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Fiber internet vs. cable internet: Which option should you get?

Lisa Iscrupe,Hannah WhatleyAllconnect

Published 10:47 am ET Sep 23

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When comparing fiber vs. cable internet, it’s essential to understand their differences before choosing between these internet connection types. Although both services use hard-wired lines to provide high-speed internet and Wi-Fi to your home, the transmission methods differ. Cable internet relies on coaxial lines, while fiber uses fiber-optic technology to send data to and from your location. 

Find more information on coaxial cable vs. fiber-optic connections in this comparison overview, or jump to a specific section.

• Is fiber or cable right for you?
• Fiber vs. cable internet speeds
• Cost differences between fiber and cable
• Where are fiber and cable options available?
• Advantages of fiber-optic internet
• Advantages of cable internet

Is fiber or cable right for you?

If you’re searching for high-speed internet, you can’t go wrong in selecting fiber internet vs. cable options. Both types of internet connections offer fast internet speeds with comparable pricing. The differences between fiber vs. cable internet include several distinct attributes related to speed options and price range. 

• In short, fiber internet is best if you are interested in faster upload speeds, multi-gig availability and overall reliability. Gamers and ultra-connected homes with numerous Wi-Fi devices (laptops, tablets, cell phones, etc.) often prefer this connection type.
• Cable internet is often the best choice for having the cheapest introductory rates or bundling TV and internet service. Cable is a good fit for most users, from light internet browsers to busier online households. 

Use this table to compare cable vs. fiber and their primary differences.

Fiber vs. cable internet speeds

The highest download and upload speeds vary with fiber internet vs. cable. While both offer plans with speeds up to 1 GB, fiber internet is the only connection type to offer multi-gig internet as well as symmetrical upload and download speeds. 

Download speeds

When evaluating fiber vs. cable internet speeds, fiber optic cable technology can provide much faster download speeds than a cable connection. Most fiber providers offer speeds between 300 and 2,000 Mbps, but some supply up to 5, 8 or even 10 GB, depending on your location.

According to Speedtest.net, the average U.S. download speed as of November 2024 was 262.59 Mbps. Most fiber connections deliver download speeds from four to forty times faster than that.

Get an idea of top fiber speeds with these widely available internet providers that offer some of the fastest download connections for residential and business internet.

• AT&T — up to 5 GB*
• Frontier — up to 5 GB
• Google Fiber — up to 8 GB
• Optimum — up to 8 GB 
• Verizon Fios — up to 2 GB

_{*Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds may vary. For 5GIG, single device wired speed maximum 4.7Gbps. For more info, go to www.att.com/speed101. As of 03/20/25.}

Upload speeds

For most online activities, such as streaming, e-mail and web browsing, download speed is the metric that matters. However, upload speeds also have a big impact on certain activities, such as real-time gaming or uploading photo and video content.

Fiber has notably faster upload speeds than cable internet. When you compare cable vs. fiber upload speeds, you will notice that cable’s upload speed is around one-thirtieth of its download speed, while fiber speeds are uniform, so download and upload speeds are always the same.

For example: 

• A cable internet package with a 300 Mbps download speed will often have an upload speed of around 10 Mbps. 
• A fiber internet plan with 300 Mbps download plan will also have 300 Mbps upload. 

With the U.S. averaging a 36.19 Mbps upload speed, fiber is clearly a better choice for internet users who need good upload speeds and have access to the service. 

Cost differences between fiber and cable

If your area has both a cable and fiber internet provider, odds are that pricing will be competitive, allowing you to select either option at an affordable monthly cost. 

• Fiber pricing: Overall, a fiber-optic cable connection costs between $50 and $100/mo. for up to 1 GB speeds, with monthly rates of $100 to $300 for the fastest multi-gig speeds. Fiber prices tend to be more stable than cable, with fewer price increases over time, especially with fiber providers like AT&T, Verizon Fios or Google Fiber.
• Cable pricing: Cable companies, Xfinity in particular, may offer cheap internet prices starting between $9.95–$50/mo. — but beware of hidden fees for equipment, installation or activation, and extreme price hikes after the promotion period ends. Cable prices can reach $80 or more if you opt for a plan with 1 GB download speeds. 

To better understand the true value of each type of connection, the following table compares multiple 500 Mbps plans broken down by cost per Mbps. Based on cost alone, the results are nearly equivalent. 

However, remember to take into account any additional fees or benefits associated with these internet deals when weighing your plan options. For example, Xfinity has a $24/mo. price increase and monthly modem and router charge after the initial two-year promotional period. Meanwhile, Spectrum, AT&T and Verizon all have various price terms — Spectrum has a one-year price guarantee; Verizon provides three years of price security; and AT&T has no price guarantee, but seldom raises prices. 

Where are fiber and cable options available?

Ultimately, comparing fiber internet vs. cable is highly dependent on what internet providers are available at your location. The maximum internet speeds of cable or fiber connections can vary even within the same city or town. 

Currently, fiber is exclusive to urban and suburban areas in mid to large cities. If you live in a small town, fiber is unlikely to be available, while a local cable provider may still offer internet access to all but the most rural, outlying areas. 

Therefore, you’re more likely to have a cable internet provider in your area than fiber. Cable is the most accessible home Wi-Fi service, besides satellite internet. According to the FCC, cable internet covers 82.7% of the U.S.

In contrast, fiber optic cable is available to just over 42% of households, leaving a lot of ground for fiber infrastructure to cover before it can reach as many people as cable Wi-Fi service.

Advantages of fiber-optic internet

Fiber optic cable offers the most benefits for home internet service. Fiber internet offers the fastest download and upload speeds to handle the greatest number of connected devices and the widest variety of online tasks. 

Fiber’s dedicated connection is more secure and reliable than cable and is unaffected by network congestion. It is also future-proofed, or better equipped, for adding more devices and handling higher-bandwidth online activities over time. 

The biggest drawback to fiber internet is its selective availability compared to a cable connection. Other limitations of fiber include the lack of low-cost internet plans found with cable service providers. Finally, while cable internet can be bundled with a TV plan for additional savings, fiber providers are confined to offering either satellite TV or streaming packages to fill the television gap. 

Advantages of cable internet

Cable internet is one of the most prevalent types of Wi-Fi connections, and nearly every town has a local cable provider. Speeds can range from 100 to 1,000 Mbps, although many cable providers now have a hybrid cable-fiber infrastructure allowing them to offer speeds over 1 GB. 

Cable internet prices can vary substantially by location, but rates tend to range from $20 to $70/mo. Some regional cable providers offer very affordable rates, such as Astound or Breezeline, while others are pricier, like Buckeye Broadband. 

Comparing coaxial cable vs. fiber optic reliability is a matter of recognizing the difference between a dedicated and shared internet connection. Cable internet is generally very reliable, although it is a shared connection — meaning the cable line delivering internet to your home is split off from a main cable conduit. Consequently, when more people are online in your area, the internet speed is split more evenly among additional Wi-Fi devices, which can result in temporarily slower speeds at your residence. 

Final observations on fiber vs. cable internet

The differences between fiber and cable internet networks include variations in speed, reliability, pricing and availability. Examine the fiber and cable options available in your area to weigh the unique pros and cons of the internet service providers specific to your location.

Lisa IscrupeAllconnect.com

Lisa Iscrupe is a senior writer helping readers understand the complexities of broadband, internet and other home services, including energy and renewable products. Her work appears on SaveOnEnergy.com and CNET.com, with national sources such as CNN, The Daily MBA and The Media Bulletin referencing her articles.

Hannah WhatleyAllconnect.com

Hannah Whatley is an editor who enjoys collaborating with writers to offer readers the most relevant, accurate, and up-to-date information for their home purchases. She has previously edited for The Motley Fool, The Modest Wallet, Grammarly, JoinCake.com and SaveOnEnergy.com, gaining expertise in several industries. Hannah has a B.A. in English from Thomas Edison State University. When she isn’t editing, she enjoys studying linguistics and languages.