Our picks
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Why we selected these suppliers
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Greatest fiber web supplier general
Greatest low cost fiber web plan
Greatest signup bonuses with fiber web
Greatest worth assure amongst fiber suppliers
Greatest fiber supplier for gig and multi-gig web
Greatest rural fiber web supplier
Quickest fiber web supplier
What’s the finest fiber web supplier?
Due to its consistency, excessive buyer satisfaction rankings and quick symmetrical speeds, CNET picks AT&T Fiber as the most effective fiber web service supplier general within the nation. AT&T Fiber boasts quite a lot of plans, aggressive pricing and favorable service phrases. There’s lots to love — however provided that you may get it at your handle.
When it comes to availability, excessive speeds and simple pricing, I would not move on Frontier Fiber, Quantum Fiber, Kinetic by Windstream or Verizon Fios, both. But when these suppliers aren’t out there at your handle, regional suppliers deserve some love, too. Suppliers like Brightspeed, Metronet or Ziply Fiber — the quickest ISP nationwide — could supply web service in your space.
It is necessary to notice that fiber web is not essentially the most broadly out there web connection sort. Based on the most recent Federal Communications Fee knowledge, solely 46% of the US inhabitants has entry to a fiber connection. Nonetheless, CNET considers fiber the gold customary of broadband connections. Let’s take a more in-depth have a look at the highest fiber web service within the nation.
Greatest fiber web suppliers
300 – 5,000 Mbps
$55 – $250 per thirty days
Our take – AT&T has the best availability of any fiber supplier, extending service to greater than 16 million potential prospects throughout 22 states. In comparison with different big-name suppliers, AT&T is among the many most cost-effective when contemplating price per Mbps and hidden charges (there are not any). Nevertheless, if all you may get is AT&T’s mounted wi-fi plans, you are higher off wanting into Frontier Fiber and Verizon Fios.
300 – 5,000 Mbps
$55 – $250 per thirty days
500 – 5,000 Mbps
$50 – $155 per thirty days
Our take – Frontier Communications lately expanded its fiber web protection to 19 states after which rolled out a brand new multi-gig service to your complete footprint concurrently, turning into the primary main ISP to take action on such a large scale.
500 – 5,000 Mbps
$50 – $155 per thirty days
300 – 2,000 Mbps
$50 – $120 per thirty days
Our take – Verizon Fios is up there with AT&T Fiber and Frontier Fiber by way of velocity, pricing and repair phrases.
300 – 2,000 Mbps
$50 – $120 per thirty days
200 – 8,000 Mbps
$45 – $165 per thirty days
Our take – In the event you thought Verizon Fios’s worth lock assure was nice, Quantum Fiber gives a price-for-life assure for all plans. You may select from three predominant plans: 200Mbps for $50 month-to-month, 500Mbps for $50 month-to-month or 940Mbps for $70 month-to-month. Choose areas could have the selection of quicker speeds, together with the three,000Mbps and eight,000Mbps tiers.
200 – 8,000 Mbps
$45 – $165 per thirty days
1,000 – 8,000 Mbps
$70 – $150 per thirty days
Our take – In the event you’re eyeing gig or multi-gig speeds, Google Fiber is the supplier for you. Plans begin at gig velocity and solely go up from there. With these beginning speeds, the beginning month-to-month charge of $70 is understandably increased than many web suppliers.
1,000 – 8,000 Mbps
$70 – $150 per thirty days
100 – 1,000 Mbps
$40 – $70 per thirty days
Our take – Choose neighborhoods in bigger cities typically have fiber web. However if you happen to’re residing 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 thirty days
100 – 50,000 Mbps
$20 – $900 per thirty days
Our take – Ziply Fiber rolled out a ridiculously quick 50-gig plan throughout its whole Northwest footprint in Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington, making it the quickest web supplier nationwide.
100 – 50,000 Mbps
$20 – $900 per thirty days
Prime fiber web suppliers in contrast
Please be aware that the plans beneath present every supplier’s most cost-effective out there tier. The max velocity is the highest marketed velocity for that given plan, however it won’t be out there in your space. Total, the most effective choice for you — and essentially the most cost-effective plan — is likely to be a special tier that gives a quicker velocity at a better worth however a greater worth. To extra totally perceive this value-based method, take a look at CNET’s information to analyzing the fee per Mbps.
| Plan | Beginning worth | Max obtain velocity | Value per Mbps | Tools price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altafiber Fioptics 100 | $45 | 100Mbps | 45 cents | $12 (optionally available) |
| AT&T Fiber 300 Learn full assessment |
$55 | 300Mbps | 18 cents | None |
| Brightspeed Fiber 300 | $29 | 300Mbps | 9 cents | None |
| Earthlink Fiber 300 Learn full assessment |
$49 | 300Mbps | 16 cents | $15 |
| Frontier Fiber 200 Learn full assessment |
$30 | 200Mbps | 15 cents | None |
| GoNetspeed 500 | $50 | 500Mbps | 10 cents | None |
| Google Fiber Core 1 Gig Learn full assessment |
$70 | 1,000Mbps | 7 cents | None |
| Kinetic Fiber 300 | $40 | 300Mbps | 13 cents | $11 (optionally available) |
| Metronet 150 Learn full assessment |
$30 | 150Mbps | 20 cents | None |
| Optimum 300 Learn full assessment |
$40 | 300Mbps | 13 cents | None |
| Level Broadband Efficiency Plus | $59 | 300Mbps | 19 cents | None |
| Quantum Fiber 500 | $50 | 500Mbps | 10 cents | None |
| Verizon Fios 300 Learn full assessment |
$50 | 300Mbps | 17 cents | None |
| Ziply Fiber 100/100 | $20 | 100Mbps | 20 cents | $15 router rental (optionally available) |
Present extra (10 objects)
Supply: CNET evaluation of supplier knowledge.
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 have been beforehand owned by Lumen Applied sciences (CenturyLink, Quantum Fiber). Fiber service begins at simply $30 per thirty days for speeds as much as 200Mbps and maxes out at 2,000Mbps for $109 per thirty days. Your tools can also 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. But it surely nonetheless gives quick speeds for respectable costs. Primarily based in Evansville, Indiana, Metronet is accessible primarily to cities within the Midwest. Service begins at $30 month-to-month for 150Mbps. Choose areas can see speeds as quick as 2,000 or 5,000Mbps for $75 and $110 per thirty days, respectively.
- Optimum: Optimum is primarily a cable web supplier, however it has a rising fiber community, significantly within the Larger NYC space. Roughly 2.8 million households can be found for fiber service there. Optimum gives six plans for homes eligible for fiber, 300-,500-,1-gig, 2-gig, 5-gig, and 8-gig plans, which vary in price from $40 to $280 a month. It is necessary to notice that solely choose households could have entry to the multi-gig plans.
What’s fiber web?
Fiber-optic web sends knowledge as mild alerts through skinny glass wires both straight to the house, often known as FTTH, or to an entry level simply outdoors the house, generally known as fiber to the node or fiber to the curb. The expertise permits for increased bandwidth and quicker knowledge transmission than some other connection sort and has the distinctive functionality of delivering symmetrical or near-symmetrical obtain and add speeds.
Fiber web makes use of a special sort of modem than DSL or the DOCSIS tools used for cable. In reality, fiber technically would not use a modem in any respect however an optical community terminal that performs the identical perform. To be taught extra, learn our fiber web explainer.
Why select fiber web?
Your web speeds, reliability and general expertise do not rely solely in your web supplier. The expertise 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:
- Pace, add and obtain. Fiber web is the quickest web connection sort with speeds as much as 1,000Mbps and better out there from practically each fiber ISP. The expertise additionally has the additional benefit of delivering symmetrical (or practically symmetrical) add speeds. Add speeds are extra necessary than you suppose, 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 velocity consistency and reliability throughout peak utilization occasions.
- Worth. Fiber web suppliers have a number of the highest-priced plans, however the slower, cheaper plans are sometimes corresponding to service from cable or 5G suppliers. Contemplating price per Mbps and the added benefits of a fiber-optic connection, fiber plans typically current the most effective general worth.
How one can store for fiber web like a professional
Fiber web is the most effective 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 looking for fiber web service.
Availability. Fiber web isn’t out there in practically as many properties as cable, DSL, satellite tv for pc and even 5G web. Solely round 40% of US households are wired for fiber-optic web. In most cities, availability can differ from one neighborhood to the subsequent and is even more durable to come back by in suburban and rural areas.
Speeds. Fiber web has the quickest add and obtain velocity potential of any sort of web. Most of the high suppliers supply velocity tiers as much as 2,000Mbps (2Gbps), 5Gbps and better. Whereas the blazing-fast speeds are tempting, they’re more likely to be quicker than your own home wants. Try our information to discovering the proper web velocity for assist choosing a fiber plan that finest meets your wants.
Worth. In the event you’re on the lookout for low cost web, fiber might not be your only option. It is true that fiber web plans are sometimes the most effective worth, however you could discover cheaper choices from cable or 5G suppliers.
Just a few fiber suppliers supply plans with beginning costs as little as $30 per thirty days, however you are extra more likely to pay a minimum of $50 per thirty days for fiber web. Cable web suppliers together with Cox, Mediacom, Xfinity and others have lower-priced plans in lots of areas. If you’re a T-Cellular Magenta Max or Verizon wi-fi buyer, you possibly can get 5G house web for the discounted worth of $25 to $35 per thirty days.
Bundles. Must you bundle your web service? Few fiber suppliers supply a TV service, which means you could not be capable to bundle web and TV along with the identical supplier if you happen to select a fiber web service. Within the days of streaming and cord-cutting, that might not be a deal-breaker for you, however it’s one thing to bear in mind if you happen to’re looking for each companies.
How we consider fiber web suppliers
Testing an web supplier the identical method CNET checks different services is, at finest, impractical. As a substitute, we depend on intensive analysis of every supplier to develop our critiques and proposals.
When evaluating fiber web suppliers, availability, speeds and general worth are on the middle of our evaluations. We additionally study added charges, knowledge caps, contract necessities, buyer satisfaction stories and different elements that would have an effect on your high quality of service or buyer expertise.
We confer with the Federal Communications Fee at FCC.gov for availability knowledge and the kind of community a supplier makes use of. We then analysis a supplier’s speeds, pricing and repair phrases via numerous channels, such because the supplier’s web site and our historic knowledge. When attainable, we contact the supplier instantly to verify pricing and velocity particulars.
Lastly, to develop a extra well-rounded perspective of the supplier, we contemplate buyer satisfaction stories from the American Buyer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Energy, in addition to buyer critiques and complaints from sources such because the Higher Enterprise Bureau, Downdetector.com and even Reddit. (Downdetector is owned by the identical dad or mum firm as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
Earlier than writing our critiques and compiling finest lists, we analysis something and the whole lot the everyday shopper would wish to know previous to signing up for house web service. Learn our piece on how we assessment web suppliers to be taught extra about our assessment course of.
Greatest fiber web suppliers recap
If fiber web service is accessible in your space, it is most likely value getting, particularly if any of the suppliers listed above is an choice. AT&T is best to suggest 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 plenty of perks for signing up. Google Fiber, Frontier Fiber, Kinetic, Quantum Fiber and Ziply Fiber spherical out the record of excellent choices, whereas suppliers like Metronet, Optimum and others are value a glance, too, if out there in your space.
Fiber web FAQs
What’s the quickest fiber web?
Ziply Fiber has the quickest velocity 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.
Is fiber web definitely worth the cash?
Fiber web 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 more likely to include higher velocity and connection high quality for the worth.
Is fiber the most effective web connection sort?
Will 5G change fiber-optic web?
Unlikely. Whereas the potential of 5G house web is promising, it would not presently supply the velocity or reliability that comes with a fiber-optic connection. That mentioned, the wi-fi supply methodology is quickly increasing availability and turning into a preferred choice amongst house web customers. Mobile web and 5G are a viable different in areas the place fiber connections aren’t but out there.
When will fiber be out there close to me?
If fiber hasn’t reached your handle but, I am sorry to say you may simply must be affected person, as suppliers are actively increasing their fiber networks throughout the US. You are extra more likely to see fiber come to your neighborhood if you happen to 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 also be obtainable. Try if fiber web is accessible in your space.
