The choice of your internet connection impacts pretty much everything in your life. From your work tasks to entertainment needs, it’s the internet connection that determines how your online experience is going to be. Most online activities only require a stable connection that delivers decent speeds but when it comes to online gaming, you need to consider everything from good download speeds to upload speeds and lower latency rates.
The worst nightmare of any gamer is the word ‘LAG’. Hence it’s important to choose a provider that offers you the fastest speeds along with low latency so you don’t have to face lagging issues while gaming. We know choosing the right internet provider for online gaming could be a little tricky. This is why we have decided to make it easy for you and list down some of the top internet providers that you can opt for gaming based on their prices, speeds, data caps, latency, and most importantly, availability in your area.
- AT&T: Offers great fiber internet plans
- Spectrum: Offers unlimited data
- Xfinity: Best for fast speeds and low latency
- Suddenlink: Best internet for gaming in rural areas
But before we get into our list, here are a few things you must look for when choosing an ISP for gaming:
- Download Speeds up to 75 Mbps
Gaming usually doesn’t require super-high speeds but your connection should be stable enough to support you in the middle of your game while you have multiple other devices and users connected to the internet too. The minimum download speed recommended for gaming by FCC (Federal Communications Commission) is 3-4 Mbps but we recommend that you must look for speeds faster than that to support multi-connectivity.
The main advantage of opting for an ISP with download speeds of at least 75 Mbps is that you can do multiple things besides gaming, such as watching YouTube videos during your game. It will also support multiple players connected to the internet connection at the same time. If you want to know more about good download speeds, you can click here.
- Upload Speeds up to 10 Mbps
If you do not have to live-stream your game or upload YouTube videos related to it, then quit worrying about your upload speed. The minimum you would require to have a good gaming experience is 3-6 Mbps of upload speeds, but if you have to live stream or do other stuff to support your gaming habits, you must aim for up to 10 Mbps or faster upload speeds.
- Latency Rate Less than 50 ms
Call it latency, lag, or ping, all these terms are unacceptable for any gamer. Latency refers to the reaction of your connection, i.e. how quickly your device responds to a request from the hosting server. Lower latency or ping is desirable to achieve smoother gameplay. The higher your latency rate gets, the more lag occurs between your executing shot and its launching on the opponent's player.
How much latency you’re going to face depends on the type of internet connection you choose for gaming. The average latency rate you experience with a Fiber internet connection is 10-15 ms. With cable internet, it is nearly between 15-27 ms, whereas a DSL internet connection will have an average latency of 24-42 ms. As long as the internet you’re choosing has a latency rate of less than 50 ms, you’re good to go.
- Unlimited Data Allowance
Imagine you’re in the middle of a mission and you receive a threatening email from your ISP warning you that you’re about to exceed your monthly data limit. Isn’t that going to spoil your whole vibe? This is why we recommend that while choosing an ISP for gaming, pick the one that offers unlimited data allowance or at least 1 TB of data.
Especially if you have more than two gamers in your house, you work remotely or have a smart home, you’ll need more data to keep everything running smoothly. Therefore, you should always check data caps thoroughly when searching for a new ISP. Because dealing with the one that offers plans with data caps will certainly exhaust you.
Now that you know what to look for in an ISP for a smooth gaming experience, let’s get straight into the list of our favorite picks for you. Here are the top ISPs for gaming in 2022:
AT&T
What’s better for gaming than a fiber internet connection? And AT&T is best known for bringing amazing fiber internet plans to our doorsteps. With fast speeds and low latency, you can get AT&T where you live. Simply enter your zip code in the search bar of LocalCabelDeals.com and check their availability in your area. The average latency expected from AT&T internet plans is less than 32 ms.
The perfect AT&T plan for competitive online gaming and multi-device connectivity is AT&T Fiber Internet 1000. As the name of the plan suggests, you can enjoy ultra-fast download speeds up to 1,000 Mbps and experience 99% reliability of bandwidth. The best part about this plan is that it comes with an unlimited data allowance.
Another reason for recommending AT&T is the exceptional customer support that the company offers. AT&T customer service offers 24/7 technical support and highly focuses on customer satisfaction. No matter what issue you face during any time of the day or night with your internet connection, all you need to do is contact the AT&T customer service phone number and their expert service team will attend to you then and there.
Still confused if AT&T internet is good for gaming? The simple answer is YES!
Spectrum
The reason why Spectrum made it to our list of best ISPs for gaming is not only its wide availability across 44 states in the US, but also its remarkable service offerings. Spectrum Internet plans range from being affordable to high-end. So, gamers get a choice to pick the one that suits their pocket and fulfills their requirements as well.
The ping rate and latency you experience with this service are minimal. Overall, it brings decent speeds to the table that most of the gamers are looking for. On top of it, all Spectrum plans come with unlimited data so gamers don’t have to worry about holding back from playing at the end of each month. Here are the three plans that your get with Spectrum Internet:
- Spectrum Internet®:
This plan offers download speeds up to 200 Mbps (wireless speeds may vary) at a very decent price for gamers that are looking for cheap internet plans for gaming.
- Spectrum Internet® Ultra:
If you have multiple players at your home and are looking for a plan that offers more speeds, then you can go for this plan. The download speeds you’ll get with Spectrum Ultra are up to 400 Mbps (wireless speeds may vary).
- Spectrum Internet® Gig:
If gaming is more than just a recreation for you and you have taken it as your career option, then you must go for a plan that supports live streaming along with playing online as well. Just as the name suggests, Spectrum Gig offers you download speeds up to 1 Gig with no data caps.
Xfinity
Xfinity made it to our list of the best gaming ISPs because it offers everything that a gamer needs. From fast internet speeds to low latency rates, this provider covers a large service area, making it the go-to choice of most gamers. You can choose among different Xfinity Internet plans depending on where you live. Here are the best plans that Xfinity offers in the Central division:
- Performance:
Offering download speeds up to 100 Mbps, Performance supports up to 5 connected devices at once. Sound like a good option for gamers who live alone.
- Extreme:
With a download speed of up to 600 Mbps, this plan is great for up to 11 devices connected at the same time. Online gamers who want to opt for an affordable and decent internet plan can go for this one.
- Extreme Pro+:
You can enjoy download speeds up to 900 Mbps with this plan. It’s a great pick for multi-player gaming, seamless streaming, and heavy downloads. If you’re wondering what is the best Xfinity internet plan for gaming? Extreme Pro+ is definitely the answer to your question.
Suddenlink
We all can agree that internet options get limited in rural areas as most of the ISPs focus on serving in big cities as their priority. Well, in that case, Suddenlink internet appears as the savior of gamers living in small towns. Not only does it serve the internet users in rural areas, but it also offers internet speeds as fast as any other popular ISP in America.
If you’re searching for the best internet provider for gaming in a rural area, then Suddenlink is your go-to option. The best-selling Suddenlink internet packages are:
- Suddenlink Internet 200:
It is the most affordable yet efficient plan for gaming. You can enjoy download speeds up to 200 Mbps and HBO Max™ free for up to 3 months.
- Suddenlink Internet 400:
This plan offers download speeds up to 400 Mbps with unlimited data allowance so you can play online games for as long as you want without worrying about running out of data.
- Suddenlink Internet 1 Gig:
This plan offers the fastest internet speeds but is available in a limited area. You can check its availability in your specific area by searching through your zip code. Other than the availability, the Suddenlink Gig plan comes with unlimited data, making it an ideal plan for gamers in rural areas.
The best part about all Suddenlink is that it doesn’t require you to sign up for any annual contracts and stick to the no-contract policy just like Spectrum Internet.
Wrapping it up
Finding the best ISP for gaming might be a little difficult but it’s not impossible. All you need to do is look for a good combo of download and upload speeds, consider the average latency and pay attention to the type of internet connection. Once you find an ISP that includes all these things, you’re good to go. And don’t forget that data caps are a big no!
