Best Cheap Internet Providers and Plans 2024
Get the lowest price possible for fast and reliable internet
Apr 22, 2024 | Share 
Brand Guides
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Cheap fiber plans
- Prices: $49.99– $89.99/mo.
- Speeds: 500–2,000Mbps
-
Best introductory prices
- Prices: $20.00–$120.00/mo.
- Speeds: 75–2,000Mbps
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Widely available DSL
- Prices: $55.00/mo.
- Speeds: Up to 140Mbps
-
Deals on deals on deals
- Prices: $20.00–$80.00/mo.
- Speeds: 300–2,000Mbps
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Widely available 5G
- Prices: $40.00–60.00/mo.
- Speeds: 72–245Mbps
Everyone deserves access to high-speed internet, but it shouldn’t cost a fortune. Most families in the U.S. can find plans with good-enough speeds for about $50 per month. Some plans, though, are available for as little as $20 per month.
Any plan you’re considering should come with decent bandwidth, sufficient monthly data, and good Wi-Fi capability. But there’s more to it: your options depend entirely on where you live, and prices often change after initial promos end. In this guide, we’ll help you find the cheapest plans in your area for now, and for the long-term.
Top 7 cheap internet plans
| Best for | Plan | Price | Speed | Internet type | Order online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheap fiber internet | Verizon Internet 300/300 | $49.99/mo.* | 300Mbps | Fiber | |
| Cheap cable internet | Xfinity Connect More† | $30.00–35.00/mo.† | 200Mbps | Cable | View Plans |
| Cheap DSL internet | CenturyLink Simply Unlimited Internet 140Mbps | $55.00/mo.‡ | Up to 140Mbps | DSL | |
| Lots of deals | Astound Broadband 300 Mbps Internet | $20.00/mo.-$45.00§ | 300Mbps | Cable | |
| Low sign-up prices | Mediacom Prime Internet 100║ | $34.99/mo.║ | 100Mbps | Cable | |
| Flat-rate packages | T-Mobile 5G Home Internet | $40.00-$60.00/mo.# | 72–245Mbps | Fixed wireless/5G | View Plans |
| Affordable 5G internet | Verizon 5G Home Internet*† | $35–60/mo.* | Up to 300Mbps | Fixed wireless/5G |
Read disclaimers.
How Much Internet Speed Do I Need?
Use our internet speed calculator to get a personalized internet speed recommendation based on how you use the internet.
How many people in your household use the internet/WiFi on a daily basis?
How many devices in your home connect to the internet, including tablets, gaming consoles, and smart devices?
How many people in your household work from home?
What video quality do you use for streaming TV and movies?
How intensely does your household participate in online gaming?
Does your household download large files from the cloud or via the internet?
How to save money on internet every month
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 such as unlimited data, monthly discounts, and no-contract offers.
We put together the following list of ways to shave down your bill. Every dollar counts!
- Look for a provider that offers internet deals for less than $50 a month. Potential savings: $200–$600 per year.
- Get an internet plan with no annual contract and no data caps. Then you don’t have to pay early termination fees or overage fees. Potential savings: $10–120 per year.
- Look for internet deals like rewards cards and waivers on extra fees. Potential savings: $50–$100.
- Buy your own Wi-Fi equipment (modem + router or gateway) to avoid paying a monthly fee. (Just make sure you’re using equipment that’s compatible with your provider.) Potential savings: $120–$180 per year.
- Downgrade your plan to a slower internet speed. There’s no point in paying for bandwidth you don’t use. Use our “How Much Internet Speed Do I Need?” tool to see what works best. Potential savings: $200–$600 per year.
- Use a public Wi-Fi hotspot at a library or public park to avoid paying a monthly bill altogether. Potential savings: $50–90/mo.
Want cheap internet?
Run a search with your zip code below to see internet prices in your area.
Best cheap internet plans for less than $100 per month
| Plan | Price | Speed | Internet type | Sign up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xfinity Superfast | $60–$70.00/mo.† | 800Mbps | Cable | View Plan |
| Quantum Fiber 1 Gig Price for Life | $75.00/mo.§§| 940Mbps | Fiber | | |
| Verizon Fios Gigabit Connection | $89.99/mo.* | Up to 940Mbps | Fiber | |
| Cox Go Even Faster | $89.99/mo.|||| | 500Mbps | Cable | View Plan |
| AT&T Internet 500 | $65.00/mo.##| 500Mbps | Fiber | View Plan | |
| AT&T Internet 1 Gig | $80.00/mo.##| 1,000Mbps | Fiber | View Plans for AT&T | |
| Spectrum Internet® Ultra | $49.99–$69.99/mo.*** for 24 mos. | Up to 500Mbps (wireless speeds may vary) | Cable | View Plan |
| Google Fiber 1 Gig | $70.00/mo.††† | 1,000Mbps | Fiber | View Plans for Google Fiber |
| Mediacom Prime Internet 1 GIG | $54.99/mo.║ | 1,000Mbps | Cable | |
| EarthLink Fiber 500 | $79.95/mo.‡‡ | 500Mbps | Fiber | View Plan |
Read disclaimers.
If you need a little more speed, it’s possible to find plans that can support dozens of connected devices for less than $100 per month.
A fiber internet plan will give you consistent performance and very fast speeds (including upload speeds up to 1Gbps). It works well for livestreams, Zoom meetings, and uploading to social media.
Most cable internet providers also offer plenty of speed for less than$100 per month. Xfinity’s Superfast plans and Spectrum’s Internet Ultra plan are great examples.
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 long waits for downloads.
Use our “How Much Speed Do I Need?” tool for a personalized recommendation.
Best cheap internet for less than $50 per month
| Plan | Price | Speed | Internet type | Sign up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cox Go Fast | $49.99/mo.|||| | 100Mbps | Cable | View Plan |
| Verizon Fios Internet 300/300 | $49.99/mo.* | 300Mbps | Fiber | |
| Xfinity Connect More | $30–$35.00/mo.† | 200Mbps | Cable | View Plan |
| Astound Broadband 600 Mbps Internet | $40.00–$45.00/mo.§ | 600Mbps | Cable, fiber | |
| Frontier Fiber 500 | $44.99/mo. w/Auto Pay & Paperless Bill†† | 500Mbps | Fiber | View Plan |
| Spectrum Internet® | $39.99–$49.99/mo.*** for 12 mos. | Up to 300Mbps (wireless speeds may vary) | Cable | View Plan |
| Mediacom Prime Internet 300 | $49.99/mo.║ | 300Mbps | Cable |
Read disclaimers.
Fiber internet is available to more and more households every day, and providers have been racing to offer better deals at lower prices. If you can get one of these plans in you’re area, we recommend it! You’ll get superb speeds and internet performance at a very reasonable rate, and there’s a good chance Wi-Fi equipment will be included.
You can get decent cable internet plans for less than $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, for example. The plans and prices available to you will depend on where you live.
Not sure if fiber internet is available in your area? Run a search with your zip code below.
Best cheap internet plans for less than $25 per month
| Plan | Price | Speed | Internet type | Sign up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astound Broadband 300 Mbps Internet | $20.00–$40.00/mo.§ | 300Mbps | Cable | |
| Xfinity Connect | $20.00/mo.† | 75Mbps | Cable | View Plan |
Read disclaimers.
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 75Mbps is 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 Chicago or in the Northeast—data caps still apply in Texas. (Prices vary depending on where you live.)
Verizon—Best cheap fiber plan
$49.99/mo.*
Starting price
- Download speed: 300Mbps
- Internet type: Fiber
*Price per month with Auto Pay & without select 5G mobile plans. Fios plan prices include taxes & fees.
With a starting price of just $49.99 per month, Verizon’s base-level fiber internet plan gives you excellent speeds for a mid-sized household—enough to let you stream in 4K and play online games on several devices. You also get equally fast upload speeds, making this plan perfect for working from home and all the Zoom meetings, uploading, download, and social media procrastination that entails.
Verizon Fios plans come with unlimited data and don’t require a contract to sign up. The provider also got some of the best ratings in our annual customer satisfaction survey, coming in third for price.
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
$30.00–35.00/mo.†
Starting price
- Download speed: 200Mbps
- Internet type: Cable
†For 12 months. No term contract. Taxes and equipment not included. Includes $10/mo automatic payments and paperless billing discount. Prices may vary by location.
View Xfinity PlansXfinity is your best bet for decent, cheap internet if you can get it. It’s standard monthly prices are some of the least expensive out there. If you fall below certain income thresholds, your price could be as low as $9.95 per month. There are deals for short-term internet, too!
With the new NOW Wifi Pass, you can sign into any Xfinity hotspot for 30 days for just $10. Almost all home internet connections from Xfinity act as public hotspots, so it should be easy to connect anywhere in the network.
CenturyLink—Best cheap DSL
$55.00/mo.‡
- Download speed: Up to 140Mbps
- Internet type: DSL
‡Speed may not be available in your area. 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 140 Mbps).
DSL isn’t fancy-schmancy like cable or fiber-optic internet—it runs over our landline phone cables, and that means it’s a lot slower than cable or fiber plans. 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.
With DSL, it’s important to note that your speeds will be slower the farther you are from your provider’s neighborhood hub. If you’re the last house on a country road, for example, your actual speeds could be far slower than the “up to” speed listed on your plan. If that’s the case for you, faster speeds could be available from 5G internet providers like T-Mobile or satellite providers like Starlink.
Astound Broadband—Best cheap deals
$20.00-$25.00/mo.§
Starting price
- Download speed: 300Mbps
- Internet type: Cable
§24 Month Internet Pricing. No contract required. Equipment priced separately. Includes $10 discount for 12 months w/ ebill & autopay. Excludes surcharges and fees. New residential customers only.
Astound Broadband’s largest cable internet service area is in the Northeast, serving New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, a few Pennsylvania counties, and Washington, D.C. 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 300Mbps speeds, this plan is solid if you live alone or with a couple roommates. Astound Broadband often adds installation at no extra cost. Prices rise steeply in year two of service, though, so set yourself a reminder to shop for internet service again in about 11 months.
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
$34.99/mo.║
Starting price
- Download speed: 100Mbps
- Internet type: Cable
║For 1 year. Plus activation, installation, modem rental, taxes & fees. Price includes $10/mo discount for autopay and paperless billing.
Mediacom—which has a network centering around the Midwest—offers some nice introductory prices on its plans. We recommend Prime 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 $34.99 goes up to a monthly rate of $39.99, which still ain’t too shabby.
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet—Best cheap flat-rate package
$40.00-$60/mo.#
- Download speed: 72–245Mbps
- Internet type: Fixed wireless/5G
#w/ Auto Pay. Regulatory fees included in monthly price for qualified accounts. See full terms.
View PlansYou might think of just cell phones when you think of T-Mobile, but the provider is quickly becoming a major home internet provider as well. It offers 5G fixed wireless internet service to nearly 60 percent of addresses in the US. T-Mobile got stellar reviews in our annual customer satisfaction survey, so we think it’s worth a shot if you can’t get fast speeds for lower prices elsewhere.
T-Mobile still prioritizes it’s mobile phone customers over home internet customers, so speeds also can be a little spotty at busy times of day.
The best thing about this plan is there are no data caps or annual contract requirements, and your Wi-Fi gear is included in the price. Also, if you sign up for two or more lines of the T-Mobile Magenta MAX phone plan, you get $20 off the monthly fee for home internet.
Verizon 5G Home Internet—Best cheap 5G internet
$35/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 worth a try.
This service relies on the provider’s network of cellular transmitters. The speeds aren’t quite as consistent as what you get from fiber or cable (and they’re deprioritized compared to mobile traffic), but they’re a lot better than many DSL or satellite connections.
This service also comes with a ton of extra perks—including unlimited data, no extra charges for equipment and installation, and no annual contract requirements.
What to look for when you want cheap internet
Cheap internet is about more than just the monthly connection price. You also need Wi-Fi gear, enough data every month, and more. Read on for a detailed rundown:
Fixed rates and no extra fees
Price hikes and extra fees used to be the norm for internet providers, but it’s getting a lot easier these days to find flat-rate plans. Google Fiber was a pioneer in offering straight-up deals, and it’s still a good option if you can get it. Other fiber internet providers like Verizon, AT&T, and Quantum Fiber have followed its example.
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
Other 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.
Pro tip: Get a no-contract plan if you can
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. 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 signing up, scope out the provider’s website or ask a customer service rep if there are any bargains to be had. You may end up with something like a $100 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.
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.
Looking for an easy way to test and track your internet speed?
Take our internet speed test or download our free speed test app to test your speed from anywhere.
Download our free, easy-to-use speed test app for quick and reliable results.
Cheap internet plans FAQ
What’s the best cheap internet package?
The best cheap internet package is Verizon’s Fios Internet 300 Mbps plan, which costs $49.99 per month.
The second-best cheap internet package is Xfinity’s Connect package, which is $20 per month for 75Mbps.
How much does it cost for an internet-only plan?
Most internet-only plans cost $20–$100 per month. Cheap plans cost around $50 per month—though some providers in your area may have offers for less.
Punch in your zip code to see if you can get a good price where you live:
Can I get free internet at home?
It’s difficult to get free internet in most areas of the country today, but you may have options for internet that costs $30 per month or less. Read our our guide to free internet to see if you qualify.
Disclaimers
Data as of 04/02/2024.
*w/ Auto Pay. Available in select areas.
*<sup>†</sup>for non–Verizon mobile subscribers w/ Auto Pay. Available in select areas.
<sup>†</sup>Xfinity Connect More
No term contract. Taxes not included. Includes $10/mo automatic payments and paperless billing discount. Prices may vary by location.
<sup>‡</sup>CenturyLink Simply Unlimited
Speed may not be available in your area. 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 140 Mbps).
<sup>§</sup>Astound Broadband
No contract required. 24 Month Internet Pricing. Equipment priced separately. Includes $10 discount for 12 months w/ ebill & autopay. Experienced speeds may vary. Excludes surcharges and fees. New residential customers only.
<sup>║</sup>Mediacom
For 1 year. Plus activation, installation, modem rental, taxes & fees. Price includes $10/mo discount for autopay and paperless billing.
<sup>#</sup>T-Mobile
w/ Auto Pay. Regulatory fees included in monthly price for qualified accounts. See full terms.
<sup>††</sup>Frontier
w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Max wired speed 500/500 Mbps. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary. One-time charges apply.
<sup>§§</sup>Quantum Fiber
Limited availability. Service rate in select locations only. Taxes and fees apply. New Quantum Fiber Customers Only.
<sup>||||</sup>Cox Go Even Faster
No annual contract or cancellation fees.
<sup>##</sup>AT&T
Price after $5/mo Autopay & Paperless bill discount (w/in 2 bills). Plus taxes & fees. Monthly State Cost Recovery Charge in TX, OH, NV applies. Ltd. availability/areas.
***Spectrum
For 12 months when bundled. 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.
<sup>†††</sup>Google Fiber
Plus taxes and fees. 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.
<sup>‡‡‡</sup>Earthlink Fiber 500
with a 12 month contract.
Author - Chili Palmer
With more than 15 years' experience in the coverage of tech and consumer issues, Chili Palmer holds a bachelor's degree in print journalism from Weber State University. Before joining highspeedinternet.com, she wrote about home internet and cable TV for Switchful.com. Her writing and editing work has also appeared in the Idaho Business Review, Utah Business magazine, Top Ten Reviews, Deseret News, and more. Previously writing under the name Rebecca Palmer, Chili is passionate about providing accurate and accessible information any time you're trying to connect … whether you already speak geek or just got your first smartphone.
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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