Of course, today’s internet is much faster than dial-up, but we’re right there with you when it comes to slashing that monthly cost. Turns out, there are eight easy ways to lower your internet bill: Let’s say you fork over $65 a month for CenturyLink’s 940 megabits per second (Mbps) plan, but aside from a security system and smart TV, the only other time you and your partner use the internet is to watch The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu. You could probably get away with 100 or even 50 Mbps download speeds. An easy way to figure out your minimum viable download speed is to check out our Mbps guide. Once you’ve got an idea of how much speed you need, look for internet service providers (ISPs) that offer plans in that Mbps range at a low price. (We even recommend some ISPs, like Spectrum, Xfinity, and AT&T, in our list of the cheapest internet providers.) Also, keep in mind that there are things you can do to prevent your internet from lagging without having to shell out more money for a more expensive plan. But if you’re not using more than 1 TB of data each billing cycle, there’s no need to pay extra. Here’s a quick list of some popular web activities and the amount of data you’d use for each one. If you find yourself chomping up data faster than Pac-Man chomps up those bonus fruits, see if you can save some downloads or high-data activities for next month. Okay, yes, it is. But that extra equipment rental charge quickly adds up. And if you’re planning to stay connected to the internet for a few years, it’s cheaper to buy your own modem and router in the long run. Plus, you can take it with you if you decide to swap providers. Here’s an example of how much your Cox modem Wi-Fi bill might cost versus how much our recommended modem/router combo, the ARRIS Surfboard, costs. If you end up with one of these, you’ll need to buy a router to hook additional computers or devices with a wired internet connection. At that point, it’s probably best to just buy your own modem-and-router combo. Some high-speed internet Wi-Fi providers that save you money with bundles include:
Cox: Save $40 or more a month Xfinity: Various savings per month depending on the bundle
If you do bundle, take a good, hard look at any additional streaming or TV services you’re still paying for. If they offer the same channels, networks, or shows as your newly bundled TV service, hit the cancel button and tell ‘em goodbye. Be sure to also compare the cost of bundling to the cost of buying each of your services separately. Not all bundles are created equal, and some offer services you won’t use, channels you won’t watch, or prices that aren’t any good. You’ll often find that most ISPs offer pretty low introductory rates to new customers. And if you can get a price lock guarantee like the ones CenturyLink or Optimum (formerly Suddenlink) offer, even better. Need an easy way to check out possible savings from ISPs in your area? Just type in your ZIP code below and we’ll make a list for you. See what other internet providers in your area charge for the same or similar download speeds you’ve got now. You can use this info later to negotiate a lower price—especially if your provider isn’t delivering the download speeds and performance it promised. An easy way to check this is to take a speed test. We recommend our internet and Wi-Fi speed test. Again, we can help you create a list of what prices and speeds are in your neighborhood. Just enter your ZIP code below. Most of us don’t use anywhere near the “unlimited” data that companies like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile offer. (Which is technically not unlimited, since your speed drops drastically if you hit a certain data threshold your service provider sets.) One way to better estimate how much data you need each month is to switch your phone’s settings so it uses Wi-Fi whenever a wireless connection is available, then track your data use. Once you figure out how much data you use on average each month, look for a data-free plan and rely solely on Wi-Fi or swap to a low-data plan that matches your needs to lower your Wi-Fi bill. We’ve got some picks you might like in our list of the cheap cell phone plans. If you don’t currently have internet access, you might try to negotiate for this discount over the phone. Or you can ask a friend you trust if you can borrow their Wi-Fi, or order service on your phone with a secure wireless connection. And if there’s a holiday coming up (or you can hold out until, say, Black Friday), keep an eye out for additional promotions. Clothing and electronics stores aren’t the only shops that like to offer deals year-round. Some ISPs will offer gift cards, freebies, or contract buyouts for Labor Day, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Christmas, and New Year’s. We’ve also got a list of the best internet deals we find each month—check it out to see if you can save some cash or get a freebie.
National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Community Eligibility Provision of the National School Lunch Program (CEP of the NSLP) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Public Housing (HUD) Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Pell Grant Senior and/or veteran government assistance
Check out our ACP guide for more info on whether you can get this $30 subsidy and how to apply. Xfinity is also offering two free months of service for new Internet Essentials customers through June 30, 2021. Read more about Comcast’s Internet Essentials updates and its full response to COVID-19.
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) California’s Medi-Cal program Senior Citizen Low-Income Discount Plans offered by local gas or power companies Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) Tribally Administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Refugee assistance
If you qualify for these or other assistance programs, your best bet is to call your internet provider to see if it can enroll you in a low-income internet plan. On top of that, there are a few other tricks you may not have thought of, like canceling your cell phone data plan or bundling your internet with TV service. And if you’re a low-income family, you might also qualify for low-cost internet service through the Lifeline program or your local internet provider’s own low-income internet plans.
