Speed is important today; and we’re not just saying this because human attention spans are shorter nowadays. Granted, this may be part of it, but there’s also a greater reliance on internet service, especially for residential use. One factor contributing to the need for speed online is the shift to working and learning from home spurred on by the pandemic. If you’re on the hunt for an internet service provider with the speed you need, stick with us. Below, we explore a recent assessment by HighSpeedInternet.com of the fastest registered internet providers of last year.
Google Fiber
Google Fiber is what’s referred to as fiber-to-the-premises service. Google Fiber also has the honor of ranking as the fastest internet service provider in the United States based on data compiled by HighSpeedInternet.com. Maximum advertised speeds for this provider are up to 2,000 Mbps. Download speeds, on average, for a year-long period are nearly 162 Mbps.
• Integrated Speed Score (ISS): 170.0
• Price: $70 per month for 1 Gig and $100/month for 2 Gig
• Perks: No data caps and no contract requirements
While Google Fiber clearly wins the gold when it comes to speed, it’s only available in 19 cities so far. The good news is Google is steadily expanding service to other cities, so keep an eye out for what’s available in your area.
Integrated Speed Score?
The ISS we referenced above is a speed score ranking put together by HighSpeedInternet.com. It’s based on data from approximately 2 million speed tests conducted from most of 2021 through early 2022. The score is a combination of internet users’ download speed averages and 10 percent of a provider’s upload speed average
Verizon Fios
Verizon Fios, which stands for fiber optic service, comes in second on the speed list for ISPs. The maximum advertised speeds for this ISP go up to 940 Mbps.
• ISS: 156.0
• Price: Starting at $39.99 per month (with auto pay)
• Perks: No data caps and no contracts
MetroNet
MetroNet offers fiber internet plans along with phone and TV options, so there’s the potential to save by bundling. Incidentally, other multi-service providers tend to offer bundling deals as well. The max advertised speed with MetroNet is 1,000 Mbps.
• ISS: 147.7
• Price: Starting at $49.95 per month for 100 Mbps
• Perks: No data caps or contracts
Xfinity
Xfinity has advertised max speeds up to 3,000 Mbps. However, it’s worth noting the max speed option is $299.95 per month, meaning it’s a bit pricey. This is something to consider with any provider’s highest speed plans, especially if you’re watching your budget.
• ISS: 139.9
• Price: Starting at $34.99 per month for 50 Mbps and up to $74.99/month for 400 Mbps if you prefer something still in the more affordable range
• Perks: No contracts or fees
Astound Broadband (Powered by RCN)
Astound Broadband has max advertised speeds up to 940 Mbps. Formed in 2018, it’s a new kid on the block in the ISP world, but the potential speeds are still impressive.
• ISS: 133.3
• Price: Starting within the $19.99 to $26.99 per month range for 300 Mbps
• Perks: No contract required
Urban Areas (Generally) Have More Speed than Rural Locales
Another key finding from the report is internet speeds still lag behind in rural parts of the United States. The reason is likely a shift from DSL to fiber internet in more congested cities. This shift has made it difficult for rural areas with lower populations and more area to cover to catch up in the speed race with internet service. This doesn’t mean customers in rural areas don’t have options. Low-Earth orbiting satellite internet offered by Starlink and other high profile satellite providers, for instance, is gaining steam as a viable option in more sparsely populated communities.
Other Options Are Available (but Not Necessarily Practical)
There are some other internet providers offering some impressive speeds. However, the big caveat is availability is either limited or rates are on the higher side for the optimal speeds. If you’re just going by highest advertised speeds, the top providers right now include:
• AT&T
• Ziply
• Xfinity
• Google Fiber
• Frontier