Gaming has become one of the most popular pastime activities among children, youth, and adults alike. In the last few years, the advancement of technology has made multi-player games, interactive systems, and AR/VR a reality. No matter your taste, there is a fun game available for you across the internet. However, one can only get the best experience by using a relevant device and a high-performing internet connection.

The Internet is just as valid as the rest of the elements when gaming or streaming. Buffering visuals, slow features, and unresponsive interface can take the joy away from the activity, which is why having the best internet for gaming in 2024 is so important. The evolving concepts make the games as interesting as possible. While some games allow you to roleplay as a character, others offer stunning and realistic visuals of virtual realities. Whatever you choose, you must have a secure and reliable internet connection to unlock its full potential. But how does one find the best internet for gaming? And which companies are popular in that category? If you need answers to such questions, stick with us as we review the best options and declare a winner!

What to Look For

Choosing the right internet for gaming is not that hard. If you know what to experiment with, it will be effortless. However, if you feel unsure of where to start from, here's what you need to look out for in a relevant connection:

• Availability: Your searches might give you an impressive range of results but that doesn't determine the connection availability. You need to explore the homepages and contact the companies to confirm whether they operate in your area or not. Every area has its popular network for its ability to handle user requests and respond effectively.

• Access Division: Confirm how many users you will have on the network. The more users there are, the stronger it will need to be. Moreover, games with extensive teams might also require the support of a steady connection.

• Latency: Imagine your internet lagging speed in milliseconds, that is what latency represents. Remember, we are looking for low latency. While we aim for 0ms as the perfect latency rate, 20-40ms can also work in an acceptable range. For instance, Verizon has a stellar latency of 13ms which works perfectly for gaming purposes. Therefore, explore the latency that comes with a certain network and choose the superbly responsive one.

• Upload Speed: Downloading is important, yes, but it's uploading that matters more in a game. From the smallest file to the biggest action, every step in your game is driven by smooth communication of user actions and responses. In streaming videos, a slow uploading speed will not be an issue but since gaming requires active input, this could be a huge issue and impact player performance greatly.

• Data Cap: Data cap is an allowed set range representing data capacity. Based on company services and facilities, you get a specific usage limit. A user can only perform any online activities while being mindful of data consumption. Once exhausted, you have to renew to avail the caps again.

• Bandwidth: There is a certain bandwidth that each game requires to function optimally, if unavailable, either you cannot fully experience the game or be frustrated with its lagging components. So, if you are playing a heavy game, you will require a high-standard bandwidth set to utilize the best results.

• Plans and Deals: Every provider has a set of facilities that are tied together to create a suitable variety of deals and packages. For instance, Spectrum Internet offers a wide and impressive collection of services in their dedicated packages. To lock a deal, you must have at least 90% of the features and requirements sorted or there is just too much to lose

• Fiber vs. Wireless: Wireless internet means more convenience and less mess. You don't have to worry about any form of garbage but that's not why we should choose them. Fiber internet dedicated to a system or desktop is far more robust and commendable when it comes to gaming. It will not only secure the connection but ensure that the reserved cap is only utilized by the gamer. It's a good way to conduct uninterrupted gaming sessions.

• Customer Support: The more comprehensive and reliable the customer care is, the better your experience will be. Our goal is to get in touch with a cooperative and capable team if an issue arises. Committed CS departments are clear representatives of a company's policy and values.

• Comparison: Instead of diving headfirst into purchase mode, take your time to collect information on the current networks and their characteristics. Spare some time to conduct detailed research, draw comparisons, and select the one that best meets your criteria.

Options and Features

Now we will explore some popular US networks and the relevant facilities that come with each of them.

Verizon

• Starting from $39.99
• Pros: unlimited data, low latency, affordable, good customer support
• Cons: limited availability, equipment installation charges, more expensive than others
• of Available States: 9

Spectrum

• Starting from $49.99
• Pros: reliable speed, heavy bandwidth, good upload speed, no contracts, unlimited data
• Cons: a bit expensive, annual price increase
• of Available States: 41

Xfinity

• $35 for 75Mbps (Price varies based on Mbps)
• Pros: good speed, user load management, extensive availability
• Cons: regional price changes, expensive
• of Available States: 36

AT&T

• Starting from $55
• Pros: good speed, reliable latency, stellar range, and bandwidth
• Cons: fiber works better, not very affordable
• of Available States: 21

Optimum

• Starting from $40
• Pros: reasonable speed, no contracts, no data caps
• Cons: costly, poor customer experience, low-speed uploading
• of Available States: 17

Google Fiber 

• Starting from $70
• Pros: superb download speed, a lot of Mbps, excellent uploads, satisfying latency rate
• Cons: limited availability
• of Available States: 17

The Winner

While all internet providers have their perks and downsides, there are some better than others in almost all regards. Considering the subject at hand, the best internet provider should be a company that has low latency, good uploading speed, amazing data cap, and no data caps. We can find all of these qualities in only one network so far, which is Comcast's Xfinity.
Not only is Xfinity cost-effective but has all the qualities one could need for flawless and smooth gaming sessions. Therefore, from an overall perspective, we will consider Xfinity as the best internet for gaming in 2024, with brands like AT&T, and Spectrum following right after.

FAQs

What is the fastest internet in the US?

There is an impressive variety of brands offering speedy internet ranging between 300-3000Mbps in the US, some of them include popular names like Verizon, AT&T, Xfinity, and Spectrum, etc. You can calculate the required amount of Mbps you need to perform a certain activity and choose a provider that accommodates them in a suitable range.

Which network do pro gamers use?

Gaming requires a committed range of data that can be provided by a steady source like Fiber instead of other options like cable and DSL. Keeping this in perspective, if you want to pursue gaming for a long duration without any issues or obstructions, utilize services from Xfinity, AT&T, or Spectrum. All three of them are popular among gamers and have been well-received for their satisfying results.

How do I get a better internet for gaming?

• Check the speed and bandwidth of your internet to see if it's in the suitable range
• Ensure that the latency rate is low and preferably below 150Mbps
• Check whether the device and the router are in close proximity to each other
• Restart the modem and router
• Scan for viruses and other interferences by troubleshooting
• Close other tabs and load-consuming processes
• If nothing else works, connect your device to the ethernet directly

Is 300 Mbps fast enough for gaming?

The minimum limit a very basic game can utilize is 25Mbps. If you choose anything above this number, you might be able to have an average or tolerable experience. However, if you want smooth gaming sessions, 100Mbps is more than enough for the purpose.