With nearly 3,000 internet service providers (ISPs) operating in the U.S., it can be challenging to know where to begin when searching for the best cheap internet plans. That’s why we’re here—we’ve sifted through all the providers and plans out there to bring you the best for less. Whether you’re looking for the cheapest internet plans on the market, the best cheap and fast internet, or the cheapest unlimited internet plans, we’ve got your back.

Affordable Internet Plans & Providers

Want to browse all of the different cheap internet plans available? Check out the list below, which includes plans from Wave, Frontier, Windstream, Cox, Suddenlink, RCN, Optimum, and more—all under $50/month.

Let’s Talk Tip:

Many internet providers offer introductory rates that make their plans cheap but only for a year or two. After that introductory period, plan pricing can increase significantly, so it may be wise to switch providers when your plan goes up so you can get an introductory rate.

Cheapest Internet Service Plans

The average person spends about $65/month on internet, but this doesn’t have to be the case. You can save hundreds of dollars per year on your internet bill by switching to a plan between $19/month and $30/month. Cheap internet service plans aren’t just about the monthly service price, though—they also take start-up costs, equipment, and installation fees into consideration.

The cheapest internet plans include:

Wave High Speed 50 Internet $19.95

Check out the details of the Wave High Speed 50 Internet plan below:

  • $19.95/month
  • $60 installation fee
  • 50Mbps
  • 400GB data cap
  • Cable connection
  • No term contract

Frontier Simply Broadband Core $20 Internet

Here are the key features of the $20 Frontier Simply Broadband Core plan:

  • $20/month
  • 6Mbps
  • No data cap (unlimited data)
  • DSL connection
  • 2-year contract

This plan may be a good choice for you if you live alone and mainly use the internet for basic activities, such as sending and checking email and browsing the internet.

Frontier Simply Broadband Ultra $25 Internet

If you need faster internet speeds than 6Mbps, you may want to check out this other plan from Frontier:

  • $25/month
  • 12Mbps
  • No data cap (unlimited data)
  • DSL connection
  • 2-year contract

Windstream Enhanced Kinetic $26 Internet

Check out the details of this cheap internet plan below:

  • $26/month
  • $35 professional installation fee
  • 25Mbps
  • No data cap (unlimited data)
  • DSL connection
  • No term contract

Keep in mind, with this Windstream plan, the $26/month price only applies to the first 12 months of service. After the one-year period, the cost increases to $45/month. If you don’t want to deal with switching again in a year, you may want to go with a different cheap internet service plan.

Cox Internet Starter 10Mbps $30 Internet

The Cox Internet Starter 10Mbps plan includes the following:

  • $29.99/month
  • 10Mbps
  • 1,000GB data cap
  • Cable connection
  • 1-year contract

The price for this cheap internet plan increases to $42.99/month after the 12-month period is up, so as with the Windstream plan, you’ll want to consider this factor when making your decision.

Cheap and Fast Internet

Let’s face it—most of us want it all. We want to binge-watch all the new shows on Netflix and Hulu, video chat our friends and family, play online games, and browse social media, but we also don’t want to pay an arm and a leg for an internet plan either. Fortunately, there are plenty of cheap internet plans and cheap internet service providers out there that don’t sacrifice speed or performance. We’ve compiled a list of the cheapest internet plans with 100Mbps speeds or faster.

The best cheap and fast internet plans include:

Important: When an internet plan says that it includes 100Mbps speeds, this means that the maximum download speeds you’ll experience are 100Mbps. There is a chance you’ll get lower speeds. Use our free internet speed test to see what kind of speeds you’re actually getting.

Wave High Speed 250 Internet $29.95

This cheap and fast internet plan includes:

  • $29.95/month
  • $60 installation fees
  • 250Mbps
  • 500GB data cap
  • Cable connection
  • No term contract

WOW! $35 Internet 100Mbps

This WOW! internet plan includes the following:

  • $34.98/month
  • $50 professional installation
  • 100Mbps
  • No data cap (unlimited data)
  • Cable connection
  • 2-year contract

You get this great price for the duration of the 2-year contract, and then the price increases to $54.99/month, which is still a decent price for what you get.

Suddenlink Internet 100Mbps $35

Check out the Suddenlink Internet 100Mbps overview below:

  • $34.99/month
  • $40 installation fee
  • 100Mbps
  • 250GB data cap
  • Cable connection
  • No term contract

Windstream Enhanced Kinetic Internet 200Mbps $36

This high-speed internet plan with Windstream includes:

  • $36/month
  • $35 installation fee
  • 200Mbps
  • No data cap (unlimited data)
  • DSL connection
  • No term contract

You can enjoy this super cheap price of $36/month for 12 months and then the price increases to $45/month, which is still super reasonable.

AT&T GigaPower Internet 1,000Mbps $50

This AT&T internet plan is a bit more expensive than the other plans on this cheap high-speed internet list, but for good reason—it includes 1Gbps, or 1,000Mbps, internet speeds. It’s important to note that most people don’t need speeds this fast—this plan is really for households with a lot of people using the internet and using it for HD streaming. Here’s the overview:

  • $49.99/month
  • $99 professional installation
  • 1,000Mbps
  • No data cap
  • Fiber connection
  • 12-month contract

Where is fiber internet available?

Fiber internet, which is currently the fastest internet available, is not available everywhere just yet. Some states with solid fiber coverage include Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island

Cheap Unlimited Internet Plans

Frankly, data caps aren’t very fun, especially when you’ve got a household of people doing high-demand activities, such as streaming TV or movies in HD and online gaming. The good news is, there are countless unlimited internet plans out there that won’t break the bank.

The best cheap unlimited internet plans:

Grande Communications Power 300 Internet $36

This cheap internet plan with Grande Communications includes:

  • $35.99/month
  • $10 activation fee
  • $24.99 installation fee
  • 300Mbps
  • Unlimited data
  • No term contract

Optimum Internet 300Mbps $40

This affordable unlimited internet plan offered by Optimum includes:

  • $40/month
  • Free installation (for new customers in select areas)
  • 300Mbps
  • Unlimited data
  • Cable internet
  • No term contract

Frontier Vantage Internet Simply Extreme $40

This Frontier internet plan includes the following features:

  • $40/month
  • $9.99 broadband processing fee
  • 90Mbps
  • Unlimited data
  • Fiber internet
  • 2-year contract

Spectrum Internet 400Mbps $50

Despite all of the budget-friendly internet plans on this page, this $50 Spectrum internet plan is still, all things considered, a steal. Check out the features below:

  • $49.99/month
  • $49.99 professional installation
  • 400Mbps
  • Unlimited data
  • Cable internet
  • No term contract

Google Fiber 100Mbps $50 Internet

If you’re lucky enough to live where fiber is available, you may want to consider this Google Fiber internet plan:

  • $50/month
  • $100 installation fee
  • 100Mbps
  • Unlimited data
  • Fiber connection
  • No term contract

If you live in the Northeast and still want to shop around, you may want to look into an RCN internet plan. RCN offers affordable high-speed internet plans with unlimited data.

Cheap Internet Service Without Phone Line

There are plenty of cheap internet plans that don’t require a phone line, cable, or any other bundle. If you’re looking for an affordable internet-only plan, you may want to check out Wave, Frontier, Windstream, RCN, Cox, Suddenlink, and more.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cheap Internet

Can I Get Internet for Free?

You can get free internet by connecting to public WiFi hotspots or by using your smartphone as a hotspot. You can turn on your hotspot via your phone’s settings. Once you do that, you can connect other devices, such as a laptop or tablet, to your cell phone data, effectively using your hotspot the same way you would any other WiFi network.

What is the Cheapest Type of Internet Connection?

 

DSL (digital subscriber line) and cable are generally the most affordable types of internet connection, with plans starting as low as $19.95/month.

Are There Cheap Internet Options for Students?

Yes, some internet service providers, such as Cox, DISH, and Spectrum, offer discounts for students.

Are There Affordable Internet Plans for Low Income Customers?

Yes, some ISPs offer budget-friendly internet service plans for low-income customers. You may also qualify for the FCC’s program, Lifeline, which reduces monthly internet or phone bills. Lifeline can provide families with a discount of $9.25/month for either bill.

What is a Good Internet Price?

 

The average consumer pays around $65/month for their internet plan, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that this is a great price. There are countless plans that include high data speeds and high data allotments (or even no data caps!) for less than $50/month.

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