Cheap wifi internet providers

Still, Cox made our list of the best cheap internet providers thanks to its budget-friendly prepaid service. The plan is ideal for those who may have less-than-perfect credit or simply want a pay-as-you-go service. Spectrum has the highest-priced internet plan on our list, but the provider makes up for it with fast download speeds -- up to Mbps -- and cheap Wi-Fi equipment fees.

That's all for our list of the best cheap internet providers. Read on for related information on low-income internet options, tips for shopping for cheap internet providers and ways to save on your monthly bill. In spite of the low cost, we wouldn't recommend dial-up service. Dial-up speeds are painfully slow and will not support a Wi-Fi connection or nearly any online task more demanding than sending an email. Another phone-based internet service, DSL is a popular go-to for cheap internet.

Cable and fiber internet are likely to be your best cheap internet options. While plans can be a bit more expensive than dial-up or DSL service, the speeds and connection quality that you get are well worth the added cost.

Qualifications are similar to those of the FCC's Lifeline program. Not always. Read our guide on which internet providers have data caps to get the full rundown. You can get free internet at home if you qualify for low-income federal assistance or have a family with students K—12 or college. Author - Peter Holslin.

Peter Holslin has more than a decade of experience working as a writer and freelance journalist. At HighSpeedInternet. Cara Haynes has been editing and writing in the digital space for seven years, and she's edited all things internet for HighSpeedInternet.

When she's not editing, she makes tech accessible through her freelance writing for brands like Pluralsight. She believes no one should feel lost in internet land and that a good internet connection significantly extends your life span. Get the lowest price possible for fast and reliable Wi-Fi. Pro tip: Not sure if you can get cheap or free internet where you live?

Search by zip code Search Providers. Save money with the Affordable Connectivity Program. Best cheap internet plans. Unavailable in Zip Check New Zip. CenturyLink and RCN Both smaller providers, these two ISPs are more straightforward, with slower speeds but better perks that bring down the monthly fees. Mediacom Located primarily in the Midwest, Mediacom has some nice options—and really brings down the price when you sign up.

Pro tip: If you qualify for government assistance or live in a household with students K—12 and college , see our guide to affordable internet and our guide to free internet for other cheap—and free—Wi-Fi options. Check Availability Zip. Pro tip: You can save money on your internet bill by downgrading to a lower speed tier. Not sure if fiber internet is available in your area?

Run a search with your zip code below. Punch in your zip code to find out: See Your Providers. Xfinity—Best cheap cable internet. Performance Starter. View Xfinity Plans. This is the best bet for decent, all-purpose, cheap internet. Verizon Fios—Best cheap symmetrical speeds. View Verizon Plans. Pro tip: Take a minute to run our speed test to see what kind of bandwidth you have on your current plan. CenturyLink—Best cheap fixed rates.

Simply Unlimited Internet. View CenturyLink Plans. RCN—Best cheap deals. RCN 25 Mbps Internet. View RCN Plans. Primary internet service areas include the South, Midwest and West Coast. Primary internet service areas include the South, Midwest and parts of the West Coast. Verizon — Available in eight states. Primary internet service areas include the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Cox — Available in 19 states. Primary internet service areas include the Southwest, Central U.

CenturyLink — Available in 35 states. Primary internet service areas include the Northwest, Southwest and Midwest. Frontier — Available in 25 states. Primary internet service areas include the Midwest, Northeast, parts of the South and Texas.

HughesNet — Available in all 50 states. Primary internet service areas include rural areas across the U. The service providers listed above cover most of the U. These providers extend internet coverage to areas where the largest providers do not reach or provide some often much-needed competition in areas where there is already a major internet provider established. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time.

May or may not be available based on service address. Speeds may vary. How much should I pay for internet? We cut through the jargon to help you understand what kind of plan you actually need. Speed is one of the most important considerations when choosing an internet service. The average household in the U. Finding affordable internet goes beyond comparing plan pricing. Look for hidden fees , price increases and data caps and cancelling service to get an idea of the true cost of internet.

Also, be mindful of ways you can save, like switching providers or buying your own modem and router. Make the most of your internet connection. Not all internet connections are the same.

Each internet type and provider presents specific advantages and potential disadvantages. Low upload speeds and slowed speeds during peak usage times can be an issue.

With fast and reliable download and upload speeds, fiber is a popular internet choice. Available throughout all 50 states, satellite internet is ideal for rural areas.

Plans are likely to come with low data allowances and high latency. Fixed wireless is also ideal for rural areas and does not have the high latency of satellite internet. Low speeds and data caps are downsides of fixed wireless internet. Like anything else, you get what you pay for with internet service. That said, even though most US cities have only a couple of providers to choose from, cheap Wi-Fi deals are more attainable than you might think.

For this article, we reviewed all available internet plans from major internet providers. Xfinity has a reasonably priced broadband internet plan with a 1, GB data cap—which is totally workable, even for Netflix lovers. Low-income families can often get assistance from the government to pay for their internet costs. Many ISPs even offer special discounted packages for low-income families, students, and seniors.

Check out our guide to low-income internet plans to learn about how you can sign up for these plans—and which ones will save you the most money. Wi-Fi is internet service broadcast wirelessly, usually with an in-home router. Cheapest overall. View plan Jump to review. Best for cable. Best for fiber. Cheapest for DSL. Recommended cheap Wi-Fi providers. Best cheap Wi-Fi plans. See what internet providers are in your area Please enter a valid zip code. Best for cable: Xfinity Connect More.

View plan Read full review. Cheapest Xfinity internet plans by region. See if Xfinity is in your area Please enter a valid zip code.