Best Internet Providers For Video Gaming in the USA

You don’t need ultrafast download rates to play online games, believe it or not. Although it also does not mean that you do not need a high-speed internet provider as well. We are sure that gaming is not all that you do in your home space and you need to connect several more devices as well, so we will only be recommending you the best internet service providers that are offering stable internet connections. 

Now if you have already tasted the amazing speed offered by Century Link, then sure it is a hard one to beat when it comes to reliability and affordability altogether. We do suggest you immediately contact CenturyLink phone number and get to know about their connection availability in your area, which we are hopeful will be covered due to its expansive infrastructure. 

So, let us not keep you waiting any longer and dive into the several more options you may want to look into for the best internet providers for video gaming. 

Quick Tip: Things To Look For When Choosing The Best ISP For Gaming

You require an internet provider that does not contribute to the overall latency. Your internet provider’s network connection should be fast, thus the only major latency issue will be between the remote server the provider. Nonetheless, you must first look for a fiber internet service. Fiber is more efficient in the transmission of data than a DSL or cable connection. Fiber also provides symmetrical speeds, which is critical for the gamers who live stream their content on Facebook Gaming or Twitch. 

Also, your upload speeds must take precedence over download speeds. You wouldn’t want your game input to be transmitted at a slow speed onto the gaming server.

Best Internet Providers For Gaming

Below is the list of the best providers, except CenturyLink which we have already mentioned, you can opt for to have a good gaming experience. 

1. Verizon Fios

One of the top average latency is offered by Verizon Fios which is exactly what a gamer needs. Verizon currently offers three fiber options, all of which have symmetrical speeds. With the Internet 300/300 plan, you’ll enjoy identical upload and download speeds of up to 300 Mbps, so you won’t have to worry about upload latency. Cable internet does not provide the same level of security.

Verizon Fios is a good choice if you want fiber internet for online gaming or live streaming.

2. AT&T 

With its new 5 Gbps plan, AT&T has become the fastest big-name internet provider in the US, which is a little excessive for home internet.

You desire AT&T’s fiber internet over its DSL service if you’re a gamer. Sure, you can play online games with DSL, but you’ll get faster speeds with fiber, which means lower latency.

In terms of cost, AT&T is one of the most affordable options. Overall, if AT&T Fiber is available in your location, then you must go for it. 

3. Google Fiber

Google Fiber provides some of the world’s fastest home internet rates, up to 2,000 Mbps. However, it is incredibly limited in scope, covering only 1.3 percent of the United States.

The average latency of Google Fiber is more than double that of Verizon Fios, at 27.4 milliseconds, but you’ll get quicker speeds with Google. The maximum upload speeds on both Google Fiber services are set at 1,000 Mbps.

If Google Fiber is available in your area, we highly suggest it.

4. Xfinity

For most people, Xfinity’s combination of high speeds, minimal latency, and a vast coverage region makes it the ideal gaming ISP.

Xfinity is one of the top internet providers in the United States, serving 34.2 percent of the population. Xfinity’s cable internet plans offer download speeds of up to 1,200 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 35 Mbps. Xfinity also provides a fiber package, which we strongly suggest if it is available in your area.

What Is Required in an Internet Connection for Good Online Gaming Experience?

If you want the ultimate gaming experience, then you must look for the following in the internet provider that you want to opt for. 

• The Connection Type: Fiber is going to be the best option for you if you want that perfectly smooth gaming experience. Instead of hogging off your data over the radio waves (like DSL and cable) it delivers light pulses over glass fiber. However, if you do not have a fiber network available then the cable is the second-best option for you. 
• Upload Speed: Upload speeds are important as they handle the gaming without causing any latency issues. Therefore, we would recommend getting an internet plan with an upload speed of at least 6 Mbps.
• Latency: Since the data takes time to travel, every internet connection must always have some delay. Nevertheless, a delay of fewer than 100 milliseconds is only acceptable and anything more than that will take more time contacting the server. So, to prevent this, be sure to be subscribed to a provider with the least latency. 
• Download Speeds: Download speed is most important in gaming for updates and complete digital game installations. The sooner you can get into the game, the more bits you can get in a second. We recommend a download speed of at least 100 Mbps for your internet connection.

Conclusion

There you have it. The list of the best internet providers that you can choose from for an excellent gaming experience.