When shopping for high-speed internet, you’ll likely come across these three types: digital subscriber line, known as DSL, cable and fiber optic. All three are broadband services, which is a fancy way of saying they are faster than old-fashioned dial-up. Understanding the key differences among DSL, cable and fiber optic service will help you determine which type best meets your internet needs.

DSL internet service

DSL service uses your local phone line to deliver high-speed internet. Unlike dial-up service, DSL uses separate frequencies for phone and internet, so you can use both at the same time. Of the three main broadband options, DSL is typically the slowest. Download speeds for DSL packages typically range from around 1 megabit per second, which is good for basic tasks such as web browsing and email, to 6 Mbps or 7 Mbps, which is sufficient for music and standard video streaming but could be a little slow for high-definition video streams if you have multiple devices connected to your Wi-Fi. A handful of internet providers offer DSL speed tiers as high as 12 Mbps, 20 Mbps and even 45 Mbps. Cable internet packages typically start at 15 Mbps to 25 Mbps, and fiber optic starts at 25 Mbps. The fastest, most expensive DSL service available can often be slower than the slowest, cheapest cable or fiber option. Consider this sampling of entry-level plans in Charlotte, North Carolina:

• DSL: Windstream Communications, $40 per month for download speeds of up to 6 Mbps.
• Cable: Time Warner Cable Spectrum, $39.99 per month for download speeds of up to 50 Mbps.
• Fiber optic: Google Fiber, $50 per month for download speeds of up to 100 Mbps.

Internet service — providers, plans, pricing and available speeds — varies widely from city to city. Even within a given city, what’s available can differ from block to block.

PROS

• Widely available.
• Affordable compared with fiber optic or satellite internet service.

CONS

• Slower than cable or fiber optic internet.
• Actual download speeds are typically slower than the “up-to” speeds that providers advertise. This is not the case with cable or fiber optic.

Cable internet service

This service uses cable wires, rather than telephone wires, to deliver high-speed internet. The result is faster service. Maximum download speed tiers range from 100 Mbps to 300 Mbps, compared with a top end of 45 Mbps on most DSL offerings. Granted, 100 Mbps is faster than most households need, even when using multiple internet-connected devices. Lower speed tiers are also available, usually starting at 15 Mbps or 25 Mbps. Cable internet service tends to be more reliable than DSL. A December 2016 report from the Federal Communications Commission found the majority of cable and fiber optic internet providers delivered download speeds as fast as or faster than advertised. DSL providers did not.

PROS

• Faster than DSL and fiber optic, depending on your package.
• More reliable than DSL service.

CONS

• More expensive than DSL and other options.
• Cable internet may not be available where you live. If it is, there may be only one provider.

Fiber optic internet service

Fiber optic is often your fastest internet option, but advances in cable technology are quickly closing the gap. Download speed tiers range from 25 Mbps to 75 Mbps for fiber optic internet providers. That’s on par with cable service. But when it comes to upload speed, fiber optic trumps cable and DSL. Upload speeds affect the quality of video conferences and your ability to send large files. A cable internet package with an advertised download rate of 25 Mbps may have an upload rate of less than 1 Mbps. And a DSL package with an advertised download rate of 6 Mbps may have an upload rate of only roughly 0.5 Mbps. By contrast, a fiber optic package with a download speed of 25 Mbps may have an upload speed of 5 Mbps. And with some fiber optic internet providers, upload speeds mirror download speeds. Fiber optic internet isn’t as widely available as DSL or cable internet service. That’s because the service doesn’t use existing cable or telephone lines. Instead, new fiber optic cables need to be installed to offer service in a given area. These cables use light and tiny glass fibers to send and receive data.

PROS

• Faster download speeds than DSL, faster upload speeds than cable.

CONS

• Not as widely available as cable or DSL.

Choosing the best internet service

Now that you can decipher the various internet options available, the next step is choosing the best service for your needs. Two main factors in this decision: and  Unfortunately, you may have little to no choice among internet providers, depending on where you live. But you will likely have a few speed tiers to choose from. The more advanced your usage and the more devices you have connected, the faster internet you’ll need.