Cheapest Internet and Wi-Fi Providers 2023

T-Mobile offers some of the lowest starting prices out there, if not the lowest. And those low prices also come with fiber internet speeds and reliability, which makes T-Mobile a great value choice of home internet provider for just about anybody.

As opposed to AT&T Fiber, T-Mobile doesn't make you sign any contracts, pay any activation fees, or go through any credit checks to get the service. Setup is also incredibly easy, you just plug in the provided router, download the app, and you're up and running.

To top it off, your T-Mobile internet comes with unlimited data. So you won’t need to worry about paying for overages or for extra data.

The only extra expense you'll need to worry about is the one-time $99 payment for the 5G gateway router. After that, your internet payment stays flat.

T-Mobile 5G Home Internet covers most of the country, which is why it's one of our top recommended ISPs among the best for rural providers. 

Just to be safe, enter your ZIP code below to make sure that you can get T-Mobile 5G Home Internet in your neck of the woods:

Xfinity is known for low promotional prices, and the speeds you get are decent too. On top of that, Xfinity regularly offers deals. That could net you a Visa rewards card or a streaming service subscription on top of an already low starting cost for internet.

Comcast also upgraded its slowest internet plan last year, bumping the download speed up from 25 Mbps to 50 Mbps. That’s a better starting speed: 50 Mbps should allow you to stream, game, and work from home if you’re not sharing the internet with lots of devices or other people.

One thing to keep in mind with Xfinity is that the prices and plan names change depending on where you live. So our recommended cheap internet plan, the Connect plan, may go by a different name and price in your area. But generally, Xfinity’s 50 Mbps plan is affordable and offers good value.

You should also keep in mind that all Xfinity internet plans come with a 1.2 TB data cap. While most of us won’t come close to using this much data in a month, you may want to look elsewhere if you run a home business or freelance as a creative professional.

Xfinity has options to add data, but they’ll cost you $10–$30 extra per month. And more data won't fix those slow upload speeds of 3 Mbps. At that upstream speed, your FaceTime or Zoom calls will probably stutter and lag.

• Look for online deals: Xfinity usually offers deals on its internet service, and almost always has a deal ready for teachers and students.
• Renegotiate your price before your contract is up: Set up a reminder on your phone to call a week or two before your 12- or 24-month contract is up. Then call Xfinity and ask if there are any deals you’re eligible for. We’ve had Xfinity reps surprise us with deals on upgraded speeds and bundles in the past.
• Bring your own equipment: Xfinity’s xFi modem-and-router combo is fairly pricey to rent. It’ll cost you $168 over the course of a year, which is about how much a decent modem-router combo costs anyway. So buy your own and save some money over the long term.

View Xfinity Internet Plans | Read Full Xfinity Internet Review

Xfinity internet is available in 40 states stretching from California to Maryland. You’ll most likely find it in states like Washington, Delaware, Massachusetts, Florida, and Pennsylvania.

Prices and plan names may vary depending on where you live, but we’ve found that these Comcast Xfinity plans tend to have great value.

With AT&T internet you'll find a mix of fiber and fiber plus plans with the same starting price of $55 a month. 

If you're interested in adding TV to your internet, AT&T offers the option to bundle any DIRECTV streaming (or satellite) package with your AT&T service. And good news for any TV-lovers interested in bundling: You'll get three free months of  STARZ, Max, SHOWTIME, MGM+, and Cinemax.

If you live where AT&T Fiber is available, we recommend its 300 Mbps plan. At the same price as AT&T's Internet Air DSL plan, AT&T's 300 Mbps Fiber plan has over three times as much download speed. You'll also get unlimited data and impressive upload speeds.

• Bundle your services: Bundle your AT&T Internet service with DIRECTV's streaming service and enjoy three free months of premium channels like SHOWTIME, Max, and STARZ, all while saving money and simplifying your TV and internet bill.
• Ask for DIY installation: That $99 installation fee can really drag your first bill down. If you wanna save over $60, ask for AT&T's DIY option, which only requires a $35 activation fee. 

View AT&T Internet Plans | Read Full AT&T Internet Review

If you live in a large city or suburb, AT&T's fiber internet plans are definitely worth checking out. 

You'll find AT&T internet service in 21 different states, mostly around the midwest.

Check to see if you qualify for AT&T Fiber with AT&T's fiber coverage map.

AT&T's cheapest plans can get you 140–300 Mbps download speed before plan prices increase.  

Spectrum’s prices start high, but so do its gigabit speeds. And with no contracts, unlimited data, and one of the lowest equipment fees we’ve seen, Spectrum’s cheapest Internet plan offers a good value compared to other home internet providers.

In fact, if you just need a Spectrum modem, it comes included with your plan. There’s no extra cost per month to rent it. Now that is a customer-friendly approach to equipment if we’ve ever seen one.

But the real star of the show is Spectrum’s Contract Buyout program. If you’re stuck in a contract with your current ISP and want to swap, Spectrum will pay up to $500 to buy out that contract if you swap to its service.

Despite this perk, we wouldn’t recommend any other Spectrum plans if you’re looking for cheap internet. The Gig plan especially—it comes in at one of the highest prices for gigabit speeds of home internet providers we’ve seen. And the installation fee for the Gig plan is $199.99. That’s like a lead weight tied to your first bill.

• Use the Contract Buyout: You could save up to $500 in ETFs by switching to Spectrum and signing up for its buyout program.*
• Use your own router: Spectrum includes a modem with your plan at no cost, so why not bring your own router to save $60 each year?
• Ask about free installation: Spectrum charges a $19.99 installation fee—unless you choose it’s Gig plan. Either way, it never hurts to ask if the sales rep can sweeten the deal with free installation.

View Spectrum Internet® Plans | See Spectrum Contract Buyout | Read Full Spectrum Internet® Review

You’ll find Spectrum Internet® in 42 different states. It’s mainly focused in the Northeast along with Wisconsin, Ohio, and North Carolina.

As we mentioned, the Spectrum Internet® plan is the cheapest internet plan Spectrum offers. But if you absolutely need more download speed, the 500 Mbps* plan might still be a good deal for you.

If you love Spectrum's no-contract philosophy, we have good news. You can bundle Spectrum's cable TV plans with its Internet services. This means you can sign up for cheap internet and cable in one easy monthly payment without being tied to a contract. 

Optimum isn't as widely available as a 5G home internet provider like T-Mobile, but if you're lucky enough to live in an area with coverage, Optimum makes for a great deal. 

And for now until November 5th, Optimum is offering internet and mobile deals. Check them out below:

The cheapest Optimum plan gives you 300 Mbps internet speeds for just $40/month, or $35/month when you add a mobile plan. Compared to most other home internet providers, Optimum offers a serious bargain. The only reason Optimum isn't higher on this list is due to its fairly limited availability. If Optimum was available around the country, it would be an easy recommendation for anybody.

Optimum also includes equipment with your base payment. Instead of tacking on an additional $10-$15 every month, you get a router essentially for free.

The main thing you need to watch out for with Optimum is the poor customer service. 

• Take advantage of the 300 Mbps plan: You should have plenty of internet to go around with the basic 300 Mbps plan. Keep your costs low and still get solid internet speeds.
• Get the free router: Optimum includes its Gateway router with your internet plan, but you can pay an extra couple bucks for some other equipment you really don't need. Just stick with the provided router.
• Free installation: Optimum's installation will cost you at least $99, which is fairly pricey for internet installation. But now, for a limited time, Optimum is offering free installation on its internet service when you order online. 
• Add a mobile plan: If you're in the market for mobile services, bundling with Optimum Internet can save you up to $15 on your internet plan.

Optimum only covers the northeastern United States, specifically New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. We're all jealous of those of you who happen to live in this area and can enjoy such cheap internet. 

WOW! recently dropped its data cap from unlimited to a max of 3 TB, but even with this (frankly frustrating) change, the ISP still offers some great deals.

If you’re looking for the cheapest WOW! Internet plan, look no further than Internet 100. Even at its standard rate, it rings in under $50 a month and comes with a decent data cap of 1.5 TB.

This speed works great for a small family who enjoy streaming and gaming together. And if one of you works from home, 100 Mbps download speeds should keep your connected devices running smoothly even through those Zoom calls.

WOW! also regularly offers deals, such as discounted promotional prices for your first year of service or a free modem rental for your first few months. That can make your first year cost even lower.

And hey, the price for Internet 100 right now is one of those deals. 

• Wait for a deal: We’ve seen deals on WOW! internet for up to $20 a month off your plan, along with deals for free installation and free modem rental. So waiting for a deal before you switch to WOW! could save you a couple hundred dollars or more.
• Use your own router: Bring your own router and you could save up to $168 each year. Guess what? That’s about how much a high-quality router costs on Amazon too.
• Make sure you get enough data: WOW!’s internet plans feature data caps, and while that’s quite a bit of data, you still want to be aware and monitor your data use. No one likes a surprise overage fee, right?

See WOW! Internet Plans | Read Full WOW! Internet Review

WOW! internet is available in various metro areas of 9 states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

Pretty much all of WOW!’s internet plans come at affordable prices, especially if you sign up during one of the ISP’s promotions. Just keep an eye on that standard pricing to make sure it won’t bust your budget after your first year is done.

If you’re searching for a cheap Wi-Fi plan, you might be tempted to focus on price only. But there are a few more things you should consider including internet speed, additional fees, price hikes, and contracts.

1. Promotional prices: Most ISPs start you out with a low price, but you’ll typically see a price bump after 12 to 24 months.
2. Autopay and paperless billing: Almost every advertised price you see for internet assumes that you’ll sign up for autopay and paperless billing. Make a note to yourself to not skip this step—we’ve had friends lose out on discounted prices because they forgot to change their billing settings.
3. Internet speed: An affordable internet plan isn’t worth it if you can’t actually use the internet. Look for speeds of at least 50 Mbps—or check out our internet speed guide for recommendations.
4. Data caps: A data cap can quickly become a money sink if you continuously use more than you’re given. Most ISPs charge a pretty penny for extra data, so be sure that your cheap internet plan comes with enough data to keep you going for a month.
5. Equipment fees: Will you rent equipment? If so, factor in the monthly rental fee. But remember: You’ll end up saving money if you bring your own equipment instead.
6. Installation fees: Don’t forget about installation—these fees range anywhere from $50 to $100. But some ISPs now offer self-installation kits at no extra cost, so you could save some cash there.
7. Contracts and early termination fees: If your cheap internet plan comes with a contract, beware of a potentially hefty early termination fee (ETF). If you cancel your contract early, you could pay up to $500.

Our resident internet expert, Juan, shares some tips for finding cheap internet—along with traps to watch out for. Plus we've got some related reads to help you too.

• T-Mobile Home Internet: $50/mo., 200+ Mbps download speeds, unlimited data, no contract or equipment rental fees
• Xfinity Connect: $19.99/mo.^†, 75 Mbps download speeds, 1.25 TB data cap
• AT&T Internet: $55.00/mo.^**, up to 300 Mbps download speeds, up to unlimited data
• Spectrum Internet®: $49.99/mo. for 12 mos., up to 300 Mbps* download speeds (wireless speeds may vary), unlimited data, cheap internet, and cable bundle options
• Optimum 300 Mbps Internet: $40.00/mo.^§, 300 Mbps download speeds, unlimited data
• WOW! Internet 100: $29.99/mo.^††, 100 Mbps download speeds, 1.5 TB data cap

Finding cheap internet doesn’t always mean going for the lowest price. To round up our top picks that won’t bust your budget, we considered the following:

• Promo Pricing and Post-Promotional Period: Our analysis took into account the promotional pricing offered by different internet service providers (ISPs) and also considered the price customers would pay after the promotional period ends. This helps us properly assess the long-term affordability of the service.
• Extra Fees: In addition to the base price, various ISPs charge additional fees such as installation fees, equipment or device rental fees, and other miscellaneous charges. These extra fees can significantly impact the overall cost of the internet service. For example, due to sky-high installation fees, we don’t recommend Spectrum’s Gig plan. (Not to mention it has a very high monthly price for the speed you get).
• Red Flags in the Fine Print: The fine print of ISP contracts often contains important details that may affect the overall cost and experience. By carefully reviewing the fine print, potential red flags were identified, such as hidden charges, unfavorable terms, or unexpected fees. Red flags in the fine print is why you’ll find Optimum lower on the list, for example. We took a look at a list of its fees and were startled by the sheer number of extra charges you might rack up, plus we were appalled at the fact that every Optimum customer now pays a “network enhancement fee.”
• Coverage and Data Speeds: Apart from pricing and fees, we also take into account the coverage and data speeds offered by different internet service providers. The availability of a reliable and consistent internet connection is essential, especially for those who heavily rely on the internet for work, streaming, gaming, or other bandwidth-intensive activities. Evaluating the coverage area and the advertised data speeds helps ensure that the chosen internet service provider can meet the user's connectivity needs without compromising on performance. We look at everything from basic, slow plans to the upcoming 10G internet.

Still have questions about how to get cheap internet? We can help.