Fiber optic internet providers

Best fiber internet providers

Compare top fiber optic internet providers

Check to see how fiber internet connections differ. Compare costs and check to see which providers are available at your home. Optimum and Windstream have the lowest starting prices, but Frontier, AT&T and Xfinity have the fastest max download speeds.

*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of 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. Speeds may vary. As of 10/12/23.

**Price after $5/mo Autopay & Paperless bill discount (w/in 2 bills). Monthly State Cost Recovery Charge in TX, OH, NV applies. One time install chrg may apply.

Fiber internet coverage and availability

Fiber is extremely expensive for ISPs to build out, so if there is a small population or the area is geographically undesirable, it most likely will not have fiber connections available in the near future.

Large metro areas are the most common service areas for fiber optic connections, but actual availability may be limited to certain ZIP codes or neighborhoods within a city. For a comprehensive look at available internet connections in your state, you can check the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) broadband map.

Fiber availability by provider

• AT&T

  AT&T offers fiber internet across select cities in California, Texas, the Midwest and most of the Southeast. AT&T continues to build its fiber internet network in the U.S., so more residents in these regions will soon have access to high-speed fiber internet. Check our AT&T fiber coverage map to see if service is available near you.

• CenturyLink

  CenturyLink fiber internet offers speeds up to 1,000 Mbps in 11 major metro areas in the U.S. CenturyLink gig speeds are available in cities such as Denver, CO; Las Vegas, NV; Minneapolis, MN; Omaha, NE; Portland, OR; Seattle, WA and others.

• Cox

  Cox Gigablast internet is available in most Cox service areas. Primary service areas include Phoenix, AZ; San Diego, CA; New Orleans, LA; Oklahoma City, OK; Omaha, NE; Providence, RI and Virginia Beach, VA.

• Frontier

  Frontier Communications fiber service, Frontier Fiber, is available in select areas of California, Florida, Indiana and Texas.

• Google Fiber

  Google, one of the first fiber internet providers, has fiber optic networks in select cities across the U.S. Where available, Google Fiber plans start at $70/mo. and offer speeds ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 Mbps.

• Optimum

  A division of Altice, Optimum has implemented fiber optic networks in select areas. Optimum primarily serves the greater NYC area. See Optimum’s availability here.

• Verizon Fios

  Verizon’s fiber optic TV and internet, Verizon Fios, is available in select cities across the East Coast. Verizon offers fiber connections across New Jersey, throughout Pennsylvania, in select cities in Virginia and in other major metro areas along the coast.

• Kinetic by Windstream

  Kinetic by Windstream’s fiber internet service, Windstream Kinetic Gig Internet, is available across 16 states. Cities and towns where Windstream fiber internet is available include Huron, MO; Concord, NC; Avon, OH and Wake Village, TX.

• Xfinity

  Xfinity offers the Gigabit plan (up to 1,000 Mbps) throughout its service areas. However, the Gigabit Pro plan (up to 3,000 Mbps) is not available everywhere, but you can currently find it in cities such as Fresno, CA; Atlanta, GA; Miami, FL; Chicago, IL; Nashville, TN and more.

Breaking down the best fiber providers

AT&T Fiber: Best overall

AT&T is Allconnect’s pick for best fiber provider overall. It has more availability than most fiber providers, and competitive pricing considering its multi-gig speed tiers. All of AT&T’s plans also come with unlimited data and no contracts. AT&T consistently ranks high in customer satisfaction. It is currently ranked first in the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI)  with an 80/100, ahead of major providers like Verizon Fios and Google Fiber.

AT&T is mainly available in the Southern and Midwest regions of the country, with limited availability in the Western region. 

Check with AT&T

Or call us today: (844) 451-2720 (844) 451-2720

---

Frontier: Best for low prices

Frontier has some of the lowest prices amongst fiber providers. With a starting price of $39.99/mo. for 500 Mbps, it’s hard to beat. Its multi-gig plans are also competitively priced – its fastest 5,000 Mbps is $155/mo., cheaper than AT&T’s 5 gig plan. Frontier also has unlimited data, no contracts and no equipment fees.

Frontier’s availability is concentrated in parts of the Midwest and Northeast, but it rolled out its multi-gig service to its entire footprint. 

Check with Frontier

Or call us today: (844) 451-2720 (844) 451-2720

---

Verizon Fios: Best for promotions

Verizon Fios has competitively priced plans from $49.99 – $89.99/mo. for 300 – 1,000 Mbps, but its real value lies in the promotional perks offered with its plans. Verizon consistently offers deals and perks with its fiber plans, whether it be discounted internet, giftcards, electronics or subscriptions. 

Verizon’s fiber availability is limited, mainly concentrated in the Northeast – but if you’re within its service footprint, Verizon offers great value for its fiber plans. 

Check with Verizon

Or call us today: (844) 451-2720 (844) 451-2720

---

Google Fiber: Best for gig internet

Google Fiber only offers gig plans from 1,000 – 2,000 Mbps, so it’s one of the best providers if you are looking for a high-speed gig plan. Its competitive pricing also makes it a desirable choice – its 2,000 Mbps is only about $10 more than Verizon’s 1,000 Mbps plan. Google Fiber also includes equipment with its plans, and has no data caps or contracts. 

A main drawback is Google Fiber’s availability, but it is currently rolling out more multi-gig plans and expanding its current footprint. 

Check with Google Fiber

Or call us today: (844) 451-2720 (844) 451-2720

---

How fiber beats other internet technologies

Fiber is the gold standard for home Wi-Fi, offering a faster and more reliable connection than DSL or cable internet. Fiber optic internet uses small strands of glass wrapped with plastic to transmit data as light, rather than coaxial cables that use electricity to send data.

All of that adds up to significantly faster speeds. Most fiber plans get between 300 and 1,000 Mbps, but providers like AT&T, Frontier, Google Fiber and Xfinity all offer speeds even faster than that. At 1,000 Mbps, it would take you about 10 seconds to download a two-hour movie, compared to 10+ minutes on a 20 Mbps connection.

With few exceptions, you should opt for a fiber connection if it’s available to you. Fiber plans also provide symmetrical speeds — the same upload and download speeds — where cable internet and DSL usually have much slower upload speeds. That could translate to glitchy gaming or Zoom meetings, and longer wait times for uploading media.

Advantages of fiber internet

Compared to other internet types, such as cable and DSL, fiber optic internet is perfect for many uses, including some of the more demanding online tasks that require high-speed internet.

• Streaming TV – Fiber’s high speeds and connection quality make it ideal for streaming with little to no buffering, even in HD or 4K.
• Downloading shows/movies/games – The gigabit speeds available from most fiber internet providers cut download times for large files such as movies or games significantly. For example, you could download a 4 GB show in around 35 seconds with 1,000 Mbps, compared to nearly an hour with typical speeds from a DSL connection.
• Gaming online – With fiber optic internet, data travels up to 70% of the speed of light, making for extremely low lag, which is perfect for gamers.
• Video conferencing – Fiber internet has fast upload speeds compared to cable and DSL internet, which are needed for video conferencing as well as uploading pictures and videos to social media.
• Working from home – With more people working and learning remotely these days, some internet providers have trouble handling all that traffic. With fiber internet’s increased data capacity, you won’t have to worry about your meetings cutting out.

You should opt for fiber internet if you’re looking for the fastest speeds available. While cable also offers fast speeds, fiber internet has symmetrical download and upload speeds and is far more reliable than other internet service options. 

Disadvantages of fiber internet

• Expensive – Fiber internet is generally more expensive than other internet technology types. Outside of plan costs, its installation fees can be costly as well which prevents many from investing in a fiber connection. 
• Availability – Fiber internet is still a relatively new internet technology, so it is not widely available. About 40% of U.S. households have access to fiber internet. 

Fiber ISPs customer satisfaction ratings

Overall, fiber internet providers tend to rate higher in customer satisfaction, with scores averaging 75/100, than cable internet providers, which come in at an average of 64/100. AT&T and CenturyLink received the top two fiber scores overall in 2023 from the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ASCI).

Source: ACSI

---

Fiber vs. cable vs. DSL

If you live in an area with fiber internet, you probably also have cable and DSL internet options. What’s the difference when matching up fiber vs. cable? Does it matter if you go with fiber or DSL?

DSL uses your home phone line to connect you to the internet, and it’s the slowest of the three by far. Cable internet is more like fiber, but it uses copper coaxial cables instead of fiber’s glass and plastic. That means you’re more likely to experience congestion during high-traffic hours, and your top speeds will generally be slower.

The bottom line: If you have access to fiber, you should get it. Your internet speeds will be significantly faster and more reliable than cable and DSL, and the price is typically about the same. Unfortunately, fiber internet still only covers about half the area that cable does.

Cable – 90% availability

DSL- 88% availability

Fiber – 40% availability

Our final take on fiber internet

Fiber internet is popular for its fast, consistent download and upload speeds. While generally not the cheapest internet service available, the speeds and reliability that come with fiber internet can offer more value than you’d get with other internet types. Our favorite fiber internet provider is AT&T Fiber because of its competitive pricing and availability.

The one significant downside to fiber internet is availability. More than half of U.S. residents do not have access to fiber internet service. That said, if fiber internet is available in your area, it’s definitely worth considering as the speed potential and connection quality are unmatched. If you’re interested in other internet technologies, shop and compare all providers.

Fiber internet FAQs

We value your feedback

Was this page helpful?

Yes No

We value your feedback

We’re glad! Tell us what helped most on this page.

Type your response here

Submit

We value your feedback

Was this page helpful?

The page didn’t have what I was looking for.

This page is incorrect or outdated.

This page didn’t help me choose a product or service.

Other (please specify):

Type your response here

Submit

Thanks for your feedback!

Your insight helps, and we’ll do our best to improve your experience.