You don’t have to spend a lot of money to enjoy reliable internet. There are some affordable plans out there if you know where to look. Many of the internet service providers on this list offer inexpensive internet plans, allowing you to enjoy lots of content and the best connectivity.
Suddenlink
Suddenlink offers some of the lowest-priced cable internet packages on the market but is a slightly more expensive option than other similar providers. Suddenlink’s basic plan starts as low as $19.99/month after a $5 auto-pay discount, with speeds up to 100 Mbps download. Unfortunately, once you are in your second year and beyond, those rates escalate dramatically to $89.99/month with speeds up to 1 Gbps. However, the first-year pricing makes this plan worth trying out.
Mediacom
Mediacom offers a range of broadband speeds and data caps, depending on your location and package. The cheapest plan starts at $19.99 per month for a 60 Mbps plan. After the first year, the price increases to $29.99, which is still affordable. This plan comes with a 200 GB data cap. You can rent out a modem and router from the company for $12 per month, or buy your own to save money.
Astound
Astound, formerly known as RCN, offers a first-year price of $19.99 per month on its 100-Mbps plan, with no monthly data cap. There’s also no modem rental fee for customers who buy their own modems, as long as they’re compatible with Astound’s network. After the first year of service, rates increase slightly depending on where you live and the speed of your plan.
Frontier Communications
Frontier Communications offers fiber-optic broadband and digital DSL in rural areas, and its rates start at $34.99 for a maximum download speed of 9 Mbps; there’s no data cap. You can either rent a modem for $15 a month or buy one yourself for $200 from Frontier or a retailer like Best Buy.
Regardless of which plan you pick, make sure to compare options and shop around every few years to avoid overpaying for an internet plan.