Our picks
Why we chose these providers
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Best internet for gaming overall
Best low-cost internet for gaming
Best cable internet for gaming
Best rural internet for gaming
What’s the best internet for gaming?
It doesn’t require a lot of speed to game online, but low latency is key to avoiding lag. That’s why Verizon Fios gets our vote for the best overall internet service provider for gaming. The fiber ISP has the lowest latency of any major provider, according to the latest Ookla data from recent speed tests. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
Other providers, especially those of the cable and fiber variety, are also ideal for gaming. Our top picks of the best broadband for gaming include:
Top internet providers for gaming
300 – 2,000 Mbps
$50 – $120 per month
Our take – Verizon Fios speed tiers — 300Mbps, 500Mbps, 1Gbps and, in some places, 2Gbps — all offer plenty of upload and download speed for online gaming. The provider also excels at another important gaming factor: latency.
300 – 2,000 Mbps
$50 – $120 per month
500 – 5,000 Mbps
$50 – $155 per month
Our take – Frontier’s new 200Mbps plan starts at just $30 per month and includes an Eero 6+ router at no extra cost. That’s plenty of speed for gaming, and the quality router will help ensure your connection is up to the task.
500 – 5,000 Mbps
$50 – $155 per month
100 – 1,500 Mbps
$20 – $80 per month
Our take – Gaming routers are expensive, easily $200 to $500 or more. Astound is one of the only internet providers that gives customers the option of renting a gaming router for $13 per month. Specifically, it’s the Netgear Nighthawk Pro Gaming router, which promotes high speeds, low latency and support for Wi-Fi 6.
100 – 1,500 Mbps
$20 – $80 per month
500 – 1,000 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. Spectrum is one of the only major cable ISPs offering unlimited data for all plans in every market. Xfinity, Cox, Mediacom and others may come with a monthly data cap and fees of up to $50 or $100 for going over.
500 – 1,000 Mbps
$50 – $80 per month
20 – 250 Mbps
$90 – $120 per month
Our take – There are a few downsides to satellite internet, not least of which is the high latency that makes online gaming impossible. Starlink’s low-orbiting satellites relieve the latency issue with an expected range of 25 to 60 milliseconds.
20 – 250 Mbps
$90 – $120 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 |
$20 | 300Mbps | 7 cents | None; $13 for gaming router (optional) |
| Frontier Fiber 200 Read full review |
$30 | 200Mbps | 15 cents | None |
| Spectrum Internet Read full review |
$50 | 300Mbps | 17 cents | Modem free; $7 router (optional) |
| Starlink Standard Read full review |
$120 | 150Mbps | 80 cents | $599 one-time purchase |
| Verizon Fios 300 Read full review |
$50 | 300Mbps | 17 cents | None |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Additional top ISPs for gaming
The providers listed above boast special offers or features targeted directly at gamers, but they’re not the only ISPs that you can rely on for online gaming. Here are some others you may want to consider for gaming.
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 $55 monthly) can deliver more than enough gaming speed. In addition, according to the latest Ookla data, AT&T Fiber was crowned the fastest ISP in the country. 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: Ookla reports Xfinity speeds are fast and consistent. In recent speed test results, Xfinity landed the fourth-fastest median speeds, 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 gaming 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.
Best internet for gaming FAQs
What’s a good internet speed for 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.
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What Mbps do you need for gaming?
Most PC and gaming console manufacturers recommend download speeds of less 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 will 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.
How much data does gaming use?
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.
How can I reduce latency?
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.
Moreover, CNET’s guide to lowering ping features more tips on how to bring down your latency for better online gaming.
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Is wireless internet good for gaming?
Wireless internet can be good for gaming depending on the available providers and speeds at your address. Many fixed wireless providers only offer 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.
Is T-Mobile Home Internet good for gaming?
T-Mobile Home Internet advertises max download speeds of 72 to 245Mbps, which should be good enough for gaming, particularly if your available speeds are on the higher end of that range. Expected latency ranges are 19 to 37 milliseconds, low enough to game without frequent lagging.
Is satellite internet good for gaming?
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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Source: CNET
