Internet providers with multi-gig plans

What is multi-gig internet? 

Single gig internet transfers data up to 1 Gigabit per second (Gbps/GB), equal to 1,000 Megabits per second (Mbps). This internet speed is fast, but providers haven’t stopped there. Many providers around the country now offer multi-gig internet (speeds over 1,000 Mbps) in response to a growing demand for high-speed internet.

Is multi-gig internet right for you?

Multi-gig internet can power large households with multiple simultaneously connected devices, people who work from home or those who need the high bandwidth for large file transfers — like gamers, coders, content creators, etc.

However, these plans aren’t for everyone as they are expensive and could require new equipment to accommodate high internet speeds that you may not even need. For many everyday internet users, the high speeds of multi-gig internet are not necessary or worth the cost, but for others, the blazing fast internet speeds can be beneficial.

Providers offering multi-gig internet

AT&T: Fiber 2000 and Fiber 5000

AT&T offers two multi-gig internet options, Fiber 2000 and Fiber 5000, which have great value for their speeds. 

At $110/mo., Fiber 2000 offers speeds up to 2,000 Mbps with some great promotions, like free AT&T ActiveArmor internet security and a $200 VISA® Reward Card. On the downside, there is an installation fee of up to $99. 

AT&T’s Fiber 5000 is a 5 GB internet plan — its fastest plan yet, with speeds up to 5,000 Mbps. At $180/mo., it’s expensive but has great value for the high speeds you’ll get. While the installation fee still applies, you can count on the $200 VISA® Reward Card and free ActiveArmor internet security.  

AT&T’s multi-gig plans are available in select cities in 21 states. Find out if you can get multi-gig internet at your location. 

Xfinity: Xfinity Gigabit Pro

Xfinity’s Gigabit Pro plan is its fastest plan yet, offering multi-gig speeds of up to 6,000 Mbps. Along with breakneck speeds, there are no data caps with Gigabit Pro. On the downside, this plan is pricey at almost $300/mo., not including activation, installation or rental fees. You’ll also have to sign up for a two-year contract with early-cancellation fees.  On the plus side, Xfinity’s Gigabit Pro plan offers 3,000 Mbps speeds in areas where the 6,000 Mbps speeds are not available.

This multi-gig plan isn’t available everywhere, only in the country’s central region, so check out Xfinity’s Gigabit Pro availability in your location. 

Frontier: Fiber 5 Gig internet

Another multi-gig option is Frontier’s Fiber 5 gig internet plan. It has great perks, like no contract or activation fees, free Wi-Fi 6E equipment rental with installation and unlimited data. At $154.99/mo., it’ll keep your huge smart home running like clockwork.

Google Fiber: 2 Gig internet 

Google Fiber offers the most affordable 2 GB internet plan. At just $100/mo., you can get 2 GB speeds, no contract or data caps and free Wi-Fi 6 equipment. On the downside, availability is limited to a handful of states, but Google continues to expand its multi-gig service. 

Ziply Fiber: 2 and 5 Gig fiber

Ziply Fiber has two multi-gig plans: 2 GB fiber and 5 GB fiber. At $120/mo., the 2 GB plan is close in price to AT&T and Google Fiber’s 2 GB options, but the 5 GB plan at $300/mo. is a more expensive option compared to AT&T’s 5 GB internet. The plans have no data caps or annual contracts, but there is limited availability as Ziply continues to expand. 

How to make the most of a multi-gig plan 

Now that you have a multi-gig plan or are interested in one, how do you ensure you get the most out of it? 

The most important thing is to make sure you have compatible equipment to handle the speeds of muti-gig internet. If you have an older router or Ethernet cable, you need to upgrade to newer options built to support your plan’s fast upload and download speeds. 

To get the fastest wireless connection with your multi-gig plan, get a router compatible with multi-gig speeds — look for a router with the latest Wi-Fi 6 standard with multi-gig ports. If your router can’t support the high speeds of your plan, you won’t be achieving the speeds you’re paying for. 
A wired Ethernet connection will get you the fastest and most reliable speeds. You need at least a Category 6 (Cat6) Ethernet cable to support multi-gig speeds if you want to reach the maximum speeds on your plan.