Best Cheap Internet Providers and Plans 2022
Jul 13, 2022 | Share 
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Get the lowest price possible for fast and reliable Wi-Fi
The best cheap internet plan gives you a reasonably fast speed along with extra perks like unlimited data and discounts on modem rental and installation. The cheapest Wi-Fi plans cost as little as $20 per month, while plans with better service (and fewer hidden fees) cost around $50 per month.
We put together a comprehensive guide to help you find the best cheap internet plans from internet service providers (ISPs) in your area. We also have general tips on how to save money on internet and how to get internet for free.
Pro tip:
Not sure if you can get cheap or free internet where you live? Run a search with your zip code below to see which internet providers have service in your area and how much their packages cost.
Save money with the Affordable Connectivity Program
Millions of qualified households can save on their monthly internet bills through the Federal Communication Commission’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). You may even be able to get your internet for free.
The Affordable Connectivity Program provides $30 per month toward a household’s internet bill. And the Biden-Harris Administration announced recently that it’s worked with 20 internet providers to ensure there are low-cost plans available that make it so qualified applicants can get internet at no cost at all once the $30 subsidy is applied to their bill.
To qualify for the ACP, someone in your household must be enrolled in certain social programs: Lifeline, SNAP, WIC, National School Lunch Program, and others. Or you can qualify based on your income. Households on Tribal land or high-cost areas might be eligible for enhanced support of up to $75 per month.
See our page on the ACP for details on how to apply.
Best cheap internet plans
| Best for | Plan | Price | Speed | Internet type | Sign up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheap fiber internet | Verizon Fios Internet 200/200 | $49.99/mo.* | 200 Mbps | Fiber | |
| Cheap cable internet | Xfinity Connect† | $25.00/mo. | 50 Mbps | Cable | View Plans |
| Cheap DSL internet | CenturyLink Simply Unlimited Internet‡ | $50.00/mo. | Up to 100 Mbps | DSL | View Plans |
| Cheap deals | Astound Broadband 100 Mbps Internet§ | $19.99/mo. | 100 Mbps | Cable | View Plans |
| Cheap sign-up prices | Mediacom Internet 100║ | $19.99/mo. | 100 Mbps | Cable | View Plans |
| Cheap flat-rate packages | Starry Internet Up to 200 Mbps | $50.00/mo. | Up to 200 Mbps | Fixed wireless/5G | View Plans |
| Cheap 5G internet | Verizon 5G Home Internet | $25/mo. (for Verizon Unlimited phone plan subscribers) or $50/mo. (for nonsubscribers, w/ autopay)** | Up to 300 Mbps | 5G |
Data as of 6/30/22. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*w/ Auto Pay + taxes & equip. charges
†for the first 12 months with a 1-year agreement
‡Speed may not be available in your area. Rate excludes taxes; activation fee applies.
§12 Month Internet Pricing. Equipment priced separately
║For the first 12 months. Plus, activation, installation and monthly modem rental fees.
**w/ Auto Pay. Available in select areas.
Verizon Fios
Verizon Fios offers incredibly fast, fiber-optic internet plans for low starting prices. It also has a great deal on 5G home internet, with a 50% discount on service for customers who also have a qualifying unlimited mobile plan.
Xfinity
One of the big boys of cable internet, Xfinity has a massive network that’s available across the US, and its cheapest plans deliver solid speeds.
CenturyLink and Astound Broadband
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. But watch out for its promo-pricing deadlines (when the price goes up) and data caps.
Starry Internet
Starry Internet is a small provider that’s breaking into the relatively new realm of 5G internet. It has a limited network size, but it takes a refreshing, no-nonsense approach to cost and pricing.
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.
Best cheap internet plans for under $100 per month
| Plan | Price | Speed | Internet type | Sign up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CenturyLink Simply Unlimited Internet | $50.00/mo.* | Up to 100 Mbps | DSL | View Plan |
| Xfinity Ultrafast | $60.00/mo.‡ | 900 Mbps | Cable | View Plan |
| CenturyLink Fiber Internet | $65.00/mo.§ | 940 Mbps | Fiber | View Plan |
| Cox Internet Ultimate 500 | $79.99/mo.║ | 500 Mbps | Cable | View Plan |
| Spectrum Internet® Ultra | $69.99/mo. for 12 mos. | Up to 500 Mbps (wireless speeds may vary) | Cable | View Plan |
| Google Fiber 1 Gig | $70.00/mo.** | 1,000 Mbps | Fiber | |
| Mediacom Internet 1 GIG | $59.99/mo.†† | 1,000 Mbps | Cable | View Plan |
| AT&T Internet 1000 | $80.00/mo.† | 1,000 Mbps | Fiber | |
| EarthLink 200 Mbps Internet | $89.95/mo.‡‡ | 200 Mbps | Fiber | View Plan |
Data as of 5/3/22. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*Paperless billing or prepay required. Additional taxes, fees, and surcharges apply. Get the fastest internet speed available at your location (max speed is up to 100 Mbps).
††Plus taxes. Price after $5/mo Autopay & Paperless bill discount (w/in 2 bills). Monthly State Cost Recovery Charge in TX, OH, NV applies. Internet speed claims represent maximum network service capability speeds and based on wired connection to gateway. 1GIG speeds avail. to new customers with the latest router (“BGW320”) and recommended setup. For 5 GIG speed, single device wired speed maximum 4.7 Gbps. Actual customer speeds may vary based on a number of factors and are not guaranteed. For more information, go to www.att.com/speed101.
‡Rate requires paperless billing. Additional taxes, fees, and surcharges apply. Speeds may not be available in your area. Maximum download/upload speed of up to 940 Mbps via a wired connection.
§Rate requires paperless billing. Additional taxes, fees, and surcharges apply. Speeds may not be available in your area. Maximum download/upload speed of up to 940 Mbps via a wired connection.
║for 12 months with 1-yr. term agreement
**Terms and Conditions: Plus taxes and fees. Service not available in all areas. If you live in an apartment or condo, Google Fiber’s ability to construct and provide Fiber is subject to the continued agreement between Google Fiber and the property owner. Upload/download speed and device streaming claims are based on maximum wired speeds. Actual Internet speeds are not guaranteed and may vary based on factors such as hardware and software limitations, latency, packet loss, etc
††For the first 12 months. Plus, activation, installation and monthly modem rental fees.
‡‡with a 12 month contract.
You can find a lot of great internet deals for under $100 per month.
Get a fiber internet plan if you can, such as AT&T Internet 1000 or CenturyLink’s Fiber Internet package. These get the best performance and the fastest speeds, including up to gigabit upload speeds. You can’t get that on any other internet type and it works great for livestreams, Zoom meetings, and uploading to social media.
A lot of cable internet providers also offer plenty of plans under $100 per month. Xfinity’s Extreme Pro Plus and Spectrum’s Internet Ultra are great examples of mid-tier internet packages that deliver big on internet speed while costing less than a gigabit package.
Pro tip:
You can save money on your internet bill by downgrading to a lower speed tier. Still, you don’t want your internet speed to be too slow, because then you’ll have to deal with endless buffering and slowdowns.
Use our “How Much Speed Do I Need?” tool to find out what speed will be just right for you.
Best cheap internet for under $50 per month
| Plan | Price | Speed | Internet type | Sign up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cox Internet Essential 100 | $49.99/mo.* | 100 Mbps | Cable | View Plan |
| Xfinity Connect More | $40.00/mo.† | 100 Mbps | Cable | View Plan |
| Optimum Fiber Internet 100 | $29.99/mo.║ | 100 Mbps | Fiber | View Plan |
| Astound Broadband 600 Mbps Internet | $24.99–$39.99/mo.** | 600 Mbps | Cable, fiber | View Plan |
| Frontier Fiber Internet 500 | $49.99/mo. w/Auto Pay & Paperless Bill†† | 500 Mbps | Fiber | View Plan |
| Spectrum Internet® | $49.99/mo. for 12 mos.# | Up to 300 Mbps (wireless speeds may vary) | Cable | View Plan |
| Mediacom Internet 400 | $49.99/mo.§§ | 400 Mbps | Cable | View Plan |
*for 12 months with 1-yr. term agreement
†For the first 12 months with a 1-year agreement.
‡w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill plus taxes,fees & charges.
║w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill plus taxes,fees & charges.
**Experienced speeds may vary. *All prices exclude taxes, surcharges, fees and equipment. At the end of your promotional period, standard rates apply.
††per month for 12 mos. One-year agreement, early termination fee, and one-time charge apply. Max speeds are wired. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary.
§For the first 12 months. Plus, activation, installation and monthly modem rental fees.
# Limited time offer; subject to change; valid to qualified residential customers who have not subscribed to any services within the previous 30 days and who have no outstanding obligation to Charter.
As demand for fast internet has increased in the wake of the COVID-19 lockdown, some fiber internet providers have been racing to offer better deals at lower prices. So you should definitely take advantage if you can get a plan like Optimum’s Fiber Internet 100 in your area, because that means you’ll get superb speeds and internet performance at a totally reasonable rate.
You can get some good cable plans for under $50 a month too. You won’t have the speedy upload speeds of fiber, but you’ll still get extremely fast download speeds from Xfinity’s Connect More or Astound Broadband’s 600 Mbps Internet plan.
Best cheap internet plans for under $25 per month
| Plan | Price | Speed | Internet type | Sign up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mediacom Internet 100 | $19.99/mo.† | 100 Mbps | Cable | View Plan |
| Astound Broadband 100 Mbps Internet | $19.99/mo.‡ | 100 Mbps | Cable | View Plan |
| Xfinity Connect | $19.99–$25.00/mo.§ | 50 Mbps | Cable | View Plan |
*for 12 months with 1-yr. term agreement
†For the first 12 months. Plus, activation, installation and monthly modem rental fees.
‡12 Month Internet Pricing. Equipment priced separately
§For the first 12 months with a 1-year agreement. Includes $10/mo automatic payments and paperless billing discount.
These plans are all great if you live alone or with just one or two other people. They don’t give you particularly fast speeds—but 25 Mbps to 50 Mbps is still enough to let you play online games and stream movies in HD on one or two devices with minimal buffering and slowdowns.
We love Astound Broadband’s plans because you don’t need to sign a year-long contract, so you can quit any time without paying early termination fees. Plus, you get unlimited data if you sign up for service in Texas, Chicago, or in the Northeast—data caps still apply on the west coast.
Verizon—Best cheap fiber plan
$49.99/mo.*
Starting price
- Download speed: 200 Mbps
- Internet type: Fiber
*w/ Auto Pay + taxes & equip. charges.
With a starting price of just $49.99 per month, Verizon’s base-level fiber internet plan gives you excellent speeds for a small or mid-sized household—enough to let you stream in 4K and play online games on several devices. You also get equally fast upload speeds, perfect for Zoom meetings, social media, and uploading big files to cloud servers.
Not sure if Verizon’s fiber internet is available where you live? Punch in your zip code to find out.
Xfinity—Best cheap cable internet
$19.99–$25.00/mo. (depending on service area)
Starting price
- Download speed: Up to 50 Mbps
- Internet type: Cable
*for the first 12 months with a 1-year agreement
This is the best bet for decent, all-purpose, cheap internet. It’s also a great option for college students, as Xfinity often runs gift-card promos for college kids who sign up.
Xfinity has a massive network nationwide and delivers cable internet at a wide variety of speeds and price points. The Connect plan is the cheapest of the bunch.
Xfinity has some other, decently priced plans with much faster speeds if you want an upgrade, and each plan comes with an Xfinity Flex streaming box at no extra cost.
CenturyLink—Best cheap fixed rates
$50/mo.
- Download speed: Up to 100 Mbps*
- Internet type: DSL
*Speed may not be available in your area. Rate excludes taxes; activation fee applies.
DSL isn’t fancy-schmancy like cable or fiber-optic internet—it runs over our landline phone cables, making it a bit old school. But it’s hard to beat DSL’s wide availability, and we like this plan because it gives you a decent monthly rate with no data caps.
Just make sure you can get fast enough speeds. Anything under 25 Mbps may be too slow and is probably not worth your money. But if you can get 25 Mbps or faster, you’ll have solid speeds to browse, download, and stream in HD.
Astound Broadband—Best cheap deals
$19.99/mo.*
Starting price
- Download speed: 100 Mbps
- Internet type: Cable
*12 Month Internet Pricing. Equipment priced separately.
Astound Broadband’s largest cable internet service area is in the Northeast, serving New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, a few Pennsylvania counties, and Washington, DC. Astound also provides cable internet in Chicago, Texas, and along the west coast. It has some fiber in Texas too.
If you live in Chicago or any of its service areas in the Northeast, you can get a sweet deal for an unfussy internet plan.
With 100 Mbps speeds, this plan is solid if you live alone or with a couple roommates. Astound Broadband hooks it up with regular promotions and coupons, giving you installation at no extra cost. And there are multiple modem rental options to choose from, ranging from fairly cheap to slightly less cheap.
Pro tip:
If you’ve never met a discount you didn’t like, you’ll love our best internet deals guide. It’s updated every month so you can get the scoop on the latest bargains.
Mediacom—Best cheap sign-up prices
$19.99/mo.
Starting price
- Download speed: 100 Mbps
- Internet type: Cable
*for 12 months. Plus activation, installation and monthly modem rental fees.
Mediacom—which has a network centering around the Midwest—offers some nice introductory prices on its plans. We recommend Internet 100, which will give you plenty of speed for you and your roommates or family. When the 12-month promotion period is up, that $19.99 goes up to a monthly rate of $29.99, which still ain’t too shabby.
Starry Internet—Best cheap flat-rate package
Starry Internet is an up-and-coming internet provider that specializes in fixed-wireless connections and straightforward internet plans. It uses antenna arrays to pick up radio waves and transmit them as internet signals to apartment buildings in big cities.
Given the novel way it works, it’s understandable that Starry has limited availability. But it’s well worth looking into if you’re in Los Angeles, Denver, New York City, Boston, Washington, DC; or other areas where Starry operates.
There are no data caps, equipment rentals, or annual contract requirements with Starry. Enjoy getting a good deal!
Verizon 5G Home Internet—Best cheap 5G internet
$25/mo.* or $50/mo.†
- Download speed: Up to 300 Mbps
- Internet type: 5G
*w/ Auto Pay and select 5G mobile plans. Available in select areas.
†for non–Verizon mobile subscribers w/ Auto Pay. Available in select areas.
Verizon 5G Home Internet is a cool new service that uses 5G wireless networks to deliver your internet connection. It’s fast, easy to set up, and well worth a try.
This service relies on cellular transmitters to give you a signal from the street, and those signals can be impacted by things like geographic landmarks and weather events. The speeds aren’t quite as consistent as what you get from fiber or cable, but they’re solid so long as you have good cell service in your home.
This service is also great because it comes with a ton of extra perks—including unlimited data, no extra charges for equipment and installation, and no annual contract requirements.
How to get cheap internet—in 5 easy steps
You can get cheap internet by looking at all the fine print in a provider’s internet contract, aiming for the best-priced plan based on your needs, and then leveraging extra perks like unlimited data, monthly discounts, and no-contract offers.
Here’s a quick, step-by-step snapshot explaining how to get the best price on internet.
Step 1. Find internet providers in your area. Run a search with your zip code to see which internet providers are available in your area.
Step 2. Compare pricing, connection types, and speed. Aim to get a plan that gives you the fastest-possible speeds for the lowest monthly fee.
Step 3. Look at the fine print. Check if the plan comes with an annual contract or price hikes after a year of service. Also, figure out the data cap—aim to get a plan with at least 1 TB per month of data, or unlimited data if possible.
Step 4. Check for internet promotions or deals. You may be able to get a break on installation costs, or a free trial for a streaming service to sweeten the deal.
Step 5. Consider applying to the Affordable Connectivity Program. Participation in the program could help bring down your monthly bill by anywhere from $30 to $75 per month, depending on your situation. The government is working to make sure some eligible candidates get internet at no charge at all after they’ve applied their credit.
What to look for when you want cheap internet
Below is a more detailed rundown of all the important things to watch out for if you’re looking to get cheap broadband internet:
Fixed rates and no extra fees
You won’t need to worry about hidden charges or unexpected price hikes if you sign up for a plan that gives you a straight deal right off the bat.
Google Fiber, EarthLink, and Starry Internet give you a straight deal in this regard. Each provider lumps costs for equipment, installation, and other fees into your total monthly bill, rather than adding them on bit by bit. The price may look higher up front when you’re shopping around, but you’ll save money in the long run.
Month-to-month plans and no-contract policies
Many internet plans require an annual or even two-year commitment, leaving you on the hook for a potentially hefty early termination fee (ETF) if you have to cancel or switch providers before your contract is up.
Thankfully, it’s more common these days for internet providers to get rid of these annual commitments and let you sign up on a no-contract, month-to-month basis. That’s the best option you can get, since you can cancel anytime and won’t have to worry about ETFs (fees so infamous that there’s an acronym for them).
Pro tip:
Some providers give you the option to choose between a no-contract plan or an annual contract plan—and they’ll pressure you to sign up for the annual contract by charging more for the no-contract plan.
In that case, we still recommend signing up for the no-contract option, especially if you think you might move soon. It will give you more freedom and flexibility.
Government subsidies and low-income internet programs
A handful of internet providers offer low-cost internet plans designed for qualifying low-income customers and families with students.
If you’re already signed up for government programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), this is an excellent option to look into—especially in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Read our guide to government internet programs to see what’s out there and how to apply.
Gift cards and coupons
There are always discounts and coupons to enjoy when you’re signing up for an internet plan. (We know because we keep track of the best internet deals!) Before singing up, scope out the provider’s website or ask a customer service rep if there are any blessed bargains to be had. You may end up with something like a $100 VISA gift card, a waiver on installation costs, or a free, trial-length subscription to a streaming service.
Unlimited data
Going over your data cap can lead to costly overage charges, so an unlimited data option is your best bet if you love streaming movies in 4K or share your internet connection with a lot of people.
Spectrum, EarthLink, CenturyLink, and other providers offer unlimited data on all their plans, giving you the freedom to stream and download all you want. Others tend to offer generous data allotments. Read our guide on which internet providers have data caps to get the full rundown.
Cheap internet plans FAQ
What’s the best cheap internet package?
The best cheap internet package is Verizon’s Fios Internet 200 Mbps plan, which costs $49.99 per month.
The second-best cheap internet package is Xfinity’s Connect package, which is under $30 per month for 50 Mbps.
How much does it cost for an internet-only plan?
An internet-only plan costs $20 to $100 per month. Cheap plans cost around $50 per month—though some providers in your area may have offers for less.
Can I get free internet at home?
You can get free internet at home if you qualify for low-income federal assistance or have a family with qualifying students (K–12 or college). Read our guide to free internet to see what’s out there and how to sign up.
Author - Peter Holslin
Peter Holslin has more than a decade of experience working as a writer and freelance journalist. He graduated with a BA in liberal arts and journalism from New York City’s The New School University in 2008 and went on to contribute to publications like Rolling Stone, VICE, BuzzFeed, and countless others. At HighSpeedInternet.com, he focuses on covering 5G, nerding out about frequency bands and virtual RAN, and producing reviews on emerging services like 5G home internet. He also writes about internet providers and packages, hotspots, VPNs, and Wi-Fi troubleshooting.
Editor - Cara Haynes
Cara Haynes has been editing and writing in the digital space for seven years, and she's edited all things internet for HighSpeedInternet.com for five years. She graduated with a BA in English and a minor in editing from Brigham Young University. 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.
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