10 Best Internet Providers for Gaming 2023

Everyone knows the worst part of gaming is laaag. So it’s important to get an internet provider that gives you the fastest download and upload speeds plus the lowest latency in your area.

So we analyzed more than 20 large internet service providers (ISPs) and their download speeds, upload speeds, latency, data caps, prices, and availability. 

We picked Xfinity, AT&T Fiber, Verizon Fios Home Internet, Spectrum, and Optimum as our top recommendations, but it all depends on what ISP's service your area.

Quick guide to this article

• How to pick the right internet plan for gaming
• Xfinity: Best option for most gamers
• AT&T Fiber: Super-fast speeds, if you have it in your area
• Verizon Fios Home Internet: Fast speeds for gamers on the East Coast
• Spectrum: Cheap internet, solid speeds
• Optimum: Best internet for gamers living in more rural areas
• Recap
• Methodology
• FAQ

Consider this your walkthrough guide to defeating the uncertainty boss and picking the best internet service provider for your online gaming habits.

So here’s what you should look for when choosing an ISP for gaming so you don't d/c before it's gg. Ready? Queue it up!

1. Fast download speeds
2. Fast upload speeds (mostly if you livestream)
3. Low latency or ping
4. Enough data for game patches and new downloads
5. Optimized setup

You don’t necessarily need gig speeds to game, but you should have enough speed to support your adventure through Elden Ring or Redfall (just kidding, that game sucks) while all your other devices and roommates are connected to the internet too.

Why? Because you’ll likely need the extra speed to watch a YouTube video while you game.  And you don’t want to lag out because some of your flat mates are streaming a movie in the other room. Or your mom might be watching Facebook cat videos on her phone while you try to earn Play of the Game on Overwatch 2.

We gamed on a 40 Mbps cable internet connection with two other adults who usually just email and stream a few videos.

Even though this is far above the FCC’s minimum recommended speed, we still lagged while playing games like World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth if someone streamed football or downloaded a PDF file. Yuck.

Don’t worry about upload speeds unless you livestream or upload YouTube videos. (Or work from home to support your gaming habits.) If you do do these things, aim for at least 5–10 Mbps upload speeds.

If you want to become the next Twitch star, you’re gonna need some upload speed to keep your fans happy. Twitch recommends 3–6 Mbps upload speeds for livestreaming, but just like download speeds, more is usually better.

Our resident video expert over at the Reviews.org YouTube channel, Craig, recommends aiming for 10 Mbps or faster upload speeds. Having faster upload speeds lets you publish your videos faster—and it lets you handle longer videos with larger file sizes without pulling out your hair over 2004-style wait times.

“If your file is more than 500 MB or so, 10+ Mbps will serve better. When I had 10 Mbps, it took about 30–45 minutes per video to upload,” says Craig.

Latency (also called lag, ms, or ping) is how long it takes for your computer to send and receive data from your game server. So with high latency, you might notice some lag between the time you execute your skill shot and when it actually launches toward an enemy player.

Latency isn’t really under your control, but you can kind of get an idea of how much latency, or lag, an ISP will have based on its connection type and past performance.

Average latency by internet connection type

• Satellite: 594–624 ms
• DSL: 11–40 ms
• Cable: 15–27 ms
• Fiber: 10–17 ms

If you’re not sure what your latency is on your current internet connection, take our free internet speed test to find out.

Test Your Latency & Internet Speed

Once you get your speed results, click Details to see your minimum and maximum latency plus jitter. (A high jitter score is just as bad as high latency—it’s probably causing that lag.)

The last thing anyone wants to see is that snarky email from your ISP warning that you’re about to hit your data cap. Especially when patch day is just around the corner.

For most of us, the usual 1 TB of monthly data most ISPs offer should be enough. But you should always double-check data caps when searching for a new ISP, because some providers won’t give you more than a handful of gigabytes each month.

And if your home is full of gamers, first off, lucky you. We’re jealous. But the more gamers you have, the more data you’ll need to keep up with everyone’s downloads. So go for unlimited data where you can.

Last but not least, internet power users will want unlimited data too. That includes anyone who hosts a server or downloads large files (like PDFs, videos, and photos) on a regular basis.

All that internet speed and data could be for naught if your equipment isn’t optimized. An optimized internet setup provides faster speeds, less lag, and an overall better experience. Here are a few tips to get your gaming house in order:

1. Use an Ethernet cable, always. Wi-Fi is great and all, but a wired connection will give you the best speeds and lowest latency. Often, Wi-Fi is susceptible to interferences.
2. If you have to use Wi-Fi, position your router as close to your gaming station as you can. Try to avoid walls, furniture, and other objects sitting in between your Wi-Fi router and your gaming rig or console. Household appliances like mobile charges, microwaves, and wireless speakers can interfere with your Wi-Fi signal, so try to reduce signal interference if possible. If you've done all of this and still notice lag, you can try to change up your console's angle. 
3. Update your modem’s and router’s firmware. This can alleviate performance issues with the equipment itself, and it can potentially boost your speed since you’ll have the latest and greatest software.
4. Play on a local server. You can significantly decrease your ping and latency by choosing to play on a server that is closer to you. Opt for a local server in your country when possible. 
5. Use Quality of Service (QoS) and network prioritization options on your router. If your router comes with QoS or prioritization features, you may want to set them up to prioritize your console’s or desktop’s internet traffic over other people and devices in your household. Of course, if your kiddo starts to see the buffering icon more than Peppa Pig, you’ll probably hear about it.

Finally snag a PS5 and need to boost your internet and avoid that lag? Check out this guide from our YouTube internet expert, Juan, plus related articles to take your connection from "pug" to "pog."

Also, Xfinity maintained a low average latency of 23.0 ms across its service areas. That’s great news for gamers who need a lag-free experience to wombo-combo some bosses in the face.

We also like that Xfinity gives you a lot of choices when it comes to download speed—up to 1,200 Mbps. And its promotional prices aren’t half bad either. 

On the other end of the spectrum, Xfinity is known for poor customer service. (Granted, so is every ISP. But none seems to have as bad a reputation as Xfinity.) Our recent experience with Xfinity customer service ended with us getting what we wanted, but we sure felt tired after jumping through so many hoops.

We had to request a call through the Xfinity app, then wait. Then wait once we got a call and the agent looked into our issue. Then wait some more while we waited to be connected with a new, senior-level agent. It’s the same story no matter where you go, but that doesn’t make it any less frustrating.

Then there’s Xfinity’s 1.2 TB data cap. Sure, you can upgrade to unlimited data, but it’ll cost you extra.

Last thing: We’re not big fans of cable internet’s slower upload speeds. Depending on which Xfinity plan you get, you might be stuck with 10 Mbps upload speeds. That’s not nearly enough if you want to stream games to your Twitch audience or upload YouTube videos of your gaming commentary.

View Xfinity Internet Plans | Read the Full Xfinity Internet Review

AT&T Fiber churns out fast speeds and low latency—if you can get it where you live.

AT&T Fiber gives you a leg up on your competition with a sweet, sweet fiber connection. But just like Verizon Fios Home Internet, it’s not available everywhere. Though you can get it on the West Coast—Cali friends, rejoice!

But with its DSL service included, AT&T services 23.33% of US zip codes—that’s the largest coverage area aside from satellite ISPs. (And AT&T uses newer DSL tech, so it might be okay for some RPG adventures.)

AT&T’s combo of DSL and fiber internet also scored a respectable score in our fastest ISPs report. It also kept latency to an average of 24.0 ms during the first three months of 2021. Not bad at all.

AT&T Fiber’s internet plans also happen to be some of the cheapest around, at least for the first 12 months.

The major downside to AT&T is that its fiber internet is limited to bigger cities in the 21 states it serves. And its DSL service might top off at 100 Mbps in your area—or you might get sub-75 Mbps speeds.

View AT&T Fiber Plans | Read the Full AT&T Internet Review

Known for great customer service and fast fiber speeds, Verizon Fios Home Internet is an A+ pick for gamers on the East Coast and one of the best home internet providers overall.

It comes with a full-fiber connection and earned seventh place in our list of the fastest ISPs in the US, perfect for logging on and mopping the floor with raid bosses.

We’ve also heard nothing but good things about Verizon’s customer service. All our friends lucky enough to grab this internet provider have said every interaction with Verizon Fios Home Internet’s customer service was easy mode—from installation to troubleshooting.

Verizon Fios Home Internet’s latency score for January–March 2021 is 13.0 ms.

We tend to ding ISPs with data caps instead of unlimited data, but Verizon Fios Home Internet presents a conundrum there.

It doesn’t specify how much data you get with its internet plans—but we have a hunch that it’s unlimited data. So don’t worry about downloading that patch, new expansion, or 18 new games during a Steam sale. (Who, us?)

Verizon Fios Home Internet’s biggest drawback is that it’s still pretty much limited to major metropolitan areas on the East Coast.

That small service area means that West Coast and Midwest gamers can’t get in on the fantastic service this ISP provides. (Though you might be able to check out Verizon 5G Home Internet instead.)

We hate games without character customization, and honestly TV and internet bundles with no customization bring us down too.

So our eyes lit up when we saw that Verizon Fios lets you customize your internet speed and TV package. Our fave is the 500 Mbps internet + Your Fios TV combo—but you can customize your own to your heart’s desire.

Customize Your Verizon Fios TV and Internet Combo

View Verizon Fios Home Internet Plans | Read the Verizon Fios Home Internet Review

Spectrum’s download speeds and latency are a-okay, but if you need gig speeds, get ready to pay a lot more. 

Overall, Spectrum brings decent speeds to the table, ranking 5th out of 10 internet providers we analyzed in our fastest ISPs report. It’s also widely available across the US, including often overlooked states like Ohio and Maine.

On top of that, Spectrum comes with unlimited data. So no more stressing about downloading that new game at the end of the month. You’re good to go.

As for latency, it averaged 33.0 ms in January–March of 2021. So you should be able to go ham without rubberbanding all over the place.

Our biggest gripe with Spectrum is the extremely high price for its up to 1,000 Mbps plan.* As of the time we’re writing this, that plan costs a little bit under $100 a month, and that’s on top of a $199.99 installation fee. Those two costs make the Spectrum Internet® GIG plan one of—if not the—most expensive gig-speed plans we’ve seen.

You should also note that Spectrum Internet is a cable connection. But all of its plans come with at least 10 Mbps* of upload speed, which is enough to livestream or upload YouTube videos.

All that aside, Spectrum’s up to 300* and up to 500 Mbps* plans ring in at decent prices for the speed you get.

View Spectrum Internet® Plans | Read the Full Spectrum Internet® Review

Optimum may serve small towns in the northeast where time passes at a crawl, but its internet speeds are anything but slow. It ranked 6th in our fastest ISPs report, putting it ahead of some other well-known providers like AT&T and Windstream. 

And while some ISPs focus on serving big cities, Optimum set up camp in small towns like New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. So if you share a city with 1,000 other people, Optimum might be there to get you online.

Along with zippy speeds, Optimum also boasts an average latency of 18.0 ms for the first quarter of 2021.

Prices for most Optimum internet plans are decent too. The pricing differences are based on your location, so take a close look at what prices and speeds are available in your area.

And for a limited time, Optimum is offering free installation on its internet service when you order online. 

In August 2022, Suddenlink and Optimum's parent company Altice USA announced that the Suddenlink internet name will be retired and officially rebranded to Optimum. Plans and prices for Suddenlink internet plans will remain the same and now go by the Optimum name.³

View Optimum Internet Plans | Read the Full Optimum Internet Review

When it comes to gaming, don’t leave your download speed, latency, or data caps to luck. These 10 internet providers had some of the best speed scores and average latency to keep your gaming session running smoothly:

1. Comcast Xfinity: Best for most gamers and one of the best home internet providers thanks to great speeds and wide availability, but watch out for price changes based on where you live.
2. AT&T Fiber: Great fiber internet service. It also has limited availability, but is available on the West Coast and Central US.
3. Verizon Fios Home Internet: Fast fiber internet speeds and customer service. But it’s only available in the Northeast.
4. Spectrum: Great prices for up to 300 Mbps,* but watch out for a steep cost with its gig plan.
5. Optimum: Great speeds, but also limited to a few states in the Northeast.
6. Google Fiber: Excellent fiber speeds, but extremely limited availability.
7. Cox: Decent cable speeds, but may be costly for faster plans.
8. Astound Broadband (formerly RCN): Great speeds, but limited to a small part of the Northeast.
9. CenturyLink Fiber Internet: Much better speeds than CenturyLink DSL, but this fiber plan isn’t available in all CenturyLink service areas.

To determine the best internet service providers (ISPs) for online gamers, we employed a comprehensive methodology that considered various factors crucial for an exceptional gaming experience. In addition to publicly available information, we leveraged proprietary data from user speed tests to measure ISP performance specifically tailored for online gaming. Here's an overview of the key elements we assessed:

1. Data Speeds: We analyzed the ISPs' advertised download and upload speeds, prioritizing those with higher speeds to accommodate the bandwidth-intensive nature of online gaming. Our analysis involved aggregating and comparing official speed data provided by ISPs, as well as cross-referencing with independent speed tests conducted by users and third-party websites.

2. Latency: Low latency, measured in milliseconds (ms), is essential for online gaming as it determines the responsiveness of your connection. We evaluated the ISPs based on their latency rates, emphasizing low latency for a smooth gaming experience. Our evaluation involved collecting latency data from our users, hands-on testing, public databases, and user experiences from folks on Reddit.

3. Performance Stability: In addition to latency, we assessed the stability of the ISPs' connections to ensure consistent and reliable performance during online gaming sessions. We examined factors such as packet loss, jitter, and overall network stability. Our analysis came from the same sources mentioned previously: user data, hands-on data, public data, and experiences from users on social media.

4. Customer Feedback and Reputation: We considered customer reviews and feedback to gauge the overall performance and customer satisfaction levels of each ISP. Online forums, social media platforms, and consumer review websites were analyzed to gather insights into user experiences and identify recurring patterns regarding gaming performance. We prioritized ISPs with positive feedback and high customer satisfaction ratings.

5. Gaming-specific Infrastructure and Partnerships: We explored ISPs that have invested in gaming-specific infrastructure and partnerships to optimize gaming experiences. This included assessing whether ISPs offer dedicated gaming servers, partnerships with game publishers, or features like traffic prioritization for gaming data packets. Proprietary data sources and industry partnerships provided valuable insights into ISPs' commitment to catering to the gaming community.

6. Geographic Coverage: We took into account the availability and coverage areas of each ISP to ensure accessibility for gamers across different regions. By considering publicly available coverage maps and ISP databases, we assessed the reach and availability of high-speed internet services, particularly those supporting online gaming, in various locations.

It's important to note that the rankings and evaluations are based on the information available up until September 2021, with a focus on major ISPs. The performance of ISPs can vary by location, and new developments may have occurred since the data cutoff. Therefore, we recommend users to consult the latest information and check ISP availability in their specific area to make informed decisions.

By combining publicly available data with proprietary information, we strived to provide a comprehensive and accurate evaluation of ISPs, enabling gamers to choose the best provider to suit their online gaming needs.

Still have questions about the best internet for gaming? Let’s see if our friendly NPC can help.

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