What’s the best internet deal?
Free stuff is always nice, but I’d recommend considering gift cards, free months of service, etc. for what they are: added bonuses.
The best internet deals are the ones that bring you the fastest speeds for the lowest price, like Frontier’s Fiber 500, CNET’s pick for best internet deal overall. The plan offers faster speeds than other entry-level plans from many providers, up to 500Mbps, and at a lower cost than most, starting at $45 per month. Additionally, service includes your router rental and unlimited data at no additional cost.
Along with Frontier, many internet providers also offer exceptionally fast speeds, low introductory pricing and favorable service terms like free equipment and unlimited data. Some ISPs, such as Verizon Fios, AT&T Fiber and Astound, may throw in added perks such as free streaming services or gift cards.
Such deals frequently change, but you’ll find a recent roundup of the best internet deals from leading ISPs below. Keep in mind that all providers, pricing and promotions aren’t available in all areas and are subject to change at any time.
Best internet deals for February 2024
Price range $50 – $155 per monthSpeed range 500 – 5,000MbpsConnection FiberKey Info Unlimited data, no contracts, no equipment fee
Frontier Fiber offers a few speed tiers, but the Fiber 500 plan is tough to beat for a one-size-fits-all internet deal. Symmetrical download and upload speeds of up to 500Mbps are more than enough for most households (see CNET’s guide to finding the right speed). Plus, the $45 price (don’t forget to sign up for autopay) is lower than you’ll find from many other providers for comparable, or even slower, speeds.
Wi-Fi equipment and unlimited data are included at no extra cost. Contracts aren’t required with Frontier Fiber unless you opt to receive a sign-up bonus offer.
Frontier Fiber’s special offers
On all plans, excluding the Fiber 5 Gig speed tier, your included router is an Amazon Eero 6 Plus. Fiber 5 Gig comes with a TP-Link Archer AXE300 6E.
Frontier’s 2 Gig plan, which starts at $100 a month, also comes with a $200 gift card in select areas for a limited time.
Read our Frontier home internet review.
Price range $50 – $120 per monthSpeed range 300 – 2,000MbpsConnection FiberKey Info Unlimited data, no contracts, free equipment with gig service
You’re going to sign up for internet service anyway, so why not get something extra for it? Verizon’s promos frequently change (details on the latest offer below), so if you don’t love this month’s offerings, check back to see what next month presents.
All internet plans currently come with a price guarantee for two to four years. That’s quite a deal, as many providers hike their rates after just 12 months. Unlimited data and your equipment rental are also included at no extra cost.
Verizon Fios special offers
You’ll get the best bonus when signing up for Verizon Fios 2 Gig: A $300 Target gift card and a streaming or gaming bundle that includes a free Disney Plus subscription for six months and 2TB of storage or a MoCA Ethernet Adapter and $50 Xbox gift card. Single gig service comes with the same bundling options but the Target gift card amount is lower at $200. Fios 500 and 300Mbps plans come with a $100 and $50 Target gift card, respectively.
Customers with eligible 5G mobile plans can also get $25 off each month’s Fios internet bill.
Read our Verizon Fios review.
Price range $55 – $250 per monthSpeed range 300 – 5,000MbpsConnection FiberKey Info Unlimited data, no contracts, equipment included
With fast, symmetrical speeds, unlimited data, no equipment fees and no contract requirements, AT&T Fiber plans are a great deal on their own. Select areas will have three plans to choose from with max speeds of 300Mbps, 500Mbps or 1Gbps, while many will have two additional multigig options (2 or 5Gbps).
The selection of high-speed, fair-priced plans you get with AT&T Fiber is arguably the best you’ll find from any provider.
AT&T Fiber special offers
You can typically expect a gift card from AT&T, and that’s what the provider is currently offering, sort of. New customers can now get two free months of service via gift cards, so the exact amount of your gift card will depend on the plan you choose and its corresponding monthly rate.
AT&T Fiber is also running a contract buyout promotion that offers to pay your cancellation fee with another provider in full when you switch.
Finally, customers can get $20 off their monthly bill if they have an eligible AT&T postpaid wireless plan.
Read our AT&T Internet review.
Speed range 200 – 8,000MbpsPrice range $30 – $165 per monthKey Info Unlimited data on some plans, low price increaseConnection Fiber
As providers continue to introduce multigig plans, gigabit service is quickly becoming the new standard in fast internet. At $75 per month for symmetrical speeds up to 940Mbps, unlimited data, no added equipment fees and a price for life guarantee, Quantum Fiber’s gig plan is currently one of the best internet deals from any major provider.
To be clear, Quantum Fiber doesn’t have the absolute lowest introductory pricing on gigabit internet. Regional providers Ziply Fiber and Astound Broadband, among others, have lower starting rates. However, the price for life guarantee ensures your rate will not increase for as long as you have the plan. The stable pricing, not to mention free Wi-Fi equipment rental, make it one of the best long-term gigabit deals available.
Quantum Fiber special offers
All Quantum Fiber plans come with a price for life guarantee. As mentioned above, service also comes with free Wi-Fi equipment, and installation is also included at no extra cost when you order online.
Read our Quantum Fiber home internet review.
Price range $20 – $120 per monthSpeed range 75 – 2,000MbpsConnection CableKey Info Data caps on some plans, lots of plan options, solid customer satisfaction numbers
It wasn’t long ago that bundling internet and TV services with the same provider came with some serious savings. Now, you’d be lucky to get any discount for bundling internet and TV. Unless you live in an area served by Xfinity, that is.
Xfinity offers a discount for each bundled service. With internet, TV, home phone, mobile data and home security plans available in some areas, that could add up to $50 or more in monthly savings.
Xfinity Internet special offers
Depending on your location and the plan you choose, Xfinity may include your equipment rental and unlimited data at no extra cost. Select plans may also include a gift card or free streaming service subscription (probably to Peacock) for a limited time.
Read our Xfinity Internet review.
Price range $50 – $70 per month (50% off for eligible 5G mobile customers)Speed range 85 – 1,000MbpsConnection Fixed wirelessKey Info Unlimited data, no contracts, free equipment, 50% discount for qualifying Verizon mobile customers
5G home internet service is still relatively new as a household broadband option. Still, providers like T-Mobile Home Internet, Verizon 5G Home Internet and now AT&T are keeping prices competitive considering the speed potential of a 5G network. So far, Verizon has the best deals on 5G home internet with two plans, ranging from 50Mbps to 300Mbps starting at $50 a month, or speeds of 85Mbps to 1,000Mbps starting at $70.
Both plans include unlimited data, no equipment fees and a price guarantee. The lower-price 5G Home plan comes with a two-year price guarantee, while your 5G Home Plus plan rate is good for three years.
Verizon 5G Home Internet special offers
If you’re a Verizon wireless customer with an eligible plan, Verizon will lower the $50 and $70 starting prices to $35 and $45, respectively.
Read our Verizon 5G Home Internet review.
Price range $50 per monthSpeed range 100MbpsConnection CableKey Info 1.25TB monthly data allowance, no contracts, no equipment fee
For those who prefer internet service on their terms with no hassles or hidden fees, there’s Cox StraightUp Internet. Starting at $50 per month, the service comes with download speeds up to 100Mbps, free equipment, free installation and a three-year price guarantee. Additionally, no contract or credit check is required.
For a prepaid plan, Cox StraightUp Internet is a fairly good deal, but the relatively slow speeds keep it from being a great deal. Speeds of 100Mbps for $50 per month equate to a cost per Mbps of 50 cents, which is high compared to most internet plans. On the other hand, the convenience of a prepaid service, along with no data cap, free equipment and a three-year price guarantee goes a long way to make up for the high cost per Mbps.
Cox Internet special offers
There are currently no limited-time promotions available to new Cox customers.
Read our Cox home internet review.
Other internet deals for February 2024
Internet deals and promos vary by ISP, and providers vary by location and individual plans, so any number of deals could be available at your address. Here are some other noteworthy deals in addition to the ones listed above that you may want to consider.
Astound Broadband: Free service, gift cards, free installation. Astound’s internet offers vary by location and are a bit all over the place. New York City customers, for example, can get two free months of service and a $100 gift card when signing up for the provider’s fastest plan. In other areas where Astound service is available, promotional offers (including a free year of Max) and plan details will vary.
HughesNet: $100 gift card. Satellite ISP HughesNet recently boosted its speeds and its data allowances. The new plans also come with a free $100 Mastercard gift card (via rebate), but the offer ends Feb. 28.
Kinetic by Windstream: Up to $200 in gift cards. Windstream by Kinetic is giving away gift cards in the amount of $100 or $200 to new customers in select areas.
Optimum: Up to $200 in gift cards. Optimum’s gig plan comes with a $200 gift card to your choice of Best Buy, Home Depot or Snappy Gifts. The 500 plan includes a $50 gift card to the same retailers. No gift card is included with Optimum’s 100 or 300Mbps plans.
T-Mobile Home Internet: Savings for eligible T-Mobile cellular customers, additional perks. Qualifying T-Mobile customers can get $20 off their 5G home internet service, bringing the cost down to $30 per month for speeds ranging from 72Mbps to 245Mbps. Home internet customers also can participate in T-Mobile Tuesdays, the company’s weekly discount and perks campaign.
WOW Internet: $300 gift card. WideOpenWest incentivizes customers to opt for its fastest speed tier. The provider’s 1,200Mbps, starting at $95 per month, comes with a $300 gift card.
Ziply Fiber: Free month and installation. New Ziply Fiber customers can get free installation and a free month of service when they sign up for any plan.
Best internet deals FAQs
What’s the best internet deal?
A low cost-per-Mbps plan will often be the best internet deal.
For example, Frontier Fiber 500 includes max download and upload speeds of 500Mbps, starting at $45 monthly for a cost per Mbps of less than 10 cents. Compare that to a similarly priced plan or one even cheaper from another provider — such as the Cox Essential plan, which has a lower starting price at $40 a month, but significantly lower download (100Mbps) and upload (just 5Mbps) speeds — and you’ll find a much higher cost per Mbps (40 cents for Cox Essential). Frontier Fiber 500 is a much better internet deal.
If you have the luxury of facing similar pricing and speed options from multiple providers, look for special promotions, equipment costs, contract requirements and other service factors to determine which provider has the best deal.
Can I get a deal on internet without a contract?
Yes. Many providers, including AT&T, Frontier, Google Fiber, Spectrum and Verizon Fios offer their best internet deals and incentives without making you sign a contract. Other providers, such as Cox and Xfinity, may require you to sign a contract to get the lowest price.
What internet deals are available to students and seniors?
Most major providers have a discount internet program available to qualifying low-income households, including those with students and seniors. Plans are typically in the $20 to $30 range and often come with broadband speeds of 50Mbps or higher. Additionally, the Affordable Connectivity Program is a federal program that grants eligible households $30 per month to apply to their internet costs.
Can I get a better deal from my current ISP?
Special offers such as introductory pricing and sign-up bonuses are typically reserved for new customers. That said, it may be possible to negotiate with your provider for a lower price or faster speeds. Your chances of scoring a better deal are higher if you aren’t locked in a contract. Also, research other providers and offers available in your area before you call. The threat of switching internet providers is often enough for your current provider to offer you a better deal.
