Save money on your home internet this summer by taking a look at our top picks for the best cheap internet providers.
Article updated on June 10, 2025 at 5:00 AM PDT
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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.
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 $79 a month 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. Though you can sign up for Xfinity's five-year price guarantee, but 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'll 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. 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.
Locating local internet providers
Our take - Xfinity Connect More starts at $30 to $40 per month, depending on your location, for download speeds up to 400Mbps. It isn't the best internet deal you'll find, especially since cable providers are notorious for hiking their prices after a year. Still, Xfinity is one of the cheaper broadband options available throughout much of the US.Â
Eligible customers may turn to Internet Essentials for a cheaper rate, starting at $15 monthly for 75Mbps. To sign up you'll have to be a participant in assistant programs like SNAP or Medicaid.
A 1.25TB data cap (and a $10 fee for each 50GB block of data you go over, up to $100) may apply, along with a possible $15 fee if you choose to rent your equipment. Equipment is included at no extra cost for the Internet Essentials plans and in some areas, the Xfinity Connect plans may include equipment at no extra cost.
Our take - Astound and Xfinity share a similar price range. Both cable providers are notorious for hiking prices after a year. The only reason why Astound is our second choice is due to its limited availability.
When it comes to Astound, plans and pricing can vary a bit from one market to the next. However, one thing they all have in common is that they're relatively cheap, at least for the first year or two. Customers in New York City or Boston, for example, can get speeds up to 300Mbps starting at $30 a month or up to 600Mbps for just $15 more. No matter which plan you choose, Astound tacks on a $16.93 "network maintenance fee" on all of its plans. Though, you won't have to worry about paying for equipment, as that's included in your monthly bill.
The low prices are tempting, but be aware that they won't last forever. Your rate is locked in for a set time -- typically for one to two years -- but after that, the cost jumps to $30 monthly in most areas.
Our take - CNET recommends fiber over any other internet connection type since it'll offer you the best value. AT&T Fiber's prices start at $42 per month for 300Mbps, which is on par with Xfinity's introductory pricing, but the good news is that it boasts excellent value due to its free equipment rental, unlimited data or set price increases. Even better, AT&T's Fiber plans don't come with contracts, so you won't have to worry about paying any early termination fees if you cancel your service too early.
Our take - With Frontier, you get the right price and speed. Its 200Mbps plan costs just $30 per month for symmetrical upload and download speeds. Plus, for a limited time, you can upgrade to 500Mbps for just $40 monthly. Your equipment rental and unlimited data are also included in the price.
The cost of $40 a month is on par with many major providers for similar or lower speeds, including Metronet, AT&T and Xfinity -- and for speeds of 500Mbps, we consider it one of the best home internet deals right now. Frontier delivers more speed for the price, at 500Mbps, compared with the 200Mbps or 300Mbps you're likely to get from other cheap ISPs. If you sign up online, Frontier is offering new customers a $100 Visa gift card for the Fiber 500 and its faster plans.
Our take - Residents of rural areas throughout the Midwest and South, as well as parts of Arizona and California, can rely on Mediacom for cheap broadband service starting at around $50 a month for speeds up to 300Mbps. That noted, prices increase to $65 monthly after the first year. The plan comes with unlimited data and doesn't require a contract.
Mediacom's low-income plan, Xtream Connect, costs $15 monthly (not including the additional $15 monthly equipment fee) for speeds up to 100Mbps down and 20Mbps up. Though, you can ditch the added equipment fee by using your own. Xtream Connect also comes with unlimited data. You can sign up by participating in qualifying programs like Lifeline, SSI or SNAP.
Our take - Quantum Fiber is currently offering a price lock that guarantees the same monthly rate for as long as you keep your plan. That doesn't mean the all-in costs will never go up -- taxes and fees are always subject to change -- but your internet rate will not increase.
At $50 a month for symmetrical speeds up 500Mbps, plus free equipment rental for an "initial period" and unlimited data. Depending on your address, certain markets may see speeds of 200Mbps as their entry plan. Quantum Fiber is a top option for low-cost, high-speed internet. Either plan is a decent deal, but what really makes them stand out is the price-for-life guarantee.
Our take - While T-Mobile may offer a cheaper price for its entry-level plan, Verizon 5G Home Internet offers a better bundle discount and more perks. Service includes free equipment, unlimited data and no contracts, plus a $15 to $25 discount for qualifying Verizon mobile customers who add home internet. Even better, you get to keep your price for up to four years with Verizon 5G Home Internet.
Our take - Standard Cox internet plans are priced a bit on the high side. The cheapest internet plan from Cox has one of the highest costs per Mbps of any plan featured on this list.
Still, Cox made our list of the best cheap internet providers thanks to its budget-friendly prepaid service. For $50 a month, Cox Fast Internet comes with speeds up to 300Mbps, free installation and a two-year price guarantee. The plan is ideal for those who may have less-than-perfect credit or simply want a pay-as-you-go service. Just note you'll have to shell out an additional $15 monthly if you want to lease your equipment.
Cox's low-income plan, Connect Assist, costs $30 monthly for 100Mbps -- not including the $15 fee if you choose to lease equipment. To use this plan, you'll have to be a participant in qualifying programs like Lifeline, SNAP or SSI.
Our take - Starry Connect starts at $15 per month for symmetrical speeds up to 50Mbps. There are no equipment fees, data caps, credit checks or contracts. The only qualification for signing up is living in a public and affordable housing building approved to carry the service.
Our take - Spectrum is one of the major cable internet providers in the country. But what are its prices? Promo pricing ranges from $50 to $70 a month, plus a free modem is included with the gigabit plan (a $10 value). You can also save $20 monthly if you bundle with a TV service or two mobile lines. For comparison, Cox, Mediacom, Xfinity and others may charge $13 to $15 or higher monthly to rent equipment.
Additionally, Spectrum recently boosted the speed of its cheapest internet plan from 300 to 500Mbps. Gig service didn't get a speed upgrade, but the monthly introductory rate did drop to $70, lower than you'll find from many ISPs for download speeds up to 1,000Mbps.
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
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.
Most ISPs provide these details through broadband labels. Check out our guide on how you can navigate broadband labels.
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 Tech 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.
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.
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.
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.Â
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.