Google Fiber Review: The Go-To for Gig Internet

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Google Fiber rating

How we calculated our rating

7.5/10

CNET Score

We score internet providers for speed, value and customer care. Our data sources include the FCC, J.D. Power, The American Customer Satisfaction Index and extensive in-house research.

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7.5

/ 10

SCORE

Speed

8/10

Value

7.5/10

Customer Care

7/10

Pros

• Speeds start at 1Gbps
• No equipment fees, data caps or contracts
• Continuing fiber expansion

Cons

• No cheap plan options Fiber network still has room to grow

See more pros and cons

Google Fiber isn't a "cheap" internet provider, but it more than makes up for the lack of cheap pricing by offering plenty of value.

Considering what you get for the starting price of $70 a month -- symmetrical upload and download speeds up to 1,000 megabits per second, free equipment and unlimited data with no contracts or set price increases -- the cost is quite reasonable. Google Fiber plans, while not the outright cheapest, have arguably the best value you'll find from any major ISP.

As one who appreciates high-speed internet and is willing to pay a little more for it, I'd say Google Fiber is worth checking out. Few fiber providers match Google Fiber's speed potential, let alone service from cable or DSL providers. You'll want to consider more than speed when shopping for internet service in your area, so here's a full rundown of what you can expect from Google Fiber.

Google Fiber speeds and pricing

Google Fiber has two to four plan options depending on where you live: 1Gbps or 2Gbps, plus new 5Gbps and 8Gpbs plans. The latter two are currently only available in select areas, although a Google Fiber spokesperson has confirmed with CNET that the provider aims to eventually roll out both plans to all markets. 

Select cities -- specifically Chicago, Denver, Miami, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and Oakland, California -- have access to Google Webpass, a high-speed fixed wireless internet service similar to Starry Internet. There's only one plan available with Google Webpass, gigabit service, but cheaper pricing may be available if your building's network can't support gigabit speeds.

Google Fiber plans are better priced than most, although no "cheap" option is available. At $70 per month, Google Fiber's gig service is priced lower than fiber providers AT&T, Frontier and Verizon Fios and cable ISPs including Cox, Spectrum and Xfinity (in select areas). Then there's the $100 per month 2Gbps plan, which is still cheaper than what some providers charge for a single gig service.

A good indicator of value is the cost per Mbps, which you can find for any internet plan by dividing the monthly fee by the maximum speeds. Google Fiber's 1 Gig plan starts at $70 per month for speeds up to 1,000Mbps, which comes to an estimated cost per Mbps of 7 cents. The 2 Gig plan is even lower at 5 cents per Mbps. A sub-dime cost per Mbps is often a great internet deal, and the cost per Mbps of Google Fiber plans is on par with or lower than most providers at any speed tier.

Google Fiber's 8 Gig plan, although not yet widely available, actually boasts the lowest cost per Mbps (less than 2 cents), of just about any major provider or plan. It's still a bit pricey at $150 per month, but the speeds you get more than justify the cost. 

Straightforward pricing with no added fees

Google Fiber doesn't have introductory pricing, so you don't have to worry about a steep price increase after 12 months. That's not to say the price will never go up, but there's no guarantee that it will after a certain number of months.

Additionally, Google Fiber plans come with unlimited data (so no overage fees) and no contracts with a required service length (no early termination fees). Unlimited data and no contracts are becoming more common among ISPs. Still, some big-name providers will require you to sign an agreement to get the lowest pricing or tack on $50 or more in overage fees for exceeding your data limit.

No equipment costs, even for mesh Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi 6 routers

Google Fiber plans come with a Multi-Gig Wi-Fi 6 router, the latest available Wi-Fi technology and estimated to be roughly 30% faster than the previous Wi-Fi iteration. The technology is exciting, but Wi-Fi routers can be a bit pricey, so it's nice that Google Fiber includes one at no extra cost.

Multi-gig plans, that's 2-gig and above, include the Wi-Fi router plus up to two extenders, or access points, which extend the range and coverage of Wi-Fi service throughout your home up to around 3,000 square feet. You can purchase more access points for $100 each if you need additional coverage.

Where is Google Fiber available?

Google Fiber's availability is nowhere near rival fiber providers like AT&T, Verizon Fios or Quantum Fiber but it offers service in some relatively major markets. 

Kansas City, Missouri and Huntsville, Alabama have the most significant Google Fiber coverage, but service can also be found in parts of Mesa, Arizona; Orange County, California; Atlanta, Georgia; Charlotte and the Raleigh/Durham area of North Carolina; Nashville, Tennessee; Austin and San Antonio, Texas; Salt Lake City and Provo, Utah; and now also West Des Moines, Iowa.

Google Fiber expansion continues

The list of cities that have access to Google Fiber is growing, as is the availability in markets where Google Fiber is currently. 

Admittedly, Google Fiber is still available to just over 1% of US households, according to the most recent FCC data. There are positive signs of growth and the rapid expansion continues in existing markets and new ones like Lakewood, Colorado.

Furthermore (and encouraging to a suburbanite like myself), Google Fiber shows signs of expansion outside major city limits. For example, Google Fiber is set to expand into Concord and Matthews, North Carolina. I've lived in both Charlotte suburbs and would not have anticipated Google Fiber's availability to reach that far away from the city center.

How does Google Fiber stack up against competitors?

If Google Fiber is available in your area, it's safe to assume you also have a cable provider and possibly even another fiber provider available at your address. In that case, you'll want to know how Google Fiber compares.

Compared to other fiber providers -- or really any ISPs -- Google Fiber will have a higher starting price. You'll find lower monthly starting prices from AT&T Fiber ($55), Frontier Fiber ($45), Quantum Fiber ($50) and Verizon Fios ($50) but again, it is worth noting that these cheaper plans come with significantly lower speeds, typically ranging from 300 to 500Mbps. If those speeds are sufficient for your household, a more affordable plan like what's available from AT&T or Verizon Fios may be your best bet.

There's arguably no better gig or 2-gig provider

If you're interested in gig service, Google Fiber will be tough to beat, even among competing fiber providers. At $70 per month, the starting pricing for Google Fiber's gig service is lower than AT&T, Frontier and Verizon ($80 to $90 per month). Lumen's Quantum Fiber internet, formerly known as CenturyLink Fiber, also starts at $70 per month, but the provider doesn't offer the same quality when it comes to Wi-Fi equipment.

As for comparing gig service from Google Fiber to cable internet providers like Spectrum or Xfinity, not only will Google Fiber probably be cheaper, but it'll likely also be faster (at least the upload speeds will be) and more reliable. Fiber internet has the potential to deliver symmetrical upload and download speeds, something cable internet can't do. In the case of Google Fiber's 2 Gig plan, you'll get max upload speeds of 1,000Mbps compared to max download speeds of 2,000Mbps, but that's still incredibly fast.

Upload speeds with cable internet top out at around 50Mbps, so you won't get anywhere near the same upload speeds with cable internet service. The connection quality of a fiber service is also typically better than a cable one, which can be susceptible to slowed speeds due to network congestion, especially during peak usage times.

Where does Google Fiber rank on customer satisfaction?

In its most recent report, the American Customer Satisfaction Index separated fiber from nonfiber providers or services. The move allows ISPs such as AT&T, Frontier and Kinetic to distinguish customer satisfaction between its DSL and fiber-optic services. It also made room for Google Fiber to be included in the public results, whereas it was previously grouped under "all others."

Google Fiber scored 76/100, a point above the category average and a full 10 points ahead of the average for nonfiber providers. AT&T Fiber and CenturyLink were the only providers named above Google Fiber, while Google Fiber scored above Frontier Fiber, Xfinity Fiber and long-time customer satisfaction leader Verizon Fios.

The provider fared better with J.D. Power, claiming the top spot for ISPs in the South region in 2023 with a score of 839 out of 1,000 -- the highest of any internet provider from any region.

The bottom line on Google Fiber

If you've got the need for speed, there is perhaps no better provider than Google Fiber -- that's if the service is available in your area. Google Fiber has some of the best pricing on gig service and favorable service terms such as free equipment rental, unlimited data and no contract requirements, further adding to the value. The service isn't for everyone, especially those looking for a cheap plan under $50 per month. Be sure to consider all of your home internet options before committing to one in particular.

Google Fiber FAQs