Our picks
90001 Edit ZIP code
Fastest Ookla speed test results
$55 – $250 per month
Best high-speed provider for gig internet
$70 – $150 per month
Fastest internet plan of any major provider
$20 – $900 per month
Best internet price guarantee
$30 – $165 per month
Fastest cable internet provider
$19 – $95 per month
Best low-cost, high-speed internet plan
$50 – $155 per month
Fastest 5G home internet provider
$50 – $70 per month
Best signup bonus offers
$50 – $120 per month
What’s the best high-speed internet provider?
With the average household consuming more and more data, high-speed internet plans are becoming a necessity for many Americans. Whether you’re looking to upgrade your existing internet plan or debating whether a high-speed internet service is what you need, this comprehensive guide should help.
Technically, anything at or above 100 megabits per second download and 20Mbps upload is considered high-speed internet, according to the Federal Communications Commission. Before we get started, take stock of how much internet speed you’re using and whether upgrading to a faster tier is worth it in the long run. In this guide, we qualify high-speed internet as 1,000Mbps or above, with considerations about other aspects of a good internet plan, like availability, plan selection, unlimited data, and overall value.
Our round-up includes fiber, cable, and fixed wireless internet options — since high-speed internet encompasses a variety of connection types and providers.
To date, fiber internet is the fastest type of internet connection by far. AT&T Fiber, for example, has the fastest Ookla speed test results, while Ziply Fiber offers the fastest home internet plan out of any ISP, up to 50,000Mbps, and Verizon Fios boasts 99.9% reliability. (Disclaimer: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
Unfortunately, despite quick speeds and reliability, access to fiber internet is limited. If your address is not serviceable for fiber internet, you can find high-speed internet options from cable providers like Astound, Cox, Spectrum and Xfinity. Fixed wireless and 5G internet may also be an option, but available speeds vary by location and provider.
Best high-speed internet service providers
Fiber
300 – 5,000 Mbps
$55 – $250 per month
1,000 – 8,000 Mbps
$70 – $150 per month
Our take – If you’re interested in gig internet, which offers speeds of 1,000Mbps and higher, there is perhaps no better option than Google Fiber. Plans start at 1,000Mbps for $70 monthly, with equipment included.
Fiber
Fiber
100 – 50,000 Mbps
$20 – $900 per month
200 – 8,000 Mbps
$30 – $165 per month
Our take – Quantum Fiber is currently offering a price-for-life guarantee, locking in your monthly internet rate for as long as you keep your plan. That’s not to say what you pay will never go up — taxes, fees and such are subject to change at any time — but your internet rate will not increase. So, if you sign up for 500Mbps at $50 a month, the monthly rate for 500Mbps will stay at $50.
Fiber
Cable
150 – 2,000 Mbps
$19 – $95 per month
500 – 5,000 Mbps
$50 – $155 per month
Our take – When it comes to fast speeds for a fair price, there’s arguably no better plan than Frontier’s Fiber 500, which starts at $45 per month (with autopay) for maximum upload and download speeds of 500Mbps.
Fiber
Fixed wireless
85 – 1,000 Mbps
$50 – $70 per month
300 – 2,000 Mbps
$50 – $120 per month
Our take – Verizon Fios frequently changes up its special offers, but it’s not uncommon for the provider to give away gift cards, streaming or specialty shopping subscriptions, electronics or more to new customers. The prizes are often best when signing up for gigabit service, but there’s usually something extra included with the lower-tiered plans as well.
Fiber
High-speed internet providers compared
Note that the plans below show each provider’s gigabit tier. Each provider offers slower and faster plans in most cases. The best selection for you could be a slightly slower plan that allows you to save some money on your monthly bill. Depending on your internet speed usage, a faster speed at a higher price point might be a better value. For a closer look at this value-based approach, check out CNET’s guide to examining the cost per Mbps.
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
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You’re likely to find the fastest speeds possible from a fiber provider, but cable internet providers offer gigabit download speeds, as well.
Fastest internet service provider recap
You likely noticed a trend in our list of the best high-speed providers. Fiber-optic providers will often be your best bet for fast home internet. Cable internet providers such as Xfinity, Spectrum and Mediacom offer decent gigabit plans, but watch out for low upload speeds.
When shopping for any internet service, be sure to compare the average internet speed, pricing and features of all providers in your area to make sure you’re getting the best high-speed plan for your home.
High-speed internet FAQs
What is the fastest internet provider?
What is considered high-speed internet?
Probably not, but they’re nice to have. For instance, the average household uses 564Mbps in downstream speeds and 31Mbps in upstream, so speeds of 1,000Mbps should be enough. Moreover, gigabit speeds or higher will support a large household with numerous connected devices, but so will speeds of 500Mbps or possibly even 300Mbps.
The appeal to gigabit service is that it typically doesn’t cost much more than a 300 or 500Mbps plan, and the speeds will all but guarantee you’ll have enough to go around for every connected device.
According to the most recent Ookla data, Raleigh, North Carolina recorded the fastest median download speeds in the fourth quarter of 2023 at around 290Mbps, followed by Chesapeake, Virginia at 285Mbps. Google Fiber, which has a large presence in the Raleigh area, was noted as the area’s fastest provider with median download speeds of 346Mbps, although AT&T Fiber is a likely contributor to the capital city’s fast speeds, as well.
Absolutely. Major providers including AT&T Fiber, Frontier Fiber, Google Fiber, Optimum, Verizon Fios, Ziply Fiber and others have released multi-gigabit plans within the last two years. Furthermore, FCC data shows that the availability of download speeds of 1,000Mbps or higher increased from 27% of US households as of June 2022 to 33% by the end of the year.
