As the past few years have taught us, it’s virtually impossible to get by in today’s world without an internet connection.And while access is still a major issue, high prices are often a bigger barrier to getting people connected.According to The Pew Charitable Trusts, every state has identified broadband affordability as a primary barrier to closing the digital divide, and that price is a main obstacle for unconnected homes getting connected.
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) was previously one of the only ways for Americans to get truly free internet service since it provided a $30.00/mo.subsidy to eligible customers and $75.00/mo.for those residing on tribal lands.
Many internet providers participated in the program and offered plans of $30.00/mo.or less, which meant millions of Americans could get completely free internet.The ACP ran out of funding in mid-2024, meaning all those people were left unable to afford their internet service.
To combat the gap left by the demise of the ACP, internet service providers (ISPs) all over the country provide low-cost internet programs for eligible customers to help support the cost of a broadband connection.On this page, we’ll walk through all the free internet options that are currently available, along with some resources that can help you get your internet connection heavily discounted — if not entirely free.Completely free (but slow) home internet options If free internet sounds too good to be true, it mostly is.
To get the type of internet connection most people are accustomed to in 2023, you’ll almost always have to pay some kind of monthly bill.That said, a couple providers do offer completely free, no-strings-attached internet plans, although speeds are unsurprisingly limited. FreeNet from Buckeye Broadband Cost: Free What you’ll get: 2 Mbps internet with ads Who’s eligible: Anyone in northern Ohio In March 2021, Buckeye Broadband unveiled a first-of-its-kind product: free, ad-supported internet.Just as streaming services like Peacock offer free tiers in exchange for some commercials, the internet service provider is giving customers free broadband access if they watch a brief advertisement before every session.
The service, called FreeNet, is available to anyone in Buckeye Broadband’s service area — primarily northern Ohio — and gets you 2 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload speeds.There’s a $19.95 activation fee, and if you want to use Wi-Fi with the service, you’ll have to provide your own router. NetZero Cost: Free What you’ll get: 10 hours of dial-up internet per month Who’s eligible: Anyone If you’ve ever felt nostalgic for the sound of dial-up internet, NetZero has the free internet plan for you.The company offers 10 hours of free dial-up access each month with download speeds of 28.8 Kbps to 56 Kbps.
To put that in perspective, it’s around 0.2% of the FCC definition of minimum broadband speed — enough to (slowly) check an email or load a web page, but not much else.You’ll also need a working phone jack and modem to take advantage of NetZero’s free internet offer. FreedomPop Cost: Free What you’ll get: 25 MB of 4G LTE data each month Who’s eligible: Anyone with a compatible smartphone FreedomPop is a cellphone carrier that offers a free tier of service.While the plan is actually free, there are a number of ways you can get pulled into paying for it, so you’ll have to be extra mindful of how much data you’re using each month. The “Freemium” plan includes 10 minutes of calls, 10 texts and 25MB of data each month.
(Calls and texts are both unlimited when you’re connected to Wi-Fi.) You’ll need to use a FreedomPop SIM card on a compatible phone, which costs $10 when you sign up.If you go over 25MB in a 30-day cycle, FreedomPop automatically adds 500MB to your account for $8.For context, you’d use up 25MB watching five minutes of Netflix in the lowest resolution, so you should only plan on using FreedomPop to load the occasional email or webpage. Free public Wi-Fi Public Wi-Fi is always an option if you want truly free Wi-Fi, but there are some important factors to consider when you connect to a public Wi-Fi network. Public Wi-Fi is notoriously insecure compared to private home WI-Fi networks.
Anyone can connect to public Wi-Fi and potentially hack your personal information since you don’t have the encryption of a private network.There is also a higher risk of malware and viruses when using public Wi-Fi.While it can be extremely useful when traveling or logging on for short periods of time, you should make sure to implement security software if you plan to use public Wi-Fi as your main connection to the internet on a regular basis.
Internet providers with low-cost programs Many internet service providers offer low-cost programs to help customers get free internet if they’re qualified, defined by income levels: Xfinity Internet Essentials program Customers can get Xfinity Internet Essentials at a lower cost if they are eligible.You can get up to 100 Mbps as well as free equipment.AT&T Access program Qualified people can enroll in AT&T’s Access program to get low-cost internet with no equipment fees or deposits.
You’ll be eligible for free internet up to 100 Mbps.Verizon Forward program Verizon’s Forward program provides free Fios internet or 5G Home Internet for eligible customers.Optimum Advantage Internet Optimum Advantage Internet offers eligible customers up to 50 Mbps of internet for less than $15.00/mo.
The plan also comes with free installation and equipment.Cox Connect2Compete Cox Connect2Compete offers eligible customers up to 100 Mbps of internet speed, free equipment and free installation for less than $10.00/mo.Mediacom Xtream Connect Mediacom’s Xtream Connect program offers 100 Mbps of internet speed, free installation and equipment for less than $30.00/mo.
to qualifying customers.Spectrum Internet Assist Spectrum Internet Assist offers eligible customers 50 Mbps of internet speed, free equipment, security and a free mobile line for one year for $25.00/mo.Low-cost internet for students Various internet providers offer student deals on internet service: Cox Connect2Compete – Cox’s program can also be used as a student internet discount since it’s actually geared toward families with students in the home.
Eligible households must have at least one K-12 student in the home, or participate in government assistance programs such as the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Head Start.Verizon Fios student discount program – Verizon Fios offers college students discounts on wireless and home internet plans.Eligible students can save up to $10.00/mo.
on their internet service if they’re actively enrolled in an accredited, degree-granting university.T-Mobile student discount – T-Mobile’s Project 10Million offers students 200 GB each year for five years, along with a free hotspot and no recertifications during that five-year period.Xfinity student discount – Xfinity offers a student internet deal starting at $25.00/mo.
with free equipment.Students who meet eligibility requirements can also use Xfinity’s Internet Essentials program.Explore more student internet and tech discounts.
Low-cost internet for seniors Seniors can also capitilize on the low-cost programs or free services we’ve outlined throughout this page, as long as they meet eligibility requirements.If you can’t access a low-cost internet option from your provider, Lifeline offers eligible customers $9.25 off the cost of phone, internet or bundled services.Everyone On is another assistance program that provides low-cost internet and computers to eligible participants.
Government resources for discounted internet If you really want a quality internet connection for cheap, your best bet is to utilize a government program.These are typically available to low-income households who qualify for other federal programs like SNAP or Medicaid. Lifeline What you’ll get: $9.25/mo.off phone or internet bill Who’s eligible: Anyone with income below 135% of federal poverty guidelines, qualifies for SNAP, Medicaid, SSI or other federal assistance programs Unlike the ACP, Lifeline is a permanent federal program, but its benefit is also far smaller.
Qualifying households can get $9.25/mo.off either their phone or internet bill, and the benefit is increased to $34.25/mo.for households on Tribal lands.
It’s not quite free internet, but it can take out a significant chunk of your monthly bills.Nonprofit resources for discounted internet Everyone On Everyone On is a nonprofit that helps connect low-income households to affordable internet options and digital learning opportunities in their area.While the organization doesn’t technically offer free internet itself, it’s a great place to start your search to see what’s available near you. PCs for People The core mission of PCs for People is to share the benefits of an internet connection with everyone who needs it.
The group distributes refurbished computers to low-income individuals and nonprofits and also provides low-cost internet access nationwide using unlimited 4G LTE wireless data. Human-I-T Like PCs for People, Human-I–T specializes in refurbishing and donating computer equipment to people who need it, but the organization also helps connect people with low-cost internet options in their area.You can fill out a form on their website or text them for assistance with finding available resources. Allconnect: Let us compare providers for you Why should you choose Allconnect? We’re the #1 broadband marketplace in the U.S., meaning you can trust us to search, compare and order internet and TV service for your home.Get started Free internet FAQs How do I get free high-speed internet at home? Since the Affordable Connectivity Program ran out of funding, getting completely free internet service is less likely, but you can sign up for a provider’s low-cost internet program to get significantly reduced internet prices.
Lifeline is also an option that could potentially cover the entire cost of your internet service if it’s under $10.00/mo.Accessing free public Wi-Fi or free Wi-Fi hotspots is an easy way to get free internet, but it isn’t suitable for long-term service.How can I lower the cost of my internet plan? You can lower the cost of your internet plan by subscribing to an internet provider’s low-cost internet service or enrolling in a government assistance program like Lifeline.
Bundling your services can also sometimes reduce the cost of your internet service.Written by: Camryn Smith Cammy is a writer with Allconnect, growing her broadband industry knowledge for over a year on the internet marketplace.Her expertise lies in home internet and broadband service with a focus on providers, plans… Read more Edited by: Anine Sus Editor I Read bio What to read next Read more Featured ACP program allows eligible households to get high-speed internet for free Robin Layton — 2 min read Featured Business internet safety guide Camryn Smith — 5 min read Featured How to lower your internet bill Camryn Smith — 6 min read Latest Thursday, October 17, 2024 How to get free and discounted internet Camryn Smith — 7 min read Wednesday, October 16, 2024 Feds investigate use of data caps by internet service providers Robin Layton — 4 min read Wednesday, October 16, 2024 Gbps vs.
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