How to Get Low-Cost Internet Assistance

Low-income internet plans have limited availability, so enter your zip code below to see options available in your area.

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Brianne Sandorf
Jun 12, 2025
Icon Time To Read9 min read

Everything from homework to health care involves a solid internet connection. However, with prices rising almost 24% since the pandemic, it can be difficult to make ends meet for day-to-day expenses while still paying for a high-speed internet plan.

To help families and individuals get a reliable connection without breaking the bank, there are several options—both through government internet subsidies or through internet service providers—that can ease the burden of an expensive internet bill.

Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about affordable, low-income internet plans.

Overview of low-income internet assistance programs

You can get low-income internet assistance through a government-funded subsidy program or through an affordable internet plan directly from an internet service provider. In some cases, you can combine both to lower your monthly internet bill.

Government programs

Currently, Lifeline is the federal government's main assistance program for home internet. This program offers a discount on your monthly internet or phone service, based on if your income is 135% or less of Federal Poverty Guidelines or if you receive certain federal benefits.

Name of program
Benefit
Lifeline Get up to $9.25/mo. off the cost of your internet, phone, or bundle bill.
Enhanced Lifeline Benefits for Tribal LandsGet up to $34.25/mo. off the cost of your internet, phone, or bundle bill.

Low-income internet plans from internet providers

Many internet service providers also offer low-cost internet plans for qualifying households. This includes internet plans starting as low as $9.95 monthly. We go into the details of each program further down, but here’s a quick look at all the available options:

Provider
Program
Best Offer
Details
Astound BroadbandInternet First50Mbps internet for $9.95/mo.
AT&T FiberAccess from AT&T100Mbps internet for $30.00/mo.
CoxConnect2Compete, ConnectAssist, StraightUp Internet100Mbps internet for $9.95/mo.
MediacomXtream Connect100Mbps internet for $14.99/mo.
OptimumAdvantage50Mbps internet for $14.99/mo.
Quantum FiberSimply Fiber Internet200Mbps internet for $30.00/mo.
SpectrumInternet Advantage100Mbps internet for $30.00/mo.
T-Mobile 5G Home InternetProject 10MillionFree hotspot with 200GB data for K-12 students
VerizonVerizon Forward300Mbps internet for $20.00/mo.
XfinityInternet Essentials75Mbps internet for $14.95/mo.
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Government internet bill assistance programs

Lifeline is a federal program that helps low-income households and families pay for their internet or phone bill with a $9.25 monthly discount. For those living on Tribal lands, the discount is up to $34.25 monthly.

To get the discount, you need to check if you qualify and apply for the program. After you qualify, you need to check with your internet provider and ask if you can apply your Lifeline benefit to one of its services.

Households can qualify for the Lifeline program if they meet one of the following criteria:

  • Have income 135% or less than the Federal Poverty Guidelines
  • Use one of the following federal assistance programs:
    • Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
    • Medicaid
    • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
    • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
    • Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit
  • You are a survivor of domestic violence, human trafficking, or related crimes and provide proof of a line separation request and are experiencing financial hardship

If you live on Tribal lands, you can qualify for additional Lifeline discounts if your household meets one of the following criteria:

  • Meet any of the criteria listed above for the Lifeline program
  • Receive Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
  • Receive Head Start (only households meeting the income qualifying standard)
  • Receive Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (Tribal TANF)
  • Participate in the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
Discontinued government programs
Info Box

The Federal Communications Commission’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) previously provided monthly discounts to low-income households for internet services, but the program was discontinued in May 2024. This program replaced the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) which provided a benefit for families struggling to afford internet during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Affordable internet plans for low-income households

Many highly rated internet providers offer a low income internet plan for qualifying households. In some areas, you can even maximize your savings by combining the federal Lifeline discount with one of these internet plans.

As with most internet plans, availability is one of the biggest factors in determining whether you can actually sign up to a low-income internet plan. Even if you find an affordable internet plan, the internet provider in question might not service your specific area. So before you dig into all the details, type in your zip code below to find out which plans are available.

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Astound Broadband Internet First

Internet First from Astound provides fast, affordable internet (and three months free) to qualifying low-income households.

Provider
Plan
Price
Speed
Details
Astound Broadband50Mbps Internet$9.95/mo.50Mbps
Astound Broadband150Mbps Internet$19.95/mo. 150Mbps

Internet First from Astound plans deliver 50Mbps to 150Mbps download speeds for $9.95 to $19.95 monthly. The plan includes Wi-Fi equipment and unlimited data. There are no contracts, and customers also get a free unlimited mobile line for a year.

To be eligible for Internet First from Astound, customers can’t have previously subscribed to Astound within 60 days and need to meet one of the following criteria or receive one of the following benefits:

  • Housing assistance
  • National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
  • Students under federal assisted aid programs

AT&T Access

AT&T Access offers discounted prices to eligible AT&T Fiber customers. Since AT&T Fiber is one of the best internet service providers you can get, this is an amazing offer for those who could truly benefit from a reliable fiber internet service.

Provider
Plan
Price
Speed
Details
AT&T FiberAT&T Fiber Internet 100$60/mo.*Up to 100 Mbps
* Above pricing is after $10/mo Autopay & Paperless bill discount with a debit card or bank account; if using a credit card, then price is $5/mo more. Pricing includes Equipment Fee. Up to $99 install fee may apply, plus tax where applicable.

The AT&T Access plan costs $30 monthly for 100Mbps download speeds, or you can apply a $20 discount to higher speed plans offered by AT&T Fiber. AT&T Access includes Wi-Fi equipment, installation. There are no contracts. If you're not sure whether you qualify, check our AT&T low-income internet resource for a full breakdown of eligibility and how to apply.

To be eligible for AT&T Access, a member of your household needs to meet one of the following criteria or receive one of the following benefits:

  • Federal Pell Grant​
  • Have a household income below 200% of federal poverty guidelines
  • NSLP, SSI, or SNAP
  • Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

Cox low-cost internet plans

Cox is unique in that it offers three affordable internet plans with discounts tailored to different household financial situations. All plans deliver up to 100Mbps, which is plenty of speed for multiple users that want to stream, take Zoom calls, or do homework at the same time.

Provider
Plan
Price
Speed
Details
CoxConnect2Complete$9.95/mo.Up to 100 Mbps
CoxConnectAssist$30/mo.Up to 100 Mbps
CoxCox StraightUp Internet$50/mo.Up to 100 Mbps
Not available in all areas. No term agreement. Same price for 2 yrs. Pricing, packages, and policies are subject to change, including when adjusting or removing services or equipment.

The Cox Connect2Compete plan is specifically for households with school-aged children. The plan costs just $9.95 monthly for up to 100Mbps and includes Wi-Fi modem rental, 1.25TB of data, and free self-installation. To be eligible for Cox Connect2Compete, households must have at least one K-12 Student and be enrolled in SNAP or NSLP.

The Cox ConnectAssist plan delivers up to 100Mbps download speeds for $30 monthly and comes with free modem rental, free self-installation, and no annual contract or cancellation fees. The plan comes with a data cap of 1.25TB. To be eligible, households must be participating in select government assistance programs like Pell Grant, SNAP, or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), tribal programs, Veterans Pension, or WIC.

Cox StraightUp Internet is a prepaid internet service with 100Mbps download speed for $50 monthly. This plan includes a free Wi-Fi modem, free self-installation, and up to 1.25TB of data. There is no eligibility requirement for customers in a serviceable area.

To learn more about how to apply and extra tips on how to lower your bill, read our Cox low-income internet guide.

Can't qualify for a low-income plan and unhappy with your bill? Check out eight smart ways to lower your Cox internet bill.

Mediacom Xtream Connect

Mediacom’s Xtream Connect plans provide qualifying households with fast internet speeds at a significant discount.

Provider
Plan
Price
Speed
Details
MediacomXtream Connect$14.99/mo.Up to 100 Mbps
*Plus taxes & regulatory fees. $14 modem rental included in price. Upload & Download speeds may vary.

Xtream Connect by Mediacom delivers up to 100Mbps download speed for $14.99 monthly. There are no contracts or installation fees, and you can use your own network-compatible modem. You can use as much data as you want for downloads, but there is a cap of 1TB for upstream usage. Households with at least one child who participates in the National School Lunch Program can have the modem rental fee waived, otherwise it costs $15 monthly to rent one.

To be eligible for Xtream Connect by Mediacom, customers must not have an outstanding Mediacom balance, and a member of your household needs to receive one of the following benefits:

  • Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
  • Federal Pell Grant in the current award year
  • Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA) and other rental assistance or affordable housing programs
  • Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
  • Head Start (only households meeting the income qualifying standard)
  • Lifeline Program
  • Medicaid
  • SNAP, SSI, NSLP, or WIC
  • Tribal Assistance Programs
  • Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (Tribal TANF)
  • Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit

Optimum Advantage Internet

Optimum Advantage Internet offers reliable, discounted internet plans to qualifying households. Unlike Optimum’s regular monthly internet rates, which start at $40 and then increase annually, the Optimum Advantage plans stay the same rate—so you can rest easy knowing that your bill won’t suddenly change.

Provider
Plan
Price
Speed
Details
OptimumOptimum Advantage Internet$14.99/mo.^Up to 50 Mbps
OptimumOptimum FASTPASS$25/mo.Up to 100 Mbps Mbps
^ Wired connection up to 50 Mbps. WiFi speeds may vary. Must meet eligibility criteria.

There are two plans available for qualifying households: Optimum Advantage and Advantage+ Internet. These plans deliver 50Mbps to 100Mbps internet for $14.99 to $25 per month. Both plans include unlimited data, free installation, and Wi-Fi equipment. There are no contracts, plus you get a 60-day money-back guarantee if you want to cancel.

To be eligible for Optimum Advantage Internet, you need to meet one of the following criteria:

  • Participate in NSLP
  • You’re 65+ and on SSI
  • You’re a New York City resident attending a New York City public school
  • You’re a veteran receiving state or public assistance

Quantum Fiber Simple Fiber Internet

Quantum Fiber offers a discounted fiber internet plan called Simple Fiber for low-income households. Since it uses a fiber connection, you can count on reliable, fast speeds.

Provider
Plan
Price
Speed
Details
Quantum FiberSimply Fiber Internet Plan™Starting at $30Up to 200 Mbps

Simple Fiber delivers speeds up to 200Mbps symmetrical speeds for only $30 per month. There are no contracts, cancellation fees, and all equipment is included.

To be eligible for Quantum Fiber Simply Fiber Internet, you need to participate in one of the following programs:

  • Federal Public Housing Assistance
  • HeadStart
  • NSLP, SNAP, or WIC
  • LIHEAP
  • Medicare or SSI
  • TANF
  • Veteran’s Pension or Survivor’s Benefits

Spectrum Internet Advantage

Spectrum Internet Advantage offers affordable internet plans to qualifying households. If you're not sure whether you meet the requirements, check out our Spectrum Low-Income Internet Guide for details on eligibility. Spectrum is ranked as Reviews.org’s best cable internet provider, so you’re in good hands with the provider’s reliable internet connection, contract-free plans, and frequent deals and discounts.

Provider
Plan
Price
Speed
Details
SpectrumSpectrum Internet® Advantage$30/ mo. for 12 mos. for qualifying customers°Up to 100 Mbps
° Offer based on eligibility requirements. Standard rates apply after promo period. Additional charge for installation. Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds (including wireless) vary and are not guaranteed. Services subject to all applicable service terms and conditions, subject to change. Not available in all areas. Restrictions apply.

Spectrum Internet Advantage costs $30 monthly for the first year for 100Mbps. It includes one unlimited mobile line for a year, unlimited data, and a security suite. You need to provide your own router or add Spectrum Advanced WiFi to your plan for an additional $10 monthly. There are no contracts.

To be eligible for Spectrum Internet Advantage, a member of your household needs to participate in one of these programs:

  • NSLP
  • Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) of the NSLP
  • SSI

T-Mobile Project 10Million

T-Mobile’s Project 10Million initiative offers a free hotspot with an annual cap of 200GB of data for five years to eligible K-12 students. There are no fees or annual recertifications. This is a great way for students to stay connected and complete any online homework assignments.

You child can qualify through Project10Million if they participate in one of the following programs or meet the following criteria:

  • Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)
  • Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
  • Head Start
  • Medicaid
  • NSLP, SNAP, Temporal Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
  • Foster youth, migrant, homeless, or runaway youth

Verizon Forward

Verizon Forward offers its Fios or 5G Home Internet plan at a discounted rate as low as $20 monthly, combined with the $10 autopay and $9.25 Lifeline discounts. Verizon 5G Home Internet customers also need a postpaid mobile unlimited plan with 5G Ultra Wideband to qualify. See if you're eligible with this breakdown of Verizon's low-income services.

Provider
Plan
Price after maximum discount
Speed
Details
Verizon5G Home$20.00/mo.100Mbps
VerizonFios 300 Mbps$20.00/mo. for one year300Mbps

You can apply the Verizon Forward discount to any 5G Home Internet plan or Fios plan. Plans can cost as low as $20 monthly, with the cheapest 5G Home Internet plan delivering up to 100Mbps download speeds, and the cheapest Fios plan delivering 300Mbps symmetrical speeds. Both plans include a router and unlimited data. There is also a $99 setup charge.

To be eligible for Verizon Forward, a member of your household needs to meet one of the following criteria:

  • Receive Federal Pell Grant in the current award year
  • Have household income 135% or less of the Federal Poverty Guidelines
  • Participate in Medicaid
  • Participate in SNAP or WIC
  • Participate in New York state benefit programs

Xfinity Internet Essentials

Xfinity offers affordable internet plans for low-income households through its Internet Essentials program. Alongside its internet plans, the program also includes discounts on laptops and free resources to enhance your internet literacy.

Provider
Plan
Price
Speed
Details
XfinityInternet Essentials$14.95/mo.**Up to 75 Mbps
XfinityInternet Essentials Plus$29.95/mo.**Up to 100 Mbps
** Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. Limited to residential customers meeting certain eligibility criteria. Subject to Internet Essentials program terms and conditions. Professional installation extra. Advertised price applies to a single outlet. Actual speeds vary and are not guaranteed. For factors affecting speed visit xfinity.com/networkmanagement.

The Xfinity Internet Essentials plan costs $14.95 monthly for up to 75Mbps. If you want more speed, you can sign up for the Xfinity Internet Essentials Plus plan, which costs $29.95 monthly for up to 100Mbps. Both plans are contract-free and include unlimited data, an optional gateway lease, and free self-installation (or you can pay $39.99 for a professional technician). 

To be eligible for Xfinity Internet Essentials, you can’t have been an Xfinity Internet customer within the last 90 days or have any debt owed with any Comcast Account. A member of your household also needs to receive one of the following benefits:

  • Federal Pell Grant in the current award year
  • Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
  • Medicaid
  • NSLP, SNAP, SSI, or WIC
  • Public housing assistance
  • TANF
  • Tribal assistance
  • VA Pension

Cheap internet plans

Not all customers may qualify for the above programs, so if you’re in that boat, there are still plenty of options for cheap and affordable internet.

The best budget option to get is T-Mobile 5G Home Internet. It’s easy to set up, available throughout the country, and can cost as little as $35 a month when you bundle it with a T-Mobile voice plan.

Cheap internet plans and prices

Provider
Plan
Price
Speed
Details
T-Mobile 5G Home InternetRely Internet$50/mo. w/ AutoPay††Up to 318 Mbps
Starry InternetStarry Connect$15/mo.‡‡Up to 30 Mbps
FrontierFiber 200$29.99/mo.^^Up to 200 Mbps
Kinetic by WindstreamKinetic Internet 100 Mbps$24.99/mo. for 12 mos.°°Up to 100 Mbps
†† with AutoPay, taxes and fees included.
‡‡ Available in select areas only. Available in select areas only. This monthly price is not an introductory rate, does not include any discounts, and does not require a contract.
^^ w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Max wired speed 200/200 Mbps. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary. One-time charges apply.
°° With $5 Auto Pay for each month the customer is enrolled in AutoPay throughout the life of the customer. Available to new and existing customers. Promotional period pricing ending after 12 months.

Other cheap options include Starry, Frontier, and Kinetic. These providers offer plans from $15 to $30 monthly but have limited availability. 

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Free Wi-Fi
Price Tag

If signing up for a regular monthly rate isn’t feasible right now, or if you just need a reliable internet connection for a short period of time, check your library because some lend out hotspot devices. You can sometimes check out a hotspot for a month. And if nothing else, there’s free Wi-Fi.

Internet plans with price locks

Internet service providers are notorious for increasing rates, so even if you see an ad for a “price-lock guarantee,” there’s usually a clause buried in the fine print that means you may still experience a price change down the road.

We sifted through all the plan details of every major internet service provider and found the following options that have price locks for at least two years. Make sure to read into the specifics so you know what to expect when you sign up.

Provider
Price-lock guarantee
Specifics
Details
Astound BroadbandYesAstound offers a 2-year price lock on its internet plans.
AT&T FiberKindaAT&T Fiber doesn’t have annual price increases baked into its plans from the get go, however, prices are subject to change.
CoxYesCox offers internet plans with discounted pricing that lasts for 24 months.
Google FiberKindaAlthough there is no explicit price-lock guarantee, Google Fiber is the only provider that has had the same price for over 13 years.
Kinetic by WindstreamKindaKinetic’s 1 Gig and 2 Gig plans come with a 2-year price guarantee.
MediacomKindaMediacom’s Internet Gig and above plans have a 2-year price lock.
Quantum FiberYesQuantum Fiber has “Price for Life.” You can keep your monthly rate for as long as you keep your plan, although the rate is subject to plan availability. Quantum Fiber could discontinue certain plans or change them, which could change the price.
T-Mobile 5G Home InternetYesT-Mobile 5G Home Internet plans come with a 5-Year Price Guarantee. Taxes, fees, equipment or speed upgrades, future wireless generations, and more aren’t included.
VerizonYesVerizon’s 5G Home plan comes with a 3-year price lock guarantee, and the 5G Home Plus plan comes with a 4-year price lock guarantee.
VerizonYesVerizon Fios offers a 3-year price lock guarantee on its 300Mbps plan, a 4-year price guarantee on its 500Mbps plan, and a 5-year price guarantee on its 1 Gig plan.
WowYesWOW! offers a Price Lock Promise on its plans for an additional $10. The promise guarantees you get to keep your monthly internet fee for your current speed as long as you’re a customer. It can’t be combined with other special offers or add-ons.
XfinityYesXfinity has a 5-year price guarantee deal available for all plans.
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FAQ

Are there government programs to help me get internet?

There are government programs, like the Lifeline subsidy, that help with paying for an internet plan. Lifeline provides a discount of $9.25 off your monthly internet bill. To qualify, households qualify for the Lifeline program if they have income 135% or less than the Federal Poverty Guidelines or participate in select federal assistance programs.

How to get free internet if you have Medicaid?

Some local charities may offer support to get free internet for those who participate in the Medicaid program. Medicaid participants can also get the federal Lifeline discount or sign up for a low-cost internet plan from Mediacom, Xfinity, or Verizon.

How to get an internet plan when you can't afford it?

There are several ways to get an internet plan with discounts. The first is to apply the $9.25 federal Lifeline discount on your monthly internet bill. You can also sign up for a discounted internet plan if you participate in certain government benefit programs.

Brianne Sandorf
Written by
After five years with Reviews.org, Brianne can and will tell you which internet or mobile provider you should sign up for. She’s talked with internet customers across the U.S. and beyond and addresses their real-life concerns in every piece she writes. Brianne also created the ratings system for the Reviews.org internet service provider reviews and wrote most of them. Brianne channels her lifelong interest in detective work by hunting for obscure, need-to-know information about internet service providers. She’s always learning so that she can pass her knowledge on to Reviews.org readers. Her writing and expertise have appeared in numerous other publications, including Move.org, Parents.com, and the Stanford student blog. Her work for Reviews.org is also cited in a research paper about smart home assistants titled “Expert-Generated Privacy Q&A Dataset for Conversational AI and User Study Insights.” Brianne is a homegrown Utahn who loves to travel and see new places. She graduated from Westminster College with a double major in honors and creative writing. After 20 years in a 8,000-person city, she now lives in Murray, a bustling metropolis of 50,000 where she and her husband raise their two little girls.

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