Our picks
Why we selected these suppliers
Type by
Finest fiber web supplier total
Finest low cost fiber web plan
Finest perks with fiber web
Finest worth assure amongst fiber suppliers
Finest fiber supplier for gig and multi-gig web
Finest fiber supplier for T-Cell prospects
Finest rural fiber web supplier
Quickest fiber web supplier
BROADBAND DEALS OF THE WEEK
Offers are chosen by the CNET Group commerce workforce, and could also be unrelated to this text.
What’s the greatest fiber web supplier?
Amongst all of the web connection sorts we have examined — we have tried all of them — fiber web all the time comes out on prime. In accordance with 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 choose for the perfect 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 prime marks in buyer satisfaction surveys, doubtless attributable to its number of plans, aggressive pricing and customer-friendly service phrases. There’s rather a lot to love — however provided that you will get it at your tackle.
By way of availability, excessive speeds and easy pricing, I would not cross on Frontier Fiber, Quantum Fiber, Kinetic by Windstream or Verizon Fios, both. But when these suppliers aren’t obtainable at your tackle, regional suppliers deserve some love, too. Suppliers like Brightspeed, Metronet or Ziply Fiber — the quickest ISP nationwide — could supply quick web service in your space.
It is vital to notice that fiber web is not probably the most broadly obtainable web connection sort. In accordance with the most recent Federal Communications Fee information, roughly 52% of the US inhabitants has entry to a fiber connection. Nonetheless, CNET considers fiber the gold normal of residence web connections and a certain solution to future-proof your property. Let’s take a better 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 monthly
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 value per Mbps and there aren’t 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 monthly
500 – 5,000 Mbps
$50 – $155 monthly
Our take – Frontier Communications lately expanded its fiber web protection to 19 states after which rolled out a brand new multi-gig service to the whole footprint concurrently, turning into the primary main ISP to take action on such a large scale.
500 – 5,000 Mbps
$50 – $155 monthly
300 – 2,000 Mbps
$50 – $120 monthly
Our take – Verizon Fios is up there with AT&T Fiber and Frontier Fiber by way of velocity, 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 velocity degree — 500Mbps for $75 month-to-month — additionally carries first rate worth, however the gigabit service at $90 is priced the identical or a contact increased than you may discover with different fiber suppliers.
300 – 2,000 Mbps
$50 – $120 monthly
200 – 8,000 Mbps
$45 – $165 monthly
Our take – In case you thought Verizon Fios’s worth lock assure was nice, Quantum Fiber presents a price-for-life assure for all plans. You’ll be able to select from two important plans: 500Mbps for $50 month-to-month or 940Mbps for $70 month-to-month. Choose areas could have the selection of sooner speeds, together with the three,000Mbps and eight,000Mbps tiers.
200 – 8,000 Mbps
$45 – $165 monthly
1,000 – 8,000 Mbps
$70 – $150 monthly
Our take – In case you’re eyeing gig or multi-gig speeds, GFiber 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 monthly
500 – 2,000 Mbps
$65 – $95 monthly
Our take – T-Cell has been dominating the 5G residence 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 according to different fiber suppliers on our record: $65 a month for 500Mbps, which is similar worth as our prime choose AT&T Fiber.
500 – 2,000 Mbps
$65 – $95 monthly
100 – 1,000 Mbps
$40 – $70 monthly
Our take – Choose neighborhoods in bigger cities usually have fiber web. However should you’re residing within the suburbs or a rural space, your greatest 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 monthly
100 – 50,000 Mbps
$20 – $900 monthly
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 monthly
Prime fiber web suppliers in contrast
Please observe that the plans beneath present every supplier’s most cost-effective obtainable tier. The max velocity is the highest marketed velocity for that given plan, but it surely may not be obtainable in your space. General, the perfect choice for you — and probably the most cost-effective plan — is likely to be a distinct tier that gives a sooner velocity at a better worth however a greater worth. To extra absolutely perceive this value-based strategy, take a look at CNET’s information to inspecting the fee per Mbps.
| Plan | Beginning worth | Max obtain velocity | Price per Mbps | Gear payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altafiber Fioptics 400 | $40 | 400Mbps | 10 cents | $15 (non-compulsory) |
| AT&T Fiber 300 Learn full assessment |
$55 | 300Mbps | 18 cents | None |
| Brightspeed Fiber 200 | $29 | 200Mbps | 14 cents | None |
| Earthlink Fiber 100 Learn full assessment |
$40 | 100Mbps | 40 cents | None |
| Frontier Fiber 500 Learn full assessment |
$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 assessment |
$30 | 100Mbps | 30 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 |
| T-Cell Fiber Learn full assessment |
$65 | 500Mbps | 13 cents | None |
| Verizon Fios 300 Learn full assessment |
$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 have been beforehand owned by Lumen Applied sciences (CenturyLink, Quantum Fiber). Fiber service begins at simply $30 monthly for speeds as much as 200Mbps. Your tools can 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. However it nonetheless presents quick speeds for first rate 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 monthly, respectively. Final yr, T-Cell introduced plans to buy Metronet; the FCC has but to approve the sale.
- Optimum: Optimum is primarily a cable web supplier, but it surely has a rising fiber community, significantly within the Higher NYC space. Roughly 2.8 million households can be found for fiber service there. Optimum presents 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 vital to notice that solely choose households could have entry to the multi-gig plans.
What’s fiber web?
Fiber-optic web sends information as gentle indicators through skinny glass wires both straight to the house, referred to as FTTH, or to an entry level simply outdoors the house, generally known as fiber to the node or fiber to the curb. The know-how permits for increased bandwidth and sooner 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 distinct sort of modem than DSL or the DOCSIS tools used for cable. Actually, fiber technically does 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 property makes a giant distinction in what speeds you get. This 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 obtainable from practically each fiber ISP. The know-how additionally has the additional advantage of delivering symmetrical (or practically symmetrical) add speeds. Add speeds are extra vital 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 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 akin to service from cable or 5G suppliers. Contemplating value per Mbps and the added benefits of a fiber-optic connection, fiber plans usually current the perfect total worth.
How one can store for fiber web like a professional
Fiber web is the perfect sort of service for many properties, however there’s extra to selecting a supplier and plan than the connection sort. Listed below are some suggestions to bear in mind when looking for fiber web service.
Availability. Fiber web is just not obtainable in practically 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 differ from one neighborhood to the subsequent and is even more durable to return by in suburban and rural areas.
Speeds. Fiber web has the quickest add and obtain velocity potential of any sort of web. Lots of the prime suppliers supply velocity tiers as much as 2,000Mbps (2Gbps), 5Gbps and better. Whereas the blazing-fast speeds are tempting, they’re prone to be sooner than your property wants. Take a look at our information to discovering the suitable web velocity for assist choosing a fiber plan that greatest meets your wants.
Worth. In case you’re on the lookout for low cost web, fiber will not be your only option. It is true that fiber web plans are sometimes the perfect worth, however you could discover cheaper choices from cable or 5G suppliers.
A couple of fiber suppliers supply plans with beginning costs as little as $30 monthly, however you are extra prone to pay not less than $50 monthly 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-Cell Magenta Max or Verizon wi-fi buyer, you may get 5G residence web for the discounted worth of $25 to $35 monthly.
Bundles. Do you have to 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 should you select a fiber web service. Within the days of streaming and cord-cutting, that will not be a deal-breaker for you, but it surely’s one thing to bear in mind should you’re looking for each providers.
How we consider fiber web suppliers
Testing an web supplier the identical means CNET checks different services is, at greatest, impractical. As a substitute, we depend on in depth analysis of every supplier to develop our opinions and proposals.
When evaluating fiber web suppliers, availability, speeds and total worth are on the middle of our evaluations. We additionally look at added charges, information caps, contract necessities, buyer satisfaction studies 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 attainable, we contact the supplier instantly to substantiate pricing and velocity particulars.
Lastly, to develop a extra well-rounded perspective of the supplier, we contemplate buyer satisfaction studies 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 guardian firm as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
Earlier than writing our opinions and compiling greatest lists, we analysis something and every part the everyday shopper would wish to know previous to signing up for residence web service. Learn our piece on how we assessment web suppliers to be taught extra about our assessment course of.
Finest fiber web suppliers recap
If fiber web service is on the market in your space, it is in all probability price getting, particularly if any of the suppliers listed above is an possibility. 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. GFiber, Frontier Fiber, Kinetic, Quantum Fiber and Ziply Fiber spherical out the record of perfect choices, whereas suppliers like Metronet, Optimum and others are price a glance, too, if obtainable in your space.
Ziply Fiber has the quickest velocity tier of any main fiber web supplier, with max speeds of fifty,000Mbps, or 50Gbps. Many different fiber suppliers prime out at 5Gbps, 2Gbps or 1Gbps.
Fiber web is just not low cost. The sooner the speeds, the extra pricey 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 obtainable with cable or 5G web service in choose areas, fiber service is prone to include higher velocity and connection high quality for the value.
Unlikely. Whereas the potential of 5G residence web is promising, it does not at present supply the velocity 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 well-liked possibility amongst residence web customers. Mobile web and 5G are a viable various in areas the place fiber connections are usually not but obtainable.
If fiber hasn’t reached your tackle 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 prone to see fiber come to your neighborhood should 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. Take a look at if fiber web is on the market in your space.
In relation to 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 standard concern.
Not like fastened wi-fi and satellite tv for pc web connections, fiber traces run on to your property, so they don’t seem to be normally vulnerable to hostile climate. It means you may count on your community to maintain chugging alongside at its most capability until there’s extreme harm to the community infrastructure or an influence outage in your neighborhood.
