Let’s face it; getting the cheapest internet plan available is no longer a realistic option. Sure it worked out okay ten years ago, but for the majority of households, those slow speeds simply won’t cut it. Especially when there’s a gamer in the house.
No gamer likes to wait for their new game to download on release night or worse – lose the game they’re playing from lagging.
To avoid these common frustrations in the gaming community it’s important to pick the right internet provider with the best speeds and the lowest latency the first time.
We’ve done the research and here’s what to look for and what to avoid while shopping for the best internet for gaming.
5 Important Features Gamers Should Look For In An Internet Plan
Fast download speeds: The FCC recommends 3-4 Mbps for gaming, but you’ll actually want much faster than that. We recommend minimum speeds of 100 Mbps download speeds to game online. Here’s why: the average American household has 11 or more connected devices. Or want to stream on Netflix or listen to your favorite playlist while you game? You’ll need enough speed to go around.
Fast upload speeds: If you’re a gamer who likes to livestream on Twitch or upload videos to YouTube of your gameplay, you’ll want a minimum of 10 Mbps upload speed. Faster upload speeds mean keeping your live streaming lag-free and uploading videos to your followers faster. The faster speeds the better without having to wait.
Low latency: Latency is how long it takes your gaming system, laptop, or desktop to send or receive information from your game. This is why it’s essential to choose an internet provider with the lowest latency. Higher latency will cause lagging that makes online gaming next to impossible to play.
Unlimited data: Skip the data cap and opt for unlimited data whenever you can. You don’t want to get hit with overage charges every month or worse get cut off once you hit your limit. Let’s face it, most gamers are downloading their games from the cloud and they’re huge files. If you have more than one gamer in the house or a more serious gamer; having a data cap is asking for trouble.
Fiber connection: Fiber internet is where it’s at if you can get it. Fiber internet provides the fastest speeds and the most reliable connection over DSL, satellite internet, and cable internet options.
4 Important Internet Plan Details Gamers Should Stay Far Away From
Low data caps: Don’t get caught between choosing to play your favorite game or streaming your favorite TV show. Internet providers that implement data cap limits will cut you off or charge you more for going over their limit.
Low download speeds: Download speeds are super important when choosing an internet plan. We recommend avoiding internet plans of less than 100 Mbps to ensure all your family’s online activities run smoothly simultaneously.
Low upload speeds: If you’re a gamer that likes to live stream or upload your gameplay, you’ll want to avoid low upload speeds. Internet providers don’t like to advertise their subpar upload speeds so it’s important to ask what they are before signing up.
High latency: While shopping for internet providers, you’ll want to avoid all internet providers that have high latency. Satellite, DSL, and dial-up internet providers all have high-latency internet plans. If you can choose fiber first or cable internet second.
Top 5 Best Internet Providers For Gaming
Verizon Fios
Google Fiber
CenturyLink
MetroNet
Frontier Fiber
Verizon Fios Internet Plans
Internet Type: Fiber Optic
Best in: Lowest latency
Verizon Fios Internet Plan
Download Speeds
Upload Speeds
Monthly Price
Additional Plan Details
300 Mbps Internet
300 Mbps
300 Mbps
$24.99/Month
– Router rental included- Limited time only: 10 year price guarantee- Limited time only: $50 Verizon gift card
500 Mbps Internet
500 Mbps
500 Mbps
$44.99/Month
– Router rental included- Limited time only: 10 year price guarantee- Limited time only: $100 Verizon gift card
1 Gig Streaming Internet
940 Mbps
880 Mbps
$64.99/Month
– Router rental included- 2TB cloud storage included- Limited time only: 10 year price guarantee- Limited time only: $150 Verizon gift card
Google Fiber Internet Plans
Internet Type: Fiber Optic
Best in: Best Fiber Internet Speeds
Google Fiber Internet Plan
Download Speeds
Upload Speeds
Monthly Price
Additional Plan Details
1 Gig Internet
1 Gbps
1 Gbps
$70/Month
– Mesh Wi-Fi network included- No data caps!- No annual contracts!- 1 TB of free cloud storage
2 Gig Internet
2 Gbps
1 Gbps
$100/Month
– Mesh Wi-Fi network included- No data caps!- No annual contracts!- 1 TB of free cloud storage
CenturyLink Internet Plans
Internet Type: Fiber Optic
Best in: Availability
CenturyLink Internet Plan
Download Speeds
Upload Speeds
Monthly Price
Additional Plan Details
Fiber Gigabit Internet
940 Mbps
940 Mbps
$70/Month
– Free modem! – Unlimited data!- No contracts or cancellation fees- Free installation
MetroNet Internet Plans
Internet Type: Fiber Optic
Best in: Best Price
Metronet Internet Plan
Download Speeds
Upload Speeds
Monthly Price
Additional Plan Details
100 Mb Internet
100 Mbps
100 Mbps
$49.95/Month
– Includes wireless router- 100% fiber internet- No data caps!- No long term contracts!
500 Mb Internet
500 Mbps
500 Mbps
$59.95/Month
– Includes wireless router- 100% fiber internet- No data caps!- No long term contracts!
1 Gigabit Internet
1 Gbps
1 Gbps
$59.95/Month
– Includes wireless router- 100% fiber internet- No data caps!- No long term contracts!
Frontier Fiber Internet Plans
Internet Type: Fiber Optic
Best in: Best In Symmetrical Speeds
Frontier Internet Plan
Download Speeds
Upload Speeds
Monthly Price
Additional Plan Details
Fiber 500 Internet
500 Mbps
500 Mbps
$49.99/Month
– Amazon eero Wi-Fi router included- Free expert installation- No data caps!- No overage charges!
Fiber 1 Gig Internet
1 Gbps
1 Gbps
$74.99/Month
– Amazon eero Wi-Fi system included- Free expert installation- No data caps!- No overage charges!
Fiber 2 Gig Internet
2 Gbps
2 Gbps
$149.99/Month
– Amazon eero Wi-Fi 6E system included- Free expert installation- No data caps!- No overage charges!
