Best cheap internet providers of 2024
Frontier is our top choice for the best cheap internet provider. You get the incredible performance of fiber internet, plus no-nonsense terms. No contract is required, data is unlimited, and a router is included at no extra cost. At $44.99 per month for 500 Mbps speeds, the value is undeniable.
Best cheap internet providers for affordability and speed
- Plans starting at $49.99 - $164.99
- Download speeds up to 5000 Mbps
- Upload speeds up to 5000 Mbps
Disclaimer: Subject to availability. Cannot be combined with other offers. Other restrictions, Frontier policies and service terms apply. For a list of terms, view disclaimers
- Plans starting at $49.99 - $110.00
- Download speeds up to 940 Mbps
- Upload speeds up to 880 Mbps
Disclaimer: Availability and pricing are subject to location. Conditions apply.
- Plans starting at $19.99 - $600.00
- Download speeds up to 6000 Mbps
- Upload speeds up to 6000 Mbps
Disclaimer: Availability and pricing are subject to location. Conditions apply. For offer details, visit the provider's website.
- Plans starting at $9.99 - $199.98
- Download speeds up to 1200 Mbps
- Upload speeds up to 50 Mbps
Disclaimer: Availability and pricing are subject to location. Conditions apply. For offer details, view disclaimers
Methodology
We’ve rounded up the best cheap internet providers so you can get the speed your family needs without breaking your budget.
Even if you avoid the most expensive plans out there, costs can add up quickly with internet service. We've looked beyond monthly plan prices and included information on equipment rental fees, introductory pricing, installation fees, contracts, and other terms, so you have a better understanding of the total cost of these cheap internet providers' plans.
Getting a good deal doesn’t mean you should have to compromise on getting the performance you want. The providers included in this list have plans with speeds ranging from 50 Mbps to 500 Mbps, all for under $60/month.
#1: Frontier internet
- Well-priced fiber plans
- Fast speeds
- No data caps
- Limited fiber availability
- Some customer complaints
Disclaimer: Subject to availability. Cannot be combined with other offers. Other restrictions, Frontier policies and service terms apply. For a list of terms, view disclaimers
Frontier offers excellent value on its fiber internet plans
With Frontier, you can get fiber internet service with 500 Mbps speeds for $44.99 per month, which is a great deal. You can also get speeds of 1,000 Mbps for a starting price of $64.99, 2,000 Mbps for $99.99, and in some areas, you can even get speeds up to 5,000 Mbps for $129.99. Introductory prices are for the first 12 months.
Since Frontier uses a fiber internet connection, the download and upload speed are equally fast. With this performance, you’ll have no problem with streaming, video calls, gaming, or working from home with multiple users. Frontier’s plan costs the same as some competitor plans, but it tends to be faster, making it a better value than competitors.
Frontier internet doesn’t require a contract unless you accept one of its optional special offers. Prices are locked in for 12 months, after which Frontier might choose to raise your rate. A router is included in the monthly plan cost, which saves you from having to pay a rental fee or purchase your own. There is no data cap, so there’s no need to worry about being charged overage fees. Activation for DSL internet costs $85, and you can't order online. We recommend negotiating with your rep on the phone to see if you can get the fee removed.
#2: Verizon Fios internet
- Reliable, symmetrical speeds
- No contracts
- Limited availability
- No plan above 1 gig
Disclaimer: Availability and pricing are subject to location. Conditions apply.
Bundle Verizon Fios internet with mobile for the best deals
You can get a no-contract fiber plan from Verizon Fios for $50 per month with 300 Mbps speeds, unlimited data, and a router included. You This should be plenty of speed for most households with typical usage, even if it isn’t as fast as what Frontier offers for the same price. And if you bundle service with certain 5G mobile plans, the price drops to $25 per month!
Your monthly price is guaranteed to stay the same for two years, which is a year longer than Frontier offers and better than many other competitors too. You can get the $99 installation costs waived if you order online, and there are no early termination fees. You’ll want to sign up for auto-pay to avoid paying an extra $10 per month.
#3: Xfinity internet
- Consistently fast speeds
- Wide availability
- Excellent pricing
- Data caps on some plans
- Some billing complaints
Disclaimer: Availability and pricing are subject to location. Conditions apply. For offer details, visit the provider's website.
Xfinity's budget broadband internet plans are a great deal
Xfinity offers inexpensive cable plans with download speeds of 75 Mbps for $20 a month, 200 Mbps for $30 a month, 400 Mbps for $55 a month. Xfinity is widely available and has cheap introductory pricing. A plan with 50 Mbps may be too slow for some, but 100 Mbps should be fine for most small families.
Equipment is included with your Xfinity internet plan, and you get access to millions of internet hotspots. Pricing depends on your location, and in many cases, you can sign up for Xfinity internet with no contract. Sign up for autopay to take advantage of the best prices, and check out bundling options with TV and streaming to get some excellent deals.
#4: WOW! internet
- Affordable
- Optional contracts
- Award-winning customer service
- Limited upload speed
- Only available in 6 states
Disclaimer: Availability and pricing are subject to location. Conditions apply. For offer details, view disclaimers
WOW! offers affordable cable internet and fantastic customer service
WOW! offers a range of affordable cable internet plans worth considering, with low initial pricing for their speeds compared to other providers. Wow! internet offers plans from 100 Mbps to 5 Gbps, giving you a lot of options no matter your budget.
Wow! internet offers plans with optional contracts, which is nice because it gives you options. You can sign up for a contract to get the best price, and you'll end up paying about 25% than the national benchmark for similar plans from competitors. You can get speeds up to 1.2 Gbps for a starting price of $30 a month, which is an exceptionally low price.
Prices and availability depend on your location. Some areas are able to get unlimited data, while others will have a data cap of 1–1.5 TB. If you go over your data limit, you’ll be charged $10 for 50 GB more data. You can rent a router for $14 per month or bring your own, and self-installation is free. To get the best prices, sign up for auto-pay and paperless billing.
The best thing that Wow! internet is known for is its customer service. Its customer service is award-winning with J.D. Power listing it as #4 in the North Central US region for customer satisfaction from an internet service provider. Wow! internet has a strong reliability reputation with 99.9 network reliability.
What to consider when choosing a cheap internet provider
When choosing the best cheap internet providers, we focused primarily on cost and performance, though we also looked at how satisfied customers were with their service (1). We used our Switchful rating methodology for the star rankings, and then relied on in-house expertise to make the final call.
Cost
All the providers included in this ranking have plans in an affordable price range, with monthly plan prices starting as low as $10 (with introductory pricing) and not exceeding $60 (even after introductory pricing).
Monthly plan prices are only part of what you’ll end up paying for internet service, so we’ve also included information about other costs you can expect and sometimes avoid, like fees for equipment rental, professional installation, and data overages. Many providers require contracts, have steep price increases after the first year, or come with data caps, so we’ve also noted this.
There are plenty of ways to save on your internet bill. For almost every internet service provider, setting up automatic payments and paperless billing will save you money each month. Plus, low-income households can get $30 per month discounts on internet service through the Affordable Connectivity Program.
Performance
The cheap internet providers included in this ranking offer either cable or fiber plans and a range of speeds that can meet the needs of most households.
Fiber plans have the best overall performance and speeds that can support heavier internet use. Fiber is a great choice for households with multiple users. Cable plans with speeds of 100 Mbps or more will be able to handle normal internet use for a family that surfs and streams. Cable plans with 50 Mbps are best for individuals and families with more limited usage.
Unlimited data plans are ideal, but we have included some providers with reasonably high data caps of 1 TB or more, which should be enough to accommodate most.
Brittany is a Contributing Writer for Switchful with over five years of experience writing about technology in the US and Europe. Her primary focus is on mobile and internet topics. She is passionate about helping people choose the right tech for their needs at the right price.
Endnotes and sources
1. "Internet Service Providers," ASCI. Accessed 21 December 2022.