Google Fiber Review: A Premium Service Great for Gig Internet

7.5

Google Fiber residence web

Product particulars

• Worth vary

  $70 – $100 monthly

• Pace vary

  1,000 – 2,000Mbps

• Connection

  Fiber

• Highlights

  Limitless knowledge, no contracts, tools included

Nobody goes to a pleasant steakhouse as a result of it is low cost. High quality takes precedence over value and, although you would have spent much less some other place, the expertise greater than justifies the fee. The identical could be mentioned about Google Fiber web.

The fiber-optic supplier has one of many highest beginning costs of any high ISP at $70 monthly, however contemplating what you get — symmetrical add and obtain speeds as much as a gig, free tools and limitless knowledge — the fee is kind of affordable. Actually, Google Fiber plans have arguably the most effective worth you may discover from any main ISP.

I reside in a Google Fiber metropolis (Charlotte, North Carolina) however my tackle is sadly out of the supplier’s service space. The not too long ago resumed Google Fiber growth may finally convey the ISP to my tackle, and I will think about signing up if it does, as a result of the worth is simply too good to move up.

As one who appreciates high-speed web and is prepared to pay a little bit extra for it, I would say Google Fiber is price trying out. Few fiber suppliers match Google Fiber’s velocity potential, not to mention service from cable or DSL suppliers. You may wish to think about greater than velocity when looking for web service in your space, although, so here is a full rundown of what you may anticipate from Google Fiber.

Google Fiber protection

Google Fiber’s availability is nowhere close to rival fiber suppliers like AT&T, Verizon Fios or CenturyLink, however it presents service in some fairly giant metro areas. 

Kansas Metropolis and Huntsville, Alabama have essentially the most vital Google Fiber protection, however service can be present in elements of Mesa, Arizona; Orange County, California; Atlanta, Georgia; Charlotte and the Raleigh/Durham space of North Carolina; Nashville, Tennessee; Austin and San Antonio, Texas; Salt Lake Metropolis and Provo, Utah; and now additionally West Des Moines, Iowa.

Google Fiber growth continues

The record of cities which have entry to Google Fiber is rising, as is the provision in markets the place Google Fiber is at present. 

Admittedly, Google Fiber continues to be obtainable to lower than 1% of US residents, in line with the newest knowledge from the Federal Communications Fee. That mentioned, there are optimistic indicators of development

and the fast growth continues in current markets and new ones like Lakewood, Colorado.

Moreover (and inspiring to a suburbanite like myself), Google Fiber exhibits indicators of growth exterior main metropolis limits. For instance, Google Fiber is ready to develop into Harmony and Matthews, North Carolina, two Charlotte suburbs I’d not have anticipated to see such a premium service.

I am nonetheless ready for Google Fiber to achieve me a little bit additional south of Charlotte, but when it is obtainable in your space or the place you are transferring to, here is what you may anticipate so far as plans and repair particulars are involved.

Google Fiber plans and repair particulars

Google Fiber has two to 4 plan choices relying the place you reside: 1Gbps or 2Gbps, plus new 5Gbps and 8Gpbs plans. The latter two are at present solely obtainable in choose areas, although a Google Fiber spokesperson has confirmed with CNET that the supplier goals to roll out each plans to all markets later within the 12 months. 

Choose cities — particularly Chicago, Denver, Miami, San Diego, San Francisco

, Seattle and Oakland, California — have entry to Google Webpass, a high-speed fastened wi-fi web service just like Starry Web. There’s just one plan obtainable with Google Webpass, gigabit service, however cheaper pricing could also be obtainable in case your constructing’s community cannot help gigabit speeds.

Extra and cheaper plan choices could be good (Google Fiber beforehand provided a 100Mbps plan for $50 monthly), however I’ve to confess I like that gig service is the baseline. As streaming in HD and 4K turn into the norm and we’re connecting all the things from smartphones and tablets to audio system, thermostats and a plethora of different units to the web, plans with speeds round and under 100Mbps have gotten much less sensible, even when they’re simpler on the funds.

Getting again to worth, Google Fiber plans are literally higher priced than most, although no “low cost” possibility is out there. At $70 monthly, Google Fiber’s gig service is priced decrease than fiber suppliers AT&T, Frontier and Verizon Fios and cable ISPs together with Cox, Spectrum and Xfinity. Then there’s the $100 monthly 2Gbps plan, which continues to be cheaper than what some suppliers cost for a single gig service. 

indicator of worth is the fee per Mbps, which you’ll find for any web plan by dividing the month-to-month charge by the max speeds. Google Fiber’s 1 Gig plan begins at $70 monthly for speeds as much as 1,000Mbps, which involves an estimated value per Mbps of seven cents. The two Gig plan is even decrease at 5 cents per Mbps. A sub-dime value per Mbps is commonly an excellent web deal, and the fee per Mbps of Google Fiber plans is on par with or decrease than most suppliers at any velocity tier.

Google Fiber’s 8 Gig plan, although not but extensively obtainable, really boasts the bottom value per Mbps (lower than 2 cents), of any main supplier or plan. It is nonetheless a bit dear at $150 monthly, however the speeds you get greater than justify the fee. 

Simple pricing with no added charges

Google Fiber would not have introductory pricing, so you do not have to fret a few looming value enhance after 12 months. That is to not say the value won’t ever go up, however there is no assure that it’s going to after a sure variety of months. 

Moreover, Google Fiber plans include limitless knowledge (so no overage charges) and no contracts with a required service size (so no early termination charges). Limitless knowledge and no contracts have gotten extra widespread amongst ISPs. Nonetheless, some big-name suppliers would require you to signal an settlement to get the bottom pricing or tack on $50 or extra in overage charges for exceeding your knowledge restrict.

No tools prices, even for mesh Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi 6 routers

Google Fiber’s 1 Gig plan comes with a Wi-Fi router and as much as two entry factors, which lengthen the vary and protection of Wi-Fi service all through your private home, as much as round 3,000 sq. toes. You should buy extra entry factors for $100 every when you want further protection. You can also use your personal router, however seeing as how Google Fiber consists of one at no additional value, I am unable to think about why you’d wish to until you want a top-of-the-line router for severe gaming or different specialised makes use of.

The two Gig plan comes with a Multi-Gig Wi-Fi 6 router, the most recent obtainable Wi-Fi know-how and estimated to be roughly 30% sooner than the earlier Wi-Fi iteration. The know-how is thrilling, however Wi-Fi routers could be a bit dear, so it is good that Google Fiber consists of one at no additional value. Like with the 1 Gig plan, Wi-Fi extenders are included if wanted to make sure whole-home Wi-Fi protection. There isn’t a possibility to make use of your personal tools with the two Gig plan, however the gadget must be greater than appropriate for any customary residence web use.

How does Google Fiber stack up towards opponents?

If Google Fiber is out there in your space, it is secure to imagine you even have a cable supplier and probably even one other fiber supplier obtainable at your tackle. In that case, you may wish to understand how Google Fiber compares.

In comparison with different fiber suppliers — or actually any ISPs — Google Fiber could have a better beginning value. You may discover decrease month-to-month beginning costs from AT&T Fiber ($55), CenturyLink ($30), Frontier Fiber ($60) and Verizon Fios ($50) however once more, it’s price noting that these cheaper plans include considerably decrease speeds. If these speeds, sometimes round 200 to 300Mbps, are enough in your family, a extra inexpensive plan like what’s obtainable from AT&T or Verizon Fios could also be your finest wager. 

There’s arguably no higher gig or 2-gig supplier

When you’re fascinated by gig service, Google Fiber shall be powerful to beat, even amongst competing fiber suppliers. At $70 monthly, the beginning pricing for Google Fiber’s gig service is decrease than AT&T, Frontier and Verizon ($80 to $90 monthly). Lumen’s Quantum Fiber web, previously generally known as CenturyLink Fiber, is similar at $70 monthly, however the supplier at present would not provide a 2-gig plan or the identical high quality with regards to Wi-Fi tools.

As for evaluating gig service from Google Fiber to cable web suppliers like Spectrum or Xfinity, not solely will Google Fiber most likely be cheaper, it will seemingly even be sooner (at the least the add speeds shall be) and extra dependable. Fiber web usually delivers symmetrical add and obtain speeds, one thing cable web cannot do. Within the case of Google Fiber’s 2 Gig plan, you may get max add speeds of 1,000Mbps in comparison with max obtain speeds of two,000Mbps, however that is nonetheless extremely quick. 

Add speeds with cable web high out at round 50Mbps, so you will not get wherever close to the identical add velocity potential with cable web service. The connection high quality of a fiber connection can be sometimes higher than a cable one, which could be vulnerable to slowed speeds as a result of community congestion, particularly throughout peak utilization instances. 

The place does Google Fiber rank on buyer satisfaction?

In its most up-to-date report, the American Buyer Satisfaction Index separated fiber from nonfiber suppliers or companies. The transfer permits ISPs similar to AT&T, Frontier and Kinetic to tell apart buyer satisfaction between its DSL and fiber-optic companies. It additionally made room for Google Fiber to be included within the public outcomes, whereas it was beforehand grouped beneath “all others.”

Google Fiber scored a 76/100, some extent above the class common and a full 10 factors forward of the typical for nonfiber suppliers. AT&T Fiber and CenturyLink have been the one suppliers named above Google Fiber, whereas Google Fiber scored above Frontier Fiber, Xfinity Fiber and long-time buyer satisfaction chief Verizon Fios.

Diving a little bit deeper, I turned to the Higher Enterprise Bureau to analyze the variety of complaints, if any, prospects had filed towards Google Fiber. There have been over 2,000 complaints filed inside the final 12 months alone. Nonetheless, as I waded by way of them, I discovered that almost all have been about different Google companies, similar to YouTube Premium and Google Advertisements, Google units, or issues with digital content material and merchandise purchases. I could not discover a single criticism particularly referring to Google Fiber.

The underside line on Google Fiber

When you’ve received the necessity for velocity, there may be maybe no higher supplier than Google Fiber — if, that’s, service is out there in your space. Google Fiber has a few of the finest pricing on gig service and favorable service phrases similar to free tools rental, limitless knowledge and no contract necessities, additional including to the worth. Nonetheless, the service is not for everybody, particularly these searching for an inexpensive plan beneath $50 monthly. Make sure to think about your entire residence web choices earlier than committing to at least one particularly.

Google Fiber
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