Free & Low-Cost Internet Plans
To meet the needs of low-income consumers, some Internet Service Providers (ISPs) offer discount broadband plans. With the launch of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), the number of low-cost offerings has increased rapidly and continues to grow. While greater choice for low-income consumers is a positive, varying costs, eligibility, and quality of service can make it challenging for digital inclusion practitioners, let alone individual customers, to understand which plans can best meet their needs.
Which offers are included on this page?
On May 9th, 2022, the Biden-Harris Administration announced that they secured commitments from 20 Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to offer at least one high speed internet plan with a minimum of 100 MB download for no more than $30/month, and a guarantee of no additional fees or data caps – making these plans free for households participating in ACP. Some of these plans align with or replace existing low-cost offers from ISPs, others are being offered in addition to existing low-cost plans, and some are entirely new offers.
Most plans on this page have eligibility requirements linked to income or program enrollment; however, any plan that provides service for $30/month or less may be included. Specific criteria for a plan to be included are provided below.
Who is this page for?
This Free & Low Cost Internet Plans page was designed to be helpful for digital inclusion practitioners, community leaders, service providers, libraries, media, and others who may give guidance to clients and constituents. It is not designed for distribution to the general public. We encourage an individual looking for a low-cost internet service to use EveryoneOn to find specific offers at their address for which they might be eligible.
Updates and adding more offers
NDIA is in the process of compiling information on all of the plans included in the May 9 White House announcement and will update this page with all of these plans by the end of May.
NDIA is committed to keeping the Free & Low Cost Internet Plans page updated with timely and relevant information. The NDIA team actively seeks out plan information from ISPs and verifies information as we become aware of it. New plan information is added and updated on a weekly basis.
Recognizing that NDIA is not aware of every low-cost plan on offer, we encourage ISPs, our affiliates, and others to share additional plans that should be added to this page. To suggest additional content, email [email protected]. Additional plans should adhere to the Free & Low Cost Internet Plans page criteria, listed below.
Inclusion Criteria
Free and Low-cost offers included on this page meet the following criteria:
Speed
- Minimum speed threshold for any plan will not be lower than the Federal definition for Broadband Internet of 25mbs upload/3mbs download
Cost
- Maximum cost for any plan will not be greater than $30/month
Data Caps
- Plans included on this page have no data caps
In the table, click on the + symbol for details on each offer
| PROVIDER | NAME OF PLAN | TYPE OF SERVICE | COST | WHO’S ELIGIBLE? | WHERE IS THIS AVAILABLE? | HOW TO APPLY? | MORE INFO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALTICE USA (SUDDENLINK COMMUNICATIONS) | Optimum Advantage Internet | Cable Internet service at download speed up to 30 Mbps. No data limitation. Home wi-fi included. | First 60 days of service is free for new customers, then $14.99 per month plus tax. Discounted installation charge of $30, billed in $10 monthly segments. Wi-fi modem is free. No contract. | Eligible for or participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP); or New York City resident and attends a New York City public school; or eligible for or receives Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and 65 years of age or older; or a veteran and receive state or federal public assistance. | BroadbandNow's Suddenlink Communications Coverage Map | Call 1-888-633-0030 | Altice Advantage web page |
| MEDIACOM COMMUNICATIONS | Connect2Compete | Cable Internet service at download speed from 25 Mbps. No data limitation. Home wi-fi included. | $9.95 per month plus tax. Wi-fi modem is free. Price applies so long as the eligibility criteria are met; if program participant no longer meets the eligibility criteria, then standard rates for the Internet service and equipment apply. No Contracts. Free Installation when you order online | Child qualifies for National School Lunch Program (NSLP); not a Mediacom internet customer in the past 90 days; do not have an outstanding Mediacom bill or unreturned equipment. | BroadbandNow's Mediacom Cable Coverage Map | Call 1-855-904-2225 or APPLY ONLINE | Mediacom Connect2Compete web page |
| WAVE | Simply Internet | Fiber Internet service, at up to 25 Mbps download speed | $9.95 per month; no contract; no installation or equipment charge | Household member(s) participates in Federal school lunch program "or other qualifying program" | BroadbandNow's Wave Broadband Availability Map | Download and fill out form and drop off at local WAVE sales location.
For City of Seattle, Download and fill out form, mail to City Of Seattle Office of Cable Communications, 700 Fifth Avenue Suite 1800 P.O. Box 94709, Seattle, WA 98124-4709. | Wave Simply Internet web page |
| COMCAST XFINITY | Internet Essentials | Cable Internet service at download speed up to 50 Mbps and upload speed of 5 Mbs. No data limitation. Home wi-fi included. Households with outstanding debt owed to Comcast may be eligible for Internet Essentials. | $9.95 per month plus tax/fees. The price of the Covered Service is limited to a single outlet and in-home Internet equipment. Self-installation kit included at no extra charge. Additional charges apply for home drop off, professional installation, additional outlets for the Covered Service | The program is only available to households that (i) are located where Comcast offers Internet service; (ii) have a member of the household who is receiving a form of public assistance (“qualifying public assistance”) that is set forth at www.internetessentials.com/apply or such other URL as Comcast may designate to provide information and updates to the program and provide proof of such qualifying public assistance to Comcast in accordance with the process detailed at www.internetessentials.com/apply; (iii) do not have unreturned equipment less than 12 months old and (iv) have not subscribed to any Comcast Internet service within the last ninety (90) days (sections 1(i)–(iv) collectively are defined as “Eligibility Criteria”). Comcast Expands Internet Essentials to Federal Pell Grant Recipients - Comcast’s expanded eligibility for Internet Essentials to now include all Federal Pell Grant recipients within its service area | BroadbandNow XFINITY From Comcast Coverage Map | APPLY ONLINE | Internet Essentials website Expansion to Pell Grant Recipients |
| CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS | Internet Assist | Cable Internet service at download speed up to 30 Mbps. No data limitation. Home wi-fi is optional for additional $5. | $17.99 per month plus tax. No installation charge. Home wi-fi modem costs $5 extra. No contract, no credit check. | Member(s) of household must be a recipient of National School Lunch Program (NSLP), Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) of the NSLP, or Supplemental Security Income (for applicants age 65+ only). Must not have subscribed to Charter Internet within the last 30 days, or have any outstanding debt to Charter that is less than one year old. | BroadbandNow Charter Spectrum Coverage Map | MAIL-IN APPLICATION FORM | Spectrum Internet Assist web page |
| AT&T | Access From AT&T | ADSL or AT&T Fiber service at speeds up to 10 Mbps (down). No data limitation. Home wi-fi is included. | Access from AT&T customers at locations with available AT&T Internet speeds above 10Mbps are eligible for a speed upgrade up to 25Mbps. $10 per month depending on available download speed. Current AT&T Internet plans carry a $10 Equipment Fee, which is in addition to the monthly recurring charge for the plan itself. Certain older plans may include a monthly Equipment Fee of $2, $4, $7 or $10 depending on the plan and date of purchase. | Households with household incomes below 135% of Federal poverty guidelines, and/or participating in the Federal school lunch program or the Head Start program. No outstanding debt for AT&T fixed Internet service within the last six months. | BroadbandNow AT&T Internet Coverage Map | APPLY ONLINE Or call 1-855-220-5211 | Access From AT&T web page Eligibility Requirements: -At least one resident participates in the U.S. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). -An address in the 21-state service area, where AT&T offers wireline home Internet service. -No outstanding debt with AT&T for fixed Internet service within the last six months or outstanding debt incurred under the Access program. |
| PCs for People | Bridging the Gap | Sprint 4G LTE wireless service with a wi-fi hotspot, provided by Mobile Beacon. Speed varies with tower coverage. No data limitations. | $15 per month plus initial purchase cost of modem. Plans are prepaid with no credit check or hidden fees. | Household with income below the 200% poverty level, or currently enrolled in an income-based government assistance program. | Nationwide | PURCHASE ONLINE | |
| Human-I-T | Sprint 4G LTE wireless service with a wi-fi hotspot, provided by Mobile Citizen. Speed varies with tower coverage. No data limitations. | $14.99 per month plus initial purchase cost of modem. Plans are prepaid with no credit check or hidden fees. | Household with income below the 200% poverty level, or currently enrolled in an income-based government assistance program. | Nationwide | PURCHASE ONLINE | ||
| COX COMMUNICATIONS | Connect2Compete | Cable Internet service at download speed up to 50 Mbps. No data limitation. Home wi-fi included. | $9.95 per month plus tax. No self-installation charge. Wi-fi modem is free. No contract. Additional installation, applicable taxes, and other fees are extra. | Families with K-12 children who are eligible for the National School Lunch Program, SNAP, and/or TANF; who receive Tenant-Based Vouchers, Project-Based Vouchers or Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA); and/or who live in Public Housing | BroadbandNow Cox Communications Coverage Map | APPLY ONLINE | Cox Connect2Compete web page |
| VERIZON | Fiber optic (FIOS) Internet service at any available speed (minimum speed is 200 Mbps symmetrical) | $20 per month discount from the regular price of Verizon FIOS service (e.g. 200 Mbps service for $19.99/month plus taxes); no router rental charge for first 60 days. $15/mo. router charge applies. $99 setup charge may apply when not using online order service. Taxes & terms may apply. Auto Pay & paper-free billing required. Subj. to credit approval & may require a deposit. | New FIOS customers who qualify for federal Lifeline discount, i.e. household income below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or participating in certain federal assistance programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or Medicaid. Some variation by state. | BroadbandNow's Verizon FIOS Coverage Map. Please note this offer only applies in parts of Verizon service territory where FIOS is available. | Check Lifeline eligibility at this web page. If eligible, ORDER 200 MBPS FIOS ONLINE .Lifeline discounts are not displayed in online order. Discount will be added to your account once your service is installed and your Lifeline eligibility is confirmed. | News release Verizon's Lifeline Discount Program | |
| RCN | Internet First | Cable internet service at download speed up to 25 Mbps. Home wi-fi included. No data limitation. | First 60 days of service is free for new customers, then $9.95 per month plus tax. No installation charge. Wi-fi modem is free. No contract. | Household member is a participant in National School Lunch Program, housing assistance, Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, other public assistance program. Not a subscriber to RCN services within the last 60 days. Must re-enroll annually. | Broadband Now RCN Availability Map | APPLY ONLINE | Internet First web page |
| Verizon | Fios Forward | Qualified ACP customers may access free internet through Verizon's Fios Forward, with speeds starting at 200Mbps for downloads and uploads. | Free | Verizon customers can qualify if they meet any of the following criteria: Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) enrolled customer; Lifeline enrolled customer; Participants of other Federal assistance programs (Medicaid, SSI, etc.); HHI (Household Income) < 200% Federal Poverty Guideline. To qualify, a customer must first be approved for ACP and have a Fios Mix & Match plan. Once their service is active and they are approved for ACP, customers must call 1-800-VERIZON to have the Fios Forward discount applied. For additional information visit: www.verizon.com/fiosforward. ACP discounts are available to all eligible customers on home and mobile postpaid and prepaid plans. Customers outside of the Fios footprint can apply the ACP discount to Verizon data plans including 5G Home, LTE Home, HSI/DSL, mobile prepaid and postpaid unlimited and metered plans. To confirm eligibility for ACP, check out ACPBenefit.org. Once approved, customers can complete enrollment in ACP by visiting: www.verizon.com/affordableconnectivityprogram. | BroadbandNow's Verizon FIOS Coverage Map. Please note this offer only applies in parts of Verizon service territory where FIOS is available. | To confirm eligibility for ACP, check out ACPBenefit.org. Once approved, customers can complete enrollment in ACP by visiting: www.verizon.com/affordableconnectivityprogram. To apply, please visit Fios Forward by Verizon | NB Customers MUST order online in order to avoid a $99 setup charge NB A Disney+ Subscription is attached to this offer. Customers will be billed $13.99 per month after 6 months if they do not unsubscribe |