Google Fiber Internet Review: A gamer’s dream — if you can get it

Google Fiber at a glance

You may not have known that Google is also an internet service provider (ISP), but Google Fiber reviews make it clear that it offers plenty of value, although there are more affordable options.

Fast facts

What we like

Google Fiber is fast, which is fitting for one of the world’s most innovative companies. Its most basic plan, 1 Gig, delivers a speed up to 1,000 megabits. A 2 Gig plan delivers 2,000 megabits, the fastest plan most cable internet providers offer. Fiber offers stable, reliable connections with symmetrical download and upload speeds, making it the best internet type for online gaming and streaming.

What we don’t like

Getting Google Fiber is a chore. It’s only available in select markets (we’ll get into this in a moment), so even saying it’s available in 42 cities feels like an overstatement. Furthermore, Google’s fiber infrastructure is much less robust than other fiber internet ISPs, and installing it in your home is more complicated because you need a fiber optic line.

Fiber must get buried in your yard and attached to an access point near your house where you’ll put a Google Wi-Fi router. Google provides free professional installation, but it still may feel excessive compared to plug-and-play options offered by 5G internet providers.

Google Fiber pros and cons

Google Fiber has fast, symmetrical download and upload speeds on all plans. There are no equipment or installation fees, and all plans deliver unlimited data. The major downsides, however, are its limited availability and slow expansion plans.

Google continues to expand access to new markets. If you’re interested in its internet, you can join a waiting list to be notified when it’s expanding into your area.

Pros

Cons

How much does Google Fiber cost?

Google Fiber sells four fiber internet plans starting at $70 a month. The 1 Gig and 2 Gig plans are available anywhere Google Fiber operates, while the 5 Gig and 8 Gig plans are only available in select cities.

Google Fiber’s 1 Gig and 2 Gig plans are more expensive when you factor in introductory offers from competitors like T-Mobile ($50 per month) and Verizon FiOs ($64.99 a month), but it’s more affordable than the comparable AT&T Internet plan ($80 per month).

Google has no introductory offer and no first-time customer discounts — what you pay is what you pay. You won’t have to sign a contract, pay data overage fees or worry about a price increase after a price-lock guarantee period. But you won’t score any special discounts, either.

Google offers Webpass in Chicago, Denver, Miami, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and Oakland. This fixed wireless service provides the same speeds as the 1 Gig fiber plan with far less installation hassle.

What plans and services does Google Fiber offer?

All Google Fiber plans come with a Multi-Gig Wi-Fi 6 router, estimated to be 50% faster than the last Wi-Fi iteration (Wi-Fi 5), at no extra cost. That gives your high-speed connection extra stability and more consistency.

When you buy the 2 Gig plan and above, you’ll get a Wi-Fi 6E router and two extenders, which Google calls access points, to extend Wi-Fi range and coverage in your house. They should be enough to cover a 5,000-square-foot home fully. However, you can buy more access points for $50 to $150 each if you need more.

All plans include basic equipment free of charge, free professional installation, no contracts and unlimited data.

Google Fiber services

Google Fiber add-ons and optional features

Google’s Wi-Fi service has few frills and almost no add-ons or optional features. The one exception is access points if you need your Wi-Fi to extend to a larger area.

Google’s plans come with two access points, but you can buy extra access points for $100 apiece.

Google Fiber customer service and experience

If you regularly use high-performing Google products like the search engine, Drive and Chrome, you may be surprised to learn of Google’s poor customer service record. Although products are reputationally reliable, Google has a C rating from the BBB and just a 2.7/5 rating on Trustpilot.

Google has a robust customer service apparatus, even if it doesn’t have a spectacular record of solving problems. You can live-chat or call customer service 24/7, or self-serve with resources including an FAQ page, community forum, blog and knowledge base.

Customer feedback

Some customers complained of lagging speeds caused by weather and limited customer support. Others were satisfied with the speed and installation but found Google Fiber more complicated than expected.

How does Google Fiber compare with competitors?

Google Fiber is competitively priced, with the best prices on the market for 5- and 8-Gig plans. The 5-gig plan is $125/month and the 8-gig is $150/month, which compares favorably to AT&T’s $245/month 5-gig plan. All pricing is transparent, and plans require no contracts or data caps that can hit you with hidden fees or surprise price hikes.

Google Fiber vs. competitors

Methodology

Our methodology draws on nearly 50 primary sources, from customer reviews and company materials to coverage maps and more. Our objective rating weighs company reputation, plan features, plan pricing, technology, availability, customer service and data privacy. Using this methodology to create impartial reviews, we’ve evaluated 22 ISPs, including Google Fiber.

Bottom line

Google Fiber is an outstanding choice for high-speed internet if it’s available in your area. Its current service area includes just 42 cities, some larger (San Francisco) and others smaller (Provo, Utah). However, due to its lack of availability, involved installation process and poor customer service ratings, Google Fiber ranks near the bottom of our list of the best fiber internet providers.

FAQs