Cheap Internet Compare the cheapest internet in New York

Data Usage for Popular Online Activities

Here's a quick overview of how much data certain online activities use up. This is based on if you're only using the internet for one of these activities regularly, so if you're doing more than one of these or you're sharing your connection with multiple people in your household, then opt for a higher data allowance. 

For example, if you only use your home internet for emailing, then you should be fine with 50GB per month. If you use your internet for emailing, regular HD video streaming, and your spouse also shares the connection, you should probably look at either the 500GB or unlimited data plans.

What Internet Speed Do I Need?

When choosing the best cheap internet plan for your home, you not only need to decide how much data you need, but what upload and download speeds you need. To figure this out, you'll need to consider a few things, including:

• What you mainly use the internet for at home
• How many people/devices will be using the internet at the same time

Use the table below as a guide to help you decide what internet speeds you will need.

Main Use for Internet

If you only need the internet for the basics, such as sending emails and browsing the web, then you'll likely only need the basic internet speeds. A plan with a 10Mbps download speed should be all you need. On the other end of the spectrum, if you stream high definition movies and TV shows regularly, regularly play online games, or work from home and need reliable and fast internet speeds, you will probably want to pick a plan with download speeds of at least 40Mbps. 

Number of People Sharing

The more people and devices that are sharing your home internet connection will result in lags in connection and speeds, so you'll want to pick a plan with faster speeds if there are a lot of you in the household. 

How Do I Keep My Costs Down?

The amount you'll pay for internet in New York City varies depending on a number of things, such as whether you prefer cable or satellite, how fast you need your internet speeds to be, or whether you need unlimited data or not. Monthly costs can start anywhere from $30/month for basic speeds, but if you want the fastest speeds available with no data caps, you could be paying upwards of $100/month.

If you're looking for a cheap internet plan, then you'll want to do your research before signing up:

• Work out how fast you need your internet to be (use the table above as a guide)
• Work out how much data you need per month (use the table above as a guide)
• Make sure you read the fine print on the internet plan
• Take into account installation fees and cancellation fees

Check the Fine Print

Don't fall into the trap of choosing a cheap internet plan which fits your budget, only to find out your monthly cost is doubled after just a few months. Make sure you read the fine print and understand the terms of your internet plan. Some cheap internet plans will increase in monthly payments after 3 months, some after 12 months. 

The good thing is, most cheap internet plans don't lock you into a contract, so you are free to cancel once your monthly fees go up. The best cheap plans to look for are the ones which have a price lock for 24 months. 

Watch Out for Installation Fees

Another thing to watch out for is upfront fees which usually cover installation. DSL internet tends to have the lowest installation fees in NYC (usually about $10) with satellite installation being the most expensive. 

Cancellation Fees

Luckily, most of the cheap internet plans available in New York City don't require you to be on a contract, which means you are free to cancel whenever you like. So, if you're moving from Queens to a new apartment in Brooklyn next year, you don't have to worry about whether your current internet plan is available at your new rental. If it isn't, you can just cancel and pick a new cheap plan.

If you do happen to choose a plan that locks you into a contract (usually satellite internet plans), then make sure you're aware of the early termination fees. If you do cancel before your contract is up, you may have to pay $400 (or more!) in early cancellation fees. 

Mobile Internet

If you don't tend to stay in the same apartment for very long then mobile internet might be a good option for you. A mobile broadband plan lets you take your internet with you where ever you go by using a WiFi modem. In New York City, you can get a cheap mobile internet plan from:

• Sprint
• T-Mobile
• AT&T
• Verizon

Plans start at just $15/month and you can still get fast speeds of up to 90Mbps. Be careful though, all of the mobile broadband plans available in NYC have a data cap, including some that will charge you extra if you go over your data allowance for the month. If you are looking for a super cheap internet plan and don't use the internet much at home, then mobile broadband might be for you. 

Fiber, DSL, Cable or Satellite: What's the Difference?

It can be confusing picking an internet plan that fits your needs if you don't know the difference between the types of connections you can choose from. Here are some general guidelines about the internet options you have in NYC to make it easier for you. 

Which is Best for My NYC Apartment?

When deciding between cable, DSL, fiber and satellite internet, you'll need to consider what it takes to install your internet connection in your apartment, especially if you're renting. The last thing you want is to sign up for an internet plan only to find out that the technician is unable to install it for you or your landlord won't allow it.

Cable and DSL

Cable and DSL are all generally easy for your internet service provider to install, since they use cables and a conveniently sized modem and router. These two options are usually your bet best when it comes to a cheap internet plan and cheap installation.

Fiber

Fiber internet requires an Optical Network Terminal (ONT) which is bigger than your standard modem and may need to be mounted to a wall. This may be a problem if you need to repair the wall when you move to a new NYC apartment. Another drawback to fiber internet is that, although millions of dollars have been invested to bring fiber internet to all homes in the state, less than 65% of New York City residents have access to fiber internet.

Satellite

Satellite internet might be the most difficult option when it comes to installing equipment in your rental apartment. As you might imagine, satellite internet requires a satellite dish to be installed outside of your apartment. In New York, you're allowed to install a satellite dish in your private space as long as it is less than 1 meter (3.3 feet) in diameter. 

If you don't have your own outdoor space, like a balcony or patio, it's illegal to install the dish in a common area like the roof or exterior wall outside of your private space. Your landlord might also have additional guidelines you need to follow when installing a satellite dish in your NYC apartment, so this is probably your most difficult option. Another thing to remember is that if your satellite dish doesn't have a clear view of the sky to reach the satellite, then your internet connection will be interrupted. This is likely a big problem in areas like Manhattan where high-rise buildings are common. 

Do I Need to Buy a Modem?

New York internet providers offer a variety of options when it comes to modems. They will either provide a modem to you for free, require you to bring your own modem (or give you the option to), or let you buy or rent a modem from them. Check your internet plan details carefully so you know whether you need to buy your own modem or not.

If you are bringing your own modem, make sure it's compatible with your internet service provider first.

Do I Need a Router?

If you want to share your home internet connection with more than one device (and wirelessly), then yes, you'll need a router. Most New York City internet service providers will provide you with a modem/router combo for a monthly rental fee, so that's probably the easiest option if you don't want the hassle of buying your own router. You'll just need to return the equipment if you cancel your internet plan. 

If you don't want to pay rental for your router, you can always buy your own and save some money in the long run. 

When choosing a router, make sure you buy one that is compatible with the types of speeds you will get on your internet plan. There's no point in getting an internet plan with speeds of up to 50Mbps if your router can only handle 11Mbps max speeds. 

On the flip side, your wireless router can only go as fast as your internet service. So if you have a super fast modem that allows speeds of up to 100Mbps, but you've picked a cheap internet plan that only allows speeds of up to 50Mbps, then you'll only ever have speeds of up to 50Mbps. 

Who are the Internet Providers in New York City?

In New York City, there are a number of internet service providers to choose from as well as a number of different types of service to choose from—DSL, cable, fiber and satellite.

Can I Bundle Internet with TV?

Select internet service providers in New York offer bundling options if you also want a TV package. This is usually a good option if you were already wanting TV in your home, since most ISPs will provide discounts if you bundle. If you also want a home phone number, you can bundle all three together in some cases and make your monthly bill as cheap as possible.

Related Articles

• Home Internet: Which Type is Best for You?
• Best Internet Providers in New York
• How to Find the Best Internet Plan in Your Area
• Test Your Internet Speed
• What Internet Speed Do I Need?
• Internet Data Usage Guide