7.4
Google Fiber home internet
Product details
- Price range $70 – $100 per month
- Speed range 1,000 – 2,000Mbps
- Connection Fiber
- Highlights Unlimited data, no contracts, equipment included
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There’s nothing “cheap” about Google Fiber internet. In fact, the fiber-optic provider has one of the highest starting prices of any top ISP.
But that’s not to say service is Google Fiber is particularly expensive, either. When you consider the speeds — which start at 1 gigabit and only go up from there — plus perks like unlimited data, no contract requirements and free equipment rental, you’ll find that Google Fiber has arguably the best value of any major ISP.
Shopping for a faster internet speed?
I live in a Google Fiber city (Charlotte, North Carolina) but my address is unfortunately out of the provider’s service area. The recently resumed Google Fiber expansion could eventually bring the ISP to my address, and I’ll consider signing up if it does, because the value is too good to pass up.
Google Fiber’s availability is nowhere near rival fiber providers like AT&T, Verizon Fios or CenturyLink, but it offers service in some reasonably large metro areas.
Kansas City and Huntsville, Alabama have the most significant Google Fiber coverage, but service can also be found in parts of Mesa, Arizona; Orange County, California; Atlanta, Georgia; Charlotte and the Raleigh/Durham area of North Carolina; Nashville, Tennessee; Austin and San Antonio, Texas; Salt Lake City and Provo, Utah; and now also West Des Moines, Iowa.
Google Fiber expansion continues
The list of cities that have access to Google Fiber is growing, as is the availability in markets where Google Fiber is currently.
Admittedly, Google Fiber is still available to less than 1% of US residents, according to the most recent FCC data. That said, there are positive signs of growth and the rapid expansion continues in existing markets and new ones like Lakewood, Colorado.
Furthermore (and encouraging to a suburbanite like myself), Google Fiber shows signs of expansion outside major city limits. For example, Google Fiber is set to expand into Concord and Matthews, North Carolina, two Charlotte suburbs I would not have expected to see such a premium service. I’m still waiting for Google Fiber to reach me a little further south of Charlotte, but if it’s available in your area or where you’re moving to, here’s what you can expect as far as plans and service details are concerned.
Google Fiber plans and service details
Google Fiber has two to four plan options depending where you live: 1Gbps or 2Gbps, plus new 5Gbps and 8Gpbs plans. The latter two are currently only available in select areas, though a Google Fiber spokesperson has confirmed with CNET that the provider aims to roll out both plans to all markets later in the year.
Select cities — specifically Chicago, Denver, Miami, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and Oakland, California — have access to Google Webpass, a high-speed fixed wireless internet service similar to Starry Internet. There’s only one plan available with Google Webpass, gigabit service, but cheaper pricing may be available if your building’s network can’t support gigabit speeds.
Google Fiber plans
Google Fiber’s 1 Gig plan comes with a Wi-Fi router and up to two access points, which extend the range and coverage of Wi-Fi service throughout your home, up to around 3,000 square feet. You can purchase more access points for $100 each if you need additional coverage. You also can use your own router, but seeing as how Google Fiber includes one at no extra cost, I can’t imagine why you’d want to unless you need a top-of-the-line router for serious gaming or other specialized uses.
The 2 Gig plan comes with a Multi-Gig Wi-Fi 6 router, the latest available Wi-Fi technology and estimated to be roughly 30% faster than the previous Wi-Fi iteration. The technology is exciting, but Wi-Fi routers can be a bit pricey, so it’s nice that Google Fiber includes one at no extra cost. Like with the 1 Gig plan, Wi-Fi extenders are included if needed to ensure whole-home Wi-Fi coverage. There is no option to use your own equipment with the 2 Gig plan, but the device should be more than suitable for any standard home internet use.
How does Google Fiber stack up against competitors?
If Google Fiber is available in your area, it’s safe to assume you also have a cable provider and possibly even another fiber provider available at your address. In that case, you’ll want to know how Google Fiber compares.
Compared to other fiber providers — or really any ISPs — Google Fiber will have a higher starting price. You’ll find lower monthly starting prices from AT&T Fiber ($55), CenturyLink ($30), Frontier Fiber ($60) and Verizon Fios ($50) but again, it is worth noting that these cheaper plans come with significantly lower speeds. If those speeds, typically around 200 to 300Mbps, are sufficient for your household, a more affordable plan like what’s available from AT&T or Verizon Fios may be your best bet.
There’s arguably no better gig or 2-gig provider
If you’re interested in gig service, Google Fiber will be tough to beat, even among competing fiber providers. At $70 per month, the starting pricing for Google Fiber’s gig service is lower than AT&T, Frontier and Verizon ($80 to $90 per month). Lumen’s Quantum Fiber internet, formerly known as CenturyLink Fiber, is the same at $70 per month, but the provider currently doesn’t offer a 2-gig plan or the same quality when it comes to Wi-Fi equipment.
As for comparing gig service from Google Fiber to cable internet providers like Spectrum or Xfinity, not only will Google Fiber probably be cheaper, it’ll likely also be faster (at least the upload speeds will be) and more reliable. Fiber internet often delivers symmetrical upload and download speeds, something cable internet can’t do. In the case of Google Fiber’s 2 Gig plan, you’ll get max upload speeds of 1,000Mbps compared to max download speeds of 2,000Mbps, but that’s still incredibly fast.
Upload speeds with cable internet top out at around 50Mbps, so you won’t get anywhere near the same upload speed potential with cable internet service. The connection quality of a fiber connection is also typically better than a cable one, which can be susceptible to slowed speeds due to network congestion, especially during peak usage times.
Where does Google Fiber rank on customer satisfaction?
Google Fiber isn’t explicitly included with the American Customer Satisfaction Index national reports (it’s grouped in with “All Others”), but that’s not to say customers did not share their feedback with the ACSI.
According to a Google Fiber spokesperson, the company partnered separately with the ACSI to gauge customer satisfaction and compare it to the national figures. The result? Google Fiber reportedly ranked No. 1 in 17 categories, including Customer Satisfaction, Perceived Value, Security of the Wi-Fi Connection, Reliability of Service and Perceived Overall Quality in 2020.
Diving a little deeper, I turned to the Better Business Bureau to investigate the number of complaints, if any, customers had filed against Google Fiber. There were over 2,000 complaints filed within the last year alone. However, as I waded through them, I found that most were about other Google services, such as YouTube Premium and Google Ads, Google devices, or problems with digital content and merchandise purchases. I couldn’t find a single complaint specifically referring to Google Fiber.
The bottom line on Google Fiber
If you’ve got the need for speed, there is perhaps no better provider than Google Fiber — if, that is, service is available in your area. Google Fiber has some of the best pricing on gig service and favorable service terms such as free equipment rental, unlimited data and no contract requirements, further adding to the value. However, the service isn’t for everyone, especially those looking for a cheap plan under $50 per month. Be sure to consider all of your home internet options before committing to one in particular.
Google Fiber FAQs
Does Google Fiber have 5 Gig?
