Cheap Internet Service for Low Incomes

If you’re receiving government assistance, you probably qualify for low-cost internet service from the nation’s top internet providers.

In addition, you may qualify for the federal Lifeline program, which gives you up to $9.25 a month to help pay your internet or phone bills. You can read more about that program later in this article.

Discounted Internet Plans

Below is a listing of the internet providers offering internet service to low income households for $30 a month or less.

Most of the low-cost plans below provide internet service at download speeds of up to 100 Mbps. Each plan also has free installation no long term contract.  These plans also provide a free modem / router like the one shown below.  This gives you wired connections plus wifi connectivity.   Below are the internet deals from AT&T, Spectrum and other major providers.

AT&T Low Cost Internet Access 

AT&T’s discounted internet plan is called Access from AT&T.  There is no installation fee, no deposit and no contract. The plan provides download speeds of up to 100 Mbps.  Included in the service are an in-home Wi-Fi modem/router and access to wifi at AT&T’s nationwide hotspots.  The cost of the plan is $30 a month.

For more information or to start your application visit:

Low Cost Internet Access from AT&T or call 1-866-986-0963

If your income is under 200% of federal poverty guidelines, or if you are on government assistance, you should qualify for the AT&T Access plan.

AT&T internet is available in select regions in these states: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada,  North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin. To find out if your area is covered visit:  ATT Coverage Map

Cox $9.95 Internet Service

Cox has two internet plans for low incomes.  The lowest price plan is for families with a K-12 student, the other for individuals.  Both plans provide a free wifi modem and free installation. The plans are:

Connect2Complete.  Just $9.95 / month for download speeds of up to 100 Mbps.  This plan is for low income families; you must have at least one K-12 student and be on government assistance to qualify.

ConnectAssist.  This plan is $30 / month for download speeds of up to 100 Mbps. This plan is for low income individuals and families that do not have a student in the the household.

For more information or to start your application visit:

Low Cost Internet from Cox

Cox Communications offers internet service across 18 states with the greatest coverage in Arizona, California, and Virginia. Cable internet from Cox Communications is available to an estimated 21.2 million people, making it the 3rd largest residential cable provider in the U.S. by coverage area. To find out if your area is covered visit:  Cox Coverage Map

Mediacom Cable has a discounted internet plan called Xtream Connect.  There is no installation fee, no deposit and no contract. The plan provides download speeds of up to 100 Mbps.  Included in the service are an in-home Wi-Fi modem/router and access to wifi at Mediacom’s nationwide hotspots.  Pay just $14.99 a month.

To qualify you need to be on government assistance like Medicaid or SNAP. To apply visit:

Mediacom’s Connect2Compete or call 1-855-330-6918.

Mediacom Cable offers coverage in Alabama, Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin.  To find out if your area is covered visit:  Mediacom Coverage Map

Spectrum $25 Internet Service

Spectrum provides low-cost internet to households that qualify. There is no installation fee, no deposit and no contract. The plan provides download speeds of up to 100 Mbps.  Included in the service are an in-home Wi-Fi modem/router and access to wifi at Spectrum’s nationwide hotspots.  Get 50 Mbps for $25 / mo or 100 MBps for $30 a month.

For more information or to start your application visit:

Spectrum Low Cost Internet

Spectrum offers coverage in 44 states. To find out if your area is covered visit:  Spectrum Coverage Map

Verizon Low-Cost Internet Service

Verizon’s discounted internet plan is called Verizon Forward.  There is no installation fee, no deposit and no contract. The plan provides download speeds of up to 100 Mbps.  Included in the service are an in-home Wi-Fi modem/router and access to wifi at Verizon’s nationwide hotspots.  Plans start at $30 a month so with your $30 / month ACP benefit, your bill is zero.

To qualify, a member of your household must be a recipient of one of the following programs:

• The National School Lunch Program (NSLP); free or reduced cost lunch
• The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) of the NSLP
• Supplemental Security Income (all types)

To apply visit:  Verizon Low Cost Internet

Xfinity Low-Cost Internet Service

Xfinity’s discounted internet plan is called Internet Essentials. There is no installation fee, no deposit and no contract. The plan provides download speeds of up to 100 Mbps.  Included in the service are an in-home Wi-Fi modem/router and access to wifi at Xfinity’s nationwide hotspots.  Plans start at $14.95 a month so with your $30 / month ACP benefit, your bill is zero.

For more information or to start your application visit:

Xfinity Lost Cost Internet 

If you do qualify for Internet Essentials you can purchase a new laptop for just $149.99.

Xfinity offers coverage in 44 states. To find out if your area is covered visit:  Xfinity Coverage

Get $9.95 / mo From Lifeline

In addition to these low-cost internet programs, you may be eligible for a $9.25 monthly check from the federal government to help with your internet or phone bills. This program, called Lifeline, is managed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).  You can qualify

• Based on Your Income
• If You Use SNAP, Medicaid, or Other Programs
• Limit: One per Household

For more information or to apply visit: Lifeline Support.

What Internet Speed Do You Need?

How much speed do you need? If you’re just browsing the internet (Facebook, email, weather etc) then low speeds of 1 Mbps are sufficient.  If you want to stream videos from Netlix, Amazon or a similar service, you’ll need at least 5 Mbps.  If you want the highest quality videos and have a 4k HDTV, you’ll need more.  Netflix recommends 5 Mbps for regular HD streaming and 15 Mbps to stream 4K videos.  Amazon has similar recommendations.

Can You Find Free Internet Elsewhere?

If you’re lucky you may already have free wifi available right in your home or close by.   Free wifi is available in some apartment complexes, near libraries and other government buildings, in and around coffee shops like Starbucks and Panera, and in some downtown areas.  Most phone providers like ATT and Xfinity also provide free wifi hotspots in some areas, but you’ll need to have an account to sign in.

To find out if you have free wifi available from your home, open the wifi settings on your phone or PC and look at the available networks.  Those that have a lock symbol will require a password so you can ignore those.  Any that have an unrecognizable name should also be ignored.  Your neighbors’ wifi may also show up and you should ignore those.  Look for city names, libraries, or maybe your phone company and try to connect.