Our picks
Why we selected these suppliers
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Greatest fiber web supplier general
Greatest low-cost fiber web plan
Greatest perks with fiber web
Greatest value assure amongst fiber suppliers
Greatest fiber supplier for gig and multi-gig web
Greatest fiber supplier for T-Cell clients
Greatest rural fiber web supplier
Quickest fiber web supplier
BROADBAND DEALS OF THE WEEK
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 sorts we have examined — we have tried all of them — fiber web at all times comes out on high. Based on a brand new CNET survey, 42% of US adults skilled inconsistent web speeds and connectivity; fiber web handles such eventualities with ease.
And relating to which is the easiest, CNET’s decide for the very 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, seemingly resulting from its number of plans, aggressive pricing and customer-friendly service phrases. There’s quite a bit to love — however provided that you will get it at your handle.
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 accessible at your handle, regional suppliers deserve some love, too. Suppliers like Brightspeed, Metronet or Ziply Fiber — the quickest ISP nationwide — might supply quick web service in your space.
It is vital to notice that fiber web is not probably the most broadly accessible web connection sort. Based on the newest Federal Communications Fee information, roughly 52% of the US inhabitants has entry to a fiber connection. Nonetheless, CNET considers fiber the gold commonplace of house web connections and a positive approach to future-proof your property. Let’s take a more in-depth take a look at what the highest fiber ISPs within the nation have to supply.
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 clients throughout 22 states. In comparison with different big-name suppliers, AT&T is among the many least expensive when contemplating price per Mbps and there are not any hidden charges. Nonetheless, 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 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 all the footprint concurrently, changing 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 pace, pricing and repair phrases. The most cost effective tier, which begins at simply $50 a month, comes with obtain and add speeds of as much as 300Mbps. The following 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 larger than you will discover with different fiber suppliers.Â
300 – 2,000 Mbps
$50 – $120 per thirty days
200 – 8,000 Mbps
$45 – $165 per thirty days
Our take – When 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 most important 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 thirty days
1,000 – 8,000 Mbps
$70 – $150 per thirty days
Our take – When you’re eyeing gig or multi-gig speeds, GFiber 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 fee of $70 is understandably larger than many web suppliers.
1,000 – 8,000 Mbps
$70 – $150 per thirty days
500 – 2,000 Mbps
$65 – $95 per thirty days
Our take – T-Cell has been dominating the 5G house 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-Cell Fiber is consistent with different fiber suppliers on our listing: $65 a month for 500Mbps, which is similar value as our high decide AT&T Fiber.Â
500 – 2,000 Mbps
$65 – $95 per thirty days
100 – 1,000 Mbps
$40 – $70 per thirty days
Our take – Choose neighborhoods in bigger cities typically have fiber web. However when you’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 complete 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 least expensive accessible tier. The max pace is the highest marketed pace for that given plan, nevertheless it won’t be accessible in your space. Total, the very best choice for you — and probably the most cost-effective plan — could be a special tier that gives a quicker pace at the next value however a greater worth. To extra absolutely perceive this value-based strategy, try CNET’s information to analyzing the associated fee per Mbps.
| Plan | Beginning value | Max obtain pace | Value per Mbps | Gear price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altafiber Fioptics 400 | $40 | 400Mbps | 10 cents | $15 (non-compulsory) |
| AT&T Fiber 300 Learn full evaluation |
$55 | 300Mbps | 18 cents | None |
| Brightspeed Fiber 200 | $29 | 200Mbps | 14 cents | None |
| Earthlink Fiber 100 Learn full evaluation |
$40 | 100Mbps | 40 cents | None |
| Frontier Fiber 500 Learn full evaluation |
$30 | 500Mbps | 6 cents | None |
| GoNetspeed 300 | $60 | 300Mbps | 20 cents | $10 (non-compulsory) |
| GFiber Core 1 Gig | $70 | 1,000Mbps | 7 cents | None |
| Kinetic Fiber 100 | $25 | 100Mbps | 25 cents | None |
| Metronet 100 Learn full evaluation |
$30 | 100Mbps | 30 cents | None |
| Optimum 300 Learn full evaluation |
$40 | 300Mbps | 13 cents | None |
| Level Broadband Efficiency Plus | $59 | 300Mbps | 19 cents | None |
| Quantum Fiber 500 | $50 | 500Mbps | 10 cents | None |
| T-Cell Fiber Learn full evaluation |
$65 | 500Mbps | 13 cents | None |
| Verizon Fios 300 Learn full evaluation |
$50 | 300Mbps | 17 cents | None |
| Ziply Fiber 100/100 | $20 | 100Mbps | 20 cents | $15 (non-compulsory) |
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 thirty days for speeds as much as 200Mbps. Your gear can also be free with the fiber plans.
- Metronet: As one of many largest independently owned fiber web corporations, Metronet has a smaller footprint than different fiber suppliers. Nevertheless it nonetheless affords quick speeds for respectable costs. Based mostly in Evansville, Indiana, Metronet is on the market 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 thirty days, respectively. Final 12 months, T-Cell introduced plans to buy Metronet; the FCC has but to approve the sale.
- Optimum: Optimum is primarily a cable web supplier, nevertheless 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 affords 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 vital 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 by way of skinny glass wires both straight to the house, often called 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 larger bandwidth and quicker information 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 gear 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 study 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 know-how your ISP makes use of to run service to your property makes a giant 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 accessible 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 vital 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 pace 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 akin 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 very best general worth.
How one can store for fiber web like a professional
Fiber web is the very best sort of service for many houses, however there’s extra to picking a supplier and plan than the connection sort. Listed below are some suggestions to remember when searching for fiber web service.
Availability. Fiber web will not be accessible in almost as many houses 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 fluctuate 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 pace potential of any sort of web. Lots of the high suppliers supply pace 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 property wants. Take a look at our information to discovering the appropriate web pace for assist choosing a fiber plan that finest meets your wants.
Value. When you’re in search of low-cost web, fiber will not be your only option. It is true that fiber web plans are sometimes the very best worth, however chances are you’ll 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 at the very least $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. In case you are a T-Cell Magenta Max or Verizon wi-fi buyer, you would get 5G house web for the discounted value of $25 to $35 per thirty days.
Bundles. Do you have to bundle your web service? Few fiber suppliers supply a TV service, that means chances are you’ll not be capable to bundle web and TV along with the identical supplier when you select a fiber web service. Within the days of streaming and cord-cutting, that will not be a deal-breaker for you, nevertheless it’s one thing to remember when you’re searching for each companies.
How we consider fiber web suppliers
Testing an web supplier the identical approach 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 opinions and suggestions.
When evaluating fiber web suppliers, availability, speeds and general worth are on the heart of our evaluations. We additionally look at added charges, information caps, contract necessities, buyer satisfaction reviews and different elements that might have an effect on your high quality of service or buyer expertise.
We confer with 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 via varied channels, such because the supplier’s web site and our historic information. When potential, we contact the supplier straight to verify pricing and pace particulars.
Lastly, to develop a extra well-rounded perspective of the supplier, we take into account buyer satisfaction reviews from the American Buyer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Energy, in addition to buyer opinions and complaints from sources such because the Higher Enterprise Bureau, Downdetector.com and even Reddit. (Downdetector is owned by the identical mother or father firm as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
Earlier than writing our opinions and compiling finest lists, we analysis something and all the things the standard shopper would need to know previous to signing up for house web service. Learn our piece on how we evaluation web suppliers to study extra about our evaluation course of.
Greatest fiber web suppliers recap
If fiber web service is on the market in your space, it is in all probability value getting, particularly if any of the suppliers listed above is an choice. AT&T is best to advocate because of its excessive availability, low prices and favorable service phrases, however Verizon Fios is an in depth second with low pricing, excessive buyer satisfaction and many perks for signing up. GFiber, Frontier Fiber, Kinetic, Quantum Fiber and Ziply Fiber spherical out the listing of ideally suited choices, whereas suppliers like Metronet, Optimum and others are value a glance, too, if accessible 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 will not be low-cost. The quicker the speeds, the extra pricey your month-to-month invoice will seemingly 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 accessible with cable or 5G web service in choose areas, fiber service is more likely to include higher pace and connection high quality for the value.
Unlikely. Whereas the potential of 5G house web is promising, it would not presently supply the pace or reliability that comes with a fiber-optic connection. That mentioned, the wi-fi supply technique is quickly increasing in availability and changing into a preferred choice amongst house web customers. Mobile web and 5G are a viable different in areas the place fiber connections will not be but accessible.
If fiber hasn’t reached your handle but, I am sorry to say you will simply need to 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 when 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 also be obtainable. Take a look at if fiber web is on the market in your space.
In the case of web speeds, fiber web has each different sort of connection beat. Nonetheless, there’s a draw back to fiber connections: They pose a logistical problem to implement. This implies availability is a typical difficulty.
Not like fastened wi-fi and satellite tv for pc web connections, fiber strains run on to your property, in order that they aren’t often inclined to adversarial climate. It means you may count on your community to maintain chugging alongside at its most capability until there’s extreme injury to the community infrastructure or an influence outage in your neighborhood.
