Price of home Wi-Fi got you turning your pockets inside out? Here’s how to fix that.
How to Lower Your Internet Bill
Xfinity Internet
Starts at$9.95/mo
Download speeds:
150Mbps–2,000Mbps
Data cap:
1.2TB
Connection type:
Cable
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet
Starts at$50/mo
Download speeds:
72Mbps–245Mbps
Data cap:
Unlimited
Connection type:
5G fixed wireless
MetroNet
Starts at$34.95/mo
Download speeds:
100Mbps–5,000Mbps
Data cap:
Unlimited
Connection type:
Fiber
Frontier Fiber Internet
Starts at$29.99/mo
Download speeds:
200Mbps–7,000Mbps
Data cap:
Unlimited
Connection type:
Fiber
4 min readYou can’t get by without reliable internet, but at what cost? Once you factor in equipment fees, data overage fees, and price hikes, your monthly internet bill can be très expensive. We’ve found that Americans spend as much as $81 a month on internet. That’s a pretty big chunk of change.
But you don’t have to pay that much. There are ways you can slash internet costs—yes, without going back to the days of painfully slow dial-up.
Here are eight tips for lowering your internet bill.
Guide to lowering your internet bill:
1. See and compare the internet available in your area.
Before you can reduce your internet bill, you need to arm yourself with knowledge. Try our internet zip checker to learn how much services cost where you live.
See the internet service providers in your area and compare prices.
Are you overpaying for your internet? Underpaying? Paying about the same as everyone else?
Lowering your internet service bill is easier if you’re overpaying or paying the same as others. If you’re underpaying, it’s more difficult.
Our favorite Xfinity deal
Save 30% on top streaming services
New and existing Xfinity TV or Internet customers can add StreamSaverTM for just $15 per month and get Peacock Premium with ads, Apple TV+, and Netflix Standard with ads.
That's three streaming services for the price of one! And the savings are no joke—without StreamSaver, all three services would cost $29.96 per month.
2. Switch to a slower internet speed.
Once you’ve made price comparisons, check and see how fast your internet is.
If your download speed exceeds 400Mbps, you probably have much quicker internet than you need. That 400ish range is the sweet spot for a typical household. It covers streaming, gaming, working, learning, and smart home and home security devices.
You can easily save a few dollars by dropping your speed down to what you need.
3. Look for promotions and deals.
Another simple way to reduce your internet price is to look for promotions and deals.
AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile 5G Home Internet are especially generous when it comes to offering internet deals. Take a look at our Best Internet Deals guide for the full rundown of the latest offers.
Most internet service providers offer deals when you sign up, so you probably need to switch providers if you want to take advantage of a good promo. But that’s not as big a deal as it used to be. Many internet providers don’t require annual contracts like they used to, making it easy to switch services since you don’t have to pay an early termination fee. You can even change back once your promo pricing runs out.
4. Buy your own modem and router.
Monthly equipment rental fees can bring up your internet service price. You can get rid of that extra cost by simply buying your own internet modem and router.
Sure, buying your own equipment costs more up front. But over time, you’re likely to save money. For instance, renting a router from AT&T costs $10 a month. If you go instead for , you break even in under a year.
Not every modem or router works with every internet provider, so make sure whatever you buy is compatible with your service.
5. Bundle your internet.
Bundling your internet with a cellular plan from the same provider is an excellent way to save money.
A surprising number of internet providers also offer phone plans through their own company brands. You can bundle services through AT&T, Optimum, Spectrum, T-Mobile, and Verizon, to name a few.
Internet and phone bundles
*
Internet: For 12 months. No term contract. Taxes and equipment not included. Includes $10/mo automatic payments and paperless billing discount. TV: No term contract. Broadcast TV fee extra; price subj to change. Taxes and equipment not included.
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Internet w/Auto Pay & Paperless Bill plus taxes. Terms apply. Not available in all areas.
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Limited time offer; subject to change; new residential customers only (no Spectrum services within past 30 days) and in good standing with Spectrum. Taxes and fees extra in select states. SPECTRUM INTERNET: Standard rates apply after promo period. Additional charge for installation. Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds (including wireless) vary and are not guaranteed. Services subject to all applicable service terms and conditions, subject to change. Not available in all areas. Restrictions apply.
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for 12 mos. w/ 1-yr. term agrmt.
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For 1 year plus taxes, equip. charges & other fees. Speeds 1.1-3 Mbps, 3.1-7 Mbps, and 7.1-15 Mbps. Verizon home phone service required.
**
Avail. in select locations only. Subject to change at any time and without notice. Eligibility: Existing AT&T Internet customers with direct-billed service who sign up for an eligible unlimited plan will receive a 25% off per month discount on that plan so long as eligible AT&T direct-billed Internet remains active and in good standing. Fixed wireless internet service not eligible. Must be new AT&T wireless customer.
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Not available in all areas. Savings with $20 monthly bill credit. Limited-time offer; subject to change. Qualifying credit, voice line, and unlimited Home Internet line required. Existing customers must visit myT-Mobile.com. Credits may take up to 2 bill cycles; credits will stop if you cancel any lines or change plans.
6. Sign up for a government program.
If slashing your internet budget is more of a need than a want, consider signing up for a government program that allows struggling households to get low-cost internet access for work, learning, and play.
The Lifeline Support program is a federally funded monthly subsidy that supports families who qualify for low-income benefits to stay connected online. This program provides $9.25 off your monthly internet bill if you are eligible, or up to $34.25 per month if you live on Tribal lands and qualify for the program.
You can learn more by reading How To Get Low-Cost Internet Assistance.
The Affordable Connectivity Program is on pause–for now
Since 2021, 22 million households in the United States have benefitted from monthly discounts ranging from $30 to $75 through the federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). However, the ACP is now out of funding, and since the beginning of May, recipients have only received partial benefits. Not all is lost, though. There are legislative efforts that may save the program, and you can find plenty of other options for getting low-cost internet.
7. Negotiate with your provider.
If your monthly bill looks too high, call up customer service and see if you can convince them to adjust it. And yes, you should call, not email. Charming and wheedling work best in real time. (That’s why door-to-door salespeople and telemarketers still exist.)
This particular step isn’t for everyone. If it sounds like something that would make you drop dead of anxiety, don’t worry—there are other ways to save. But if you’re the kind of person who loves a challenge or enjoys bartering, have at it.
8. Switch to a cheaper provider.
Finally, if all else fails, you may simply want to switch to a cheaper internet provider.
5G internet is a lower-cost option than your typical cable internet setup. And these wireless 5G services use phone networks, so they’re available nearly everywhere.
You could also consider fiber internet. While a fiber connection may initially cost more than cable, once you calculate the cost of cable equipment rental and price hikes, fiber prices tend to be lower in the long run.
Whichever way you go, lowering your monthly bill for good can take a weight off your shoulders.
Compare affordable internet plans
Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change. Data verified as of the article's publication date.
‡‡
Pricing for some packages are for the first 12 months. Some packages require a 1- or 2-year contract.
^^
w/ Auto Pay. Regulatory fees included in monthly price for qualified accounts. See full terms.
°°
Offers available to new residential customers only and may not be combined with other offers. MetroNet reserves the right to revoke or modify offers at any time. Taxes, fees, and other terms apply.
***
Requires Auto Pay or $5/mo. fee applies. Beginning April 2022, a printed bill fee of $2.99/mo. will apply, NY, PA and select customers excluded. A $10 fee applies when Internet is disconnected. Equipment return required at disconnection, up to $150 per device if not returned. Multi-Device Security covers up to 10 devices. Other applicable charges and additional services are extra. Service subject to availability. Cannot be combined with other offers. Other restrictions, Frontier policies and service terms apply.
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Prices exclude taxes, surcharges, usage-based charges, certain equipment, and other fees or charges, which are subject to change.
How to lower your internet bill FAQ
To save money on your internet bill, follow our tips:
- Compare the internet available in your area.
- Switch to a slower internet speed.
- Look for promotions and deals.
- Buy your own modem and router.
- Bundle your internet with a mobile phone plan.
- Sign up for a government program.
- Negotiate with your provider.
- Switch to a cheaper provider.
Your internet bill may be higher than usual because you've reached the end of the term of a six-month or year-long promotional deal, so your rates may have increased. You may have also incurred additional charges on your plan due to a service call where a technician came to your home to fix an issue, a late payment, or an increase in your provider’s prices.
You can negotiate your internet bill by calling your provider’s customer service line and firmly requesting to have your rates lowered. This works best if you can make it sound like you’re going to cancel your plan because another provider in the area is offering you a better deal. You could also complain about promotional deals for new customers, and ask for the provider to match your rates.
Where is affordable internet available?
See all the available options for affordable, fast internet by using our tool below. Once you type in your zip code and hit “Search Providers”, you'll get a list of all the top internet providers in your area.
Look for cheap internet providers in your area.
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