Online gaming scenarios have seen major changes in the past recent years. From multiplayer simulation games to epic battleground survival sagas, all these games have most of us hooked to our computer systems or mobile phones. Technological innovations are happening, allowing gamers to enjoy upgraded gadgets and devices for an enhanced gaming experience.
It was found in a recent study that almost 160 million adults play online video games in the U.S. In almost every household, there is at least one person who is into gaming. That’s why ISPs throughout America are coming up with better internet solutions to provide a flawless gaming experience.
There are a few factors that one should thoughtfully consider when looking for the perfect internet provider for gaming sessions. Let’s take a look at them so you know how to go on with the search:
- The “ping” and the “latency” time should be at the absolute minimum. The less it is, the clearer the graphics, the faster the speed with very few glitches in anything that you download or upload. The gameplay gets smooth and the real fun begins.
- You will need a high-speed internet connection in case you prioritize gaming among other online activities. While common everyday searches do not require much, your game night asks for a bigger and stronger bandwidth so that you play on without worrying about buffering or losing your turn.
- Hands down, we suggest going for unlimited data. If you’re a seasoned gamer, then you know how much data an online game can take up. For newbies, well, try looking for plans that offer no data cap.
- If you’re considering which service would be the most suitable for gaming then fiber is the answer. It has the least latency among its contenders like cable, DSL, and satellite. Moreover, you don’t need to compromise on steady speeds with fiber during peak hours.
Now that you have the basic factors pinned down, we have selected the best 2021 ISPs for you to consider, for your online gameplay.
| Company name | Cost per month | Type of connection | Download speeds | Latency per ms |
| Frontier Internet | $24.99 to $74.99 | Fiber and DSL | 6 Mbps – 940 Mbps | 9 |
| Verizon Internet | $39.99 to $79.99 | Fiber | 200 Mbps – 940 Mbps | 12 |
| Spectrum Internet | $49.99 and up | Hybrid-Fiber Coax | 200 Mbps – 940 Mbps | 24 |
| Xfinity Internet | $29.99 to $299+ | Cable | 15 Mbps – 2,000 Mbps | 18 |
| Cox Internet | $29.99 to $99.99 | Fiber and Cable | 10 Mbps – 1,000 Mbps | 22 |
| Optimum Internet | $24.95 to $75 | Fiber and Cable | 10 Mbps – 940 Mbps | 15 |
Frontier Internet:
Frontier promises that its fiber-optic internet plans offer excellent playtime with the least amount of buffering. It’s available in 33 states across the U.S and also in Washington, D.C., offering a total of six plans which vary from region to region. The whole family can enjoy the services simultaneously without worries about the bandwidth.
Verizon Internet:
Next on our list of best gaming internet providers is Verizon. It offers extremely low latency with three of its Fios plans which are super-fast. The download and upload speeds come up to a maximum of 940 Mbps and 880 Mbps respectively. There is unlimited data available with Verizon plans but the service is limited to only the North-Eastern side of the USA.
Spectrum Internet:
Spectrum’s plus is the access to their nationwide spread of Wi-Fi hotspot networks. It is available in almost 42 states so, the chances of your location being covered are high. Additionally, there is the no-contract policy which allows the customer to easily shift the connection in case of relocation. A simple cancellation of services is also easy with Spectrum Charter. Their basic or standard plan offers 200 Mbps of data which is enough for most households. Although, you can select their Gig package with its super-high-speed of 940 Mbps.
Xfinity Internet:
It offers cable and fiber internet with a data limit or data cap of 1.2 TB. Xfinity also provides its consumers with a contract-free facility. The cable plans cost less, from $30 to $70 a month while its super-fast fiber internet plans are more expensive with prices ranging from $70 to $299+. We recommend that you try their fiber plan only if you’re a high-end user and don’t like compromising on the reliability of the connection. However, their cable plans are suitable enough for most people.
Cox Internet:
Cox is quite good for gaming buffs as its promised speeds are exactly what they say they are. The issue is their limited availability, i.e., you can find it in only 13 states across the U.S. They don’t offer unlimited data and the cap is set at 1.25 TB. It’s enough if Cox is the only service in your area or if you’ve already tried other services, then give Cox a chance. You may be pleasantly surprised.
Optimum Internet:
With its amazing Hybrid services, Optimum is one of the cheapest internet services available in the market. Even the lowest speeds of Optimum are good enough for gaming as well as video conference calling. They offer no-contract plans with a low latency rate so that their services are smooth and steady. Multiple devices can be connected without worrying about the speed of getting throttled. The downside is their extremely limited availability and that’s why it stands at the end of our list of best ISPs for gaming.
