Best Cheap Internet Providers for July 2025

Home internet doesn't come cheap. After you factor in equipment rental costs, the average monthly cost of internet is around $78 -- a steep price for households trying to stick to a budget. We've got you covered if you're looking for cheaper internet plans.

What's the best cheap internet provider overall?

Xfinity is the best cheap internet provider,thanks to its incredibly low starting price of $30 to $40 per month (depending on your location) for speeds of 400Mbps. Astound Broadband matches that price but for speeds of 300Mbps. Unlike Xfinity, Astound doesn't offer the same broad coverage. According to the latest data from the Federal Communications Commission , Xfinity provides services for over 34% of households in the country, while Astound's coverage is only 3%. In other words, your address is more likely to be serviceable with Xfinity than Astound, but if you can get Astound at your address, go for it.

Remember that the low promo pricing you see can increase after a year or so, especially for cable providers . In addition, equipment fees and  steep rate increases  down the road can also increase your bill. That low pricing from Xfinity won't last forever, for example. Your price can jump to as high as $80 monthly after a year. Although Astound's prices won't increase that much immediately, you'll likely see an $8 to $20 increase on your bill after a year. To save more in the long run, you can sign up for Xfinity's five-year price guarantee , which charges you a slightly higher monthly fee.

Your service with cheap ISPs might start at a competitive price, but after the promo period expires, you may have to pay higher prices. If you don't want to deal with promo pricing , you can find more stable pricing from providers such as AT&T Fiber , T-Mobile Home Internet and Quantum Fiber , which start with higher rates but promise stable pricing.

The availability of cheap internet providers and their plans vary by location. Additionally, in some cases, choosing the cheapest plan may mean settling for relatively slow speeds. In other cases, you can only get a cheap low-income internet plan by qualifying with proof of your income or with proof of participation in a government assistance program.

There's a lot to consider when shopping for a competitive internet plan; this guide attempts to answer all your questions on how to make the most of your dollar when shopping for home internet.

*All prices referenced below include applicable discounts for setting up monthly automatic payments, a standard industry offering.

Best cheap internet providers

T-Mobile 5G Home Internet

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T-Mobile's 5-year price guarantee also locks you into one low rate that won't change, excluding taxes and fees. Switch to an eligible T-Mobile internet plan today , and you'll even score a virtual prepaid Mastercard worth up to $300.

Our experts have not selected this product for this story. It is a paid placement through our affiliate partnership team.

See at T-Mobile

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Consider speeds, additional costs and contracts

There's more to the cost of internet than just the advertised price. Here are some other factors you'll want to consider before signing up for the absolute cheapest plan.

• Speeds: Will the lowest-priced plan deliver the  speeds that you need ? It's possible that the cheapest plan won't meet your internet needs, so it might be worth exploring other providers or upgrading to a faster, more expensive plan. For example, while Astound's 300Mbps plan costs a reasonable $30 a month, Xfinity's Connect plan features 400Mbps for $10 more (not including the $15 equipment rental, if you don't plan on buying your own equipment ). If you have higher-than-average internet usage habits and a plan like Astound's isn't available to you, you may find that opting for a slightly more expensive plan could significantly boost your internet speeds and make for a better overall experience.

• Added costs: Taxes are expected with any internet service, but added costs for equipment rental, data overages, installation and more will vary by provider. Make sure you're accounting for those extra prices and reading the fine print thoroughly to .

• Contracts and price increases: Locking yourself into a contract with your ISP can be costly, especially if the plan price increases before the service agreement expires. Canceling before the contract expires can also result in early termination fees. Additionally, many providers increase the price after 12 months of service, with or without a contract. If you plan on keeping your service past the 12-month mark, be aware of what the monthly costs may be down the road. 

Most ISPs provide these details through broadband labels. Check out our guide on how you can navigate broadband labels .

How we evaluated the cheapest internet providers

CNET's process for reviewing and recommending internet providers involves extensive research of everything one would need to make an informed decision regarding the best ISP for their needs.

We start by referencing the Federal Communications Commission to determine a provider's national coverage, specific regions of operation, and the technology they use to deliver service. We then gather and verify pricing and speed information along with often lesser-known or "fine print" considerations, such as data caps, contract requirements and equipment fees.

We also take into account customer satisfaction reports from the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, when available, and the frequency of outages and complaints filed on sites like downdetector.com and the Better Business Bureau.

I relied on these considerations and others, including average cost per Mbps and scheduled price increases after one year, when compiling our list of the best cheap internet providers.

See our guide to how CNET reviews internet service providers for more information about our review process.

Cheap internet honorable mentions

These national providers also have broadband service starting at or below $50 a month, but did not make our list of the best cheap ISPs due to high cost per megabit per second, inconsistent pricing or limited service areas.

• Kinetic by Windstream : A solid choice for home internet in rural areas, Kinetic by Windstream has broadband plans with unlimited data starting at $25 per month for download speeds of 100Mbps. Pricing and available speeds vary widely by location, so cheap internet plans will depend on where you live. 

• Metronet : Metronet is a smaller ISP with a footprint in the Midwest and Southwest. For a smaller internet provider, it offers competitive rates. The lowest tier starts at $35 monthly for 150Mbps of speed. If that's not enough speed, you can upgrade to 500Mbps for $45 monthly. Neither plan comes with a data cap, requires a contract, nor comes with free equipment rentals.

• Verizon Fios : The cheapest Verizon Fios plan offers plenty of value with speeds up to 300Mbps starting at $50 per month and a three-year price lock. The midtier plan (up to 500Mbps beginning at $70 per month) and gig service (starting at $90 per month) aren't bad deals, either, but you may be able to find faster speeds for the same amount of money from other providers.

• Ziply Fiber : Regional provider Ziply Fiber offers some of the fastest speeds from any ISP , not to mention the lowest introductory pricing. The cheapest plan starts at $20 monthly for symmetrical max speeds of 100Mbps.

What's the final word on the best cheap internet providers?

For the absolute cheapest internet service, look to cable providers such as Xfinity and Astound. But keep in mind the low pricing may come with a looming price increase, added equipment rental fees, contracts and data caps, depending on the provider and where you live.

Other providers, such as AT&T Fiber, Spectrum and Quantum Fiber, may not have the absolute lowest pricing, but they still add value in other ways. Price guarantees, bundle discounts and other customer-friendly attributes make such providers worthy of consideration for cheap internet.

Cheap internet FAQs

What's the cheapest internet available?

Cable and fiber internet are likely to be your best cheap internet options. Plans can be a bit more expensive than dial-up or DSL service, but the speeds and connection quality that you get are well worth the added cost.

While a few internet providers offer a low introductory rate of $20 to $30 a month, such as Astound, Kinetic Fiber and Ziply Fiber, CNET recommends going with Xfinity. Its plans feature cheap monthly rates, at least in the first year or so, and for solid speeds of 400Mbps. If you want faster internet, you can upgrade to 600Mbps for an additional $5 monthly. Finally, Xfinity boasts a wider coverage than Astound and Ziply Fiber.

What cheap internet options are available to low-income households?

Note: The ACP program ended in May of 2024.

The Affordable Connectivity Program was a federal subsidy that granted qualifying households up to $30 per month ($75 for those on tribal lands) to apply toward home internet service.

Following the end of the ACP, many providers, including AT&T, Cox, Spectrum and Xfinity, offered discounted plans specifically for low-income households. These plans typically cost $30 or less and offer speeds around 50 to 100Mbps. We included a few of these plans in our round-up, but you can take a closer look at state-by-state low-cost internet options here .

Why is my internet bill increasing every year?

Internet providers often advertise introductory pricing, a lower rate of service available to new customers for a limited time, often one to two years. After the introductory pricing ends, the monthly service rate may increase by as much as $30 or more, depending on the provider and offer you choose. This is one of the common price traps from your internet provider.

Most providers also offer a "price lock" or price guarantee for a limited time, even if there is no special discounted rate. After the price guarantee period ends, providers are free to raise rates at any time for any reason. Price hikes may be necessary to support ongoing network maintenance and expansion or offset rising operation costs.

If your internet bill continues to go up year after year, consider calling your ISP to see if you can negotiate a better price. Otherwise, you may want to explore other options in your area to find a better rate.

How can I save money on my monthly internet bill?

There are a few ways you may be able to get cheaper internet. Common ways to lower your internet bill include using your own equipment,  negotiating a lower cost with your provider  and switching providers. 

View our guide on  how to save on your internet bill  for more details about how you can lower your monthly internet costs.

What's the cheapest internet for seniors?

Many providers offer internet deals for seniors and low-income households. Such plans typically with speeds ranging from 30 to 100Mbps for around $30 or less per month. AT&T, Cox, Spectrum, Xfinity and others have their own discounted internet plans designed to help keep those in low-income households -- including seniors -- connected.