Best internet providers for gaming

If you’re a gamer, you likely know that live gaming requires a better internet connection and faster speeds than most other online tasks. Without a proper connection, you end up enduring internet lag and buffering, which makes gaming impossible. 

Due to the high demand of gaming, you need an internet provider and an internet plan that offers some of the best download speeds, upload speeds, reliability, data allowance and latency available. With these five criteria in mind, we have broken down the top 5 internet providers for gaming that are most widely available throughout the country. 

What should you look for in a good gaming connection?

• High speeds – Determine what speeds you need for your gaming experience, but make sure to factor in both download and upload speeds since both are essential for preventing buffering and lagging.
• Low latency – The best latency is the lowest latency. If your latency time is too slow, you will experience lag when gaming, so look into what technology your provider uses to find out latency speeds. 
• Data caps – Live gaming uses a significant amount of data and overage fees can become expensive, so make sure your plan provides enough data for your gaming needs.

#1 internet provider for gaming: AT&T fiber 

*PABP & Paperless billing + taxes and equip fee. Price includes $5/mo. AutoPay & Paperless billing discount (within 2 bills). $10/mo. equip. fee applies. Prices updated 09/19/24.
**ABP & Paperless billing + taxes and equip fee after $5/mo. AutoPay & Paperless billing discount (within 2 bills). $10/mo. equip. fee applies. Incl. 1TB data/mo.; overage chrgs apply. Prices updated 09/19/24. †Internet speed claims represent maximum network service capability speeds & based on wired connection to gateway. 1GIG speeds require the latest router & recommended setup. Actual customer speeds may vary and are not guaranteed.  For more info, go to www.att.com/speed101. 

Overall, AT&T received first place for best internet provider for gaming because it offers a reliable internet connection for some of the best prices around. A symmetrical download/upload internet plan is key for a good gaming experience, otherwise there will be lags and buffering issues when interacting with other players online. AT&T’s fiber plans offer symmetrical upload/download speeds ranging from 300 Mbps to its 5 GB plan. AT&T also has some of the lowest latency, with a median latency of 22 ms, which helps prevent lags.

#2 Verizon Fios 

*For existing postpaid mobile customers with a Verizon mobile plan (excludes prepaid, business and data-only plans) who then add and maintain a Fios 300 Mbps plan. Auto Pay & paper-free billing required. Mobile + Home Discount enrollment req’d. $99 setup and other terms apply. Subj. to credit approval & may require a deposit. Fios avail. in select areas. Wired speeds advertised. Wireless speeds may vary due to device limits, multiple users, network & other factors. See Verizon.com/yourspeed for more info. © 2024 Verizon. As of 09/18/24.

Verizon Fios is another great option for gaming, offering fast and reliable speeds for affordable prices. Additionally, Verizon offers exceptionally low latency scores of 15 ms and below for all of its fiber plans and symmetrical download/upload speeds. This means you will not have to worry about buffering and lagging with any of Verizon’s plans. Verizon Fios also leads the pack in the American Customer Satisfaction Index’s (ACSI) satisfaction benchmarks, ahead of other major providers like AT&T and Xfinity.

#3 Frontier Fiber

*w/Auto Pay and Paperless Bill per month.  Exclusive offer for qualified addresses. For new residential Internet customers only. Max speeds are wired, Fiber 1 Gig location dependent. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary. Max speed capable range for Fiber 500 (450-500 Mbps download/upload), Fiber 1 Gig (846-1000 Mbps download, 792-1000 Mbps upload), Fiber 2 Gig (1800-2000 Mbps download/upload) and requires 2 Gbps capable devices and wiring.  Fiber 5 Gig (4500-5000) and requires 5 Gbps capable devices and wiring.  Performance details: frontier.com/internetdisclosures. Requires Auto Pay or $10/mo fee applies. Printed bill available for $2.99/mo. Fee does not apply to select customers. A $50 equipment restocking fee per household applies when Internet is disconnected. A fee up to $150 per device for Fiber 500, 1 Gig, and 2 Gig, and up to $400 for Fiber 5 Gig also applies if equipment is not returned. Other applicable charges and additional services are extra. Subject to availability. Price and terms subject to change. Cannot be combined with other offers. Other restrictions, Frontier policies and service terms apply. As of 09/18/24.

**For new residential Frontier Internet customers only. Frontier Internet service is not provided based on speed tiers or other level of performance and Frontier does not guarantee that you will be able to perform any particular internet activity with the service. For details see: frontier.com/internetdisclosures. Requires Auto Pay or $10/mo fee applies. Printed bill available for $2.99/mo. Fee does not apply to select customers. Activation ($85) and other applicable charges, additional services and taxes are extra & subject to change during & after the promo period. A $50 equipment restocking fee per household applies when Internet is disconnected. A fee up to $150 per device also applies if equipment is not returned. Service subject to availability. Price and terms subject to change. Cannot be combined with other offers. Other restrictions, Frontier policies and service terms apply. As of 09/18/24.

Frontier Fiber offers three fiber internet plans that range from 500 Mbps to its new 2 GB service. Like AT&T and Verizon, Frontier also offers symmetrical download/upload speeds so that no matter what task you are performing online, you will have equally fast speeds. Frontier has a median latency of 17 ms, making it a great option for gamers.

#4 Xfinity internet 

West region

*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of 12 mo. contract. All other plans on 24 mos. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. As of 09/18/24.

Central region

*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of 12 mo. contract. All other plans on 24 mos. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. As of 09/18/24.

Northeast region

*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of 24 mo. contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. Last updated As of 09/18/24.

Xfinity is one of the most widely available internet providers in the country and offers the fastest speeds out of any provider. Xfinity is primarily a cable provider; however, its fastest plan uses fiber technology. Xfinity’s Gigabit Pro (3,000 Mbps) and Gigabit 6,000 plans are the only plans with symmetrical download/upload speeds that would be best for gaming. Xfinity ranks highest in consistency at 90.7% and has a median latency of 26 ms according to the Global Speed Index. 

#5 Google Fiber 

*5 and 8 Gig plans are not available in all locations.

Google Fiber is a fiber internet service with fast multi-gigabit plans that are perfect for heavy gamers. Unlike most providers, Google Fiber’s plans start out at 1,000 Mbps. This speed would be enough for most gamers, but if you want even faster speeds, Google Fiber also has a 2,000 Mbps plan and 5,000 and 8,000 Mbps plans in select locations. Google Fiber’s availability is limited, but it continues to expand service to cities across the country. 

Best routers for gaming

If you’re a heavy gamer, then having a gaming-specific router can help level up your experience. These routers tend to have higher speed capacity and unique gaming features that can help prioritize your network traffic. 

When looking for a gaming router, make sure you find one that with low latency, network prioritization and high speeds that can support your internet plan. Here are a few of our favorites:

• ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 Pro
• ASUS RT-AX68U
• ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AXE16000

Learn more about the best routers for gaming.