These 5 Internet Providers Make Installation a Breeze

Installation is the most annoying part of getting new internet. You have to schedule appointments with a technician, fiddle around with tangled cables, and fork over extra fees on top of your monthly bill—as if internet wasn’t expensive enough already!

But installation can go smoothly. Perks—including free installation or self-installation kits—can help you get your Wi-Fi up and running with minimal hassle. We’ve got the lowdown on which providers give you the hookup.

Get free self-install from Xfinity

It’s all about self-installation when it comes to Xfinity. One of the biggest internet providers in the country, Xfinity has a wide range of internet packages, and all come with a self-install kit as the default installation option.

Inside the kit, you’ll have everything you need to get your home Wi-Fi up and running, including Ethernet cables and a gateway router (which costs a monthly rental fee). You’ll need a little tech know-how to set up the Wi-Fi yourself, but it’s no big deal—Xfinity has an app to help you through the process, and we can walk you through that too.

How do you get it?

Sign up for an internet plan on Xfinity’s website , and select the self-installation kit as your installation option. The kit will arrive at your home in three to five business days. You can pay extra for priority shipping or choose to delay shipping by as long as 25 days if you’re not ready to get the kit yet.

Xfinity also has a Self-Install Plus option (basically professional installation) for $39.99.

Find a cheap pro-install option from AT&T

Some AT&T plans let you pick self-installation for free, just like Xfinity. Other cases require professional installation—mainly if you’re signing up for one of AT&T’s fiber plans, since a fiber setup usually needs a professional to connect wiring to a utility box on the street.

If you go pro with AT&T, the cost if free for a fiber plan but professional installation for a DSL plan will cost $99.00. You may be able to get a Visa prepaid card as a sign-up bonus as well to offset the cost.

How do you get it?

Look at your installation options when you’re signing up for an internet plan—AT&T will let you know whether AT&T self-installation is possible at your place. Meanwhile, check in with customer service to make sure you’re getting any available discounts or deals.

Score top-tier customer service from Verizon

Verizon is probably best known for its fast Fios fiber speeds and cheap 5G home internet plans, but what the provider really excels at is dependability. A Fios plan gets you a consistent internet connection over a fiber-optic network that is well-maintained, up-to-date, and immune to electromagnetic interference. And if there are any issues, Verizon makes it easy to contact customer care. You can even get technical support over the Verizon app.

Our annual customer satisfaction survey shows Verizon received top and near-top rankings for reliability and customer service, beating out 14 other providers. So if you’re having trouble with your connection, reach out to Verizon and an agent can help you out.

How do you get it?

You can get self-install on most EarthLink plans for a small fee, but fiber plans require you to opt for professional installation. So pick whatever installation option is available and most affordable to you as you’re signing up for an EarthLink plan. Then call customer service at 866-383-3080 to go over any questions or concerns.

Chill with “no-contact” installation from Astound Broadband Powered by RCN

Cable provider Astound Broadband (formerly RCN) is perhaps best known for its seemingly bottomless cornucopia of promotions, discounts, and deals, which are routinely available to new customers. These include free installation coupons that you can find on Astound Broadband’s website .

But another big plus with Astound Broadband is its “no-contact” installation policy, which gives you professional, socially-distanced installation. Here’s how it works: a technician will come to your house with the installation kit. Then they’ll stand at the doorway (or at an otherwise safe distance) and explain to you how to hook everything up. If you don’t mind someone in your home, you’re free to let them in as they troubleshoot potential issues.

How do you get it?

Sign up for an Astound Broadband plan online—and don’t forget to use a coupon code specific to your service area to get installation at no extra cost. Set up an appointment for a technician to come by and work with them to plug in all the router cables correctly.

Find a flexible setup from T-Mobile Home Internet

T-Mobile Home Internet is a relatively new service that uses wireless signals from 4G LTE and 5G towers to give you a fast and versatile internet connection. You don’t need a professional to set it up, and you don’t need any special wiring in your house either.

Installation is free—yay! You can set it all up yourself after T-Mobile sends you a gateway (a fixed-wireless modem/router) and your new account information.

How do you get it?

First you’ll need to search your address on T-Mobile’s website to make sure you can get T-Mobile Home Internet—availability is still somewhat limited. Once you’ve confirmed that, go ahead and sign up for a plan. T-Mobile will send everything you need in the mail. From there, it’s just a matter of plugging in the right cables to the right places.