AT&T Fiber vs. Verizon Fios: A Fiber Internet Face-Off

Usually, a comparison pitting AT&T against Verizon examines their mobile phone services. But these megacompanies are two of the country's most significant home internet providers. 

Verizon Fios is Verizon's 100% fiber-optic internet service, while AT&T Fiber features the company's fastest internet speed plans. Verizon and AT&T offer other types of internet connections -- including DSL, fixed wireless and 5G -- but for both companies, the fiber plans give customers the most value. The two telecom's respective coverage maps don't overlap, so you likely won't have to choose between them when shopping for home internet service. However, comparing the two still gives us a good look at the overall state of fiber availability in the US.

In addition, comparing the speeds, prices, plans, terms and fees gives us an excellent opportunity to see which provider does fiber better. Spoiler alert: This is a close one, so let's get into the specifics to see how they stack up. 

Our take - Compared to Verizon Fios, AT&T Fiber takes the trophy for its availability and affordability. AT&T is available to more households with coverage across 22 states versus Verizon Fios in only 8 states. According to the FCC, AT&T has a 12% nationwide coverage, boasting a greater fiber-optic availability overall. Some of AT&T's Fiber plans are also slightly cheaper.

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Our take - Verizon Fios is the premier fiber internet provider in the Northeast, placing third on the most recent American Customer Satisfaction Index among other fiber ISPs. Verizon Fios scored 77 out of 1,000, which is two points higher than it did last year. Yet, AT&T Fiber was still ranked at the top for customer satisfaction in that survey. Verizon Fios's limited availability might be why it scored below AT&T Fiber.

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AT&T Fiber vs. Verizon Fios: Fiber availability and coverage map

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At first glance, Verizon Fios and AT&T Fiber are evenly matched regarding availability. Verizon's fiber service reaches just over 15 million customers, whereas AT&T claims that over 27.8 million locations have access to its fiber-optic services, according to its latest second quarterly report.

However, looking more closely at the actual locations, Verizon Fios can only be found in eight northeastern states:

• Delaware
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• New Jersey
• New York
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• Virginia

Granted, some big cities within that area include Baltimore, Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Washington, DC. But if you live in the Midwest, south of Virginia or anywhere out West, Verizon Fios isn't an option... at least not yet.

Meanwhile, AT&T Fiber isn't available in the Northeast, but its availability extends to 21 states, more than three times as many as Verizon Fios. Some of the more notable cities within its coverage include Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, Nashville, New Orleans, San Francisco and St. Louis. 

Is AT&T coverage better than Verizon Fios'?

So, while both reach a similar number of customers, AT&T can claim a more widespread availability for its fiber internet service. AT&T CEO John Stankey stated in May 2021 that the company is committed to expanding its fiber footprint to "offer the best fixed-broadband service in the market." Meanwhile, Verizon shared with CNET that much of its immediate expansion plans revolve around adding more cities to its Verizon 5G home internet service.

AT&T Fiber vs. Verizon Fios: Comparing fiber plans, prices and speeds 

AT&T and Verizon Fios offer different plan options for their fiber internet services. Let's dive in and see how they compare. 

AT&T Fiber plans and pricing

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Verizon Fios plans and pricing

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

I'll say it: This looks like a win for AT&T. The entry-level speed for both providers starts at 300 megabits per second, and, in this case, Verizon Fios' 300Mbps plan is $5 cheaper than what AT&T offers. But that's the only place it wins on the sticker price. AT&T's 500Mbps plan is $10 cheaper than Verizon's similar speed tier, which also rings true of its gigabit plan. Once AT&T announced its multigig plans, that tilted the competition markedly to the AT&T side. Granted, Verizon also has a 2Gbps plan, but it's only available in some markets. That said, if it's available at your address, Verizon Fios' 2Gbps plan is significantly cheaper than AT&T Fiber.

But it doesn't stop there. AT&T also has the edge when it comes to cost. To both Verizon's and AT&T's credit, the price is the price. There's no promo deal or "Act now before it's too late" type of pushy play. I appreciate that straightforward approach -- ISPs are known for gimmicky pricing that beckons you in with short-term savings but then ratchets up your bill exponentially down the road. 

What do we find if we compare apples to apples and examine the cost per Mbps? Let's start by looking at the cheapest plans. Verizon Fios 300 is $50 monthly, while AT&T Internet 300 is $55. That's a win for Verizon. If you look at the big picture, the average cost per Mbps between all five of AT&T's fiber plans is 12 cents compared with 11 cents for Verizon Fios. Both represent decent customer value, but Verizon Fios takes the edge here.

There's one small caveat: Verizon offers a $25 discount on all its Fios tiers if you subscribe to select Verizon 5G mobile plans. In that case, you could get the Fios 300 for $25, Fios 500 for $50 and the gigabit plan for $65. That could tilt the savings further into Verizon's corner very quickly.

AT&T Fiber vs. Verizon Fios: Factoring in terms and fees

Before I get to more good stuff about both providers' fiber internet service (cue neon lights: No contracts and no data caps!), let's look at the additional fees and terms you'll want to familiarize yourself with. 

Monthly modem fees 

Based on plan pricing, AT&T Fiber has the edge over Verizon Fios. But there's no definitive advantage when considering the additional monthly cost of the modem/router. Neither AT&T nor Verizon charges an additional fee for your gateway equipment. Verizon used to charge an equipment fee of $15 a month for its Verizon router, and AT&T would stick its customers with an additional $10 fee. But in 2022, both providers removed those fees. Chalk this one up as a draw between AT&T and Verizon but a clear win for consumers.

One-time installation fee 

With Verizon Fios, your setup charge will be $99, which is waived if you order online. Similarly, AT&T charges $99 for its installation, which is also typically waived via online promotions.

No data caps to drag you down 

Customers of both providers will get unlimited data with all plans. You won't need to stress about possible data overage fees or fear any throttling issues once you hit an arbitrary threshold. 

AT&T vs. Verizon Fios: Let's line up the perks

In addition to unlimited data, Verizon Fios and AT&T Fiber customers are free of contract constraints. While not technically a perk, it's definitely a relief knowing you won't have early termination fees looming over you. But let's see what else these two ISPs offer potential fiber customers.

Verizon Fios offers a $200 gift card for its gigabit and 2 gigabit plans or a $400 credit on select Samsung home appliances. Additionally, as I mentioned above, all Fios customers can save $25 per month if they bundle their Fios fiber internet plan with enrollment in select Verizon 5G mobile plans.

AT&T also knows how to entice customers with some sparkly items. First, all new fiber customers who sign up online will receive an AT&T Visa Reward Card ($50 for the 300Mbps plan, $100 for the 500Mbps plan and $150 for gigabit and above). Second, all fiber customers will get free access to AT&T's nationwide network of more than 30,000 hotspots. 

AT&T Fiber vs. Verizon Fios: High customer satisfaction for two internet providers 

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I've said it before, but it bears repeating -- internet service providers are regularly at the bottom of all industries regarding customer satisfaction scores. With that clearly in mind, it's still worth noting that both Verizon Fios and AT&T Fiber typically trade places back and forth at the top of most ISP rankings. 

AT&T showed up well in J.D. Power's US Residential Internet Service Provider Satisfaction Study for 2023. It claimed the pole position in two regions -- the North Central and the West -- and scored 726/1,000 and 723/1,000, respectively. The only ISP with a score that could compete was Verizon, with 760, which was good for first place in the East region. 

Over at the American Customer Satisfaction Index, the latest metrics show AT&T Fiber at the top of the charts with 80 out of 100 points. While Verizon Fios placed third, it still fell behind by three points in comparison to AT&T Fiber. But both providers regularly score above the industry average as tracked by the ACSI. 

What's the final verdict on AT&T Fiber vs. Verizon Fios?

If this were a race, it would certainly be a photo finish. I'm inclined to give a slight edge to AT&T based mainly on its wider coverage. But as I noted at the start, regarding availability, neither provider's fiber service plays in the same sandbox. So, in reality, no customers will face the choice of AT&T Fiber or Verizon Fios. If your address is serviceable for either of these fiber internet offerings, rest assured that you've got access to one of the premier internet offerings in the country.