Best Cheap Internet Providers for April 2025 - Broadlink Data Services, LLC.

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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Consider speeds, additional costs and contracts

There’s more to the cost of internet than just the advertised price. Here are some other factors you’ll want to consider before signing up for the absolute cheapest plan.

• Speeds: Will the lowest-priced plan deliver the speeds that you need? It’s possible that the cheapest plan won’t meet your internet needs, so it might be worth exploring other providers or upgrading to a faster, more expensive plan. For example, while Astound’s 300Mbps plan costs a reasonable $20 a month, Xfinity’s Connect plan features 150Mbps for the same price (not including the $15 equipment rental). If you have higher-than-average internet usage habits and a plan like Astound’s isn’t available to you, you may find that opting for a slightly more expensive plan could significantly boost your internet speeds and make for a better overall experience.
• Added costs: Taxes are to be expected with any internet service, but added costs for equipment rental, data overages, installation and more will vary by provider. Make sure you’re accounting for those extra prices and reading the fine print thoroughly to check for hidden fees.
• Contracts and price increases: Locking yourself into a contract with your ISP can be costly, especially if the plan price increases before the service agreement expires. Canceling before the contract expires can also result in early termination fees. Additionally, many providers increase the price after 12 months of service, with or without a contract. If you plan on keeping your service past the 12-month mark, be aware of what the monthly costs may be down the road. 

Most ISPs provide these details through broadband labels. Check out our guide on how you can navigate broadband labels.

How we evaluated the cheapest internet providers

CNET’s process for reviewing and recommending internet providers involves extensive research of everything one would need to make an informed decision regarding the best ISP for their needs.

We start by referencing the Federal Communications Commission to determine a provider’s national coverage, specific regions of operation, and the technology they use to deliver service. We then gather and verify pricing and speed information along with often lesser-known or “fine print” considerations, such as data caps, contract requirements and equipment fees.

We also take into account customer satisfaction reports from the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, when available, and the frequency of outages and complaints filed on sites like downdetector.com and the Better Business Bureau.

I relied on these considerations and others, including average cost per Mbps and scheduled price increases after one year, when compiling our list of the best cheap internet providers.

See our guide to how CNET reviews internet service providers for more information about our review process.

Cheap internet honorable mentions

These national providers also have broadband service starting at or below $50 a month but did not make our list of the best cheap ISPs due to high cost per megabit per second, inconsistent pricing or limited service areas.

• Kinetic by Windstream: A solid choice for home internet in rural areas, Kinetic by Windstream has broadband plans with unlimited data starting at $25 per month for download speeds of 300Mbps. Pricing and available speeds vary widely by location, so cheap internet plans will depend on where you live. 
• Metronet: Metronet is a smaller ISP with a footprint in the Midwest and Southwest. For a smaller internet provider, it offers competitive rates. The lowest tier starts at $30 monthly for 150Mbps of speed. If that’s not enough speed, you can upgrade to 500Mbps for $45 monthly. Neither plan comes with a data cap, requires a contract, and comes with free equipment rentals.
• Verizon Fios: The cheapest Verizon Fios plan, with speeds up to 300Mbps starting at $50 per month, offers plenty of value. The midtier plan (up to 500Mbps beginning at $70 per month) and gig service (starting at $90 per month) aren’t bad deals, either, but you may be able to find faster speeds for the same amount of money from other providers.
• Ziply Fiber: Regional provider Ziply Fiber offers some of the fastest speeds from any ISP, not to mention the lowest introductory pricing. The cheapest plan starts at $20 monthly for symmetrical max speeds of 100Mbps.

What’s the final word on the best cheap internet providers?

For the absolute cheapest internet service, look to cable providers such as Xfinity, Astound and Frontier. But keep in mind the low pricing may come with a looming price increase, added equipment rental fees, contracts and data caps, depending on the provider and where you live.

Other providers, such as AT&T Fiber, Spectrum and Quantum Fiber, may not have the absolute lowest pricing, but they still add value in other ways. Price guarantees, bundle discounts and other customer-friendly attributes make such providers worthy of consideration for cheap internet.

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