that Netflix’s recommended internet speeds only apply to a single streamer. If you plan on streaming with more than one device at once, you’ll need even faster download speeds.

Choosing the best internet plan for Netflix

Choosing the best internet plan for Netflix isn’t as easy as glancing at the recommended speeds and choosing whichever one applies to you. The internet speeds you need in your home must accommodate the bandwidth of every device and internet activity.

Here are some factors you’ll want to consider when searching for the right internet plan for your household:

How many people will be using the internet.
How many devices will be connected to the internet.
What types of internet activities you and your family like to do (online gaming, streaming other services, video chatting, social media, etc.).

Generally speaking, the more people and devices connected to WiFi, the faster internet speeds you’ll need—plus, high-demand activities, such as online gaming and streaming (especially in HD or 4K), require faster speeds, too.

What Type of Internet Connection Do You Need for Netflix?

Theoretically, you can stream Netflix with any type of internet connection (fiber, cable, DSL, satellite).

The fastest internet connection type of fiber internet, although it isn’t widely available yet—only about 33% of the country currently has access to a fiber internet connection. Cable internet also provides blazing fast speeds up to 1Gbps (with select providers) and is a great choice for Netflix and all of your other activities. DSL internet providers frequently offer slower speeds than cable and fiber, although most DSL plans should still suffice for streaming. The least reliable option for streaming Netflix is satellite internet. The long latency periods associated with this type of connection can affect your loading times and result in frustrating delays.

What Internet Speeds Are You Currently Getting?

If you aren’t satisfied with your current internet speeds, then you’ll want to think about upgrading or switching to a new plan. Before you do that, though, you’ll need to test what type of speeds you’re currently getting so you know what plan to switch to. You can do that by using our free internet speed test, which will tell you your download and upload speeds as well as your latency or ping.

Internet Speed Test

Is your internet fast enough? Test internet speeds at your location with a single click.

Once you have that information, you’ll want to head on over to our internet plan comparison engine. There, you can type in your address, specify your internet speed demands, and press “Search.” You’ll be instantly presented with plans available at your specific location.

Chris Holmes

Staff Writer

Chris Holmes is a Contributing Writer for WhistleOut, where he covers the cell phone and internet industries. His work has been cited in publications like The Verge, The New York Times, and WIRED.

Read full bio