Best Fiber Internet Providers

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Best price stability

Best price stability

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Best plan options

Best plan options

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Best rural availability

Best rural availability

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Best affordable plans

Best affordable plans

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What is Fiber Internet?

Fiber internet transfers data through glass, fiber-optic cables, which makes it capable of moving information at the speed of light. Fiber offers the fastest internet speeds and supports the most device connectivity among connection types. However, fiber has limited availability compared to DSL and cable internet, but providers continue to invest in fiber internet.

Is Fiber Internet right for me?

Fiber internet is the most superior connection type in terms of speed and capacity. It’s one shortfall is lack of availability. However, providers continue to expand their networks. With faster speeds to support multiple connected devices and heavy usage, fiber offers reliable internet access without common headaches such as dead spots, buffering, and ISP throttling. However, due to its higher cost and limited availability, it isn’t for everyone.

Pros

  • Fastest internet speeds available
  • Supports heavy use and multiple users

Cons

  • Higher cost than other internet types
  • Limited availability nationwide

Compare Fiber Internet Plans

ProviderStarting PriceMax DownloadMax UploadData CapsFind Plan
EarthLink$49.95/mo. – $59.95/mo.100 Mbps – 5 Gbps40 Mbps – 5 GbpsNoCheck Availability
AT&T$55/mo. – $80/mo.300 Mbps – 940 Mbps300 Mbps – 940 MbpsNoCheck Availability
CenturyLink$30/mo. – $70/mo.20 Mbps – 940 Mbps100 Mbps – 940 MbpsNoCheck Availability
Frontier$49.99/mo. w/Auto Pay & Paperless Bill5000 Mbps – Call for details5000 Mbps – Call for detailsNoCheck Availability
ProviderEarthLink
Starting Price$49.95/mo. – $59.95/mo.
Max Download100 Mbps – 5 Gbps
Max Upload40 Mbps – 5 Gbps
Data CapsNo
Check Availability
ProviderAT&T
Starting Price$55/mo. – $80/mo.
Max Download300 Mbps – 940 Mbps
Max Upload300 Mbps – 940 Mbps
Data CapsNo
Check Availability
ProviderCenturyLink
Starting Price$30/mo. – $70/mo.
Max Download20 Mbps – 940 Mbps
Max Upload100 Mbps – 940 Mbps
Data CapsNo
Check Availability
ProviderFrontier
Starting Price$49.99/mo. w/Auto Pay & Paperless Bill
Max Download5000 Mbps – Call for details
Max Upload5000 Mbps – Call for details
Data CapsNo
Check Availability

Pricing, speeds, offers, and availability vary by service address and are subject to change at any time. Additional fees, taxes, and terms may apply. As of 05/18/2022.

Our Top Fiber Picks

AT&T

top-providers

Best plan options

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  • Variety of plans
  • Wide availability
  • Fiber internet speeds
  • Starting Price

    $55/mo. – $80/mo.

  • Max Download

    300 Mbps – 940 Mbps

  • Max Upload

    300 Mbps – 940 Mbps

  • Data Caps

    No

AT&T internet plans deliver fiber internet with speeds exceeding 1 Gbps, which can be bundled with other services, such as streaming TV and home phone.

Things we like:
  • Contracts are not required for internet plans
  • 99.9% network reliability
  • Equipment is included
Things to consider:
  • Some plans have data caps
  • Fiber is not available in all of AT&T’s markets

Frontier

top-providers

Best affordable plans

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  • Fiber & DSL provider
  • WiFi router included
  • Unlimited data included
  • Starting Price

    $49.99/mo. w/Auto Pay & Paperless Bill

  • Max Download

    5000 Mbps – Call for details

  • Max Upload

    5000 Mbps – Call for details

  • Data Caps

    No

Frontier internet plans are available in select areas covering 25 states and continues to invest in and expand its fiber network as it transitions from copper networks.

Things we like:
  • Unlimited data
  • Speeds up to 5 Gbps available in some areas
  • State-of-the-art WiFi router included
Things to consider:
  • Somewhat limited fiber availability
  • Slightly below-average customer satisfaction
Glasses Looking

Our Thoughts on Fiber Internet

If you have access to fiber, you can’t go wrong with it. It is the future of internet technology, and it will only get faster as the technology advances. It is, however, limited in availability.

Fiber Internet Compared to Other Connection Types

Fiber is without a doubt the fastest and most reliable internet connection type. Its speed and bandwidth make it ideal for carrying massive amounts of data from different sources over long distances. It is ideal for households with several users accessing simultaneous streams, gaming online, and working remotely. Fiber can be more expensive, depending on the provider, and for now, it has limited availability, especially compared to DSL internet and cable internet.

Comparison of internet connection types

How We Evaluate

Between hidden fees and price hikes, finding the right internet plan can feel overwhelming. To help with your search, our team of internet experts evaluates ISPs on categories including performance, affordability, and customer satisfaction to provide you with the best options near you.

FAQ

Fiber Internet FAQs

Fiber optic internet has the potential to be incredibly fast. After all, information moves along fiber cables at the speed of light. A single fiber can theoretically transmit 44 terabytes of information per second. However, network technology has yet to catch up to fiber’s theoretical speeds. Most fiber plans are around the 1 Gbps mark, but there are some providers that offer speeds reaching 5 Gbps.

No, fiber is not widely available. Since it is a new internet connection technology, it requires new infrastructure, whereas DSL internet and cable internet rely on existing networks of copper cables. Therefore, fiber availability is primarily limited to densely populated areas. However, providers continue to invest in fiber technology and to expand their fiber networks. It may take some time, but fiber will become more and more available over the next few years.

Fiber can be more expensive than other connection types, but it depends on where you live and the provider. As with most internet connections, the faster the speed, the more it will cost per month. However, there are many fiber plans that are very competitively priced.

Once the fiber is in your home, it will require some sort of modem and/or Wifi router to act as a gateway between your home network and the internet. This is no different than how almost any other internet connection operates. Most providers have gateways (modem/router) available to rent for a monthly fee.