The 7 fastest ISPs for speedy, reliable internet in 2025

In Ookla's latest speed test, AT&T Fiber internet was the clear winner in virtually all categories. While Verizon and Cox narrowly edged out AT&T in the video streaming category, AT&T Fiber is still the fastest ISP for 2025, with strong performance and reliability across the country.

AT&T scored first in Ookla’s Speed Score while also scoring a win in Consumer Sentiment. AT&T Fiber was also consistently the fastest ISP in 14 of the regions where it was tested. The next closest was XFINITIY with eight regions. In individual cities, AT&T was also the fastest ISP in more cities than any other service Ookla tested.

To top it off, AT&T Fiber was also the fastest ISP in 2024, suggesting it's a reliable choice.

According to Ookla, AT&T Fiber achieved a Speed Score of 78.33, with top download speeds of 894.73 Mbps and top upload speeds of 823.55 Mbps.

• Median download speeds: 363.54 Mbps

• Median upload speeds: 296.52 Mbps

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Frontier Fiber did surprisingly well against the giants of the ISP space. The smaller company scored a second place victory in Ookla’s fixed speed rankings, and it managed similar scores in nearly all other rankings. (It was the winner as the best ISP for gamers.) There really isn’t much to complain about here. Even the brand’s coverage map is fairly large, covering 27 states along both coasts. 

Frontier Fiber was consistent across all of the categories from Ookla. On top of its second place speed rating, it also scored first or second in Consistency, Gaming, and Consumer Sentiment. The lone outlier is Video Experience, where Frontier Fiber was unranked due to lack of data.

Frontier Fiber received a Speed Score of 78.3, and barely trailed AT&T Fiber in overall speeds. For reference, the next closest ISP, Verizon, had median download speeds of 287.28, a significant difference.

• Median download speeds: 359.06 Mbps

• Median upload speeds: 296.08 Mbps

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The popular mobile network Verizon did rather well in Ookla’s testing of ISPs as well, and it may be a smart option if you're already in the Verizon network. Like T-Mobile, it also has bundle options for customers who sign up for multiple services, letting you get free streaming services or even a Nintendo Switch. Verizon internet scored third overall in fixed speeds, and like Cox, Verizon bounced around the various categories measured by Ookla. For instance, Verizon is ranked last in Consistency, though all of the tested networks received a passing grade in that category.

Ookla says Verizon also has the best video streaming experience of any ISP they tested. Big Red also scored well on Gaming (second) and Customer Sentiment (third). The Consistency ratings are also neck-and-neck, so Verizon doesn’t get dinged too terribly for being at the bottom of that list.

We should also note that Verizon offers multiple types of internet service, including both fiber optic and wireless. The brand's Fios Home Internet uses a fiber optic network, and it's the best, most reliable option in our experience. Unfortunately, Fios is only available in the Northeast, though Verizon also offers 5G and LTE home internet plans. So, if you do have access to Verizon Fios Home Internet, that's your best bet for speed.

Based on more than 6.2 million customer speed tests, Verizon received a Speed Score of 75.01.

• Median download speeds: 287.28 Mbps

• Median upload speeds: 182.57 Mbps

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Cox was all over the place on the rankings, and this ISP was last place in Ookla's Consumer Sentiment category. Despite this, Ookla found that Cox still offered reliable, high-speed connections for its customers. Also on the plus side, Cox offers fiber optic internet throughout its entire service area, which even Verizon can't offer. Just remember that if you want the fastest possible speeds, you'll have to opt for higher-priced plans.

Overall, Cox ranked fourth in terms of fixed speed, outranking national competitors like Xfinity and Spectrum. From there, it’s like throwing darts. It ranked second in Video Experience, second only to Verizon (which was the best ISP for streaming), fifth in Consistency, and sixth in Gaming. So, if you use Cox for streaming Netflix, you are good to go.

With an overall Speed Score of 70.55, Cox offered particularly good scores for video streaming.

• Median download speeds: 291.92 Mbps

• Median upload speeds: 51.55 Mbps

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While Starlink wasn't included in the most recent Ookla Speedtest Awards, we know many consumers are interested in comparing Starlink to their ISP. Ookla does have speed test data available for Starlink, the Elon Musk and SpaceX-powered satellite internet service. While it's far from the fastest ISP, it has long since caught up to broadband speeds, and it may be one of your only options in some areas. Thanks to the massive constellation of low-earth orbit satellites operated by SpaceX, Starlink has provided an entirely new way for people around the world to connect to the internet. The service has been a true game-changer for people in rural areas around the world, and for travelers who often go into remote areas.

If you ever wished you never had to deal with a cable or internet company ever again, you can probably see the appeal of Starlink. While the technology behind the service is complicated, it's actually very easy to set up. Customers need to purchase a dish like the $499 Starlink Mini and download the Starlink Android or iOS app to complete the setup. From there, you can manage your internet service in the app. Starlink is more expensive than traditional ISPs, but the monthly cost is comparable to other high-speed internet plans.

On the downside, Ookla speed tests show that Starlink has a wide range in performance depending on your location. And while performance has been steadily increasing, Ookla reports that "[only] 17.4% of U.S. Starlink Speedtest users nationwide were able to get broadband speeds consistent with the FCC’s minimum requirement for broadband," mostly due to lagging upload speeds.

As of Q1 2025, Starlink median download speeds have nearly doubled since 2023. In addition, Starlink has much lower latency than other satellite internet companies (that's a good thing), also per Ookla.

• Median download speeds: 104.71 Mbps

• Median upload speeds: 14.84 Mbps

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Xfinity placed fourth overall in Ookla’s scores, bouncing around the rankings quite a bit. The ISP scored in the middle of Ookla’s Video Experience, Consistency, Consumer Sentiment, and Gaming categories, but didn't finish last in any category. Xfinity is also known for its wide-ranging network, and its affordable internet plans are available in most U.S. states.

Unfortunately, Xfinity only has limited fiber optic offerings, and most customers will be using cable internet. While median upload speeds are on the low end, Xfinity consistently achieves a median download speed of over 300 Mbps, which is generally considered the threshold for high-speed internet.

With more than 24.7 million customer speed tests, Xfinity received an overall Speed Score of 69.95.

• Median download speeds: 309.71 Mbps

• Median upload speeds: 38.72 Mbps

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While Spectrum's overall rating by Ookla lags behind providers like Xfinity, Cox, and Frontier, it scores highly on one of the most important metrics: median download speed. In this category, Spectrum outperforms Cox, Xfinity, and Verizon. With median download speeds of 323.06 Mbps, Spectrum customers should be able to depend on fast connectivity.

Spectrum also ranked in the middle in terms of consistency, so while customers may experience the occasional downtime or lagging speeds, these interruptions should be rare. Spectrum also utilizes a fiber optic network, which results in fast speeds in general.

Spectrum received an overall Speed Score of 67.71.

• Median download speeds: 323.06 Mbps

• Median upload speeds: 21.40 Mbps

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