Verizon 5G vs. Fios: Which service is best for your business?

Differences between Verizon 5G vs. Fios

Both Verizon 5G and Fios business internet deliver high-quality business internet, but they use different technologies. Fios uses a 100% fiber-optic network to provide extremely fast wired speeds, while 5G uses advanced wireless technology to deliver fast connectivity without requiring fiber installation.

When evaluating Verizon 5G vs. Fios, businesses should focus on the factors that matter most to daily operations.

Availability

Availability is one of the biggest differences in the Verizon 5G vs. Fios discussion and the one that influences your options the most.

Verizon Fios markets are available in nine states. Businesses within this footprint can take advantage of incredibly reliable wired internet at some of the fastest speeds available nationwide.

Since Verizon 5G business internet relies on Verizon Wireless cellular infrastructure, it can reach a much larger footprint, especially in more remote areas where wired services are hard to come by.

Speed

Verizon Fios currently offers business internet speeds all the way up to 2 Gbps (2,000 Mbps), and speeds can easily increase without an expensive infrastructure upgrade. Fios speeds are also equal, or symmetrical, on the upload and download. 

Symmetrical upload speeds provide a highly consistent experience not only for upstream actions like file shares and backups, but also for activities that use upload and download channels in quick succession, like video conferencing and cloud use.

For 5G business internet, speeds vary more by area and can fluctuate throughout the day. Maximum wireless speeds typically run up to about 500 Mbps, or sometimes up to 1 Gig in select areas.

On the high end of that scale, you can expect considerably faster uploads and downloads when backing up data or downloading files. And even in areas where 5G speeds run lower, they still provide crucial connectivity for daily operations, especially for small staff who don’t have to compete as much for Wi-Fi bandwidth.

Latency

Latency measures how quickly data travels between devices and servers, and it can contribute to your subjective experience of both speed and reliability. The lower your average latency, the less lag and signal drops you can expect to experience throughout a given activity and your whole workday.

In the Verizon 5G vs. Fios comparison, Fios business internet generally provides extremely low latency because of its direct fiber-optic connection from the Verizon network right up to your router.

Verizon wireless business connectivity on the LTE/5G network generally runs higher and varies more throughout the day than Fios, but it does offer lower or similar latencies to competing technologies in non-fiber areas.

Reliability

Reliability can make or break business productivity. Network downtime can hurt customer service, employee collaboration, and sales operations, while consistent connectivity can do the opposite.

Because Verizon Fios business internet runs on a dedicated fiber network, it’s widely recognized for delivering highly consistent connectivity. Verizon 5G business internet signal varies more than wired internet services, but it provides crucial service where fiber internet is unavailable or impractical.

Pricing

Costs for Verizon 5G vs. Fios vary based on speed tiers and promotional offers. Fios currently starts at $99/mo for the starting plan of 500 Mbps, while 5G business internet currently starts at $69/mo for the starting plan of 100 Mbps.

Depending on the plan terms when you sign up, Verizon business internet plans often include benefits that lower your financial risk and make pricing sustainable, both on a monthly and long-term basis. 

For instance, current monthly rates often include your Wi-Fi router, and usually unlimited data as well. Most plans also include multi-year price guarantees—as many as 10 years on select plans.

Both services also include a 30-day money-back guarantee when you sign up so you can be sure you've made the right choice. This benefit is especially useful for 5G customers so you can test wireless network performance at your exact location.

Offers

Businesses comparing Verizon 5G vs. Fios should also review the offers/deals available at signup. Fios and 5G consistently offer discounts when you bundle Verizon Wireless for business mobile plans, but on a rolling basis, you may be able to get additional value through reward cards, equipment benefits, and installation savings.

Scalability

If you need a highly flexible solution or plan on increasing your staff, locations, or business volume soon, you should consider the scalability of Verizon 5G vs. Fios when making your decision. Both offer significant benefits for businesses who need agile internet solutions, just in different ways.

Fios business internet is so powerful that it’s easy to increase speeds over time even without expensive, time-consuming infrastructure upgrades. As such, it’s a great solution for organizations planning long-term growth in a permanent location.

On the other hand, 5G business internet offers scalability through flexibility and mobility. Businesses opening temporary locations, expanding into new markets, or needing rapid deployment can quickly adapt service without needing Verizon to configure a new fiber connection.

Verizon 5G vs. Fios business internet, summarized

Verizon Fios vs. 5G performance for common business applications

You know firsthand that every second of internet performance is crucial for businesses. Even short interruptions can impact employee productivity, customer satisfaction, and revenue. By examining how Fios and 5G business internet address common business needs, companies can better determine which service best supports their operational needs.

Cloud software

Nearly every major business function today depends on cloud software. Small businesses especially depend on cloud tools, and the reliable internet needed to run them at peak performance, because they don’t have the IT staff to build custom tools or optimize networking setups.

The examples of cloud software are endless:

• Office suites with email and calendars: Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Zoho Workplace
• Conferencing and collaboration software: Slack, Zoom, Microsoft Teams
• HR: BambooHR, Workday, Gusto
• Accounting: QuickBooks Online, Xero, FreshBooks
• Website publishing: WordPress, Wix, Squarespace
• Inventory systems: Cin7, Fishbowl, Zoho Inventory
• Marketing: HubSpot, Mailchimp, Constant Contact
• E-commerce software: Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce
• Point-of-sale software: Square POS, Shopify POS, Lightspeed POS

With cloud use, your devices continuously sync data to and from app servers throughout the day, which means upload and download speeds, latency, and reliability all directly affect daily business performance.

In the Verizon 5G vs. Fios comparison, Fios is particularly well-suited for cloud-heavy environments because fiber internet delivers highly consistent speeds and low latency. Plus, businesses using cloud tools to upload large files, maintain databases, and support multiple employees may benefit from the symmetrical upload and download speeds.

If you depend on Verizon 5G business internet, you can still effectively support many cloud-based workflows, especially for smaller teams, with much lower latency than previous technologies like DSL and high-orbit satellite internet.

Voice and video communications

One of the most common and crucial types of cloud software is the voice and/or video communication platforms that most modern businesses use instead of analog phone lines.

VoIP phone systems and unified communications platforms provide voice lines with advanced call management features and are often easy to customize even without specialized IT staff. These tools also tend to integrate additional communication channels like video conferencing, fax, SMS, and even instant messaging for a more comprehensive and cost-effective solution.

Because of its fiber infrastructure, Fios business internet provides excellent consistency for voice and especially video applications, especially for high daily call volumes and multiple staff members. 

Verizon 5G business internet supports voice and video solutions as well, although performance, especially for video conferencing, can vary more when your local network is at its busiest.

Office equipment

Today, it’s not just employee workstations that need reliable internet. Printers, scanners, copiers, smart conference rooms, security systems, and even little smart devices like robo-vacuums all need reliable bandwidth to keep your daily work humming.

 Businesses with many simultaneously connected devices may appreciate the consistency and scalability of Fios business internet, while Verizon 5G business internet supports modest equipment setups, especially in areas where wired connectivity is hard to come by.

Customer service

Customer satisfaction can be directly impacted by your internet performance even when you’re not personally interacting with them. Ecommerce and phone-based sales, online customer support platforms, onsite point-of-sale systems, and even digital signage need reliable bandwidth.

The connectivity that customers may notice the most? Visitor Wi-Fi. They’ll experience the same internet that you and your employees do—and they may be less patient.

In the Verizon 5G vs. Fios discussion, Fios provides excellent performance especially crucial with visitor Wi-Fi and large volumes of customer payment details and other data. However, Verizon 5G business internet provides a low-maintenance internet service that can help you serve customers better when flexibility is crucial.

Remote work support

Although hybrid and remote work environments usually mean that you have a smaller headcount physically in-office, onsite connectivity is still important.

That connectivity is important primarily when your employees access your network or office equipment remotely via VPN. But it’s also key for high-quality voice/video calls and dependable cloud access—which you need so remote employees can collaborate with you effectively.

Because Fios offers symmetrical speeds and low latency, it can provide strong performance for businesses managing large remote teams or constant file transfers. Verizon 5G business internet gives businesses additional flexibility for temporary workspaces or rapidly changing office setups.

Benefits of choosing Verizon Fios vs. 5G business internet

When deciding between Verizon 5G vs. Fios, it helps to understand where each service shines.

Where available, Verizon Fios business internet is an excellent option for businesses prioritizing the following:

• Rapid and symmetrical upload and download speeds
• Low latency for smooth communication and cloud use
• Consistent performance throughout the day
• Long-term office infrastructure

On the other hand, Verizon 5G business internet may be ideal for businesses with other needs:

• Fast installation
• Flexible deployment
• Wireless convenience
• Lack of access to wired infrastructure

Customers of both services can depend on benefits available to all Verizon customers:

• Mobile bundle savings with Verizon Wireless for business
• Business-class support to maximize reliability and uptime during business hours
• Sustainable pricing with multi-year price guarantees
• 30-day money-back guarantees to test performance before committing

So, is Verizon Fios or 5G better for my business?

Both Verizon Fios and Verizon Wireless business services give companies reliable connectivity regardless of their operational needs. Ultimately, the right choice in the Verizon 5G vs. Fios comparison depends on your location, budget, and business priorities.

Where available, Verizon Fios business internet is an optimal solution for practically any business due to ultra-fast, highly efficient performance on a 100% fiber network. You’ll notice the difference most when running cloud-based workflows, voice/video communications, complex equipment setups, and high-volume databases.

If your business values flexibility, fast setup, and wireless convenience, Verizon 5G business internet can provide an excellent solution backed by the strength of the Verizon Wireless network.

Sign up today to take advantage of Verizon’s trusted infrastructure for your business.