Depending on where you live, you may have many types of internet available. People rely on the internet for different reasons, but if you’re looking for the best internet speed for gaming and streaming, fiber internet is the best choice, although 5G — where available — is also excellent.
That’s just the start of the decision tree in today’s competitive internet landscape. Rural areas often have limited access to fiber internet, which could make the decision easier, but urban and suburban environments may have several choices. Don’t worry — I’ve done the research to help you pick the best internet provider for you.
Our top picks for the best internet for streaming are Optimum, AT&T Internet and Kinetic by Windstream. Read on for the rest of our recommendations.
Our picks
Optimum: Best internet for streaming
AT&T Internet: Best fiber internet for streaming
Kinetic by Windstream: Best for streaming in rural areas
Comcast Xfinity: Best for affordable streaming
Frontier Communications: Best for unlimited data
Ziply Fiber: Best upload and download speeds
Earthlink: Best satellite internet for streaming for rural areas
Important considerations for streaming
When choosing the right internet for your streaming needs, these are some of the most important factors you should consider.
- Upload Speed: The upload speed is how fast you can send — or upload — data from your device to the internet, which is important for eliminating lag. For streaming, you want upload speeds of at least 5 Mbps.
- Download Speed: Essentially the opposite of upload speed, download speed is how quickly data transfers from the internet to your device. This is important when streaming video. For streaming, you’ll want download speeds of at least 100 Mbps, but some providers will recommend faster connections.
- Connection Type: As we’ve mentioned, fiber internet is the best choice for streaming. 5G can also be a great option, but it’s less available nationwide. The next best option is broadband cable, with DSL and satellite being the least preferred options. You can also always utilize a wired Ethernet connection to increase speeds.
- Latency: Latency is the time it takes for the system to respond to an action, like pausing a video. The time it takes for the server to process your actions and relay that information back to your system is called the ping rate. A ping rate of under 50 milliseconds is preferred for streaming, but the lower the rate, the lower your latency time will be.
Optimum: Best internet for streaming
Star rating: 5.0 out of 5
Prices: $70 - $300 per month
Download speeds: 300 Mbps - 8 Gbps
Upload speeds: 20 Mbps - 8 Gbps
Why we picked it
Optimum offers some of the most affordable high-speed internet plans when you combine them with mobile service. While it’s unlikely you’ll need 8 Gbps for home streaming, Optimum’s fiber internet speeds are as fast or faster than those on any network.
Who should use it
Families who stream a lot of TV and movies and want to save money by putting their internet and mobile charges on the same bill.
Pros and cons of Optimum
Pros
- Very high speeds for a reasonable price when bundling
- Many subscription options depending on your specific download/upload needs
Cons
- Only available in 21 states
AT&T Internet: Best fiber internet for streaming
Star rating: 4.9 out of 5
Prices: $55 - $250 per month
Download speeds: 300 Mbps - 5 Gbps
Upload speeds: 300 Mbps - 5 Gbps
Why we picked it
AT&T Internet has the nation’s second-largest 5G network and nationwide cable and fiber optic coverage. With its robust service operations and strong customer service record, it’s the top choice for streaming and is available to most customers.
Who should use it
People in areas where AT&T Internet may be the only fiber or 5G internet option available. That’s not a bad thing, as you can save money by bundling other services with powerful internet that can support extensive streaming.
Pros and cons of AT&T Internet
Pros
- Available nationwide
- A variety of high-speed internet options available in many parts of the country
- No contract necessary
Cons
- Prices are high if you’re not bundling
- 5G speeds depend on proximity to cell towers
Kinetic by Windstream: Best for streaming in rural areas
Star rating: 4.6 out of 5
Prices: $40 - $325 per month
Download speeds: 200 Mbps - 8 Gbps
Upload speeds: 50 Mbps - 8 Gbps
Why we picked it
Kinetic by Windstream doesn’t put caps on data, so its customers pay only for the amount of service needed. It’s also one of the better internet options for rural customers.
Who should use it
People living in rural areas who want to stream to their heart’s content.
Pros and cons of Kinetic by Windstream
Pros
- Best choice for many rural areas
- No contract necessary
- No data caps or speed throttling
Cons
- Wide variance in speed and pricing depending on the area
- No security plan
- Limited availability
Comcast Xfinity: Best for affordable streaming
Star rating: 4.5 out of 5
Prices: $20 - $300 per month
Download speeds: 75 Mbps - 2,000 Mbps
Upload speeds: 5 Mbps - 200 Mbps
Why we picked it
Comcast Xfinity has one of the nation’s largest cable and fiber internet networks, making it one of the best high-speed internet choices across the country. Although it doesn’t offer speeds as fast as some other providers, it makes up for it in sheer reach.
Who should use it
Families and individuals who are looking for affordable high-speed internet to cover basic streaming needs.
Pros and cons of Comcast Xfinity
Pros
- Many plan options, including bundles
- Very affordable, especially when bundling
- A+ Better Business Bureau rating (BBB)
Cons
- Often need contracts to get the lowest price
- Some plans have data caps
- Low availability in rural areas
*BBB ratings accurate as of August 2024
Frontier Communications: Best for unlimited data
Star rating: 4.4 out of 5
Prices: $45 - $150 per month
Download speeds: 200 Mbps - 5 Gbps
Upload speeds: 200 Mbps - 5 Gbps
Why we picked it
Frontier Fiber offers the best bang for your buck for high-speed internet, starting with up to 200 Mbps speeds at just $29.99 per month when enrolled in AutoPay. It also offers unlimited data and charges no equipment fees.
Who should use it
Heavy streamers who want premium internet speed at an affordable price.
Pros and cons of Frontier Communications
Pros
- No equipment fees
- Unlimited data
- Outstanding speeds for the price
Cons
- Inconsistent DSL speeds
- Term agreement required for signup bonuses
Ziply Fiber: Best upload and download speeds
Star rating: 4.3 out of 5
Prices: $20 - $300 per month
Download speeds: 100 Mbps - 50 Gbps
Upload speeds: 100 Mbps - 50 Gbps
Why we picked it
Ziply Fiber is predominantly available in the Pacific Northwest, but at 50 Gbps, it offers some of the fastest internet speeds in the country. Not only that, Ziply offers no data caps or contracts for many of its plans.
Who should use it
People in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Wyoming who currently have limited options should take advantage of the affordable and fast internet plans for streaming.
Pros and cons of Ziply Fiber
Pros
- Extraordinary speeds in certain areas
- Unlimited data
- No contracts
Cons
- Limited availability
- Data caps implemented for some plans
Earthlink: Best satellite internet for streaming
Star rating: 4.3 out of 5
Prices: $55 - $190 per month
Download speeds: 3 Mbps - 5 Gbps
Upload speeds: 1 Mbps - 5 Gbps
Why we picked it
Although it’s one of the more expensive ISPs, Earthlink has both fiber and satellite capability, making it one of the nation’s most extensive networks. With 13 plans and mobile bundling available, it offers outstanding choices for customers. It’s also the best satellite internet for streaming.
Who should use it
Those who want the best internet speed for streaming but don’t have access to fiber or 5G networks.
Pros and cons of Earthlink
Pros
- Many plan options
- High availability in 48 states
- Affordable for plans over 1 Gbps
Cons
- Some plans have data caps
- Poor customer service rating
- Expensive for plans under 1 Gbps
Our picks at a glance
|
Our rating
|
Available speeds
|
Price range
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Optimum | 5.0 |
20 Mbps - 8 Gig |
Starting at $70/month |
| AT&T Internet | 4.9 |
300 Mbps - 5 Gig |
Starting at $55/month |
| Kinetic by Windstream | 4.6 |
50 Mbps - 8 Gig |
Starting at $40/month |
| Comcast Xfinity | 4.5 |
75 Mbps - 2,000 Mbps |
Starting at $20/month |
| Frontier Communications | 4.4 |
200 Mbps - 5 Gig |
Starting at $45/month |
| Ziply Fiber | 4.3 |
100 Mbps - 50 Gig |
Starting at $20/month |
| Earthlink | 4.3 |
25 Mbps - 5 Gig |
Starting at $55/month |
What didn’t make the cut
Narrowly missing the cut were Cox Communications (4.3) and Mediacom (4.3). Although Cox is one of the nation’s largest and most available ISPs, it lost points for its 1.25TB data cap and high prices, starting at $40 per month for 25 Mbps speeds. Likewise, Mediacom’s data caps on all plans impacted its scoring despite affordability and general customer satisfaction.
T-Mobile and Verizon 5G are often on our list of the best internet providers. However, they were disqualified because their primary internet services are 5G, not cable or fiber.
What is the best speed for streaming?
Depending on the video quality, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recommends internet download speeds of 3 to 25 Mbps for streaming. Different streaming providers have their own recommendations, however.
|
Recommended download speed
|
|
|---|---|
| Amazon Prime Video | At least 18 Mbps for 4K streaming |
| Hulu | At least 16 Mbps for 4K streaming |
| Max | At least 50 Mbps for 4K streaming |
| Netflix | At least 15 Mbps for 4K streaming |
It’s important to note that these are minimum speeds for 4K viewing. Depending on whether you’re using the internet for other things in the background or if there are other people on the network, your 25 Mbps plan may not be sufficient for 4K streaming on Netflix. That said, you don’t need all 25 Mbps to stream lower-quality video.
How to increase internet speeds for streaming
pro tip
- If you want consistently high-quality performance, the best internet speed for streaming in 4K is 25 Mbps or higher.
Yes, you can always move closer to the router, but here are some additional tips to achieve the best internet speeds for streaming and gaming.
Run a speed test
A speed test effectively analyzes your internet service and the devices connected to your network to pinpoint potential problem areas. A background app on your phone may draw significant resources from the internet while you struggle to watch a show on your computer. A speed test will help you identify and remediate that problem.
Reset router
Technologists and laymen alike have relied on a simple trick since the earliest days of computers: Turning them off and back on. It sounds silly, but routers can get overwhelmed and malfunction. A reset could resolve the issue.
Remove other devices from network
If you’re really determined to stream in 4K but have limited speed available, it’s useful to put all of your eggs in one basket, so to speak. Internet-connected devices are constantly using resources, even if you’re not using them, so disconnecting them will free up bandwidth for the streaming device.
Connect with an Ethernet cable
Connecting directly to the source via an Ethernet cable can help increase internet speeds.
How to choose the best internet for streaming
We’ve introduced our top picks for streaming and explained why we picked them above, but if more than one of them is available in your area, or none of them are, you might need more information. To make your own decision, consider the following factors.
Availability
As they say in sports, the best ability is availability. Not all ISPs are available nationwide. Ask local friends and neighbors which one they use and do research to determine which providers serve your area. If you live in an apartment building, you may have only one or two choices.
Type of internet
As we’ve noted, the best internet for streaming and gaming is fiber or 5G if it’s available. If you have a choice between a fiber network and a broadband network, the fiber will be better for streaming.
Download and upload speeds
Plans with higher speeds are more expensive. While you need a minimum of 25 Mbps for streaming, if you live in a home with multiple people streaming at once, you may want to opt for the highest download and upload speeds you can comfortably afford.
Latency
Latency isn’t as important for casual internet users or streamers who use the internet for browsing, emailing and watching TV or movies. However, heavy streamers must consider latency speeds when choosing an ISP. Poor latency speeds can make the lag unbearable.
