Is fiber internet good?
We’re huge fiber internet fans at CableTV.com. DSL and cable internet networks connect to fiber-optic backbones to speed up their services, but fiber-to-home internet gives you the most access to fiber’s superfast speeds.
Choose a fiber internet service provider if you work from home, watch streaming TV in 4K HD, or use smart-home devices. While fiber isn’t available in all areas, it’s definitely the best internet service technology there is.
Fiber pros and cons
Pros
- The fastest upload and download speeds (up to 5,000 Mbps)
- The most reliable internet connection
- A lot of bang for your buck
Cons
- Limited availability and rarely reaches rural areas
- High costs for building infrastructure, which makes some providers hesitate to expand networks
Best fiber internet providers
- Verizon Fios – Best overall
- Optimum – Best deals
- AT&T – Fastest
- Xfinity – Best performance
- CenturyLink – Honorable mention
Compare fiber internet providers
| Provider | Price | Download speeds up to | Upload speeds up to | Data limit | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon Fios | $49.99–$89.99/mo. | 200–940 Mbps | 300–880 Mbps | Unlimited |
View Plans Read Verizon Fios review |
| Optimum | $40.00–$180.00/mo. | 300–5,000 Mbps | 300–5,000 Mbps | Unlimited |
View Plans Read Optimum review |
| AT&T | $55.00–$180.00/mo. | 100–5,000 Mbps | 100–5,000 Mbps | Unlimited |
View Plans Read AT&T review |
| Xfinity | $79.99–$299.95/mo. | 1,200–3,000 Mbps | 35–3,000 Mbps | 1,200 GB–Unlimited |
View Plans Read Xfinity review |
| CenturyLink | $30.00–$70.00/mo. | 200–940 Mbps | 200–940 Mbps | Unlimited |
View Plans Read Centurylink review |
| Ziply | $20.00–$60.00/mo. | 100–1,000 Mbps | 100–1,000 Mbps | Unlimited |
View Plans Read Ziply review |
| MetroNet | $39.95–$59.95/mo. | 100–1,000 Mbps | 100–1,000 Mbps | Unlimited |
View plans Read MetroNet review |
| Frontier Fiber | $49.99–$149.99/mo. | 500–2,000 Mbps | 500–2,000 Mbps | Unlimited |
View Plans Read Frontier Fiber review |
| Windstream | $69.99/mo. | 1,000 Mbps | N/A | Unlimited |
View Plans Read Windstream review |
| Earthlink | $79.95–$99.95/mo. | 100–1,000 Mbps | 100–1,000 Mbps | Unlimited |
View Plans Read Earthlink review |
| Google Fiber | $70.00–$100.00/mo. | 1,000–2,000 Mbps | 1000 Mbps | Unlimited |
View Plans Read Google Fiber review |
Fiber internet providers tend to offer plans starting at 100 Mbps, our recommended “good internet speed.” But if you have lots of people on the internet, use smart home devices, or work from home, you may benefit from gigabit plans with 1,000 Mbps internet speeds.
Multi-gigabit plans with over 1,000 Mbps internet speeds are relatively new to the market. Most folks won’t need these speeds, but if you use so much bandwidth that you’re noticing lag on your current gig plan, it might be time to upgrade.
What is fiber internet?
Fiber-optic is a type of internet technology that moves information between your home and your service provider at incredible speeds. It relies on special cables with fiber-optic strands made of glass—and occasionally plastic for short distances.
With this construction, data travels digitally in the form of light. Because light moves so quickly, even through glass, fiber internet can transfer massive amounts of data at once.
If you’re someone who loves having the fastest technology, fiber internet is the way to go. Your online gaming will run smoothly, your live TV streaming service will play without buffering, and your video calls will look and sound great.
Fiber internet vs. the competition
There are plenty of technology options for internet service—but fiber is hands-down the best.
Fiber vs. cable internet
Cable internet can reach download speeds of around 1,000 Mbps when a fiber backbone supports a cable network. But its upload speeds top out around 50 Mbps. Fiber-to-home internet can reach up to 5,000 Mbps download and upload speeds.
Fiber vs. DSL internet
DSL technology is widely available because of its origin as a telephone connection, and adding fiber backbones to DSL networks has helped many communities get downloads up to 100 Mbps. But these improvements can’t hold a candle to the 5,000 Mbps speeds you get from fiber-to-home connections.
Fiber vs. satellite internet
While Starlink has created a stir in recent years, satellite internet slows significantly when more folks use the network. Fiber technology can easily support high internet usage, but getting the network infrastructure out to rural communities has a significant upfront cost that internet providers haven’t been willing to shell out for.
Fiber vs. 5G internet
5G wireless internet has a ton of potential to support everything from self-driving cars to remotely performed surgeries. But 5G internet has limited range and still needs fiber backbones to function. There are a few 5G home internet providers, including Verizon 5G Home Internet, but 5G hasn’t taken off yet in the way fiber internet has.
What is fiber TV?
Fiber-optic technology can work for TV services as well as internet. It delivers some of the best picture and sound quality available on live TV. Because the signal never has to change out of its original digital form to a more compressed analog format, your shows will look and sound amazing.
But most providers that previously offered fiber TV services have since moved away from traditional TV, partly due to the popularity of live TV streaming services. Streaming TV provides flexible and affordable TV plans that work great on fiber internet speeds.
But if you’re interested in its service area, Verizon Fios still offers fiber TV plans. Check out our full Verizon Fios TV review to see the latest plans and deals.
Methodology
Our experts have written about TV and internet services for years, and understanding technology types like fiber-optics is fundamental to our methodology. Every month, we spend hours exploring the technical and social aspects of competing internet types.
We base our recommendations on bang for your buck, reliability, features, and customer satisfaction. To learn more, check out our How We Rank page.
