How Much Do Internet and Wi-Fi Cost? (2024)

Internet’s a necessity, but it doesn’t come cheap

How much do the best internet providers cost?

How can you lower your internet bill?

If you want to slash internet costs, there are a few things you can try:

• See and compare internet in your area to find the best deal for your Wi-Fi needs. You might even be able to use this information to negotiate a deal with your current provider.
• Switch to a slower plan with fewer megabits per second. You probably need fewer of them than you think!
• Look for promotions and deals. You can get some really good discounts, especially when you’re switching providers.
• Buy your modem and/or router rather than renting from your ISP. The equipment costs a pretty penny in the beginning, but you’ll actually save money over the life of your internet plan.
• Bundle your internet with another service. Think mobile phone, TV, or even home security.
• Sign up for a government program if you’re eligible. It’s a great way to reduce costs if you have a lower income.
• Negotiate with your provider for a lower price. This doesn’t always work, but what’s the harm in trying?
• Switch to a cheaper provider. Occasionally, ISPs offer deals where they cover any fees you incur during the switch.

How much do different internet types cost?

There are several different internet types to consider when looking for service:

• Fiber
• Cable
• 5G
• Fixed wireless
• DSL
• Satellite

Each type has different strengths and weaknesses and comes at various price points. Fiber tends to be the fastest, while 5G or fixed wireless are usually the cheapest.

Some of the numbers on this table are a bit alarming, so we want to point out now that the fiber and satellite price ranges skew extraordinarily high due to Ziply Fiber and Starlink, respectively. Ziply Fiber offers a $300 10-gig plan, while Starlink just runs more expensive than competition, perhaps due to its almost-literal reputation as the Tesla of satellite internet.

So what do these price and speed ranges mean?

• Data travels over fiber infrastructures lightning fast, which is why it can be so expensive. But as we mentioned before, most fiber internet plans don’t include fees, which actually make them a decent deal.
• If you can’t get fiber, cable is a good substitute. It’s almost as fast as fiber but far more fee heavy, so with cable, you usually pay more for less.
• 5G wireless internet is relatively new and kinda revolutionary. The installation is so simple that customers do it themselves, cutting out fees for activation, installation, and extra equipment.
• There’s some overlap between fixed wireless and 5G: Some 5G services are fixed wireless and vice versa. Since fixed wireless is, well, wireless, it also features some price cuts. (Although a technician may need to install an antennae at your place, which will cost you extra in some cases.)
• DSL isn’t yesteryear’s dialup internet, so it doesn’t make an unholy squawking noise, but it’s still slow and archaic. DSL isn’t the best value either. You get much more bang for your buck with other internet types (except maybe satellite).
• Satellite internet is exactly what it sounds like—internet transmitted through a satellite. It runs both slow and expensive, but if you’re in a rural area with negligible internet infrastructure, it’s a lifesaver.

What hidden costs or fees do internet plans include?

When researching internet plans, keep an eye out for any costs or fees not mentioned up front.

• Installation fees are the fees you pay for an internet technician to install your equipment. This usually runs around $100.
• Equipment rental fees are monthly payments for the use of your equipment, usually between $10 and $15.
• Service activation fees are a one-time charge for turning on your internet service. They typically aren’t super high—usually less than $100.
• Data overage fees are the cost you pay when you exceed your monthly data allowance. These vary based on providers, but our top recommended providers don’t have them.
• A contract cancellation fee is the sum you pay when you cancel your internet contract prematurely. It could be a flat fee, or it could be a percentage of the money you’d pay over your remaining contract term.

Similarly, some internet plans require signing a contract or enrolling in an autopay service. Make sure you know what you’re agreeing to when you sign up.

What’s an internet price hike?

A price hike occurs when your internet plan's monthly price increases after a set time period. For instance, you might sign up for a plan for $25 for three months. After those three months, the price increases.

Some price hikes occur with month-to-month service, so cancel if you can't pay the increased cost. However, some price hikes occur within a long-term contract. In that case, you must either stick things out or pay the service cancellation fee.

Always read a plan's fine print when you sign up so there are no surprises, i.e., unexpected price hikes.

Methodology

To determine the average monthly cost of the internet in the U.S., we surveyed 1,500 Americans in 2023 and took the median price from that survey.

For price and speed ranges, we looked at the highest and lowest prices and the fastest and slowest speeds in each internet type.