Fast Internet Speeds
When it comes to online gaming, choosing the right internet plan is essential. A high speed internet connection ensures minimal latency and faster response times. We recommend looking for internet plans with download and upload speeds suitable for gaming.

The exact speeds will vary depending on the games you play and number of internet enabled devices connected to your Wi-Fi network. A general rule of thumb is to aim for the FCC's minimum to be considered high speed internet service; 100 Mbps download speeds and 20 Mbps upload speeds.

Low Latency
Latency is the time it takes for data to travel from your device, to your internet provider and back. So ideally you want the lowest latency possible while online gaming. Lower latency means less delay between what you do in your game and how it happens in your game. Have you ever played a first person shooter and you take your shot first but somehow you're the one that dies? That's longer than ideal latency.

To minimize latency, choose an internet provider that offers service with low latency otherwise known as ping times. These are generally fiber and cable internet providers. To lower your latency even further, consider using a hard wired connection instead of Wi-Fi. This is a very popular choice among PC gamers. Wired connections typically have lower latency and are less susceptible to interference unlike wireless connections.

Stable Connection
Nothing is more frustrating than getting kicked from a lobby or dying in your favorite game because your internet stinks. Frequent disconnects and lagging are not qualities of a good internet provider.

To ensure a stable internet connection, choose an internet provider that has a good reputation for being reliable with minimal downtime. If you're unsure of which internet provider is good in your area, ask your neighbors who they have. We recommend choosing a fiber or cable internet provider if possible.

No Data Caps
When choosing your internet plan, ask if there's any data caps. We recommend that you choose an internet provider that has no data caps or data limits. Depending on where you live, this may not be an option.

Downloading new games and updates to existing games can and will eat through a data cap. Unfortunately most internet providers that implement data caps onto their service will throttle your speeds once you've hit your monthly allotment or even charge you extra fees. It's not worth the headache of constantly worrying how much data you have left.

Quality Networking Equipment
To make the most out of your internet service, you'll need quality networking equipment. If you're a serious gamer, it's worth the investment because good up to date equipment can deliver faster speeds and a more stable connection than out of date equipment.

While shopping for a new router, try to find a router with Wi-Fi 6, also known as 802.11ax. This is the latest generation and most recent standard in wireless networking. Replacing 802.11ac and 802.11n. If you have a large house, old house, tin tiles or know you have Wi-Fi dead spots in your home; a mesh network may be the best choice for you.