In the world of online gaming, you are only as good as your internet connection. A minor lag in your network can turn your victory into defeat. Therefore, to play online games, you must install a high-speed internet service that delivers minimum latency and ping rates. However, with so many internet providers available in the market, it is quite difficult to choose the one that offers the best service for online gaming. For that reason, in this particular article, we are going to discuss the top internet providers that offer commendable internet speeds for an optimal gaming experience.
What are Latency and Ping Rates?
Latency refers to the time it takes for the data to travel from the server to your gaming device. Ping, on the other hand, is the time it takes for the data to travel from your device to the webserver. Both these terms are used to measure the lag of a connection. Since the distance for the data to travel is measured in real-time, latency and ping hugely affect your gaming experience. For instance, if you are playing a car racing game online and your internet gets uncoordinated for only a second, you might lose the match and ruin your game. For professional gamers, ping and latency rates matter a lot, as they cannot afford to lose their connection even for a millisecond.
How Much Internet Speed is required for Online Gaming?
As a general rule of thumb, any broadband connection with 25 to 50 Mbps of internet speed can take good care of your gaming needs. Nevertheless, to enhance the speed of your connection further, use a wired network with an Ethernet cable. This way, the entire bandwidth is shifted directly to your gaming device giving you an unbeatable online gaming experience. However, it is important to mention the fact that the aforementioned speed requirement is for a single internet user only. If multiple people are going to connect their devices to the web simultaneously, then you should install a connection with speeds up to 200 Mbps at least.
How Much Internet Data is required for Online Gaming?
We usually recommend our readers go for an unlimited data plan so that they can easily play games without keeping track of their monthly usage. Imagine this scenario: Your friend invites you to come online for a Call of Duty match but you fail to join the request because your data gave up on you. Frustrating, right? Therefore, we suggest you sign up for a plan with an unlimited data allowance and if you cannot, get at least 1 TB to enjoy non-stop online gaming.
Another way to go about it is by evaluating the amount of data you consume in a month. Take into account the number of devices in your house that will be connecting to the internet connection, figure out the usage habits of the users, and then compile the results. This should give you a rough estimate as to how much data you burn in a month and with the results choose the plan that matches your needs.
Which Internet Providers Offer the Best Online Gaming Experience?
Based on internet speeds, price, service quality, reliability, and added features, we have compiled a list of the best internet providers that offer commendable services for online gaming:
| Internet Provider | Download Speed | Monthly Price | Our Rating |
| Charter Spectrum | 200 Mbps to 940 Mbps | $49.99 and Up | 4.5 Out of 5 |
| Comcast Xfinity | 15 Mbps to 2000 Mbps | $29.99 and Up | 4.2 Out of 5 |
| Cox Communications | 10 Mbps to 1000 Mbps | $29.99 and Up | 4.1 Out of 5 |
| Wave Broadband | 100 Mbps to 1 Gig | $34.95 and Up | 4.1 Out of 5 |
| Verizon Fios | 200 Mbps to 940 Mbps | $39.99 and Up | 4.0 Out of 5 |
| Frontier Communications | 6 Mbps to 940 Mbps | $24.99 and Up | 3.9 Out of 5 |
| CenturyLink | 10 Mbps to 940 Mbps | $49.99 and Up | 3.8 Out of 5 |
| Optimum | 10 Mbps to 940 Mbps | $24.99 and Up | 3.6 Out of 5 |
| Mediacom | 6 Mbps to 940 Mbps | $35 and Up | 3.4 Out of 5 |
Our Top Recommendation
Wave broadband plans are our top recommendation for online gaming because this internet company offers some of the best internet plans in the country starting from $35 per month for 100 Mbps. Apart from incredible speeds, the company also provides 24/7 customer support to facilitate you at times when your internet service is down. So, if you ever come across a problem with your network, simply call their customer service and the company will resolve your issue as soon as possible. Lastly, Wave Internet comes with data upgrade options, allowing you to play as many games as you like with friends and family.
