Why we chose these providers
Best internet for gaming overall
$50 – $120 per month
The best internet for gaming comes down to one thing: latency. Latency, or “ping,” measures how long it takes your device and the server to communicate over the internet. High latency means more time. That delay can lead to lagging and throw off your timing, contributing to losses or, at the very least, sucking some of the joy out of a game. For the best gaming experience, you want the lowest possible latency.
Verizon Fios gets our vote for the best overall internet service provider for gaming. This fiber internet provider has the lowest latency of any major provider, according to the latest Ookla data from recent speed tests. (Disclaimer: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
We recommend picking cable or fiber internet providers, since wired internet connections can offer a more reliable internet experience than fixed wireless providers. That said, if you’re in a rural area without many other options, Starlink is known to have low latency, so we’ve included it here. Our top picks of the best broadband for gaming include:
Locating local internet providers
4 Internet providers
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.
Pros
Frontier also has a very strong record when it comes to latency. According to Ookla’s speed test data, Frontier averages just 17 milliseconds — coming in second only to Verizon for nationwide ISPs. AT&T, another fiber provider, had an average latency of 22 milliseconds.
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.
Pros
Both Spectrum plans, 500Mbps and 1,000Mbps, starting at $50 and $70 per month, respectively, provide plenty of speed for online gaming. Wi-Fi equipment is included at no extra cost with gig service for $10 in monthly savings, money you could put toward more games and add-ons.
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.
Astound Broadband 300
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Frontier Fiber 200
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Spectrum Internet
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Starlink Standard
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Verizon Fios 300
Read full review
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
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 $55 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%.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
Is T-Mobile Home Internet good for gaming?
T-Mobile Home Internet advertises max download speeds of 87 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.
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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