Verizon Fios – Best overall internet provider for gaming
- Prices: $50 – $120 per month
- Speeds: 300 – 2,000Mbps
- Key Info: Unlimited data, no contracts, free equipment with gig service
Or call to learn more:
(833) 852-0491
Frontier Fiber – Runner-up
- Prices: $50 – $155 per month
- Speeds: 500 – 5,000Mbps
- Key Info: Unlimited data, no contracts, no equipment fee
Or call to learn more:
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Astound Broadband – Best gaming router offer
- Prices: $20 – $80 per month
- Speeds: 100 – 1,500Mbps
- Key Info: Unlimited data, low promo prices, no contracts
Or call to learn more:
(877) 252-4892
What’s the best internet provider for gaming?
Slow, unreliable internet speeds and a lagging connection can be a gamer’s greatest foe, but one that can be overcome fairly easily with the right internet service. Verizon Fios gets our vote for best overall internet service provider for gaming, thanks to low latency and fast, reliable speeds. Still, other providers, especially those of the cable and fiber variety, are also ideal for gaming.
Here on CNET, we’re keeping track of the top internet providers, so we’ll add the best ISPs for gaming to this list whenever we spot them. For now, here’s a look at our picks of the top ISPs for gaming.
Top internet providers for gaming
300 – 2,000 Mbps
$50 – $120 per month
Our take – Verizon Fios speed tiers — 300Mbps, 500Mbps, 1Gbps and, in some places, 2Gbps — all offer plenty of upload and download speed for online gaming. The provider also excels at another important gaming factor: latency.
300 – 2,000 Mbps
$50 – $120 per month
500 – 5,000 Mbps
$50 – $155 per month
Our take – If you can’t get Verizon Fios in your area, Frontier Fiber is an excellent backup option. It offers five plans in most areas, with symmetrical upload and download speeds between 200Mbps and 5,000Mbps. Prices are pretty reasonable too: Frontier’s 200Mbps plan costs just $30 per month and includes an eero 6+ router at no extra cost. Unlike many internet providers, your price won’t automatically increase after a promotional period expires.
500 – 5,000 Mbps
$50 – $155 per month
100 – 1,500 Mbps
$20 – $80 per month
Our take – Gaming routers are expensive, often topping the $500 mark. Astound is one of the only internet providers that gives customers the option of renting a gaming router for just $13 per month. Specifically, it’s the Netgear Nighthawk Pro Gaming router, which boasts high speeds, low latency and support for Wi-Fi 6.
100 – 1,500 Mbps
$20 – $80 per month
Best internet providers for gaming: Honorable mentions
The providers listed above boast special offers or features targeted directly at gamers, but they’re not the only ISPs that you can rely on for online gaming. Here are some others you may want to consider for gaming.
AT&T Fiber: I recommend a fiber connection over any other connection type for all online activity, including gaming. AT&T is the largest fiber provider in the nation, and even its cheapest plan (300Mbps at $55 monthly) can deliver more than enough gaming speed. Additionally, recent Ookla speed test results placed AT&T third in the US in lowest latency at 21ms.
Spectrum: Our top pick for the best cable internet provider, Spectrum Internet comes with fast speeds for a decent, transparent monthly price. With a free modem and low router rental fee of $7 per month, you can keep added fees to a minimum and save that extra money for games and loot boxes.
Xfinity: Ookla reports Xfinity speeds are fast and consistent. In recent speed test results, Xfinity landed the fourth-fastest median speeds, 239Mbps, and the second-highest consistency of speeds over 25Mbps at 91.7%.
Best internet for gaming FAQs
What’s a good speed for online gaming?
You don’t need a ton of speed for online gaming. Most PC and gaming console manufacturers require download speeds of around 10Mbps for online gaming. Still, I’d recommend an internet plan with max speeds of at least 25Mbps to accommodate speed fluctuations when gaming over Wi-Fi and to ensure you’ve got bandwidth for other devices.
Latency is a larger concern than speed when it comes to online gaming. A latency of 20 milliseconds to 40ms is generally ideal for gaming, but anything higher, especially over 100ms, can result in excessive lagging. Fiber and cable internet providers will be your best bet for consistently low latency.
How can I reduce latency?
Routers or software that prioritize gaming traffic can significantly lower your latency while gaming. You can also strengthen your internet signal by using a wired connection versus Wi-Fi and limiting the number of active devices on your network while gaming. Upgrading to a better internet service, such as fiber over cable internet or cable internet over DSL, can also drastically improve your latency numbers.
Is satellite internet good for gaming?
Satellite internet isn’t good for online gaming. Its main role is providing internet service and connectivity in rural areas where fixed connections (like cable and fiber) are unavailable.
With satellite internet, signals must travel thousands of miles between your dish and the orbiting satellite, resulting in much higher latency than other connection types. Latency over satellite internet can easily reach 400ms to 500ms, rendering real-time online games virtually unplayable.
The one exception to that rule is Starlink, which uses low-orbit satellites and boasts latency between 25-60 milliseconds.