Best Fiber Internet Providers of 2021

With so much time spent online and with homes becoming increasingly connected, you need an internet service that is fast, affordable, and reliable. A relatively new and growing service is fiber optic internet. According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), fiber optic internet service was extended to 5.9 million new homes in 2018, the largest number ever recorded. But how does fiber stack up to other broadband services like cable and DSL?

Our review of the Best Fiber Internet Providers of 2021 will help you decide if this technology is right for you. Learn about the top fiber internet service providers (ISPs), and explore costs, installation, and availability.

Our Best Fiber Internet Provider Rating

#1 Verizon Fios
#2 AT&T Internet
#2 Spectrum
#4 Cox
#4 RCN
#6 CenturyLink
#7 Frontier
#8 Optimum

What Is Fiber Internet?

Fiber internet uses fiber optic cables made from super-thin strands of glass (fiber) to download and upload data at the speed of light.

A fiber optic network uses two types of cable. Single-mode cable has a small core or center and transmits light in a straight line, which is best for sending data over long distances. Multimode cable has a bigger core in which light bounces around inside the cable; it’s best for transmitting data short distances, such as within a city.

The network, also called FTTH (fiber to the home) or FTTP (fiber to the premises), may run directly to your door. Or it may stop at the curb or at a location somewhere between your home and the internet provider’s facility. The internet service provider (ISP) may use coaxial cable, DSL, or fixed wireless technology to bridge that “last mile” of distance.

Fiber broadband is not offered in every market in the U.S., but access is growing. It’s now available to 46.5 million homes — about 37% of all U.S. homes— and 20.5 million households subscribe to the service, says the Fiber Broadband Association. Fiber broadband surpassed DSL in 2018 as the second-most-common type of home internet connection, it says, with cable internet being the most popular.

A study conducted for the Fiber Broadband Association found access to fiber broadband increases rental and property values.

The Best Fiber Internet Providers of 2021

Our ratings of The Best Fiber Internet Providers of 2021 include eight fiber internet providers. Ratings are based on a five-point scale with five being the highest score possible. Plan prices cited below do not include taxes, fees, surcharges, or equipment rental, and may be for new residential customers only.

Verizon Fios: Known for its nationwide wireless service, Verizon offers a 100% fiber optic internet service called Fios in eight Northeastern states. Costs are $39.99 to more than $79.99 per month for download speeds of 200 to 940 Mbps and upload speeds of 200 to 880 Mbps. Standard setup is $99 but may be offered for free. Fios has a 30-day free trial period with no contract required. Customers who switch to Fios may get up to a $500 credit to cover contract termination fees. Read more in our review of Verizon internet or check out the top Verizon promo codes.

AT&T Internet: AT&T is known for its telecommunications services. Its three fiber plans cost $50 to $70 per month and feature equal download and upload speeds of 100 to 940 Mbps. A 12-month contract is required. Lower-speed plans cap out at 1 TB of data per month; users are charged $10 for each additional 50 GB of data, up to $100 per month. AT&T’s fiber service is available to more than 13 million homes. Read more in our review of AT&T internet or check out the top AT&T Internet promo codes.

Spectrum Internet promotion price is $49.99/mo for 12 months. Wireless speeds may vary.

Spectrum: Spectrum has three hybrid fiber-cable internet plans available in 44 states. Download speeds range from 100 to 940 Mbps, with upload speeds of 10 to 35 Mbps. Plans start at $49.99 a month. There are no data caps or contracts, and service is available in 44 states. Read more in our review of Spectrum internet.

Cox: Five Cox internet plans use a combination of fiber and cable technologies, providing high-speed internet in 16 states. They cost $29.99 to $99.99, with download speeds of 10 to 1,000 Mbps and upload speeds of 1 to 35 Mbps. The Gigablast S plan, starting at $99.99, uses fiber only and has equal download/upload speeds of 1,000 Mbps (1 Gbps). Plans max out at 1.25 TB of data, and you can purchase extra data if you need it. Contracts aren’t required, but your rates will be lower if you sign up for a one-year plan. Early contract termination costs up to $120. Read more in our review of Cox internet or check out the top Cox promo codes.

RCN: RCN uses a combination of fiber and coaxial cable to deliver internet service to your home. The company has six plans that vary by location. Download speeds range from 25 to 940 Mbps; upload speeds are not published. Service is available in six major metro markets: Chicago, Boston, the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania, New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. No contract is required. Customer support is U.S. based and available 24/7. The cost of installation varies and occasionally is free. Read more in our review of RCN or check out the top RCN coupon codes.

CenturyLink: CenturyLink mainly provides DSL internet in 36 states, though fiber internet accounts for 30% of its technology footprint, says the FCC. CenturyLink’sFiber Gigabit internet service starts at $65 per month and has maximum download/upload speeds of 940 Mbps with a wired connection. Paperless billing is required but no contract. The plan does not have a data cap. Read more in our review of CenturyLink internet or check out the top CenturyLink promo codes.

Frontier: While DSL is the core internet service provided by Frontier in 29 states and Washington, D.C., its fiber network is growing and is now available in about a third of the markets it serves, reports the FCC. Frontier has three 100% fiber internet plans costing between $29.99 and $74.99 per month. Download speeds range from 50 to 940 Mbps and upload speeds from 50 to 880 Mbps, with no data limit. Installation starts at $75. Read more in our review of Frontier internet or check out the top Frontier promo codes.

Optimum: Optimum offers four hybrid fiber-coaxial internet plans with download speeds ranging from 20 to 940 Mbps and upload speeds of 1 to 940 Mbps. Plans are priced from $25 to $75 a month, and there are no data caps or contracts. Optimum current serves only four states: Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Read more in our review of Optimum internet.

Which Fiber Internet Service Is Near Me?

The fiber internet service near you can be found by exploring our Fiber ISP availability map. You also can enter your address in the FCC’s Fixed Broadband Deployment locator to get a list of all internet providers in your area. As well, most ISP websites have a short form you can complete to learn if service is offered in your zip code.

The availability of fiber internet is growing. In 2002, only 50,000 homes in the U.S. had access to all-fiber connectivity; today it’s nearly one thousand times that, finds a recent study from the Fiber Broadband Association. However, fiber internet is not available in all areas, and our Best Fiber Internet providers of 2021 may not serve every community in the states in which they operate.

If fiber internet is not available in your area, consider another broadband service, like cable, DSL, or satellite. Learn about your high-speed internet options in our Internet Providers Guide.

How Fast Is Fiber Internet?

Internet Speed of Fiber vs DSL vs Cable vs Satellite

Fiber internet is fast. “Fiber transmits data at speeds far exceeding current DSL or cable modem speeds, typically by tens or even hundreds of Mbps,” states the FCC. Mbps is megabits per second, a measurement of how quickly data travel across an internet connection. Some fiber plans have speeds of up to 2 Gigabits per second, or 2,000 Mbps.

High speeds for downloading (the term for receiving data) mean multiple internet users in a household can simultaneously engage in multiple high-bandwidth online activities on multiple devices, such as streaming ultra-high-definition video, downloading music, playing real-time multiplayer online games, and browsing websites.

Higher speeds for uploading (the term for sending data) let telecommuters video conference with ease. Fiber internet has lower latency than cable, DSL, satellite, and dial-up internet. That means video and audio don’t buffer or lag, and online games have quicker reaction times with less “ping.”

Unlike cable internet, fiber is a dedicated connection. It doesn’t slow down when all the neighbors are online. On average, fiber optic internet consistently delivers high-speed, uninterrupted service nearly 82% of the time, found our analysis of FCC data.

How Much Is Fiber Internet?

Consumers say they spend $67 a month on average for broadband service, including fiber internet, says Bruce Leichtman, a broadband industry authority who leads Leichtman Research Group in Durham, New Hampshire.

You could pay more or less for fiber internet, depending on the internet providers and service plans available where you live. Plans from our rating of the Best Fiber Internet Providers of 2021 start as low as $20 and go as high as $300 or so a month. Advertised prices do not include taxes, surcharges, and fees; they may reflect a promotional rate for new residential customers and require a one-year contract.

Here are advertised prices and some fees for our Best Fiber Internet Providers of 2021, as of the date of this review:

Plans from Verizon Fios range from $39.99 to more than $79.99 per month. Monthly equipment rental starts at $15, installation fees begin at $99, and contract termination fees vary.

AT&T Internet has plans that start at $35 and increase to more than $60 per month. Monthly equipment rental begins at $10. Installation is free. Contract termination costs up to $180.

RCN’s prices vary by region, but sample prices include a basic internet plan in Philadelphia that starts at $19.99 per month and a top-speed plan in Chicago that starts at $59.99 per month. Monthly equipment rental begins at $9.95. Installation and termination fees vary.

Two fiber-only internet plans offering Gig-plus speeds from Xfinity begin at $70 and $299 per month. Monthly equipment rental starts at $14. Installation and contract termination fees vary.

The Fiber Gigabit plan from CenturyLink starts at $65 per month. Renting equipment costs up to $15 per month. The company does not have a contract termination fee.

Frontier has fiber plans that start at $29.99 and increase to $74.99 per month. Monthly equipment rental begins at $10. The starting fee for installation is $75, and contract termination fees start at $9.99.

Combo fiber-cable plans at Cox cost from $29.99 to more than $99.99 per month. A fiber-only option starts at $99.99 per month. Equipment rental fees aren’t published. Installation fees begin at $20. Contract termination fees start at $120.

How Do I Get Fiber Internet?

What Do I Need for Fiber Internet Service?

Should I Buy or Rent Equipment for Fiber Internet Service?

You should buy equipment for fiber internet service to save money and for a greater selection of high-end gear. A Wi-Fi router is the key piece of equipment you can purchase, as the optical network terminal (the fiber ‘modem’) is permanently installed by a professional. You typically can recover the upfront cost of a router within a year or so, compared to paying a rental fee for as long as you have internet service. It’s easier to switch ISPs since the device is already set up. But you’re on your own for tech support and must pay to replace a router that’s faulty or incompatible with faster fiber service.

You should rent equipment if you like convenience, free tech support, and easy access to technology that is guaranteed to work with your fiber internet service. The downsides are that you will pay more long term, monthly rental fees could increase, and you will be charged if you cancel service and fail to return the equipment.

How Do I Install Equipment for Fiber Internet Service?

You can install a Wi-Fi router for fiber internet service if you are comfortable doing light work and your home has an ONT installed. If you rent the router, the internet provider may supply a self-install kit containing the router, cables, a splitter, and instructions. If you buy, make sure the router is compatible with fiber internet speeds and your internet company, and be sure you acquire the necessary cables and supplies. Most ISPs have detailed instructions and videos on their websites to help with router installation.

Professional installation is needed if your home is not equipped with an ONT, if you need additional inside wiring, or if your existing ONT is not working properly. Installation fees range from free to more than $99. The ONT typically is installed in a basement, garage, or utility closet. An additional fee may be assessed for setting up the Wi-Fi and connecting your devices, so you may prefer to do this yourself. According to Verizon Fios, a typical ONT installation takes four to six hours.

Fiber vs. Cable Internet

Fiber and cable internet have high download and upload speeds, making both good choices for households with a lot of connected devices and users who simultaneously stream video, browse websites, and play online games.

Fiber internet has lower latency. This means video loads faster with less buffering (or waiting) and online games are quicker and more responsive.

Cable internet is more widely available. According to our analysis, it more consistently delivers advertised internet speeds. But because neighbors share cable bandwidth, cable internet can be slower during peak use times. Fiber is a dedicated connection and doesn’t slow down during busy internet times.

Fiber vs. DSL Internet

Fiber has higher download and upload speeds, higher service consistency, and lower latency. It’s best for households with four or more internet users who simultaneously stream high-definition video, play real-time games, and telecommute. It can support numerous connected devices. For example, AT&T Fiber lets you have 13 devices simultaneously engaging in high-data-use activities such as streaming and gaming.

DSL is best for light to moderate internet use, like emailing, watching videos, and making phone calls using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). It supports fewer connected devices online at the same time.

Other Internet Service Providers

Other Guides from 360 Reviews

Other Products to Consider

In addition to the companies in our rating of the Best Internet Service Providers, here are some others to consider:

How U.S. News Evaluated Internet Service Providers

We explain what matters when it comes to internet service by sourcing experts and professional reviewers. Then we provide an unbiased evaluation of internet service providers. Our goal is to empower consumers with the information and tools they need to make informed decisions. More information about our 360 Reviews methodology for evaluating internet service providers is here.

†Limited time offer; subject to change; valid to qualified residential customers who have not subscribed to any services within the previous 30 days and who have no outstanding obligation to Charter. Spectrum Internet® promotion price is $49.99/mo; standard rates apply after yr. 1. Taxes, fees and surcharges extra and subject to change during and after the promotional period; installation/network activation, equipment and additional services are extra. General Terms: INTERNET: Speed based on wired connection and may vary by address. Wireless speeds may vary. Services subject to all applicable service terms and conditions, subject to change. Services not available in all areas. Restrictions apply.