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Best internet for gaming overall
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What’s the best internet for gaming?
Having a good ISP is crucial to having a good gaming experience. Your internet connection’s latency and packet loss are the most important factors. Latency, or ping time, is how long it takes for your device to communicate with a game server. Predictably, the lower the better in this case. Packet loss, on the other hand, has to do with the consistency of your connection. If your connection is dropping packets, it can lead to stuttering and disconnections. Together, the two can add up to a significant amount of lag to ruin your match. You need a combination of minimal delay and a rock-solid connection if you want to enjoy smooth and responsive gameplay.
Verizon Fios is CNET’s top choice for gamers looking for an ISP. A recent CNET survey found that 63% of Americans are facing unreliable connectivity despite higher prices. Verizon Fios offers the lowest latency of any major provider. You also get fast, symmetrical fiber speeds, making it a great choice for online gaming across consoles, PCs and even cloud streaming. Fiber and cable internet are typically the best options for stable and responsive connectivity. However, if you live in a rural area without access to a lot of wired options, Starlink performs surprisingly well, with low latency for satellite service.
Top internet providers for gaming
300 – 2,000 Mbps
$50 – $120 per month
Our take – If you’re looking for low latency from an ISP, Verizon Fios should be at the top of your list. Verizon Fios speed tiers — 300Mbps, 500Mbps, 1Gbps and, in some places, 2Gbps — all offer plenty of upload and download speed for online gaming. But besides the speeds, you can expect a low-latency service with Verizon Fios.
300 – 2,000 Mbps
$50 – $120 per month
500 – 5,000 Mbps
$50 – $155 per month
Our take – Frontier’s 200Mbps plan starts at just $30 per month and includes an Eero Pro 6e router at no extra cost. The 500Mbps plan, 1-gig plan and 2-gig plan come with the Eero Pro 7, which has Wi-Fi 7 technology designed to lower latency. That’s plenty of speed for gaming, and the quality router will help ensure your connection is up to the task. Speeds up to 7,000Mbps are available.
500 – 5,000 Mbps
$50 – $155 per month
300 – 1,500 Mbps
$30 – $70 per month
Our take – Gaming routers can be pricey, often ranging from $200 to $500 or more. Astound previously offered the Netgear Nighthawk Pro Gaming router for $13 a month, but it’s no longer available to new customers. However, Astound now offers the Eero 7 mesh router with Wi-Fi 7 technology, delivering fast speeds and low latency. For just $5 more per month, this mesh system is a great option for gamers.
300 – 1,500 Mbps
$30 – $70 per month
500 – 1,000; 2gbps available in select markets Mbps
$50 – $80 per month
Our take – Spectrum is our pick for the best cable internet provider overall, but that’s not why I recommend it for gaming. It’s the unlimited data that you get. Spectrum is one of the only major cable ISPs offering unlimited data for all plans in every market. Other providers like Xfinity, Cox and Mediacom may come with a monthly data cap and fees of up to $50 or $100 for going over.
500 – 1,000; 2gbps available in select markets Mbps
$50 – $80 per month
Top internet providers for gaming compared
Please note that the plans below show each provider’s cheapest available tier. The maximum speed is the top advertised speed for that given plan, but it might not be available in your area. Overall, the best selection for you — and the most cost-effective plan — might be a different tier that provides a faster speed at a higher price but a better value. To more fully understand this value-based approach, check out CNET’s guide to examining the cost per Mbps.
| Plan | Starting monthly price | Max download speed | Cost per Mbps | Equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astound Broadband 300 Read full review |
$30 | 300Mbps | 7 cents | $10 router (optional) |
| Frontier Fiber 500 Read full review |
$55 | 500Mbps | 6 cents | None |
| Spectrum Internet Read full review |
$30 | 100Mbps | 30 cents | $10 router (optional) |
| Starlink Standard Read full review |
$120 | 150Mbps | 120 cents | $349 one-time purchase |
| Verizon Fios 300 Read full review |
$60 | 300Mbps | 17 cents | None |
Show more (1 item)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Other top ISPs suited for gaming
The providers listed above boast special offers or features targeted directly at gamers, but they’re not the only ISPs you can rely on for online gaming. Here are some others you may want to consider.
AT&T Fiber: I recommend a fiber connection over any other connection type for all online activity, including gaming. AT&T is the largest fiber provider in the nation, and even its cheapest plan (300Mbps at $60 monthly) can deliver more than enough gaming speed. In addition, according to Ookla data from the first half of 2024, AT&T Fiber was crowned the fastest ISP in the country. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis). It featured a median download speed of 348.86Mbps, topping other cable providers like Spectrum, Cox and Xfinity.
Optimum: Like Astound, Optimum offers decent speeds, fair pricing and unlimited data. Primarily a cable ISP, Optimum also has a large and growing fiber network. Optimum’s recent history of low customer satisfaction is something you’ll want to consider before signing up.
Xfinity: This cable giant recently introduced Xfinity’s ultra-low-lag internet.This software upgrade features reduced latency, which can be beneficial for gamers. An Xfinity spokesperson told CNET that working latency was reduced by 78% after trials of this new technology. Being that this service is relatively new, the only drawback is that it’s currently available in select cities only. Whether you have access to this service or not, Xfinity still boasts fast and consistent speeds, per Ookla reports. In recent speed test results, Xfinity landed the fourth-fastest median speed, 237Mbps, and the second-highest consistency of speeds over 25Mbps at 92.2%.
How to pick the best internet for your gaming needs
Online gaming can put a strain on your internet connection, so it’s important to find an internet service that can keep up. Here’s what to consider when shopping for an internet service for gaming.
Availability in your area
I can recommend a good internet provider for gaming all day, but it doesn’t matter if it’s unavailable at your address. When shopping for an internet service you’ll be using for gaming, explore all the available providers near you, and start by checking for fiber internet providers in your area.
Latency, the most important metric for gaming
Most internet providers don’t openly advertise expected latency like they do speeds and pricing, but you may be able to find it in the provider’s FCC Broadband Label. Speed test data, such as Ookla speed test reports, can also help you compare latency from different providers. For the best online gaming experience, aim for a latency of 40ms and below.
Connection type influences speed and reliability
If you take a look at speed test data, you’ll likely notice a common theme among providers with the lowest latency: they’re fiber ISPs. Along with low latency, fiber typically offers the best reliability and fastest speed potential. I would recommend fiber service over cable or fixed wireless, even if it is a little more expensive.
Speeds, up and down
The minimum speed to be considered broadband is 100Mbps down and 20Mbps up, which should support any and all online gaming. Faster speeds will improve the experience and help ensure there’s enough for other devices. Consider the speeds you need for all your household activities, and keep in mind that using Wi-Fi and connecting more devices can slow your speeds.
How we chose the best internet providers for gaming
There are many attributes to evaluate when determining the best internet providers, but latency is higher on the list when it comes to gaming. To narrow down the top internet providers, we started by seeking out the ISPs that had the lowest latency on recent Ookla speed tests. FCC Broadband Labels and advertised expected ranges helped us to further compare latency between providers.
Other factors include availability to at least 1% of US households. A random regional provider in a local market may offer the lowest latency of any ISP, but including it in a national best list is more of a tease than a recommendation when it’s only available to a select few.
Speed and reliability are important considerations as well. The providers featured above offer a range of speeds suitable for nearly any and all gaming activity and a reliable network to keep gamers connected.
To read more about our methodology, check out how we review internet service providers.
Best internet connection types for gaming
The best gaming experience will likely come from a fiber internet provider. Fiber internet boasts the fastest upload and download speed potential and highest reliability, even during peak usage times.
If there are no fiber internet providers near you, consider cable, fixed wireless, DSL (depending on available speeds) and satellite from Starlink, in that order.
Aside from fiber, cable internet is the top choice for speed and reliability, often offering download speeds up to a gig or higher. Fixed wireless internet can be hit or miss depending on the providers in your area and your proximity to a local signal tower.
A wired connection is preferable for gaming, but DSL internet may fail to deliver the speeds and reliability of a fixed wireless service. If all else fails, satellite internet from Starlink (not Hughesnet or Viasat) should get you online with a connection suitable for gaming.
Internet for gaming recap
Online gaming doesn’t require a lot of speed, but the connection quality and latency will make all the difference. A fiber connection with low latency, like what Verizon Fios and Frontier Fiber have to offer, is the best choice when it comes to internet for gaming. Cable internet providers are worth consideration as well, particularly Astound with its Eero 7 mesh router option and Spectrum for its broad availability, low equipment rental cost and unlimited data.
Your best internet option for gaming will depend on the available internet providers in your area. If you find none bring you a decent gaming experience, check out Starlink. It’s expensive compared to many other ISPs, but speeds should be high enough, and latency low enough, for online gaming.
For the casual gamer, speeds of 100 to 300Mbps should comfortably support any game on a PC, console or handheld device. Faster speeds will help ensure a more consistent gaming experience, particularly if you have numerous devices and multiple users in your household.
A gig, or download speeds up to 1,000Mbps, will all but guarantee there is enough speed for gaming. Multi-gig internet speeds are probably more than the average home needs, but if you’re interested in an uncompromising connection for serious gaming, many fiber internet providers offer maximum speeds of 2,000 to 5,000Mbps and higher.
Most PC and gaming console manufacturers recommend download speeds of at least 10Mbps for online gaming. PlayStation, Nintendo Switch and Xbox One suggest download speeds of 6, 3 and 3Mbps, respectively, for gaming.
Keep in mind that’s actual speeds to the device, not speeds to the home. If your internet plan offers maximum speeds of 25Mbps, it’s highly unlikely you’ll get 25Mbps to your gaming device. Wi-Fi, connected multiple devices and even the time of day can affect your actual speeds. To ensure you have enough speed for your game and your other devices, speeds of at least 100Mbps are best.
Online gaming typically uses 100MB or less per hour. At that rate, gaming two hours a day will use about 6GB of data each month. Data consumption can vary by game and whether you have downloaded the game or are streaming it through a platform like Steam, Xbox Game Pass or PlayStation Plus.
Routers or software that prioritize gaming traffic can significantly lower your latency while gaming. You can also strengthen your internet signal by using a wired connection versus Wi-Fi and limiting the number of active devices on your network while gaming. Upgrading to a better internet service, such as fiber over cable internet or cable internet over DSL, can also drastically improve your latency numbers. Read how CNET’s Tyler Graham lowered his latency at home by using a VPN.
To learn more, visit CNET’s guide to lowering ping, which features more tips on reducing latency for better online gaming.
Wireless internet can be good for gaming, depending on the available providers and speeds at your address. Many fixed wireless providers offer only 10 to 25Mbps, which will likely not make for a quality gaming experience. Additionally, some wireless providers have strict data caps that can put a limit on how much time you spend gaming each month.
Wireless providers such as Verizon 5G Home Internet and T-Mobile Home Internet advertise max speeds well over 100Mbps, which should support online gaming if you don’t have a ton of devices on your network. Both providers also offer unlimited data, so you won’t have to worry about exceeding a cap.
Such providers aren’t a guarantee for good gaming. Available speeds vary by address and your proximity to a local tower. Depending on your location, speeds of 50Mbps or lower may be all that is available from a wireless connection, which will make consistent online gaming difficult.
T-Mobile Home Internet advertises max download speeds of 100 to 415Mbps, which should be good enough for gaming, particularly if your available speeds are on the higher end of that range. Expected latency ranges are 16 to 28 milliseconds, which is low enough to game without frequent lagging.
Satellite internet isn’t good for online gaming. Its main role is providing internet service and connectivity in rural areas where fixed connections (like cable and fiber) are unavailable.
With satellite internet, signals must travel thousands of miles between your dish and the orbiting satellite, resulting in much higher latency than other connection types. Latency over satellite internet can easily reach 400 to 500 milliseconds, rendering real-time online games virtually unplayable.
The one exception to that rule is Starlink, which uses low-orbit satellites and boasts latency between 25 to 60 milliseconds.
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