Best Internet for Veterans and Military Families

Our pick: Which internet provider is best for veterans?

Verizon Fios has one of the best veteran discounts around, especially on its Fios 300 Mbps plan. It’s hard to find a deal on home internet that can beat that. If you’re more interested in getting additional perks, you might look into Xfinity . And for pure speed, you can’t go wrong with gFiber .

The 4 best internet providers for veterans

• Best military bonuses: Xfinity
• Best for bundles: AT&T
• Best prices: Verizon
• Best performance: gFiber

Compare internet providers for veterans

What should you look for in an internet plan?

Military members and their families need flexible and reliable internet service. On average, military families move every 2-3 years, which is much more often than civilians. When looking for an internet provider, be especially wary of long-term contracts and high upfront costs, as these can add a ton of extra expenses every time you move.

There are also lots of discounts, bonuses, and perks available to members of the military and their families, so there’s a lot of information to compare. We’ve combed through the fine print to find some of the best options for veterans and military families.

Best military bonuses—Xfinity

Xfinity offers a wide range of perks for military members. The main benefit is instant Diamond membership, which is usually reserved for Xfinity customers who have stuck with the provider for over 10 years. Diamond membership includes perks like ticket discounts at Universal Parks, VIP access to advance movie screenings, and much more.

Xfinity also provides military members with free Peacock Premium and 1 free year of NOW TV, making it a good choice for those looking for deals on streaming services.

Best for bundles —AT&T

AT&T is a great choice for those who are looking to bundle their home internet and phone bills to save some additional money. AT&T not only has nationwide 5G coverage, but it also has one of the largest fiber networks in the country. New customers who qualify for the military discount may also qualify for an iPhone Air 256GB for less than a dollar per month over the course of 36 months.

AT&T’s discounts also extend to retired law enforcement and firefighters, so if you or someone in your household falls into one of these categories, check to see if you might be eligible.

Best prices—Verizon

Verizon has some amazing military discounts on their Fios plans, especially the low-priced Fios 300 Mbps plan. That’s more than enough speed for most households at a price you’ll be hard-pressed to find anywhere else. Verizon also has military discounts on their standard monthly mobile plans as well as for accessories like headphones, speakers, and cases.

Best performance—gFiber

Although gFiber doesn’t have any discounts on its plans (military or otherwise), it’s still a great choice for military households that are looking for speed. GFiber’s plans offer speeds of up to 8Gbps, which is more than an average household could ever use at one time. It also has simple, transparent pricing with no long-term contracts or upfront costs, as well as free equipment and professional installation. This makes it a great choice for anyone who moves around frequently.

If you’re moving to a new location, it’s always worth checking to see if gFiber is available in the area.

Other programs for military and veterans

In addition to discounts through internet providers, military members and veterans may also qualify for other programs that can help with the cost of internet. These can include nongovernment programs, programs for retirees, programs for students, or programs for those living in rural areas.

Nongovernment programs

You can also find other programs for helping veterans and their families get affordable internet access. Many of these are offered by nonprofit organizations and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).

Veterans Advantage, a public benefit corporation (PBC), provides benefits and discounts for the military community. This includes active duty and retired military members, guards, reservists, and family members.

Veterans Advantage is a subscription program, which means you have to sign up for a paid subscription in order to get the associated benefits. Members also get the VetReward card, which you can use at many places as proof of identification without having to provide other military credentials.

If you’re considering signing up for their program, Veterans Advantage offers a free 30-day trial of their basic membership plan.

If you’re going to school on the Montgomery GI Bill or a military scholarship, you might qualify for discounts and special programs directed at students.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, having a fast, reliable internet connection is more important to education than ever before. Many classes now use more online elements, and a reliable internet connection is more important than ever.

To learn more about student discounts, check out our review of the best internet plans for students.

Discounts for retirees

There are various programs for seniors who served in the military, such as the Optimum Advantage program , which serves veterans who receive public assistance. There are also many other private and public programs available to seniors, regardless of military service.

To learn more about these programs, take a look at our guide to internet for seniors.

Internet for rural areas

For veterans looking for internet in rural areas, it can be difficult to find an internet plan that fits your needs. This is also true for active duty military personnel who aren’t stationed close to major urban areas. How are you supposed to get reliable high-speed internet if you’re in an area without the necessary infrastructure?

Fortunately, even if you live outside the range of residential fiber and cable networks, there are still a lot of options to choose from.

• DSL uses existing phone lines to deliver high-speed internet, reaching even relatively small towns.
• 5G home internet reaches even farther than DSL, covering any area where the provider offers 5G cell reception.
• Fixed Wireless has some of the highest wireless speeds and serves many areas that lack wired infrastructure, but it isn’t very widespread compared to other wireless technologies.
• Satellite internet is available almost everywhere but has lower data caps and higher costs than plans with similar speeds.

Our verdict

Military households have unique requirements for their internet service when compared to civilians, but thankfully, there are a lot of providers that cater to those needs specifically, while offering generous discounts and perks. We like providers like Verizon that give deep discounts to military families, but if price isn’t the main factor in your choice, there are a lot of other options to choose from.

Related content

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Internet for Veterans and Military Families FAQ