Military discounts on internet
Regardless of where you fall in the military hierarchy or if you’re a retired Veteran, there are many discounts available to you to help you save on internet costs. Some of these discounts will lower your monthly payments, while others will help with installation and equipment costs.
In this article, we’ll be taking a detailed look at all major US internet providers to show you which ones give the best discounts. After that, we’ll be going over some other ways to get discounted internet, as well as some helpful tips and tricks to help you save on internet.
Military discounts by brand
Most major US internet providers have deals for active duty and retired military personnel. However, not all of these discounts are equally good at helping you save on your internet bill; let’s take a look at the specifics.
AT&T
For military personnel, Veterans, and military families, AT&T offers a 25% discount on three phone plans. These are the AT&T UNLIMITED STARTER PLAN, AT&T UNLIMITED EXTRA PLAN, and the AT&T UNLIMITED PREMIUM℠ PLAN. Since you get unlimited 5G internet with these plans, you can use them in place of a home internet subscription through a mobile hotspot.
The discount starts within 3 billing cycles from the date you complete AT&T’s verification process.
Verizon Fios
Verizon Fios gives a discount to all branches of the US military, Veterans, and their families. The discount depends on the internet speed you choose:
- 300 Mbps plan: $5/mo.
- 500 Mbps plan: $10/mo.
- 1 Gigabit plan: $15/mo.
On top of this, the discount eliminates Fios’s $99 setup fee.
If you’re looking at an unlimited data phone plan, Verizon offers a discount based on how many plans you get. The discount scales as follows:
- 1 line: $10/account
- 2-3 lines: $25/account.
- 4+ lines: $20/account.
Finally, by logging into your MyVerizon account, you’ll be able to access Verizon’s military discount store, where you get 25% off select accessories.
Xfinity
Xfinity offers a discount to all members of the military community. The discount starts with a one-use $25 Xfinity coupon you can use on your bill or on an Xfinity On Demand rental. On top of this, if you’ve started Xfinity service in the last 90 days with a minimum term contract, you can get a $100 prepaid Visa card.
CenturyLink
There are no military discounts available at CenturyLink.
Cox
Unfortunately, Cox doesn’t provide military discounts on internet.
Frontier
There are no military discounts available at Frontier, although there have been in the past, so it may be worth keeping an eye out for discounts in the future.
T-Mobile
T-Mobile doesn’t offer a military discount for its home internet. However, it does offer a discount on their Magenta and Magenta MAX plans for those looking for mobile internet.
The discount is available to all active duty and retired military personnel, as well as their families. The discount is a massive 50% off of both plans, and notably this is not a promotional discount, so it should be permanent.
Rise Broadband
Rise Broadband offers a military discount of 10% off monthly internet service payments. To get more details on who is eligible, contact Rise support.
FTC
FTC provides a military discount to active duty and retired military personnel in the form of 10% off your internet bill. On the phone internet side of things, Veterans, active duty, and retired military personnel get a 25% discount.
Trailrunner
Trailrunner provides a military discount for military personnel and Veterans in the form of $10 per month off of its broadband internet service.
How do I get a military discount?
Due to military discounts being quite valuable, companies that provide them require verification of your military status. Usually, this can be done either through the company site, email, or phone call.
There are a few things you can gather that should suffice as proof of your military or Veteran status, such as the following:
- A Department of Defense Form DD214 indicating an honorable discharge
- Your Military ID
- An AMVETS membership card
- Your Veteran Health Insurance Card
- Military retirement certificate
This process can be simplified by using services like GovX ID, ID.me, Sheer ID, or the like. Once you’ve verified your military status with one of these services once, they’ll do it for you for any discounts you might want to claim.
Not only does this reduce the amount of time you spend in verification processes, but it’ll also enhance your security as your data won’t be kept at each company you take a discount from.
Additional methods to get an internet discount
If the military discount isn’t quite enough to cover your needs, or your provider of choice doesn’t have a military discount, there may be programs and organizations you can rely on.
Low-income families and individuals can rely on two main programs to help them save on their internet bill: The Lifeline Program for Low-Income Consumers also known as the Lifeline discount and The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).
Affordable Connectivity Program
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is the program put in place to replace the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program. (1) It is run by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and serves the purpose of helping low-income households afford internet.
The ACP has two distinct benefits:
- A $30 per month discount on your internet services, or $75 per month if you live on eligible Tribal lands.
- A single-use discount up to $100 for your household to buy a PC, laptop, or tablet. In order to gain this benefit, your household must contribute between $10 and $50 to the purchase.
In order to qualify for the ACP, the total income of your household needs to fall under 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or you need to meet another qualification criteria.
Lifeline Program for Low-Income Consumers
The Lifeline Program for Low-Income Consumers, or Lifeline discount, is a federal program run by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC.) Much like the ACP, it looks to help low-income households afford internet services. However, Lifeline also covers phone bills.
With Lifeline, you get a $9.25 per month discount for your phone or internet bill. In order to qualify, your household needs to have an annual income at or under 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
If you qualify for Lifeline, you immediately qualify for the ACP, so take advantage of both.
Unfortunately, if you’re already using your Lifeline discount on phone services, you won’t be able to use it on internet. (2)
Tips & tricks
Aside from discounts, there are a few other things that can allow you to save on your internet bill, or even get your internet for free. If you’re willing to put in a little legwork, look into the following:
- Ask your provider for a military discount. Sometimes providers will have discounts they don’t advertise on their site, so it doesn’t hurt to check.
- Look into ways to get cheap or even free internet.
- Join organizations like The American Legion or Veterans of Foreign Wars that provide free Wi-Fi at their halls and shelters.
- Make sure you fully understand your internet bill and aren’t paying for features you don’t need.
- If you’re eligible for Lifeline and have a roommate, you may be able to take advantage of multiple bonuses as your roommates may count as separate households.
- Check if a cheaper internet provider can fulfill your needs.
- If possible, bundle your internet with your TV/phone, as providers often charge less for bundled services.
- If you don’t need a lot of data, you can use a mobile hotspot instead of a home internet service.
Outside of internet, there are many organizations like Combat Veterans to Careers and Tech for Troops that can help you afford a desktop, tablet, or laptop.
Can I save money on internet with my military status?
While internet costs are rising, some of the best internet service providers out there provide military discounts. It can be a great way to save on your internet bill. You can also take advantage of additional savings through programs like the ACP and Lifeline.
If you’re curious about some other discounts your military status might make you eligible for, check out our piece on military discounts for TV and streaming.
Ilija Miljkovac is a Switchful writer with 7 years of experience covering all things tech. He writes about everything from cybersecurity to ISPs, ensuring businesses and customers are educated about the latest products and services. He's written for publications such as Business2Community, TheTechReport, Comparitech, and more. When he's not maniacally hacking away at his keyboard, Ilija spends his time either hiking in nature or holed up in his apartment gaming.
Vilja Johnson leads Switchful's editorial and creative teams. She has been editing content in the consumer tech space since 2016, and she has over a decade of experience teaching writing and editing. She's passionate about creating content that resonates with people and helps them solve real, day-to-day problems. In her free time, Vilja serves on the board of directors for the PrisonEd Foundation, where she runs a writing program for inmates in Utah prisons and jails.
Michal directs the Switchful content strategy and leads the editorial team. With a bachelor’s degree in Communications, she has more than a decade of experience in the world of marketing communications. Her diverse career has included public relations, brand development, digital strategies, and more; her key skillset has always been centered around strategic efforts for consumer-focused initiatives. In her free time, you can find her camping with friends, chasing waterfalls on her kayak, or searching for the best restaurants in Salt Lake City.
Endnotes and sources
- ”This Federal Program Now Makes Many Active-Duty, Vets and Survivors Eligible for Free or Discounted Internet.” Military.com. Accessed 1st April.
- “Lifeline Program for Low-Income Consumers.” FCC. Accessed 1st April.