Internet Connection Types
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Which Type of Internet Connection Is Best for Your Home?
What are the main types of internet connections, and which is best for your home?
There are six main types of internet connections: fiber, cable, DSL, satellite, fixed wireless, and 5G. Each offers different speeds, prices, and availability. Fiber is the fastest and most reliable, but availability depends on your location. This guide breaks down each internet type and suggests internet providers so you can compare options and find the best fit for your household.
Internet Connection Types at a Glance
| Internet Type | Download Speed Range* | Starting Price Range* | % of US Pop. with Access** |
| Fiber | 200 – 2,000 Mbps | $35.00 – $299.95/mo. | 40% |
| Cable | 25 – 1,000 Mbps | $19.99 – $120.00/mo. | 88% |
| DSL | 10 – 150 Mbps | $19.99 – $69.99/mo. | 89% |
| Satellite | 12 – 150 Mbps | $49.99 – $99.00/mo. | 99% |
| Fixed Wireless | 5 – 50 Mbps | $29.99 – $99.00/mo. | 43% |
| 5G | 50 – 10,000 Mbps | $50.00 – $70.00/mo. | N/A |
**Percentages are based on the FCC internet availability data as of 9/13/21.
What Type of Internet is Best?
As it stands, fiber internet is the best internet if you can get your hands on it. It’s extremely fast and reliable compared to other internet types, offering equal download and upload speeds of up to 2,000 Mbps (though 1,000 Mbps is more common). This makes it ideal for heavy users who have larger homes, multi-person families, or bandwidth-heavy jobs.
However, since it’s a newer technology, fiber internet is the least available connection type today. Internet service providers (ISP) are still working to build infrastructure to support it, which takes time and money. This also explains why fiber plans are generally more expensive, too. If you can’t get fiber where you live, check out what other connections have to offer below.
Fiber Internet
Fiber internet uses light, rather than electric signals, to transfer data along fiber-optic glass cables. These “cables” are thin, transparent glass fibers that transmit data at the speed of light, which explains why it’s so much faster than other connection types.
Overall, fiber offers the fastest speeds, delivers the largest home coverage, and supports the most device connectivity among internet options. Users can expect symmetrical upload and download speeds with fiber, while other internet types typically have higher download speeds. Upload speeds – the speed at which you can upload files and data – are critical for activities like working and learning from home, sending videos, uploading photos, and playing games online.
However, since fiber is not as widely available as DSL and cable internet and can cost a pretty penny, it only makes up 1 in 5 internet subscribers today (or 19% of all U.S. households).
Pros
- Fast download and upload speeds
- Most reliable connection
- Supports the most connected devices
Cons
- Can get pricey
- Limited availability in the U.S.
- Slow overbuild process
Cable Internet
Far more common than fiber, cable internet uses electrical signals to pass internet connection from a provider to the home. It piggybacks off of pre-existing infrastructures to deliver internet, using the same coaxial cables that TV service runs on. While DSL is similar in that it relies on older networks, cable internet is usually more reliable than DSL.
Cable service offers fast download speeds and is widely available, which makes it the leading choice for households today. Currently, 3 in 5 internet subscribers use cable internet (64% of all U.S. households).
Pros
- 2x the availability of fiber
- Supports gaming and streaming
- Fast download speeds
Cons
- Slower speeds during peak hours
- Limited availability in rural areas
- Moderate to high prices
DSL Internet
DSL internet, which stands for digital subscriber line, is the most common connection in the United States due to its availability. Similar to cable, DSL uses pre-existing copper phone lines to transmit internet signals to your home.
Based on its speeds, DSL is a step up from dial-up service but is still known to cause dead spots, latency issues, and all-around slower speeds compared to cable and fiber internet. It’s best for smaller households, users with fewer connected devices, or those looking for cheap internet.
Pros
- Affordable
- 2x the availability of fiber
- Faster than dial-up
Cons
- Slow to average speeds
- Doesn’t support gaming well
- Weak home coverage
Satellite Internet
Satellite internet is a wireless connection that uses space technology to transmit internet signals between 3 satellite dishes. One is set up at your provider’s main hub, one is set up on your property, and one is in space. This connection type has the unique advantage of being available virtually anywhere, but it is subject to service interruptions caused by bad weather or poor equipment.
There are only a few satellite internet providers available today. For the most part, it’s an internet solution meant for rural homes that can’t get wired connections to their property easily.
Keep in mind that satellite internet, while widely available, will have variable speeds and high latency. Latency is the time it takes for data to go to and from a place. For example, it’s the time from your computer to a data center far away. Because satellite signals travel from a dish on your home to a satellite orbiting the Earth before reaching its destination, it contributes to high latency. Users can expect speeds that range from 25 Mbps to 150 Mbps at the most, with high latency, and weather interference.
Pros
- Available virtually everywhere
- Can overcome physical barriers
- Faster than dial-up
Cons
- Tends to be expensive
- Data caps are common
- Unreliable due to physical elements and high latency
Fixed Wireless Internet
Fixed wireless internet uses cell towers to transmit internet signals over radio waves. Like satellite, fixed wireless is most common in rural areas where hard-wired cable connections are difficult to lay, yet it’s limited by line of sight requirements due to the way it transmits internet signals.
This connection is only recommended for households with minimum internet usage. It can support light activities like checking emails or browsing social media, but it won’t get you very far during Netflix marathons.
Pros
- Delivers internet to underserved areas
- Easy installation
- Local customer service
Cons
- Line of sight limitation
- Slow speeds
- Can be expensive
5G Internet
Fifth-generation internet technology, or 5G, is the next evolution in wireless networks set to replace 4G, 3G, and LTE with far better performance. 5G networks are powered by new technology referred to as millimeter wave (mmWave) that runs on three different bands: low-band, mid-band, and high-band. Each band has the capacity to carry different speeds, 100 Mbps, 1,000 Mbps, and 10 Gbps respectively.
While very limited at the moment, 5G internet is capable of delivering faster speeds, lower latency, and increased connectivity than even fiber internet. After years of anticipation, internet providers like Verizon are starting to lay down 5G networks in select regions across the U.S. However, we aren’t holding our breath. Fiber has been around for two decades and still only covers about half of U.S. households. 5G still has a ways to go before the masses adopt it.
Pros
- Fastest speeds among all connections
- Increased connectivity for more devices
- Low latency
Cons
- Cost and labor obstacles to overbuilding
- Difficulty penetrating barriers
- Very limited availability
What Internet Connection Is Right for You?
Key Takeaways:
- Fiber offers the fastest speeds and best reliability.
- Cable is widely available and great for streaming or gaming.
- DSL is affordable but slower—ideal for light use.
- Satellite works where wired connections can’t reach.
- Fixed Wireless helps underserved areas but has limitations.
- 5G is promising but still expanding in availability.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What’s the fastest type of internet available?
Fiber internet is the fastest, with speeds up to 10 Gbps in some areas.
What type of internet is best for gaming and streaming?
Fiber or cable internet are your best bets. Both offer low latency and high download speeds.
Is satellite internet reliable?
It can be in rural areas, but bad weather and high latency can cause disruptions.
Final Thoughts – Which Internet Connection Is Best for You?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The best internet connection depends on where you live and how you use the internet. If you’re streaming, working from home, or gaming, fiber or cable are ideal. For rural areas, satellite or fixed wireless may be your best option.
Use HighSpeedOptions’ zip code tool to compare plans and providers near you today.
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