With the increasing importance of online connectivity in our daily lives, having reliable and sufficiently fast internet access is crucial. Yet, navigating the landscape of internet plans can often force customers to choose between their browsing needs and their budget.
This is more true now than ever as the Affordable Connectivity Program funding has been cut. Our survey shows surveys show that 77% of the people using the ACP will be forced to change their current internet plan or cancel their service entirely. Thankfully, there are numerous cheap internet plans that don't skimp on data or speed.
Here are our top picks for the best cheap internet plans:
- Cheap cable plan that is great for families: Spectrum Internet 300Mbps
- Cheap DSL plan with fast speeds: Windstream Enhanced Kinetic Internet 100Mbps
- Cheap fiber plan that balances price and speed: Verizon Fios Internet 300/300
- Cheap satellite plan for basic usage: Hughesnet Lite
- Cheap wireless internet plan that is best for bundling: T-Mobile 5G Home Internet
Each of these options offers a compelling blend of performance and affordability, ensuring your browsing and streaming needs are met without breaking the bank.
Compare cheap internet providers and plans
| Provider | Plan Name | Cost | Speed | Check Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum | Internet Only Plan | $40/month | 100Mbps | View plan |
| Windstream | Kinetic 100Mbps Plan | $24.99/month | 100Mbps | View plan |
| Verizon | 300/300 Mbps Plan |
$49.99/month | 300Mbps | View plan |
| Hughesnet | Lite | $49.98/month | 25Mbps | View plan |
| T-Mobile | 5G Home Internet Plan | $50/month | 200Mbps | View plan |
Best Cheap Cable Internet Plan: Spectrum Internet 100 Mbps
The best cheap cable internet plan is Spectrum's Internet 100 Mbps plan. For just $30/month (when you commit to a full year), you'll get unlimited data with typical download speeds of 100Mbps, so you can stream shows and movies to your heart's desire without worrying about your data use.
It's important to note that this plan’s price increases after 12 months of service, which is common with many internet plans. But since you're not locked into a contract with Spectrum, if the new price doesn't fit into your budget, you can always switch to a new cheap internet plan after a year.
|
Spectrum
Internet Advantage
$40/mo
($30 plan + $10 modem)
for 1 year
+ $20 Upfront
|
Best Cheap DSL Internet Plan: Kinetic Internet 100Mbps plan
Our pick for the best DSL internet plan is Kinetic's 100Mbps plan for just $24.99/month (for the first 12 months). You'll enjoy speeds of up to 100Mbps, plenty fast enough for most households, plus unlimited data for worry-free usage.
|
Kinetic
100 Mbps
$24.99/mo
for 12 months. This advertised price includes a $5.00 credit for AutoPay enrollment.
|
The drawback: Windstream’s cheap internet plans are only offered in 19 U.S. states, and its plans are regional—meaning your price may differ based on the area you live in. If you're outside of Windstream's service areas, another cheap internet plan is AT&T's Internet 100 plan. For just $49/month, it offers download speeds of up to 100Mbps with 1,000GB of monthly data—so while it’s not unlimited, it’s still a hefty amount of data that will be just fine for most users.
Best Cheap Fiber Internet Plan: Verizon FiOS Internet 300/300
The best cheap fiber internet plan is the Verizon FiOS Internet 300/300 plan, priced at $49.99/month. There's no data cap, making it our favorite unlimited home Wi-Fi plan, and your upload speeds match your download speeds (unlike DSL and cable internet)—no more lagging FaceTime conversations or online gaming issues for you! Plus, you aren’t locked into a contract, so your price won’t go up after a year or two. You do have to enroll in autopay to take advantage of this cheap internet plan price, though.
Verizon Fios 300 Mbps
| Provider | Verizon Fios |
|---|---|
| Speed | Up to 300 Mbps |
| Data | Unlimited |
| Connection | Fiber |
| Type | No Term Contract |
| Total Price |
$49.99 per month
with AutoPay
+ $99 Upfront
|
| View Plan |
|
#1
|
AT&T
Internet 300 (Fiber 300Mbps)
$35/mo
Price after Autopay & Paperless bill discount. Plus taxes & fees. Limited availability. May not be available in your area.
|
|
#2
|
Xfinity
1.2 Gig
$100/mo
5 year price guarantee
|
|
#3
|
Frontier
Fiber 500 Internet
$29.99/mo
with AutoPay
|
|
#4
|
AT&T
Internet 5000 (Fiber 5 GIG)
$135/mo
Price after Autopay & Paperless bill discount. Plus taxes & fees. Limited availability. May not be available in your area.
|
|
#5
|
Kinetic
100 Mbps
$24.99/mo
for 12 months. This advertised price includes a $5.00 credit for AutoPay enrollment.
|
Best Cheap Satellite Internet Plan: Hughesnet Lite
The best cheap satellite internet plan is Hughesnet's Lite plan for $49.98/month (for 24 months). This plan will give you speeds of up to 25Mbps for 100GB of peak hours and 50GB of off-peak hours. This is one of the cheapest satellite internet plans on the market. That said, it's not for everyone. If you have a household full of heavy internet users, this plan probably doesn't offer enough high-speed data. On the other hand, if you just use the internet to surf the web and stream your favorite shows, this is a solid choice.
Hughesnet Lite
| Provider | Hughesnet |
|---|---|
| Speed | Up to 25 Mbps |
| Data | Unlimited |
| Connection | Satellite |
| Type | 12 Month Contract |
| Total Price |
$49.98 per month
for 12 months. Service plan availability varies based on geographic area. All plans are subject to the Hughesnet Subscriber Agreement.
+ $99 Upfront
|
| View Details |
Unlike fiber internet, satellite internet is available everywhere in the U.S., making it the internet solution for those in rural areas. However, satellite internet isn't the most reliable connection, prone to dropouts and slowdowns. Good news, though: new, faster satellite connections are on the horizon.
|
#1
|
Starlink 
|
|
|
#2
|
Viasat 
|
|
|
#3
|
Hughesnet 
|
Best Cheap Home Wireless Internet Plan: T-Mobile 5G Home Internet
The best home wireless internet plan—also called mobile broadband internet plans—is T-Mobile's 5G Home Internet option. You'll enjoy unlimited data on T-Mobile's broadband cellular network, which you can use to power your home devices just like you do when you connect to the web on your phone. It's like a dedicated hotspot for your entire household.
|
T-Mobile
Rely Internet
$50/mo
5 year price guarantee. With AutoPay. Guarantee exclusions like taxes and fees apply.
+ $35 Upfront
|
Using mobile home wireless internet is an excellent alternative if you don't have a fast and reliable cable or fiber internet provider in your area, but you don't want to deal with the notoriously slow lag times and frequent outages that satellite internet is known for. That said, if you happen to be a Verizon cellular customer already, we like their 5G Home Internet. You'll get 5G speeds up to a whopping 300Mbps along with unlimited data. However, Verizon 5G isn't as widely available as other 5G networks, so even if you already subscribe to Verizon, you may not necessarily have 5G access. If you do, though, this is a hard plan to beat.
|
#1
|
Verizon
myPlan + 5G Home
$35/mo
with AutoPay and any Verizon mobile phone plan
|
|
#2
|
T-Mobile
Rely Internet
$50/mo
5 year price guarantee. With AutoPay. Guarantee exclusions like taxes and fees apply.
+ $35 Upfront
|
|
#3
|
Mint Mobile
12 Month Home MINTernet
$40/mo
$480.00 upfront payment for 12 months
|
|
#4
|
T-Mobile
Rely Internet + T-Mobile voice line
$35/mo
5 year price guarantee. With AutoPay. Guarantee exclusions like taxes and fees apply.
+ $35 Upfront
|
|
#5
|
Mint Mobile
3 Month Home MINTernet
$40/mo
$120.00 upfront payment for 3 months
|
Choosing a Cheap Internet Plan
Not all cheap Wi-Fi plans are created equal; when shopping for low-cost internet, you’ll want to consider the following features:
- Connection type
- Data allowance
- Download speeds
- Monthly rates
You can choose between five connection types: cable, DSL, fiber, satellite, and mobile. Cable and DSL internet are usually the cheapest options, with cable typically offering a higher ratio of unlimited data plans and pretty fast download speeds. DSL is also widely available and connects through your phone line. It’s commonly confused with dial-up internet, but it actually travels through unused frequencies in the wires instead—so your internet won’t interfere with your phone calls.
Your data allowance will determine just how much internet you get to use in a given month. Opting for limited data often results in a cheaper internet plan, but if you go over your data cap, you’ll typically get hit with overage charges that negate your savings. If you often stream movies, play online games, or work remotely, a cheap unlimited internet plan might be your best bet.
Your download speed needs will vary depending on what you use your internet for. In general, though, look for an internet plan offering data speeds of at least 25Mbps, which is what you’ll want for good video streaming.
Keep in mind that monthly prices for affordable internet vary depending on where you live, many service providers offer a cheaper introductory price for a limited period (typically 12 to 24 months). Make sure to read the fine print to understand what your monthly internet price will be after the intro period is over.
What's the cheapest internet in my area?
Not all ISPs offer the same speeds and plan packages even within the same city. Luckily there's a quick and easy way to find the cheapest internet near you: WhistleOut's internet search tool! Simply enter your zip code and you'll find plans specific to your area, which you can then sort and filter by price to find the most affordable internet plans near you.
Using Your Cell Phone for Cheap Internet
Another low-cost internet option for the budget-conscious is to invest in a cell phone plan that includes a generous mobile hotspot data allowance and nix the home internet plan altogether. With a mobile hotspot, you can share your cell phone plan's data allowance with your laptop and smart TV, so you may not even need a separate affordable internet plan for your home.
You'll just want to make sure your cell phone plan includes enough hotspot data so you don't run out of data each month—and make sure your phone can handle the battery burden, too. Plus, not all plans treat hotspot speeds the same. Some offer dedicated high-speed allotments before slowing your speeds until the next month, while others simply draw from your regular monthly pool of data at slower (usually 3G) speeds.
Are there cheap internet plans near me?
There are many internet providers that offer cheap internet plans, but that doesn't mean that those affordable plans are available everywhere. Some of the cheapest providers only offer plans in a handful of states, and even then, they only service select cities within those states.
Cheap Internet Availability
| Provider | Type | Price | State Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | Cable, DSL | From $40/month | All states |
| Sparklight (formerly Cable One) |
Cable | From $29.95/month | AL, AR, AZ, IA, ID, KS, LA, MN, MO, MS, ND, NE, NM, OK, OR, SD, TN, TX, WA, |
| CenturyLink | DSL, Fiber | From $45/month | AL, AR, AZ, CO, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, LA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NV, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WY |
| Cox | Cable | From $29.99/month | AZ, AR, CA, CT, FL, GA, ID, IA, KS, LA, MA, MO, NE, NV, NC, OH, OK, RI, VA |
| Optimum | Cable, Fiber | From $40/month | All states |
| Astound | Cable | From $29.99/month | DC, IL, MA, NY, PA |
| Spectrum | Cable | From $49.99/month | AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, KS, KY, LA, MA, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WY |
| Windstream | DSL, Fiber | From $26/month | AL, AR, FL, GA, IA, KY, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, TX |
| WOW! | Cable, Fiber | From $34.99/month | AL, FL, GA IL, IN, MI, OH, SC, TN |
| Xfinity | Cable, Fiber | From $19.99/month | AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WI, WV |
It's important to type your full address into our search tool to find only the cheap internet plans available near you. This way, you'll only be presented with plans you're actually eligible for.
Cheap Internet Plans: FAQ
What should I expect to pay per month for internet?
The average internet cost is around $60/month. This typically gets you speeds around 100Mbps—plenty fast for your streaming, gaming, and remote working—and, often, no data caps.
Who has the cheapest unlimited internet plan?
Currently, Ting offers the cheapest unlimited internet plan, with fiber-connected speeds of 5Mbps for /month.
How fast should my internet be?
Your optimal internet speed depends on what activities you most often do online. That said, you'll likely want speeds of at least 25Mbps to be able to stream your favorite Netflix shows without buffering. If you have multiple users all on your internet connection at once, your speeds will need to be higher to accommodate the increased usage.
What type of internet is the fastest?
Fiber internet is the fastest broadband connection type, reaching speeds of 1Gbps (and sometimes higher!). However, new low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite connections like those from Starlink are set to potentially change the game with speeds over 1Gbps, and 5G home internet has the potential to significantly increase bandwidth and internet speed across the industry.
Can I get a prepaid home internet plan?
Yes, some internet providers do offer prepaid home internet. Xfinity, for example, offers 30 days of cheap home internet at 50Mbps for $45/month with no contracts attached, though you will need to purchase a modem for service.
Can I get free internet at home?
There are government-funded free internet options for qualifying households, like low-income seniors or students, through programs like Lifeline Assistance. Visit our guide to getting free internet for more info.
Lauren Hannula
Managing Editor
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