Spectrum is the fastest ISP in 2023 so far, Cox is a close second

Source: Ookla

Ookla’s Speedtest Intelligence® ranks Spectrum as the fastest ISP of Q2 2023 with a median download speed of 243.02 Mbps. Cox comes in at a close second with 241.78 Mbps. Xfinity was previously the fastest ISP during Q4 of 2022. 

Download speed rankings

1. Spectrum – 243.02 Mbps
2. Cox – 241.78 Mbps
3. Xfinity – 233.25 Mbps
4. AT&T – 210.12 Mbps
5. Frontier – 200.95 Mps
6. Optimum – 200.41 Mbps
7. Verizon – 184.03 Mbps 

AT&T ranks first for upload speed

While Spectrum takes the first spot for download speed, it ranks seventh for upload speed. AT&T claims the top upload speed with 166.86 Mbps, and Frontier ranks second at 164.84 Mbps. 

Fast upload speeds will give you a better internet experience overall, but not all providers offer symmetrical upload and download speeds (e.g. 300 Mbps download, 300 upload Mbps). If you’re looking for a more seamless internet experience, fiber plans with symmetrical upload and download speeds will be your best bet. 

Rankings for fastest upload speed

1. AT&T – 166.86 Mbps
2. Frontier – 164.84 Mbps
3. Verizon – 96.14 Mbps 
4. Optimum – 28.92
5. Xfinity – 21.83 Mbps 
6. Cox – 20.63 Mbps 
7. Spectrum – 13.79 Mbps 

Verizon wins the latency category

Latency is the time it takes for data to travel from one point to another. The lower the number, the quicker the data travels. Low latency is important for all internet activities, especially gaming, if your main concern is speed. Verizon has the lowest latency at 15 ms, and Spectrum has the highest at 31 ms. 

Latency rankings

1. Verizon – 15 ms
2. Frontier – 17  ms
3. AT&T – 22 ms
4. Optimum – 23 ms
5. Cox – 25 ms 
6. Xfinity – 25 ms
7. Spectrum – 31 ms

Why it matters

Choosing an ISP is an important decision, especially now that more people are working and learning from home. Ookla’s quarterly rankings provide a way to compare top ISPs in various categories, which can help you choose the best ISP for your specific internet needs. Enter your address and find out which ISPs are available where you live. 

 Read more industry news from Allconnect.