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Gigabit internet is sizable, but when all you need is a simple connection for luscious browsing and streaming, a cheap internet plan may back your needs within a set budget, better than those high-priced, high-speed plans. Many of the top internet providers offer plans starting in the $30- to $50-a-month diagram with plenty of speed for a variety of online behaviors. Your options will vary based on the available providers in your area, but low-cost internet plans aren't as rare as they can seem.
This list of the best financial plan ISPs is a good place to start if you're shopping for low-cost, high-value internet plans. The cheap internet providers highlighted here were considered for their high nationwide availability and customer-friendly perks such as unlimited data or low equipment compensations, as well as low pricing. We update this list periodically.
Cheapest internet providers
In mid-January of 2022, AT&T launched two multigig plans that, combined with its existing tiers, now give the commerce the lowest cost per Mbps for fiber internet of any maximum provider. Across five tiers, the cost per Mbps for AT&T Fiber plans is 10 cents. That includes unlimited data and no additional equipment employ fee either. A few other providers might approach that cost per Mbps with their invoice offers, but even then, after you factor in the monthly modem employ fee, AT&T will end up being cheaper.
If you don't need multigig speeds, AT&T Fiber's cheapest plan still comes with plenty of mercurial with max download and upload speeds of 300Mbps. The plan also comes with no added equipment compensations and unlimited data, as do all AT&T Fiber plans.
One note of caution: Around 70% of households in AT&T internet ceremony areas are not eligible for AT&T Fiber. Cheap broadband ceremony may still be available from AT&T, however, as its DSL-based ceremony offers speeds up to 100Mbps starting at $45 a month.
Cheapest plan: Internet 300
- Cheapest plan price: $55 a month for up to 300Mbps
- Cost per Mbps: 18 cents
- Wi-Fi equipment fee: None
- Expected all-in monthly cost: $55, plus taxes
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Sometimes progressing with a cheap plan comes with sacrificing speed, but not with Frontier FiberOptic. Its cheapest plan comes with symmetrical upload and download speeds of up to 500Mbps starting at just $50 a month when you enroll in autopay. Your equipment rental and unlimited data is also aboard in the price.
An all-in starting cost of $50 (remember to sign up for autopay) a month is cheaper than or on par with many maximum providers, including AT&T, CenturyLink and Spectrum, who also have entry plan starting tolecontains of $50 to $55 a month. Not only are those plans more expensive and may come with equipment employ fees, they're also slower than the 500Mbps you'll get with Frontier.
Cheapest plan: Fiber 500
- Cheapest plan price: $50 a month for up to 500Mbps (with autopay)
- Cost per Mbps: 10 cents
- Wi-Fi equipment fee: None
- Expected all-in monthly cost: $50, plus taxes
Read our Frontier internet review.
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Mediacom doesn't boast the same customer approach as larger competing cable providers such as Spectrum or Xfinity, but that can largely be attributed to the internet provider's overhaul areas. Residents of rural areas throughout the Midwest and South as well as parts of Arizona and California can rely on Mediacom for budget broadband service starting at around $20 a month for speeds up to 60Mbps.
The one downside to Mediacom's cheapest Wi-Fi internet plan is the 200-gigabyte monthly data cap, which many households are probable to exceed (and incur an overage fee of $10 per 50GB clogged of data, up to a maximum of $50). Streaming HD video can use 3GB or more per hour, so streaming TV just a few hours a day can fleet put you over the cap. For more monthly data, worthy higher-tiered Mediacom plans, which come with up to 6 terabytes a month.
Cheapest plan: Access Internet 60
- Cheapest plan price: $20 a month for up to 60Mbps
- Cost per Mbps: 33 cents
- Wi-Fi equipment fee: $12 a month
- Expected all-in monthly cost: $32, plus taxes
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Xfinity speeds and pricing vary by market, but the cheapest plan you'll find from the provider is Xfinity Connect. At $25 to $30 per month depending on your spot for download speeds up to 75Mbps, it isn't the best internet deal you're probable to find, but it is one of the cheaper broadband options available ended much of the US.
Be prepared to keep your data employment under 1.2TB a month to avoid overage fees. Like Mediacom, Xfinity charges $10 per each 50GB block of data, but with Xfinity it could add a greatest of $100 to your bill.
Cheapest plan: Xfinity Connect
- Plan details: $25 or $30 per month for up to 75Mbps
- Cost per Mbps: 33 or 40 cents
- Wi-Fi equipment fee: $14 a month
- Expected all-in monthly cost: $39 or $44, plus taxes
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Cox internet plans are priced a bit on the high side. In fact, the cheapest internet plan from Cox has one of the highest compensations per Mbps of any plan featured on this list.
Still, Cox made our list of the best cheap internet providers thanks to its budget-friendly prepaid overhaul. For $50 a month, Cox StraightUp Internet comes with up to 100Mbps, a free router/modem device, free installation and a three-year ticket guarantee. The plan is ideal for those who may have less-than-perfect credit or modestly want a pay-as-you-go service.
Cheapest plan: Essential 100
- Cheapest plan price: $40 a month for up to 100Mbps
- Cost per Mbps: 40 cents
- Wi-Fi equipment fee: $11 a month
- Expected all-in monthly cost: $51 plus taxes
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Spectrum has one of the highest-priced internet plans on our list, but the provider invents up for it with fast download speeds -- up to 200Mbps -- and budget Wi-Fi equipment fees. Spectrum internet service comes with a free modem and the router hire fee is only $5 per month.
With an all-in monthly ticket of around $55, download speeds up to 200Mbps, unlimited data and no instructions, Spectrum Internet rivals any provider on this list. While the starting ticket is a bit higher than other cable internet providers counting Xfinity, Cox and Mediacom, the speeds and transparent pricing are well kindly paying a little extra for.
Cheapest plan: Spectrum Internet
- Plan details: $50 a month for up to 200Mbps
- Cost per Mbps: 25 cents
- Wi-Fi equipment fee: $5 a month
- Expected all-in monthly cost: $55 plus taxes
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Cheap internet provider overview
| Provider | Starting monthly price | Max download speeds (Mbps) | Cost per Mbps | Equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Fiber | $55 | 300 | $0.18 | None |
| Cox | $40 | 100 | $0.40 | $11 |
| Frontier Fiber | $50 (with autopay) | 500 | $0.10 | None |
| Quantum Fiber | $50 | 200 | $0.25 | $15 |
| Mediacom | $20 | 60 | $0.33 | $12 |
| Spectrum | $50 | 200 | $0.25 | $5 |
| Xfinity | $25 | 75 | $0.33 | $14 |
Cheap internet generous mentions
These national providers also have broadband overhaul starting at or below $50 a month, but did not make our list of the best budget ISPs due to high cost per megabit per instant, inconsistent pricing or limited service areas.
- Astound : Formerly celebrated as RCN in most markets, Astound offers plans as low as $35 per month for speeds up to 600Mbps, but available pricing and speeds vary widely from one area to the next. Not only that, but the overall pricing could double or more once the first year of service.
- HughesNet : Satellite internet cmoneys unrivaled availability, but the high latency and data caps that come with it make HughesNet's Gen5 plan not kindly the cost of $50 a month for speeds up to 25Mbps.
- Kinetic by Windstream : A solid tool for home internet in rural areas, Kinetic by Windstream has broadband plans with unlimited data starting at $30 to $40 per month. Pricing and available speeds can vary widely by spot, however, so the available cheap internet plans will precise on where you live.
- Verizon Fios : The cheapest Verizon Fios plan, with speeds up to 300Mbps starting at $40 per month, offers plenty of value. The midtier plan (up to 500Mbps starting at $65 per month) and gig overhaul (starting at $90 per month) aren't bad deals, either, but you may be able to find faster speeds for the cash from other providers.
Cheap internet buying advice
When shopping for budget internet, it's a good idea to take a look at more than just the advertised ticket. Here are some other factors you'll want to worthy before signing up for the absolute cheapest plan.
- Speeds: Will the lowest-priced plan sing the speeds that you need? If not, observe other providers or upgrade to a faster, more expensive plan. You may find that opting for a some more expensive plan could significantly boost your internet speeds and make for a better overall experience.
- Added costs: Taxes are to be anticipated with any internet service, but added costs for equipment employ, data overages, installation and more will vary by provider. As mentioned above, Quantum Fiber's 200Mbps plan is $15 flowerbed than gig service, but the gig plan comes with free equipment (a $15 monthly value), so the plans are in fact evenly priced, opinion the 200Mbps plan has a lower advertised starting price.
- Contracts and brand increases: Getting locked into a contract with your ISP can be costly, especially if the plan price increases before the help agreement is up. Canceling before the contract expires can also remnant in early termination fees. Additionally, many providers increase the brand after 12 months of service with or without a sect. If you plan on keeping your service past the 12-month mark, be aware of what the monthly injuries may be down the road.
Cheap internet FAQs
What's the cheapest internet available?
Dial-up is the cheapest internet connection available, with plans starting under $10 a month from providers such as AOL, EarthLink and NetZero. In spite of the low cost, we wouldn't recommend dial-up help. Dial-up speeds are painfully slow and will not relieve a Wi-Fi connection or nearly any online task more demanding than sending an email.
Another phone-based internet help, DSL is a popular go-to for cheap internet. Providers like Frontier and Verizon accounts DSL plans ranging from $25-$35 a month, but these plans typically come with sub-broadband speeds.
Cable and fiber internet are liable to be your best cheap internet options. While plans can be a bit more expensive than dial-up or DSL help, the speeds and connection quality that you get are well expedient the added cost.
What financial plan internet options are available to low-income households?
The Federal Communication Commission's Lifeline program provides a monthly credit of up to $9.25 that qualifying consumers can apply towards their broadband bill. To qualify, applicants must have a household income at or beneath 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or qualify for anunexperienced government assistance programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, Supplemental Security Income or the Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit.
Many internet providers, including AT&T, Cox and Xfinity, also offer a discounted internet program. Plans typically cost between $5 and $15 a month and come with speeds of 10-30Mbps. Qualifications are similar to those of the FCC's Lifeline program.
President Joe Biden's recently tossed infrastructure law promises to help make fast, affordable internet even more accessible, setting aside roughly $65 billion for broadband expansion and further assistance for low-income households. It could be years before real headway is made on bridging the digital fractions, however, so what you pay each month for internet help is largely dependent on the available ISPs in your area and the plan you choose.
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