Which Internet Providers Have Unlimited Data?

Tired of your Netflix binge session getting interrupted by an email from your ISP warning that you’ve used up 99% of your data this month? Yup, data caps are a pain—but you might be able to switch to an unlimited data plan or grab a data add-on.

Let’s dig into a few options, including swapping to an ISP with unlimited data and figuring out if you can add an unlimited data upgrade.

14 large internet providers with unlimited data

Possibly your easiest and most cost-effective option, you can switch to an internet provider with unlimited data. That way, you never have to worry about how much data you’ve eaten through in a month ever again.

There’s also one oddball in the mix: CenturyLink’s Fiber Internet plan is the only plan it offers with unlimited data up front. (Just note that you won’t get CenturyLink’s infamous Price for Life guarantee with its fiber plan.)

How to switch to an ISP with unlimited data

Wait, wait. Before you get all excited about the possibility of unlimited data, you’ll want to check and see if any of the ISPs (or the CenturyLink plan) we listed above are available in your neighborhood.

An easy way to do this is with our zip code tool. Just enter your zip code and we’ll pull up a list of all the internet providers in your area. Easy, peasy.

If you do find an internet provider that offers unlimited data near you, you should also check to see if it’s offering any internet deals. This could include a contract buyout to help you avoid any early termination fees your old ISP might try to slap on. (Spectrum is one ISP we know of that consistently offers a contract buyout deal.)

How to get unlimited data if your ISP has a data cap

If you’re stuck with an ISP that doesn’t just offer unlimited data, no questions asked, don’t hang your head just yet. You might be able to add data to your plan—or the overage fees may not be too exorbitant.

Here are some popular ISPs that offer data add-ons and how to get them.

Does Xfinity have data caps?

Xfinity recently bumped its data cap up to 1.2 TB for all internet plans. While the extra data is nice, you might still find yourself hitting that cap each month. If you use too much data and you’ve used up your grace period (Xfinity won’t charge you for data overages the first month it happens), you’ll see an overage fee on your bill:

• Xfinity data cap: 1.2 TB
• Xfinity data overage fee: $10.00 per 50 GB, up to $100.00 a month

If that sounds like you most months, you can always opt in for unlimited data. There are a few ways to do this with Xfinity, depending on whether you already have its xFi Gateway modem:

Does CenturyLink have data caps?

CenturyLink has a 1 TB data cap on all of its internet plans except for CenturyLink Fiber Internet. But if you go over that cap, CenturyLink won’t charge you a fee.¹

• CenturyLink data cap: 1 TB
• CenturyLink overage fee: None, but your service could be downgraded according to the terms of service.

Instead, you’ll receive tips on how to limit your data usage (and probably a little encouragement to do so too). If you repeatedly go over CenturyLink’s data cap, the ISP does say you’re subject to its terms of service.

Does Cox have data caps?

Cox updated its data cap to 1.25 TB in mid-2020. That’s great, but we still wish it was unlimited data.

• Cox data cap: 1.25 TB
• Cox data overage fee: $10.00 per 50 GB

If you find that much data isn’t enough to keep your home business running smoothly while your kiddos stream Paw Patrol every afternoon, you do have a couple of options:

Does HughesNet have data caps?

HughesNet’s satellite internet plans all come with a data cap ranging from 10 GB to 50 GB, depending on which plan you choose. Those data caps are extremely low, so it’s important to keep an eye on your data usage if you’re using HughesNet.

• HughesNet data cap: 10–50 GB
• HughesNet data overage result: Slowed speeds of 1–3 Mbps

If you go over that data cap, your internet stays online, but your speeds will drop to anywhere between 1 to 3 Mbps. That’s just a hair faster than dial-up. (Remember how mind-numbingly slow that was?)

You can add data to your HughesNet plan, or you can hop online during the Bonus Zone. The HughesNet Bonus Zone gives you 50 GB of extra data to use between the hours of 2 a.m. to 8 a.m. (your local time).

Does Mediacom have data caps?

Mediacom’s data caps range from 400 GB to 6 TB. Officially, Mediacom states that it doesn’t have data caps, but uses data allowances instead. Okay, let’s not mince words: these are basically the same thing, but what we think Mediacom is getting at is that your internet won’t shut off if you go over your data allowance.

Instead, you’ll be charged for an extra 50 GB of data, whether you go past your data allowance by 1 GB or a whole 50 GB.

• Mediacom data cap: 400 GB–6 TB
• Mediacom data overage fee: $10.00 per 50 GB

So, let’s say your Mediacom plan comes with 1 TB (1,000 GB) of data, but you used 1,001 GB of data last month. You’ll pay $10.00 for 50 GB of extra data to cover your overage.

And if you used 1,050 GB of data last month, you’ll still pay $10.00 for 50 GB of extra data. With that in mind, it’s a good idea to keep track of your Mediacom data usage.

Does Viasat have data caps?

Viasat advertises its satellite internet plans as “unlimited,” but each plan comes with a different data threshold that ranges from 12 to 300 GB.

• Viasat data cap: 12–300 GB
• Viasat data overage result: Speeds slowed to 1–5 Mbps during times of high traffic

You won’t be charged extra if you go over your Viasat data limit, but instead your internet speeds could slow down during times of high traffic. And by slow we mean anywhere between 1 to 5 Mbps. Viasat’s basically saying, “Hey, you had your turn in the fast lane. Now let someone else take your spot.”

You can’t add data to Viasat Unlimited plans, but you can add data to its Liberty plans. We’ve got more info on this, plus how to track your data usage, in our Viasat data guide.

What activities use the most data?

Curious about how you can curb your data usage? Here’s a list of some common online activities and how much data they use on average.

Sources

1. CenturyLink, “Internet Service Disclosure,” 2020. Accessed November 4, 2020.