Most people don’t really think of utility companies in terms of favorites. Do you have a favorite water or electricity provider?
But internet service is a little different in that we often have options — and the quality of service can affect us directly in both work and leisure time.
The American Customer Satisfaction Index, which surveys roughly 500,000 customers annually about hundreds of companies in various fields, recently released new results showing consumers’ favorite internet providers. Following are the best-liked companies, for both fiber and non-fiber service.
1. AT&T Fiber
This internet service provider’s American Customer Satisfaction Index score: 80 out of 100
AT&T stood out in having an above-average score for both its fiber and non-fiber internet plans. In general, fiber optic internet is considered faster and more reliable than cable internet but can be more expensive.
AT&T Fiber is available in some parts of 21 states.
2. CenturyLink Fiber (Lumen Technologies)
This internet service provider’s American Customer Satisfaction Index score: 78 out of 100
CenturyLink’s website boasts of its 2021 ranking among Newsweek’s “America’s Best Customer Service Companies.” Its fiber service is available in more than a dozen major cities, and you can check availability here for where you live.
3. Google Fiber
This internet service provider’s American Customer Satisfaction Index score: 76 out of 100
Google Fiber claims to be the fastest internet provider in the U.S., offering both 1 gigabit-per-second and 2 gigabit-per-second plans. You can compare those speeds against your current internet service here.
It’s trialing even an faster 5 gigabit plan in Kansas City and parts of Utah, and 5 gig and 8 gig plans are also available in Mesa, Arizona, and West Des Moines, Iowa.
The rest of the best
The industry average score for 2023 was 68 out of 100, ACSI says. Following are the other providers that scored above-average among their customers:
- Verizon Fios: 75
- Frontier Fiber: 74
- T-Mobile: 73
- Xfinity Fiber (Comcast): 73
- AT&T Internet: 72
- Sparklight (Cable One): 71
- Kinetic by Windstream: 70