Our picks
Why we selected these suppliers
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Finest fiber web supplier total
Finest low cost fiber web plan
Finest perks with fiber web
Finest value assure amongst fiber suppliers
Finest fiber supplier for gig and multi-gig web
Finest fiber supplier for T-Cellular clients
Finest rural fiber web supplier
Quickest fiber web supplier
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Offers are chosen by the CNET Group commerce group, and could also be unrelated to this text.
What’s the finest fiber web supplier?
Amongst all of the web connection varieties we have examined — we have tried all of them — fiber web all the time comes out on high. And on the subject of rating fiber connection suppliers, CNET’s decide for one of the best fiber web service supplier within the nation is AT&T Fiber. That is because of its consistency, excessive buyer satisfaction scores and quick symmetrical speeds. AT&T Fiber is a crowd-pleaser and constantly will get high marks in buyer satisfaction surveys, doubtless because of its number of plans, aggressive pricing and customer-friendly service phrases. There’s lots to love — however provided that you will get it at your tackle.
By way of availability, excessive speeds and easy pricing, I would not go on Frontier Fiber, Quantum Fiber, Kinetic by Windstream or Verizon Fios, both. But when these suppliers aren’t out there at your tackle, regional suppliers deserve some love, too. Suppliers like Brightspeed, Metronet or Ziply Fiber — the quickest ISP nationwide — might provide quick web service in your space.
It is essential to notice that fiber web is not probably the most broadly out there web connection sort. In keeping with the most recent Federal Communications Fee information, solely 48% of the US inhabitants has entry to a fiber connection. Nonetheless, CNET considers fiber the gold commonplace of dwelling web connections and a certain option to future-proof your own home. Let’s take a more in-depth take a look at what the highest fiber ISPs within the nation have to supply.
Finest fiber web suppliers
300 – 5,000 Mbps
$55 – $250 per 30 days
Our take – AT&T has the best availability of any fiber supplier, extending service to greater than 16 million potential clients throughout 22 states. In comparison with different big-name suppliers, AT&T is among the many most cost-effective when contemplating value per Mbps and there are not any hidden charges. Nevertheless, if all you will get is AT&T’s fastened wi-fi plans, you are higher off wanting into Frontier Fiber and Verizon Fios.
300 – 5,000 Mbps
$55 – $250 per 30 days
500 – 5,000 Mbps
$50 – $155 per 30 days
Our take – Frontier Communications just lately expanded its fiber web protection to 19 states after which rolled out a brand new multi-gig service to the complete footprint concurrently, turning into the primary main ISP to take action on such a large scale.
500 – 5,000 Mbps
$50 – $155 per 30 days
300 – 2,000 Mbps
$50 – $120 per 30 days
Our take – Verizon Fios is up there with AT&T Fiber and Frontier Fiber by way of pace, pricing and repair phrases. The most affordable tier, which begins at simply $50 a month, comes with obtain and add speeds of as much as 300Mbps. The subsequent pace stage — 500Mbps for $75 month-to-month — additionally carries respectable worth, however the gigabit service at $90 is priced the identical or a contact greater than you will discover with different fiber suppliers.Â
300 – 2,000 Mbps
$50 – $120 per 30 days
200 – 8,000 Mbps
$45 – $165 per 30 days
Our take – In case you thought Verizon Fios’s value lock assure was nice, Quantum Fiber affords a price-for-life assure for all plans. You possibly can select from two primary plans: 500Mbps for $50 month-to-month or 940Mbps for $70 month-to-month. Choose places might have the selection of quicker speeds, together with the three,000Mbps and eight,000Mbps tiers.
200 – 8,000 Mbps
$45 – $165 per 30 days
1,000 – 8,000 Mbps
$70 – $150 per 30 days
Our take – In case you’re eyeing gig or multi-gig speeds, Google Fiber is the supplier for you. Plans begin at gig pace and solely go up from there. With these beginning speeds, the beginning month-to-month charge of $70 is understandably greater than many web suppliers.
1,000 – 8,000 Mbps
$70 – $150 per 30 days
500 – 2,000 Mbps
$65 – $95 per 30 days
Our take – T-Cellular has been dominating the 5G dwelling web marketplace for the previous few years. Now it’s providing fiber web in additional than 175 cities after its April 2025 acquisition of Lumos Fiber. T-Cellular Fiber is according to different fiber suppliers on our record: $65 a month for 500Mbps, which is similar value as our high decide AT&T Fiber.Â
500 – 2,000 Mbps
$65 – $95 per 30 days
100 – 1,000 Mbps
$40 – $70 per 30 days
Our take – Choose neighborhoods in bigger cities usually have fiber web. However in the event you’re dwelling within the suburbs or a rural space, your finest probability to get fiber web is from Kinetic by Windstream. Roughly a 3rd of Windstream’s community — which spans rural and suburban areas throughout 18 states in over 350 communities — is fiber optic.
100 – 1,000 Mbps
$40 – $70 per 30 days
100 – 50,000 Mbps
$20 – $900 per 30 days
Our take – Ziply Fiber rolled out a ridiculously quick 50-gig plan throughout its complete Northwest footprint in Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington, making it the quickest web supplier nationwide.
100 – 50,000 Mbps
$20 – $900 per 30 days
High fiber web suppliers in contrast
Please observe that the plans beneath present every supplier’s most cost-effective out there tier. The max pace is the highest marketed pace for that given plan, however it may not be out there in your space. General, one of the best choice for you — and probably the most cost-effective plan — is perhaps a unique tier that gives a quicker pace at a better value however a greater worth. To extra absolutely perceive this value-based strategy, take a look at CNET’s information to analyzing the associated fee per Mbps.
| Plan | Beginning value | Max obtain pace | Price per Mbps | Gear charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altafiber Fioptics 400 | $40 | 400Mbps | 10 cents | $15 (optionally available) |
| AT&T Fiber 300 Learn full evaluate |
$55 | 300Mbps | 18 cents | None |
| Brightspeed Fiber 200 | $29 | 200Mbps | 14 cents | None |
| Earthlink Fiber 100 Learn full evaluate |
$40 | 100Mbps | 40 cents | None |
| Frontier Fiber 500 Learn full evaluate |
$30 | 500Mbps | 6 cents | None |
| GoNetspeed 300 | $60 | 300Mbps | 20 cents | $10 (optionally available) |
| Google Fiber Core 1 Gig Learn full evaluate |
$70 | 1,000Mbps | 7 cents | None |
| Kinetic Fiber 100 | $30 | 100Mbps | 30 cents | None |
| Metronet 100 Learn full evaluate |
$30 | 100Mbps | 30 cents | None |
| Optimum 300 Learn full evaluate |
$40 | 300Mbps | 13 cents | None |
| Level Broadband Efficiency Plus | $59 | 300Mbps | 19 cents | None |
| Quantum Fiber 500 | $50 | 500Mbps | 10 cents | None |
| T-Cellular Fiber Learn full evaluate |
$65 | 500Mbps | 13 cents | None |
| Verizon Fios 300 Learn full evaluate |
$50 | 300Mbps | 17 cents | None |
| Ziply Fiber 100/100 | $20 | 100Mbps | 20 cents | $15 (optionally available) |
Present extra (11 objects)
Supply: CNET evaluation of supplier information.
Fiber web honorable mentions
- Brightspeed: A comparatively new DSL and fiber web supplier, Brightspeed operates networks in lots of markets within the japanese half of the US that had been beforehand owned by Lumen Applied sciences (CenturyLink, Quantum Fiber). Fiber service begins at simply $30 per 30 days for speeds as much as 200Mbps. Your gear can be free with the fiber plans.
- Metronet: As one of many largest independently owned fiber web firms, Metronet has a smaller footprint than different fiber suppliers. However it nonetheless affords quick speeds for respectable costs. Primarily based in Evansville, Indiana, Metronet is offered primarily to cities within the Midwest. Service begins at $30 month-to-month for 100Mbps. Choose areas can see speeds as quick as 2,000 or 5,000Mbps for $80 and $110 per 30 days, respectively. Final yr, T-Cellular introduced plans to buy Metronet; the FCC has but to approve the sale.
- Optimum: Optimum is primarily a cable web supplier, however it has a rising fiber community, notably within the Larger NYC space. Roughly 2.8 million households can be found for fiber service there. Optimum affords six plans for homes eligible for fiber, 300-,500-,1-gig, 2-gig, 5-gig, and 8-gig plans, which vary in value from $40 to $280 a month. It is essential to notice that solely choose households might have entry to the multi-gig plans.
What’s fiber web?
Fiber-optic web sends information as mild indicators through skinny glass wires both straight to the house, generally known as FTTH, or to an entry level simply exterior the house, generally known as fiber to the node or fiber to the curb. The know-how permits for greater bandwidth and quicker information transmission than every other connection sort and has the distinctive functionality of delivering symmetrical or near-symmetrical obtain and add speeds.
Fiber web makes use of a unique sort of modem than DSL or the DOCSIS gear used for cable. In truth, fiber technically would not use a modem in any respect however an optical community terminal that performs the identical operate. To be taught extra, learn our fiber web explainer.
Why select fiber web?
Your web speeds, reliability and total expertise do not rely solely in your web supplier. The know-how your ISP makes use of to run service to your own home makes an enormous distinction in what speeds you get. Here is why fiber web stands out because the main connection sort:
- Velocity, add and obtain. Fiber web is the quickest web connection sort with speeds as much as 1,000Mbps and better out there from almost each fiber ISP. The know-how additionally has the additional benefit of delivering symmetrical (or almost symmetrical) add speeds. Add speeds are extra essential than you assume, so quick speeds are good to have when gaming on-line, importing posts to social media, or taking a video name.
- Reliability. Many fiber ISPs (AT&T Fiber, Frontier Fiber, Quantum Fiber, Verizon Fios included) declare over 99% reliability. A fiber-to-the-home connection additionally ensures pace consistency and reliability throughout peak utilization instances.
- Worth. Fiber web suppliers have among the highest-priced plans, however the slower, cheaper plans are sometimes similar to service from cable or 5G suppliers. Contemplating value per Mbps and the added benefits of a fiber-optic connection, fiber plans usually current one of the best total worth.
How one can store for fiber web like a professional
Fiber web is one of the best sort of service for many properties, however there’s extra to selecting a supplier and plan than the connection sort. Listed here are some suggestions to bear in mind when purchasing for fiber web service.
Availability. Fiber web just isn’t out there in almost as many properties as cable, DSL, satellite tv for pc and even 5G web. Solely round 48% of US households are wired for fiber-optic web. In most cities, availability can range from one neighborhood to the subsequent and is even tougher to come back by in suburban and rural areas.
Speeds. Fiber web has the quickest add and obtain pace potential of any sort of web. Lots of the high suppliers provide pace tiers as much as 2,000Mbps (2Gbps), 5Gbps and better. Whereas the blazing-fast speeds are tempting, they’re prone to be quicker than your own home wants. Try our information to discovering the suitable web pace for assist choosing a fiber plan that finest meets your wants.
Value. In case you’re on the lookout for low cost web, fiber is probably not your best choice. It is true that fiber web plans are sometimes one of the best worth, however you might discover cheaper choices from cable or 5G suppliers.
Just a few fiber suppliers provide plans with beginning costs as little as $30 per 30 days, however you are extra prone to pay not less than $50 per 30 days for fiber web. Cable web suppliers together with Cox, Mediacom, Xfinity and others have lower-priced plans in lots of areas. In case you are a T-Cellular Magenta Max or Verizon wi-fi buyer, you can get 5G dwelling web for the discounted value of $25 to $35 per 30 days.
Bundles. Do you have to bundle your web service? Few fiber suppliers provide a TV service, that means you might not be capable to bundle web and TV along with the identical supplier in the event you select a fiber web service. Within the days of streaming and cord-cutting, that is probably not a deal-breaker for you, however it’s one thing to bear in mind in the event you’re purchasing for each providers.
How we consider fiber web suppliers
Testing an web supplier the identical manner CNET checks different services and products is, at finest, impractical. As a substitute, we depend on in depth analysis of every supplier to develop our evaluations and proposals.
When evaluating fiber web suppliers, availability, speeds and total worth are on the heart of our evaluations. We additionally look at added charges, information caps, contract necessities, buyer satisfaction experiences and different components that would have an effect on your high quality of service or buyer expertise.
We seek advice from the Federal Communications Fee at FCC.gov for availability information and the kind of community a supplier makes use of. We then analysis a supplier’s speeds, pricing and repair phrases by way of varied channels, such because the supplier’s web site and our historic information. When attainable, we contact the supplier immediately to verify pricing and pace particulars.
Lastly, to develop a extra well-rounded perspective of the supplier, we think about buyer satisfaction experiences from the American Buyer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Energy, in addition to buyer evaluations and complaints from sources such because the Higher Enterprise Bureau, Downdetector.com and even Reddit. (Downdetector is owned by the identical mum or dad firm as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
Earlier than writing our evaluations and compiling finest lists, we analysis something and every part the standard shopper would need to know previous to signing up for dwelling web service. Learn our piece on how we evaluate web suppliers to be taught extra about our evaluate course of.
Finest fiber web suppliers recap
If fiber web service is offered in your space, it is in all probability value getting, particularly if any of the suppliers listed above is an possibility. AT&T is best to advocate because of its excessive availability, low prices and favorable service phrases, however Verizon Fios is a detailed second with low pricing, excessive buyer satisfaction and many perks for signing up. Google Fiber, Frontier Fiber, Kinetic, Quantum Fiber and Ziply Fiber spherical out the record of supreme choices, whereas suppliers like Metronet, Optimum and others are value a glance, too, if out there in your space.
Ziply Fiber has the quickest pace tier of any main fiber web supplier, with max speeds of 50,000Mbps, or 50Gbps. Many different fiber suppliers high out at 5Gbps, 2Gbps or 1Gbps.
Fiber web just isn’t low cost. The quicker the speeds, the extra expensive your month-to-month invoice will doubtless be. Beginning plans with fiber web usually vary from $30 to $50 a month, with gigabit service starting from $60 to $90 a month. Whereas there are cheaper plans out there with cable or 5G web service in choose areas, fiber service is prone to include higher pace and connection high quality for the value.
Unlikely. Whereas the potential of 5G dwelling web is promising, it would not at present provide the pace or reliability that comes with a fiber-optic connection. That mentioned, the wi-fi supply technique is quickly increasing in availability and turning into a preferred possibility amongst dwelling web customers. Mobile web and 5G are a viable various in areas the place fiber connections usually are not but out there.
If fiber hasn’t reached your tackle but, I am sorry to say you will simply must be affected person, as suppliers are actively increasing their fiber networks throughout the US. You are extra prone to see fiber come to your neighborhood in the event you stay in a metropolis or densely populated space, however suppliers like Windstream and Quantum Fiber present that fiber entry in suburban and rural areas can be obtainable. Try if fiber web is offered in your space.
In the case of web speeds, fiber web has each different sort of connection beat. Nevertheless, there’s a draw back to fiber connections: They pose a logistical problem to implement. This implies availability is a typical problem.
