Google Fiber vs. AT&T Fiber: Comparing Internet Speeds, Pricing, and More In the Fiber Fight
Google Fiber beats out AT&T Fiber on price, but AT&T’s internet and bundle deals can’t be beat.
$70.00–$150.00/mo.
$70.00–$150.00/mo.
$55.00–$245.00/mo.
$55.00–$245.00/mo.
Is Google Fiber or AT&T Fiber better?
We recommend Google Fiber if performance and cost are your biggest internet concerns. Across the board, Google Fiber has cheaper plans and better customer service than AT&T, which is why we gave it our Editor’s Choice Award for best internet provider in the U.S.
But if you’re shopping for an AT&T bundle or need a value-friendly internet setup, AT&T offers customers a deeper catalog of internet plans and bundle deals without tying you to an annual contract.Those sweet wireless bundles and fast speeds are a couple of the reasons why it won our Editor’s Choice Award for best no-contract internet.
Google Fiber also topped AT&T in CableTV.com’s annual Internet Customer Satisfaction Survey. Google Fiber ranked third in overall satisfaction with a whopping 83% high approval rating. AT&T was no slouch with a seventh-place finish, but the provider had an average 74% high approval rating.
Keep reading for a full head-to-head between Google Fiber and AT&T to see which provider comes out on top.
Compare Google Fiber or AT&T Fiber to other providers
Prices starting at
$70.00/mo.
Max download speeds up to
8,000 Mbps
Service Type
Fiber
Prices starting at
$55.00/mo.
Max download speeds up to
5,000 Mbps
Service Type
Fiber
Pricing, speed and availability not guaranteed. Subject to change.
Google Fiber vs. AT&T Fiber plans and prices
As fiber internet service providers (ISPs), Google Fiber and AT&T Fiber share much in common. Both providers offer features like unlimited data and no-contract pricing. AT&T has cheaper fiber plans with lower download speeds, but Google Fiber gig-internet plans are cheaper than AT&T Fiber gig-internet plans.
However, the biggest differences between the ISPs lie in their fine print. Read on to see what you need to know if you’re deciding between AT&T Fiber and Google Fiber.
Google Fiber plans and prices
| Plan | Price | Download speed | Upload speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Gig | $70.00/mo. | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps |
| 2 Gig | $100.00/mo. | 2,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps |
| 5 Gig* | $125.00/mo. | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps |
| 8 Gig* | $150.00/mo. | 8,000Mbps | 8,000Mbps |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*Available in select markets only. Plus taxes and fees. Upload/download speed and device streaming claims are based on maximum wired speeds. Actual Internet speeds are not guaranteed and may vary based on factors such as hardware and software limitations, latency, packet loss, etc.
Google Fiber technically has four plans, but its 5 Gig and 8 Gig plans aren’t widely available yet—Google Fiber is gradually rolling out 5 Gig and 8 Gig services across its network. (And considering Google Fiber itself isn’t widely available either, consider yourself lucky if you’re in an area with Google Fiber and 5 Gig or 8 Gig.)
Most Google Fiber customers will be limited to its 1 Gig or 2 Gig plans, although they’re miles better than competing cable internet plans. On cost alone, Google Fiber’s 1 Gig and 2 Gig plans are more affordable compared to AT&T. You’ll be paying more monthly on AT&T, although Google Fiber’s upload speeds cap off at 1,000Mbps compared to AT&T’s symmetric transfer speeds.
But Google Fiber’s starting plan is equivalent to a premium internet option for most households. 1 Gig offers excellent performance, but it’ll be overkill for homes with basic internet needs or budget concerns, and we wish Google Fiber offered a sub-$50 internet plan for these customers.
AT&T Fiber plans and prices
| Plan | Price | Download speed | Upload speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet 100 | $60.00/mo. | 100Mbps | 100Mbps |
| Internet 300 | $55.00/mo. | 300Mbps | 300Mbps |
| Internet 500 | $65.00/mo. | 500Mbps | 500Mbps |
| 1 Gig Internet | $80.00/mo. | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps |
| 2 Gig Internet | $150.00/mo. | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps |
| 5 Gig Internet | $250.00/mo. | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Above pricing is after $10/mo Autopay & Paperless bill discount with a debit card or bank account; if using a credit card, then price is $5/mo more. Pricing includes Equipment Fee. Up to $99 install fee may apply, plus tax where applicable.
Internet 300 and Internet 500 are great starter internet plans for most households, while 1 Gig Internet has the same specifications as Google Fiber’s 1 Gig plan. As with Google Fiber, 2 Gig and 5 Gig Internet are gradually being rolled out across AT&T’s fiber internet footprint, and availability varies depending on your location.
2 Gig Internet offers symmetric upload and download speeds, so it’s an upgrade compared to Google Fiber’s 2 Gig plan, which offers 2Gbps download speeds but caps uploads at 1Gbps. However, AT&T’s plans are pricier than Google Fiber across the board—you’ll pay $50 more monthly for 2Gbps speeds and a whopping $125 more for 5Gbps speeds.
What do real customers think of Google Fiber and AT&T Fiber?
As part of CableTV.com’s annual Internet Customer Satisfaction Survey, we talked to more than 7,000 real internet customers across the U.S. to see how they felt about their internet providers.
Google Fiber’s third-place finish in overall satisfaction was powered by a few factors: it’s fast, has great customer service, and rarely goes down.
- 87% of respondents felt Google Fiber was highly effective at meeting their needs.
- 81% of customers would recommend Google Fiber to someone else.
- But only 75% of customers felt that Google Fiber was competitively priced compared to other internet providers.
Because I trust Google, and my experience with Google Fiber was wonderful, comfortable, and completely convinced of it, even when I compare it with other companies, it is the best.
AT&T’s seventh-place finish in overall satisfaction was nothing to sneeze at. But AT&T generally fell behind Google Fiber in areas including customer service reliability and price.
- 74% of AT&T customers felt that AT&T fully met their expectations for home internet service.
- But only 69% of customers were fully satisfied with AT&T customer service.
- And 60% of respondents felt that AT&T’s prices were competitive compared to the competition.
[I] haven't had any issues with AT&T. I used to have it all my other house, but transferred it to my new house. Biggest issue was they had issues transferring it and had to create a different account for it. My old account had my cell phone and internet combined and gave me a discount doing so.
How reliable is Google Fiber and AT&T internet?
| Google Fiber | AT&T Fiber | |
|---|---|---|
| Average latency | 23.4 milliseconds | 15.3 milliseconds |
| Internet reliability satisfaction rating | 83% positive | 75% positive |
| Internet speed satisfaction rating | 85% positive | 75% positive |
According to speed test data from our partners at HighSpeedInternet.com, AT&T holds a slight advantage over Google Fiber when it comes to average latency times. But Google Fiber lapped AT&T on our speed and reliability satisfaction polling—Google Fiber broke the 80% satisfaction mark on both questions, while AT&T landed at 75% on both metrics.
Availability: Can you get Google Fiber or AT&T Fiber in your neighborhood?
AT&T Fiber and Google Fiber are fairly close in service availability. Google Fiber is currently available in more than 20 cities across the U.S. AT&T Fiber is available across 21 states, but exact availability varies depending on your location.
Google Fiber and AT&T Fiber specs and features: Gear, data, and more
Download speeds and pricing are a big part of any internet shopping decision, but they’re not the only factors worth considering. Here’s what else you get with AT&T Fiber and Google Fiber.
Free Wi-Fi equipment
Both AT&T Fiber and Google Fiber internet plans come with a free Wi-Fi gateway, which connects your home to the internet and works like a combo router/modem.
Google Fiber utilizes a mesh Wi-Fi setup for full-home coverage. If your home isn’t set up for fiber internet, AT&T Fiber and Google Fiber will install an Optical Network Terminal (ONT) mounted to a wall inside.
Google Fiber and AT&T Fiber deals
Google Fiber doesn’t offer many deals, but sometimes you can get discounts on other Google services, like cloud storage. Check out Google Fiber’s website to see if you can dig up a deal or discount.
AT&T regularly offers deals like free gift cards and discount codes for new fiber internet customers. Qualifying AT&T Wireless customers can also save $20 monthly on AT&T Fiber. Check out our AT&T deals guide for this month’s best AT&T deals.
Do Google Fiber and AT&T Fiber have fees or extra charges?
The good news is that both Google Fiber and AT&T Fiber don’t really have any hidden costs. Another reason why both providers won Editor’s Choice Awards this year.
Google Fiber fees and extra charges
| Fees | Amount |
|---|---|
| None | None |
As with most fiber ISPs, Google Fiber is fee-free—you won’t have to deal with hidden price increases after 12 months, data overage fees, installation fees, or equipment rental charges. Google has some penalty fees that are limited to issues like equipment replacements.
AT&T Fiber fees and extra charges
| Fees | Amount |
|---|---|
| Installation support | Up to $99 |
AT&T has also streamlined its fee structure to simplify things for fiber internet customers. AT&T Fiber has no contract, equipment, or data overage fees, so you’ll get straightforward monthly pricing.
AT&T also offers free installation, but you may have to pay an additional fee if you initially decline and later request technical support.
Unlimited data
Google Fiber and AT&T Fiber include unlimited data with each of their plans, with no caps on either. You’ll be able to stream, download, and upload content with no overage fees, ever.
For context, we don’t give any of our Editor’s Choice Awards to ISPs that ding you for data overages.
Phone and internet bundles
You can add VoIP (voice over internet protocol) home phone service to either AT&T Fiber or Google Fiber internet plans for an additional monthly fee.
Google Fiber’s single home phone is a flat $10 a month, whereas AT&T offers several bundle plans starting at $24.99, as well as AT&T Wireless mobile plans.
We give AT&T the edge here since you can score a bundle discount when you add a wireless plan. Who needs VoIP anyway?
Google Fiber vs. AT&T Fiber FAQ
Is Google Fiber better than AT&T Fiber?
Google Fiber is better than AT&T Fiber because of its more affordable high-end internet plans.
Is Google Fiber the same as AT&T Fiber?
Google Fiber and AT&T Fiber are different internet providers.
What are the benefits of AT&T and Google Fiber?
AT&T and Google Fiber have benefits like flat-rate pricing, fast internet performance, and symmetrical download and upload speeds.
