How to Get High Speed Internet
Find the fastest internet service in your area
High speed broadband internet can handle anything you throw at it, from video calls to video games — but which providers are fastest?
BroadbandNow’s data will help you find the fastest providers around, including AT&T Fiber, Google Fiber, Verizon Fios, and Xfinity. Internet speeds in the U.S. can go as high as 10,000 Mbps!
But how fast is fast enough? In reality, 10,000 Mbps (10 Gbps) is more than any household needs. Customers looking for high speed internet should view 1,000 Mbps (1 Gbps) as a gold standard. These so-called “Gigabit” plans will have plenty of bandwidth to ensure smooth streaming, gaming, and more — even in households with many internet users sharing the Wi-Fi. Most households can get by with less: If your family isn’t frequently streaming on multiple devices at once, 100 Mbps might be the fastest internet plan you’ll need.
Part of the reason that different providers and plans offer different speeds is that they use different connection types. There’s more than one way to connect to the internet, and some connections are faster than others. Cable internet is faster than DSL or dial-up, and it’s the fastest option in many areas of the country. Fastest of all is fiber internet, which is only available in some areas. If you live in an area without cable or fiber options, you’ll want to consider Starlink, a high-speed wireless internet provider.
The key to finding the fastest internet in your area is knowing which connection types, providers, and internet plans are available at your address. BroadbandNow’s data can help.