Best Internet and Phone Bundles 2020
Almost every cable and fiber internet provider offers home phone and internet bundles. And since most of those are unlimited minute plans, we won’t get into the weeds with phone options—the biggest factors you should consider while comparing internet and phone plans are price, speeds, and contracts.
Unfortunately, you can’t get every provider or offer everywhere, so we also gave some weight to plans with high availability and provided alternative options in each category, in case our recommendation doesn’t work for your area.
There’s a few things to keep in mind when you’re shopping for internet and phone bundles:
- You might face price increases after the first year of your contract
- Going for a 2-year deal might be too locked-in for some renters with one-year leases.
- Some phone and internet package deals don’t always mean a discount, shop wisely
With those things in mind, along with the usual speeds, fees, and other considerations, here’s our favorite bundle providers.
CenturyLink: Best for most
CenturyLink’s bundles are all about choices—including DIRECTV or Price for Life.
We keep noticing a trend out there in bundle land. Lots of providers are slimming down bundle options, which means if you want home phone service, you’ll probably need to fork out enough cash for TV and internet too.
But CenturyLink has multiple options for choosy people like us. You can get and internet and phone bundle if that’s all you want—or go big with a DIRECTV bundle. The choice is yours, and we like that.
Pros
- Lots of choices
- Reasonable prices
Cons
- No Price for Life guarantee on DIRECTV bundles
- 1 TB data cap
What we like
We’re big fans of DIRECTV, and any day you can nab a good deal on internet or phone service with it is a good day in our books.
We like that CenturyLink offers lots of download speed options too, so you’re not railroaded into one speed and one speed only. Plus, if you grab a phone and internet double play package, you get CenturyLink’s famous Price for Life guarantee. That means your bill won’t go up as long as you remain a CenturyLink customer. In good standing, of course.
What we don’t like
Unfortunately, since CenturyLink did away with its in-house TV service a while back, you can’t land its Price for Life guarantee on internet and TV service.
And the way CenturyLink internet works is a little confusing. It pairs you with the fastest possible speed in your area. That’s why all of its Price for Life bundles are the same price across the board. We’re crossing our fingers you live in CenturyLink’s gig speed area.
Frontier: Best cheap internet and phone bundle
With some of the lowest prices matched with higher speeds, Frontier is a natural choice for the budget-minded folks.
Although they might not always have the fastest speeds available, we like that Frontier doesn’t start with high prices to get any internet at all.
For casual internet users who wanna scope the news and Facebook, Frontier’s low rates can make the difference between breaking the bank and being able to binge-watch Netflix.
Heads up, though: Frontier offers two services, FiberOptic and Vantage. Which one you get depends on where you live, so before you get your heart set on one or the other, find out which service is in your area. (But who are we kidding, they’re almost identical.)
Pros
- Low price
- Good deals in certain areas
Cons
- Possible two-year contract
- Price may jump after one year
What we like
We came across a lot of good deals with Frontier, but offers vary according to your area.
Frontier’s FiberOptic and Vantage fiber internet also deliver some pretty supreme speeds, perfect for anyone who works at home, has a side gig as a YouTuber, or just enjoys streaming the entire Disney+ library in a weekend.
You’ve also got a ton of choices with Frontier—though remember, its FiberOptic and Vantage bundles are available in different parts of the US.
What we don’t like
It can be confusing to figure out whether you get FiberOptic or Vantage in your neighborhood.
And then there’s the contract. Most of Frontier’s bundles lock you in for two years—your price won’t change, but you’re stuck with that service. To top it off, there’s a bundle here and a bundle there that locks you in for two years, but your price goes up after one year. Talk about unwanted surprises!
Windstream: Fastest speeds
A low price, one-year contract, and unlimited calls nationwide.
Windstream isn’t the only one with Gig speeds, but it does offer lower prices than most. You only have to sign a one-year contract (not two), and its service covers a decent amount of the Southern and Eastern United States.
| Plan | Price | Internet download speed | Calling allowance | Details |
| Tier 2-25 Mbps Internet + Phone | $46‡‡‡ | 25 Mbps | Unlimited nationwide calls | View Plan |
| Tier 2- 50-100 Mbps Internet + Phone | $56‡‡‡ | 100 Mbps | Unlimited nationwide calls | View Plan |
| Tier 2- 200 Mbps Internet + Phone | $61‡‡‡ | 200 Mbps | Unlimited nationwide calls | View Plan |
| Tier 2- 300-400 Mbps Internet + Phone | $66‡‡‡ | 400 Mbps | Unlimited nationwide calls | View Plan |
| Tier 2- 500 Mbps Internet + Phone | $66‡‡‡ | 500 Mbps | Unlimited nationwide calls | View Plan |
| Tier 2-Kinetic Gig + Phone | $76‡‡‡ | 1000 Mbps | Unlimited nationwide calls | View Plan |
Pros
- Low prices
- Unlimited data
Cons
- Not available everywhere
- No TV bundle options
What we like
Windstream has one of the cheapest gigabit (1,000 Mbps) internet with phone bundles. So if you’re looking for top download speeds and unlimited nationwide prank calling capabilities, this is your jam. (Not that we condone prank calls. Ahem.)
Oh yeah, and the phone plan includes unlimited local and long distance, caller ID, call waiting, and call forwarding—which is as good as it gets.
Along with up to gig speeds, your internet plan comes with unlimited data. That’s right, no more data cap blues. You can stream, game, download, and upload to your heart’s desire.
What we don’t like
Sadly for folks in the Midwest and West, Windstream is limited to the Eastern half of the US. And even if you do live in the right area, you’ll see prices change depending on where in Windstream’s coverage area you live.
And if you’re looking for something to watch, you might as well bury your remote in the couch cushions. Windstream doesn’t offer any type of TV service with its bundles, at least not yet. So you’ll need to get your Rick and Morty fix somewhere else. Sorry.
Spectrum: Best for big families
Plenty of speed and data to go around, and for a reasonable price.
Spectrum serves a ton of people, and if you have all those people in your family, it’s still a good option. Most areas don’t have data caps, meaning your kids can download and play HD games, you can watch 4K HDR movies and shows, and you won’t experience throttled speeds or pay overages.
| Plan | Price | Internet download speed | Calling allowance | Details |
| Spectrum Internet & Phone | $62.98^^^ | 200 Mbps | Unlimited calls to U.S., Canada, Mexico, & U.S. Territories | View Plan |
| Select Triple Play | $102.97^^^ | 200 Mbps | Unlimited calls to U.S., Canada, Mexico, & U.S. Territories | View Plan |
| Silver Triple Play | $132.97^^^ | 200 Mbps | Unlimited calls to U.S., Canada, Mexico, & U.S. Territories | View Plan |
| Gold Triple Play | $152.97^^^ | 200 Mbps | Unlimited calls to U.S., Canada, Mexico, & U.S. Territories | View Plan |
Pros
- No data cap
- No term contract
- Fast speeds
Cons
- Only one speed in most areas
- Fees vary based on location
What we like
Without data caps, families all across the US can use all their devices at the same time without worrying about hitting their data limits.
Depending on your area, you’ll be able to get fast download speeds without paying a fortune. Spectrum typically falls into better-than-average pricing for internet service compared to other providers.
You may also have Windstream, Centurylink, or Optimum in your area, but since prices vary by location, it’s hard to tell if it’ll be a better deal or not. Make sure to double check your address.
What we don’t like
The phone and internet bundles are typically limited to up to 200 Mbps download speeds, but Spectrum is increasing its gig offerings. Though we do expect most people can get away with 200 Mbps for a big family just fine.
Some areas may also face data caps or contractual fees, but that’s just how internet service works: it varies by location, and sometimes quite a bit.
Suddenlink: Best no-contract option
For renters and commitment-phobes alike, Suddenlink offers fast speeds at a good price.
Contracts often come with increased pricing after a year or so, and if you need to bail early, you may face termination fees. But Suddenlink’s no-term contracts give you the freedom to move around and switch services down the road.
| Plan | Price | Internet download speed | Calling allowance | Details |
| Internet 200 + Phone | $54.99/mo. | 200 Mbps | Unlimited calls to U.S., Puerto Rico, Guam, & U.S.V.I. | View Plans |
| Internet 400 + Phone | $64.99/mo.*** | 400 Mbps | Unlimited calls to U.S., Puerto Rico, Guam, & U.S.V.I. | View Plans |
| Internet 1 Gig + Phone | $94.99/mo.*** | 1,000 Mbps | Unlimited calls to U.S., Puerto Rico, Guam, & U.S.V.I. | View Plans |
Data valid 11/22/2019. Prices and offers vary by location.
*** Price For Life. Customer must remain in good standing and up to date on bill payments to remain on Price For Life.
Pros
- Cheap prices
- Fast speeds
- No-term contract
Cons
- Not available all across the US
What we like
When it comes to having the fastest speeds, Suddenlink is right up there with brands like Windstream and Spectrum. And while it doesn’t haven’t the absolute cheapest prices, it stays within low-to-average prices for each tier.
You also get unlimited data, which can be a blessing for people downloading a lot of movies, games, and large photo batches. You won’t face throttled speeds or overage charges from Suddenlink.
What we don’t like
Some Suddenlink plans come with a hefty activation fee of up to $50, which is no bueno in our book. With a lot of companies offering free installation or activation, it’s a sore spot for our wallets.
Suddenlink has decent availability and serves a lot of broadband internet customers, but it’s not nationwide.
Recap: what are the best internet and phone bundles?
Decide what’s most important for you. Speeds? Cheap prices? Contracts. . . something else? Once you’ve figured that out, it’ll be easier to narrow down your choices.
- Best for most: CenturyLink offers better prices and more options than other providers, plus you can grab DIRECTV or its Price for Life guarantee.
- Best cheap phone and internet: Frontier Communications can get you online and hooked up on the phone for a lower price than most.
- Fastest speeds: Windstream has high availability and Gig speeds, and its prices aren’t bad either.
- Best for big families: For those who need no data cap and high speeds to handle a large household, Spectrum comes out as a winner.
- Best no-contract option: Suddenlink’s fast prices and lack of a contract make it an excellent choice for renters or those who want to test the waters.
While phone and internet bundles can be a good deal, if you want a single bill for all of your services, you should check out the best triple play bundles. And if you don’t need a phone plan, you can find a better deal by going for standalone internet providers. Let us know in the comments which service you choose!
Additional contributor
Trevor Wheelwright