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Fiber-optic internet now reaches a majority of U.S. broadband-serviceable locations, and coverage continues to grow as providers expand and states award new builds. Availability is highly address-specific — most ISPs don’t overlap on the same streets. Enter your ZIP code above to see who can serve your home, and confirm at the FCC National Broadband Map. Where available, include Google Fiber in your comparison alongside AT&T, Verizon, Frontier, and Quantum Fiber; these brands lead current speed and consistency rankings in many markets (Ookla U.S. Market Report).
The 4 Best Fiber Internet Providers
- Verizon Fios — Unlimited data; strong consistency and multi‑gig in select areas
- AT&T Internet — Broad footprint with symmetric multi‑gig up to 5 Gbps in many markets
- Frontier Fiber — No annual contracts; competitive pricing on symmetric multi‑gig
- CenturyLink — Sold as Quantum Fiber in many areas; select addresses offer “Price for Life”
The Best Providers (Fiber): Summed Up
| 300 Mbps – 2 Gbps+ (symmetric; multi‑gig in select areas) | 300 Mbps – 5 Gbps (symmetric) | 500 Mbps – 5 Gbps (symmetric) | 500 Mbps – 8 Gbps (symmetric; Quantum Fiber branding in many areas) | |
| Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | |
Pros
No data caps
Promotional value
Award-winning customer service
Cons
Limited double play
State availability
Why we chose it
No data caps
Verizon FiOS offers symmetric fiber speeds with unlimited data on residential plans — no hard caps or overage fees. Full plan terms and any network management disclosures appear on Verizon’s plan pages and the required FCC Broadband Nutrition Labels for Fios Home Internet.
If your usage resembles a small office (for example, sustained multi‑terabyte traffic or hosting servers), consider a business internet plan with appropriate SLAs. For typical households, Verizon’s unlimited residential data supports heavy streaming, gaming, cloud backups, and smart‑home use.
Customer satisfaction and performance
Independent benchmarks such as the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) and J.D. Power consistently rate Fios highly within its markets. For speed and consistency comparisons, see Ookla’s latest U.S. report, where leading fiber brands (including Verizon) perform near the top.
Promotional value
Fios frequently promotes multi‑year price guarantees on select tiers, equipment included, and online‑order perks (such as waived installation). Customers with eligible Verizon mobile plans can typically save up to $25/mo by combining home + mobile — check current offers on the Verizon Fios plans page.
Points to consider
TV and bundles
Most ISPs emphasize internet‑only and let you add live TV via streaming services. Where available, Fios TV can be paired with internet, but many households will be well‑served by a simple internet‑only plan plus a streaming app lineup.
Availability
Fios serves the Northeast and Mid‑Atlantic with a large, contiguous FTTP footprint. The most accurate way to verify service is the FCC National Broadband Map and Verizon’s address checker on the Fios page. Verizon’s quarterly results also highlight ongoing Fios upgrades and subscriber momentum (Verizon 3Q 2024).
Pros
Widespread availability
Flexible bundling options
Customer service
Cons
Comparatively expensive
1 TB data cap
Why we chose it
Widespread availability
AT&T operates one of the largest FTTH footprints and continues to expand. Symmetric multi‑gig tiers up to 5 Gbps are common in fiber‑served neighborhoods. Verify options at your address on AT&T’s fiber page and see ongoing build progress in investor updates (AT&T results).
Flexible pairing with TV
AT&T sells fiber primarily as standalone internet. If you want live TV, DIRECTV via internet is offered as a separate service. Multi‑gig tiers are widely available where AT&T has built fiber.
Customer satisfaction
AT&T performs well in independent measures from the ACSI and J.D. Power. Those results typically reflect reliable service and straightforward billing in fiber markets.
Points to consider
Pricing vs. peers
As of current public pricing, AT&T’s 1 Gbps plan is typically $80/mo, with 2 Gbps around $110 and 5 Gbps around $180 (AT&T Fiber). Comparable tiers from competitors often list at: Frontier 1 Gig $69.99 and 2 Gig $99.99 (Frontier Fiber); Google Fiber 1 Gig $70, 2 Gig $100, 5 Gig $125 (GFiber plans); Verizon Fios 1 Gig commonly $89.99 (Fios plans). Always enter your address for exact offers.
Unlimited data on AT&T Fiber
AT&T Fiber plans include unlimited data. Usage policies and any network management are disclosed on AT&T’s support pages and the FCC Broadband Labels. If fiber isn’t available and you consider cable instead, note that some cable ISPs still enforce monthly caps with paid “unlimited” add‑ons (Xfinity data policy; Cox data policy).
Pros
PNW availability
No limits and great value
Cons
Customer service
Why we chose it
Expanding footprint
Frontier has transformed from a legacy copper operator into a major FTTH provider across parts of California, Texas, Florida, Connecticut and other territories, reporting steady fiber buildouts and net adds through 2024 (Frontier investor updates). In the Pacific Northwest specifically, compare regional specialists like Ziply Fiber alongside national brands.
Where AT&T or Verizon don’t operate, regional FTTH providers and municipal/open‑access networks can fill the gap — and in some metros, Google Fiber is expanding with very fast multi‑gig tiers. Always check availability at your exact address.
No contracts, no data limits
Frontier Fiber plans come with no annual contracts and no data caps. Common tiers range from 500 Mbps up to 5 Gbps symmetric, with equipment included (Frontier plans).
New‑customer incentives vary by market and tier and often include reward cards and discounted YouTube TV bundles via Frontier. Confirm specifics for your address during checkout.
Points to consider
Customer satisfaction
Frontier’s fiber performance tests well among national providers in independent speed reports. For customer satisfaction, consult the latest ACSI and J.D. Power studies; experiences can vary by market, so local word‑of‑mouth is helpful.
If white‑glove support is your top priority, compare local options and recent satisfaction scores before you decide.
Pros
Price for life
Business-internet plans
Cons
Population availability
Why we chose it
Price for life
CenturyLink’s FTTH service is marketed as Quantum Fiber in many areas. In some locations, pricing includes a “Price for Life” guarantee. Typical advertised rates are around $50/mo for 500 Mbps, ~$75/mo for ~940 Mbps, and up to $165/mo for 8 Gbps in select builds — all with unlimited data and no annual contract (Quantum Fiber plans).
Business-internet plans
CenturyLink/Quantum Fiber and many competitors sell business fiber with published SLAs, static IP options, and priority support. If uptime is critical, compare business packages and service guarantees across providers serving your address.
In our full review of business internet plan, we look for transparent SLAs and flexible terms. Expect month‑to‑month and multi‑year options depending on your market.
Points to consider
Availability is more limited
Quantum Fiber’s footprint is smaller than AT&T, Verizon, or Frontier and is concentrated in select metros. Availability is highly address‑specific, so use the provider’s checker and the FCC National Broadband Map to confirm service at your location.
Pros
Nationwide availability
Fiber-fast cable speeds
Cons
Not actually fiber
XFINITY now markets multi‑gig speeds over upgraded cable networks (DOCSIS 4.0/high‑split) that can deliver symmetric performance in select areas, but it still runs on traditional coaxial cable rather than fiber to the home. Where fiber and cable overlap, fiber retains advantages in symmetric multi‑gig tiers and latency. For the technology backdrop, see DOCSIS 4.0 and Xfinity’s data policy (data caps).
DOCSIS upgrades may require compatible gateways and, in some cases, equipment fees. If you pursue cable for fiber‑like speeds, confirm your modem/router requirements and total monthly costs.
Because cable is widely deployed, you may see multi‑gig offers where fiber hasn’t arrived yet. It’s worth exploring if you need speed now, but if a true FTTH provider serves your address, we generally recommend choosing fiber first.
How We Chose the Best Fiber Internet
Substantial coverage
Fiber availability now covers a majority of U.S. broadband‑serviceable locations and is still expanding as private builds continue and states award BEAD-funded projects. For current availability, the FCC National Broadband Map is the authoritative source at the address level; industry reporting also shows that most new fixed broadband builds are fiber (Fiber Broadband Association research).
We focused on widely available, high‑performing brands: AT&T, Verizon, Frontier, and leading regional providers. In many cities, also include Google Fiber, Optimum Fiber, Quantum Fiber, and regional specialists (Ziply Fiber, Metronet, Fidium) on your shortlist where they serve. In independent testing, Google Fiber often leads speed rankings where available, with AT&T, Frontier, and Verizon among the top national performers (Ookla U.S. report).
Package value
Comparing fiber is easier now that many providers offer similar symmetric tiers: 300–500 Mbps, 1 Gbps, plus multi‑gig (2–5 Gbps, and in some areas 8–20 Gbps). As of current public pricing, 1 Gbps typically runs $70–$89.99/mo depending on provider and market; 2 Gbps around $99.99–$110; and 5 Gbps roughly $125–$180. Enter your address for exact promos and availability (GFiber; AT&T Fiber; Fios; Frontier; Quantum Fiber).
When judging value, look beyond the headline rate: check installation and equipment fees, price guarantees, included data (most fiber is unlimited), and any bundle discounts. A slightly higher monthly price can be the better deal if it includes equipment, a longer price guarantee, and no data caps.
Data limitations
Streaming, gaming, cloud backups, and smart‑home devices all use data — and faster fiber speeds make it easy to use more. Most fiber ISPs advertise no data caps, and providers must clearly disclose any data policies on the new FCC Broadband Nutrition Labels.
As a baseline, streaming in HD uses about 3 GB per hour. Some cable ISPs still enforce monthly caps (commonly 1.2–1.5 TB) with $10 per 50 GB overage or paid “unlimited” add‑ons — see Xfinity and Cox for examples. If you want to avoid tracking usage entirely, favor a fiber plan with unlimited data.
Customer service
The industry has improved transparency, and leading fiber ISPs tend to score well in independent studies. We look to J.D. Power, the American Customer Satisfaction Index, and Consumer Reports to gauge billing clarity, reliability, tech support, and overall satisfaction. Favor providers that consistently perform well year after year.
How to Find the Best Plan for You
Check your local options
Start by confirming what’s at your address. Our ZIP tool can show providers in your area, and the FCC National Broadband Map provides a location‑level view of fiber availability in your neighborhood. State BEAD awards are accelerating rural builds through 2028 (NTIA BEAD).
Confirm how much speed you’ll need
Fiber plans range from 300 Mbps up to multi‑gig. For many homes, 500 Mbps to 1 Gbps is plenty; power users and large households may benefit from 2–5 Gbps. At gigabit speeds, large downloads complete in seconds versus minutes on slower plans. For current performance trends across providers, see Ookla’s U.S. Market Report. If you’re a serious gamer, creator, or you routinely have 10+ active devices, a multi‑gig tier can help.
After speaking to network experts, consulting with online speed guides, and using the FCC’s data on speed — we’ve built a guide to help you find your minimum speed.
| Light use | Moderate use | High use | Very high use | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 devices | ||||
| 4–8 devices | ||||
| 8–10 devices | ||||
| 10+ devices |
- Light use: emails, web browsing, social media, SD video streaming
- Moderate use: music streaming, occasional online gaming, streaming HD video on one or two devices.
- High use: Multiple devices streaming HD video simultaneously, real-time gaming, video conferencing.
- Very high use: Multiple devices streaming HD or 4K video simultaneously, large file downloading, real-time gaming, video conferencing.
Max fiber speeds exceed the chart because most homes don’t need 5–20 Gbps service. Median speeds and top-performer rankings change over time; for the latest trends, see Ookla’s U.S. Market Report. Remember that phones, tablets, TVs, consoles, cameras, and smart-home devices all share your connection.
Don’t forget about data
If your internet activity warrants fiber speeds, you likely use a lot of data, too. Most fiber plans are unlimited, and providers must disclose any limits on the new Broadband Nutrition Labels. That transparency makes apples‑to‑apples comparisons easier.
If you’re comparing capped cable plans, note that typical allowances are about 1.2–1.5 TB with $10 per 50 GB overage and optional unlimited add‑ons (Xfinity; Cox). Heavy multi‑person households, remote workers, and 4K streamers may prefer an unlimited fiber plan.
Save by bundling
Bundling has shifted from traditional triple‑plays to more flexible pairings. Many fiber ISPs offer home + mobile savings (for example, Verizon Fios advertises up to $25/mo off with eligible wireless plans), and some promote discounts on live TV streaming (Frontier frequently markets a YouTube TV discount with fiber). Google Fiber and Quantum Fiber generally emphasize standalone internet without traditional bundles (GFiber; Quantum Fiber).
If you want multiple services anyway, consolidating with one provider can save money and simplify billing. If TV is the driver in your decision, see our review of the best TV providers.
Fiber Internet FAQ
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