Google Fiber Review: Services, Features, and Availability

Google Fiber is a high-speed internet service that's been making waves in the tech world. It offers speeds of up to 10 Gbps, which is significantly faster than traditional internet services.

Google Fiber's availability is limited to specific cities and areas, with over 12 million people having access to the service in the United States.

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Google Fiber's history began in 2014, when the company announced it would be working with cities in nine metro areas across the U.S. to bring gigabit internet to their residents.

Google began polling business users on their need for gigabit service in April 2014, conducting a pilot program to connect a limited number of small businesses to their network.

The cities that were initially selected for Google Fiber deployments included 34 cities in total, but some metropolitan areas were put on hold in October 2016. These areas included Phoenix, Portland, San Antonio, and San Jose, among others.

Here are some of the metropolitan areas that were put on hold:

In 2014, Google began exploring the possibility of bringing Google Fiber to 34 cities across the US.

Google announced in February 2014 that they had invited cities in nine metro areas to work with them to explore what it would take to bring Google Fiber to these areas.

By April 2014, Google started polling business users on their need for gigabit service, conducting a pilot program to connect a limited number of small businesses to their network.

Google Fiber construction had already begun in some areas, but four metropolitan areas were still waiting for selection: Phoenix, Portland, San Antonio, and San Jose.

The following cities within these metropolitan areas had not yet been selected by Google for fiber deployments: Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Portland, Beaverton, Hillsboro, Gresham, Lake Oswego, Tigard.

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In 2015, Google tweeted about exploring the possibility of adding Irvine and San Diego, California, as future expansion cities. Google Fiber was on the rise.

Jill Szuchmacher, Google Fiber Director of Expansion, announced ongoing negotiations with local governments in Jacksonville, Florida, Tampa, Florida, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. These cities were in the running for Google Fiber service.

Construction could take up to eighteen months once the project was underway, according to Szuchmacher. This timeline gave local governments time to prepare for the installation of Google Fiber networks.

The Seattle City Council's Director of Communications replied to a tweet on December 8, 2015, indicating that the city was in the process of applying for Google Fiber service. Jill Szuchmacher also said the company would work with Chicago city leaders to collect information and study factors that could affect construction of Google Fiber.

Google Fiber was making progress in 2015, with many cities vying for the service.

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Google Fiber offers three symmetrical speed internet options: Core, Home, and Edge. These plans were introduced in January 2025, replacing the previous five options.

The Core plan offers 1 Gbit/s internet bandwidth for download and upload, with a monthly recurring cost of $70. It also includes a multi-Gig Wi-Fi 6E router and up to 1 mesh extender. In contrast, the Home plan offers 3 Gbit/s internet bandwidth for download and upload, with the same monthly cost of $100.

Google Fiber's plans are known for their fast and reliable speeds. In fact, the Core plan has a typical latency of 13ms, making it ideal for real-time applications like gaming.

The company's plans also come with perks, including a Wi-Fi 6E router rental and a mesh extender. However, it's worth noting that the 1TB free Google Drive storage that was once included with all plans has been discontinued.

Here are the details of Google Fiber's current plans:

Google Fiber's flat monthly price is another major advantage, with no hidden fees or price increases after a year or two of service.

Google Fiber offers three symmetrical speed internet options as of January 2025: Core, Home, and Edge. These plans provide fast and reliable internet speeds, with typical latency of 13ms or less.

The Core plan costs $70 per month and includes a Multi-Gig Wi-Fi 6E router and up to 1 Mesh Extender. The Home plan also costs $100 per month and includes a Multi-Gig Wi-Fi 6E router and up to 2 Mesh Extenders.

Google Fiber's prices have remained the same since 2012, with no hidden fees or price increases after a year or two of service. The only extra fees are taxes and unreturned equipment fees if customers don't give the hardware back.

Here's a breakdown of the different plans:

All Google Fiber plans come with perks, including a Wi-Fi 6E router rental and a mesh extender. The 1 Gig plan comes with a Nest Wifi Pro, while the 2 Gig, 5 Gig, and 8 Gig plans come with a GFiber Wi-Fi 6E router.

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Google Fiber's technical specifications are truly impressive. It provides an Internet connection speed of up to eight gigabits per second (8,000 Mbit/s) for both download and upload.

This means you can enjoy seamless streaming and online activities without any lag or buffering. Google Fiber says its original 1 Gbit/s download service allows for the download of a full movie in less than two minutes.

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Google Fiber customers now have the option to bring their own Wi-Fi router as part of their setup process. This is a departure from the standard practice of providing two Google Wifi routers for free.

For those who already have a reliable router, this change can be a cost-effective solution. Google Fiber is letting customers use their own router, allowing them to keep their existing equipment and save on costs.

The number of free Google Wifi routers provided to customers has been reduced to two, as customers can now bring their own router. This change reflects the flexibility and customization that Google Fiber is offering its subscribers.

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Google Fiber is now offering a 5 Gig service in four cities, making super-fast internet more accessible to residents.

The 5 Gig service costs $125 per month, a price that may be a bit steep for some but is certainly worth it for those who need lightning-fast internet.

Google Fiber announced the new service in October, and it's now available in four cities, giving users a chance to experience the latest in internet technology.

The 5 Gig service is a significant upgrade from previous offerings, providing users with incredibly fast speeds and a more reliable connection.

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Google Fiber's distribution system relies on Google Fiber Huts, which are essentially aggregators that help avoid underground cabling complexity for the last mile. These huts are the starting point for the fiber cables that travel along utility poles into neighborhoods and homes, where they stop at a Fiber Jack (an optical network terminal or ONT) in each home.

Google Fiber's availability is quite impressive, with service offered in 13 cities across 15 states, providing internet to 4.1 million people. Additionally, Google Fiber Webpass, a fixed wireless internet that runs on Ethernet inside buildings, is accessible in 7 metropolitan areas across the U.S., but is limited to apartments, condominiums, and businesses.

Here are some cities and towns where Google Fiber is currently available:

Google Fiber relies on special structures called Google Fiber Huts to distribute fiber cables to neighborhoods and homes.

These Fiber Huts are strategically located to minimize the complexity of underground cabling for the last mile.

Fiber cables travel from the Fiber Huts along utility poles into neighborhoods and homes.

In each home, the fiber cables stop at a Fiber Jack, also known as an optical network terminal or ONT.

Google Fiber Webpass, a fixed wireless internet service, is accessible in 7 metropolitan areas across the U.S. and is limited to apartments, condominiums, and businesses.

This service runs on Ethernet inside buildings and doesn't require a modem.

Google Fiber is available in 13 cities across 15 states, providing internet to 4.1 million people.

Google Fiber is available in 13 cities across 15 states, providing internet to 4.1 million people.

You can check the Google Fiber Availability Map to see if Google Fiber is available in your area. The map shows the cities and states where Google Fiber is currently available.

Google Fiber offers broadband services with both fiber-optic and fixed wireless technology. This means you can choose between a wired or wireless connection, depending on your needs.

Google Fiber Webpass is a fixed wireless internet service that runs on Ethernet inside buildings. It doesn't require a modem and is accessible in 7 metropolitan areas across the U.S. However, it's limited to apartments, condominiums, and businesses.

Here are some cities where Google Fiber is currently available:

Note: Accuracy not guaranteed, use the zip search and check with Google Fiber directly to verify availability.

Google Fiber has made significant strides in expanding its reach, and one notable example is the announcement of its first new market in four years via a public-private partnership. This partnership allowed Google Fiber to enter West Des Moines.

In 2011, Google Fiber first began offering service in Kansas City, Kansas, and Kansas City, Missouri, with the latter being added in May of that year. The network became available to residents in September 2012.

Google Fiber has also been actively expanding its presence in Utah, with announced future locations including Woods Cross, South Jordan, Springville, Riverton, Draper, and West Jordan.

Google Fiber's expansion plans are not limited to these locations, as it has also announced plans to focus on five new states over the coming years.

Here are some of the cities and towns with coverage:

Note: Accuracy not guaranteed, use the zip search and check with Google Fiber directly to verify availability.

Google Fiber is now making it even easier for potential customers to experience gigabit speeds by opening "Internet Store" kiosks in local malls in 3 cities.

These kiosks are a convenient way to "take care of business quickly" and get a feel for what Google Fiber's high-speed internet can offer.

The ISP has already been using "Fiber Spaces" to let customers experience gigabit speeds, but the kiosks are a new approach to making it easy to sign up.

Google Fiber's 2 Gig plan has been rolled out to many more cities over the past year, and now business customers can also sign up for $250/month.

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The city selection process for Google Fiber was a competitive and attention-grabbing affair, with over 1,100 communities applying to be the first recipient of the service. To stand out from the crowd, some towns got creative, like Greenville, South Carolina, which used 1,000 citizens and glow sticks to create "The World's First and Largest People-Powered Google Chain".

The first city to be selected was Kansas City, Kansas, which was chosen in March 2011. Google then expanded to Kansas City, Missouri, and later added other surrounding cities in the area. The expansion continued, with Google announcing the addition of new cities in the Kansas City metropolitan area, including Olathe, Kansas, and North Kansas City, Missouri.

Google Fiber has since expanded to many other cities, including San Antonio, Austin, Atlanta, and Kansas City, among others.

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Over 1,100 communities applied to be the first recipient of Google Fiber's service. The initial location was chosen following a competitive selection process.

Google originally stated that they would announce the winner or winners by the end of 2010, but pushed back the announcement to "early 2011" due to the number of applications. This delay gave applicants more time to come up with creative ways to get noticed.

The request form was simple, but some have argued that it was too straightforward. This led to various attention-getting behaviors by those hoping to have their town selected.

Some examples of these attention-getting behaviors include:

In the end, the areas announced in the original announcement of 2015 were the first to receive Google Fiber's service.

Google Fiber has been expanding its reach in various cities, but the question remains, where will it go next? Announced future locations include Woods Cross, Utah, where service will be available in spring 2022.

Google Fiber is planning to raise external capital to expand and offer internet service in more cities. This investment will help the company reach new markets and provide fast, reliable internet to more people.

In 2011, Google launched a trial in a residential community of Palo Alto, California, and in 2013, Austin, Texas, and Provo, Utah, were announced as expansion cities for Google Fiber. The company has since expanded to other cities, including Kansas City, Kansas, and Salt Lake City, Utah.

Google Fiber has also announced its first new city in four years, West Des Moines, with a public-private partnership. The company is focusing on five new states over the coming years, but the specific locations have not been disclosed.

Here are some of the cities and towns with existing coverage:

Google Fiber has announced plans to expand to Las Vegas as soon as 2025, but the company has not disclosed any further details about the project.

Google Fiber has made its mark in various cities across the United States. In 2011, Google launched a trial in Palo Alto, California, and later selected Kansas City, Kansas, as the first city to receive Google Fiber.

Google Fiber has expanded to numerous cities, including Austin, Texas, which was announced as a Google Fiber city on April 9, 2013. The service became available in the city in 2015.

In Utah, Google Fiber has expanded to several cities, including Provo, Woods Cross, South Jordan, Springville, Riverton, Draper, and West Jordan. These cities were announced as future locations for Google Fiber in 2021 and 2022.

Google Fiber has also made its way to Kansas City, Missouri, which was selected as a Google Fiber community on May 17, 2011. The service became available to residents in September 2012.

Some of the cities with Google Fiber coverage include San Antonio, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia; Charlotte, North Carolina; Salt Lake City, Utah; Kansas City, Missouri; and Nashville, Tennessee, among others.

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Here are some of the cities with Google Fiber coverage:

Google Fiber has also made its way to other cities, including Nashville, Tennessee, where the Sylvan Park neighborhood in West Nashville had Google Fiber service officially operating as of August 2017.

Google Fiber offers a range of internet plans to suit different needs. The Core 1 Gig plan starts at $70 per month and offers symmetrical speeds of up to 1,000 megabits per second.

The Home 3 Gig plan costs $100 per month and provides speeds of up to 3,000 megabits per second for downloads and 2,000 megabits per second for uploads. No monthly equipment fees, data caps, or contracts are included in any of the plans.

The Edge 8 Gig plan is the most expensive option at $150 per month, but it offers speeds of up to 8,000 megabits per second for both downloads and uploads. Google Fiber also offers the Google Webpass plan for $70 or $63 with a yearly plan, which provides speeds of up to 1,000 megabits per second.

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Here are the details of the Google Fiber plans:

Google Fiber is currently testing a 2 gigabit plan, which will start at $100 per month, and a 20 gigabit plan, which will cost $250 per month in select cities.

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Google Fiber's announcement sent shockwaves through the internet service provider industry, with Time magazine suggesting that Google's goal was not to actually offer faster internet speeds, but to pressure major cable operators to improve their services. This theory has neither been confirmed nor denied by Google.

AT&T and other internet service providers have launched their own gigabit services since Google Fiber was revealed, showing that the company's announcement has had a significant impact on the industry. Some cable subscribers have also seen their speeds increased without additional costs.

A bill was introduced in the Kansas Legislature in January 2014, which aimed to prevent Google Fiber from expanding further in Kansas using the model used in Kansas City. The bill proposed restrictions on municipalities offering or purchasing facilities to enable private businesses to offer broadband services.

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Our rating is based on some key factors, and one of them is the speed of the internet service. Speeds start at 1Gbps, which is a significant advantage for anyone who needs fast and reliable internet.

One thing to note is that there are no equipment fees, data caps, or contracts, which can be a huge relief for customers who don't want to deal with extra expenses or restrictions.

The company is also continuing to expand its fiber network, which is a promising sign for future growth and improvement.

However, it's worth mentioning that there are no cheap plan options available, which might be a drawback for budget-conscious customers.

Here are some key features of the internet service:

Time magazine claimed that Google's intention with Google Fiber was not to actually operate as an Internet service provider, but to shame major cable operators into improving their service.

AT&T and other Internet service providers have since launched their own gigabit services, showing that Google's efforts may have had an impact.

Some cable subscribers have even had their speeds increased without additional costs, a direct result of the competition Google Fiber brought to the market.

A bill was introduced in the Kansas Legislature in January 2014, aimed at preventing Google Fiber from expanding further in Kansas using the model used in Kansas City.

The bill, known as Senate Bill 304, proposed strict regulations on municipalities offering telecommunications services.

Here are the key points of the bill:

However, by February 2014, the bill had lost momentum in the Kansas state senate, and its sponsor, the Kansas Cable Telecommunications Association, indicated it was unlikely to continue pursuing the legislation.

Google Fiber has finally gotten a logo over a decade after its launch.

The new logo is for Fiber and Fiber Webpass, which is a big change from just using a wordmark previously.

Google Fiber has been rolling out 2 Gigabit Internet in existing cities over the past few months.

This new logo is a significant development for Google Fiber, which has been in the works for a long time.

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GFiber, the successor to Google Fiber, is planning to raise external capital to expand its internet service to more cities. This move is a significant step in the company's growth strategy.

GFiber is looking to partner with external investors to help fund its expansion plans. This partnership will enable the company to reach a wider audience and increase its market presence.

The external investment will be crucial in helping GFiber achieve its goal of expanding to more cities, allowing more people to access fast and reliable internet services.

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We based our rating on the provider's speeds, which start at a respectable 1Gbps.

No equipment fees, data caps, or contracts are a major plus for customers.

This approachable pricing model sets the provider apart from others in the industry.

The provider's commitment to continuing fiber expansion is also a significant factor in our rating.

This expansion will help bring high-speed internet to more areas, making it a valuable investment for businesses and individuals alike.

Here are some key points that influenced our rating:

However, we did note that there are no cheap plan options available, which may be a drawback for some customers.

GFiber, previously Google Fiber, is planning to raise external capital in order to expand and offer internet service in more cities.

They're looking to partner with investors to help take their business to the next level.

Google Fiber is upgrading its Business 2 Gig plan with a Service Level Guarantee. This means that if your connection drops, you'll receive a credit.

The Business 2 Gig plan was made available for $250 per month back in March. This plan is now being upgraded to include the guarantee.

Google Fiber will start testing 2 gigabit plans next month, which will be available for $100. This is part of their effort to streamline offerings for new customers.

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Google Fiber is modernizing its service, and this includes its TV offerings. The legacy Google Fiber TV is being retired in favor of streaming alternatives.

Google Fiber is available in 11 cities/regions across the country.