Free & Low-Cost Internet Plans
The COVID-19 health crisis has shed light on the need for home internet service, and the large number of American households in all kinds of communities who don’t have it. Some Internet Service Providers have responded with new or improved discount broadband plans, that will only be available for a short time; others continue to offer plans that were created prior to the crisis. NDIA commits to keeping this list of Free & Low-Cost Internet Plans updated daily.
Which offers are included in this list?
To support local efforts, NDIA has compiled a list of current offers from ISPs that will help low-income households to acquire service at low or no cost. Most have eligibility limitations linked to income or program enrollment. The list also includes established, nationally available low-cost plans offered by nonprofit organizations. We will add other providers’ plans as we learn of them.
Content on this page was updated March 18, 2020. All offers are less than $20/month total cost (with no installation fees).
Who is the list for?
This detailed list 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 internet service to use EveryoneOn to find specific offers at their address for which they might be eligible.
What about data caps on mobile service?
Sprint and T-Mobile are the only mobile providers to have lifted data caps for mobile phones entirely (for 60 days). Data caps for the two companies’ hotspots have not been eliminated, but both are providing hotspot customers with an extra 20 GB of monthly data for two months.
More offers?
To suggest additional content, email info@digitalinclusion.org.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COMCAST XFINITY | Internet Essentials | Cable Internet service at download speed up to 25 Mbps. No data limitation. Home wi-fi included. | First two months of service is free for new customers, then $9.95 per month plus tax. No installation charge. Wi-fi modem is free. No contract, no credit check. | Households with members eligible for public assistance programs like National School Lunch Program, housing assistance, Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, and others. Must not have subscribed to Comcast Internet within the last 90 days. Households with outstanding debt owed to Comcast may be eligible for Internet Essentials if you apply and are approved by 5/13/20. After 5/13/20, standard eligibility rules apply. | BroadbandNow XFINITY From Comcast Coverage Map | APPLY ONLINE (New users must apply by June 30, 2020 to get first two months free) | Internet Essentials website |
| CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS | Internet Assist | Cable Internet service at download speed up to 30 Mbps. No data limitation. Home wi-fi is optional for extra charge. | $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 fastest speed available up to 10 Mbps down. No data limitation.Home wi-fi is included. | Provided at no cost for first two months (must apply by May 23, 2020). Then $5 or $10 per month depending on available download speed. No additional charges including installation or wi-fi modem. | 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 |
| 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 $80 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 ($79.99 pre-owned, $99.99 new). 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. | First month of service is free for new customers, then $9.95 per month plus tax. No installation charge. Wi-fi modem is free. No contract. | 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 |
| COX COMMUNICATIONS | Internet Starter | Cable Internet service at download speed up to 50 Mbps. No data limitation. Home wi-fi included. | Through May 15 -- First month of service is free for new customers, then $19.99 per month plus tax. No installation charge. Wi-fi modem is free. No contract. | No restrictions | BroadbandNow Cox Communications Coverage Map | PURCHASE ONLINE | News release |
| ALTICE USA (SUDDENLINK COMMUNICATIONS) | Altice Advantage | 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. 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 |
| ALTICE USA (OPTIMUM) | Altice Advantage | 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. 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 Optimum By Altice Coverage Map | Call 1-866-200-9522 | Altice Advantage web page |
| MEDIACOM COMMUNICATIONS | Connect2Compete | Cable Internet service at download speed up to 25 Mbps. No data limitation. Home wi-fi included. | 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. | 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 APPLY ONLINE (New users must apply by May 15, 2020 to get first 60 days free.) | Mediacom Connect2Compete web page |
| TDS TELECOMMUNICATIONS | TDS has ADSL, cable and fiber services in different parts of its service territory. All are included in this offer, but speed will depend on the technology available. No data limitations. | 60 days free of charge, no contract, no installation cost | Households with member(s) documented eligible for adult Medicaid, public housing assistance, SNAP, TANF, SSI, LIHEAP, WIC, VA Pension, or Tribal assistance such as TTANF and FDPIR; current participants in Federal school lunch program; current Head Start participants; current Pell Grant recipients. | BroadbandNow's TDS Telecom Availability Map | Call 1-888-287-8156 | News release | |
| WAVE | Simply Internet | Fiber Internet service, at up to 10 Mbps download speed; ____ GB monthy data limit | $9.95 per month; no contract; no installation or equipment charge | Household member(s) participates in Federal school linch program "or other qualifying program" | BroadbandNow's Wave Broadband Availability Map | Download and fill out form and drop off at local WAVE sales location | Wave Simply Internet web page |
| WAVE (City of Seattle) | Simply Internet | Fiber Internet service, at up to 10 Mbps download speed; ____ GB monthy data limit | $9.95 per month plus tax; no contract; no installation or equipment charge | Household with member(s) who is 62 years or older; living with a disability (receiving disability payments, be legally blind, or on a life support system in the home); living in low-income housing or a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher recipient; enrolled in the Seattle Utilities Discount Program; enrolled in the National School Lunch Program; of with household income income less than 70% of the State’s Median level | 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 |
| SONIC | Based on location, service may be on fiber-optic network, with symmetric speeds of up to 1Gbps, or copper network, with speeds up to 50Mbps. No data caps. | Three months of free internet access for eligible new customers. No installation or equipment fees. No contract. | Households with members who are K-12 or college students, or senior citizens 60 or older. | BroadbandNow's Sonic Availability Map | APPLY ONLINE (Must apply by June 1, 2020) | See details at this page or call Sonic at 1-888-766-4233 | |
| CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS | Student Support Program | DSL or fiber Internet service depending on location. Available speeds not specified. | Two months of free Internet service, with free installation, no equipment or router charges, no contract. After two months of free service, customers may choose regular service on a contract or month-to-month basis. | Offer is intended for low-income students and their families who do not have home Internet service. Must be a new residential Internet customer to qualify, but will consider eligibility for existing customers. | BroadbandNow's Consolidated Communications Availability Map | New customers call 1-855-399-3084; mention offer code "Two Months Free". Current customers APPLY ONLINE. | |
| SPARKLIGHT (CABLE ONE) | Cable internet at download speed up to 15 Mbps, no data limitation | $10 per month for 60 days; other costs unknown | Low income families, seniors, college students. Documentation not required. | BroadbandNow's Sparklight Coverage Map | Customers can call 877-692-2253 for more information | News release | |
| ATLANTIC BROADBAND | Atlantic Broadband Internet Assist | Cable internet service at download speed up to 15 Mbps; no data limitation | First two months of service at no cost, then $9.99 per month plus taxes. No charge for installation, modem lease, or home networking. No contract. | Those who 1) do not currently subscribe to an Atlantic Broadband Internet Service and who have not subscribed to Atlantic Broadband Internet Service in the last one hundred and twenty (120) days; 2) do not have any past due balances with Atlantic Broadband; 3) have not been disconnected from any Atlantic Broadband service within the last twelve (12) months due to non-payment; and 4) are eligible for any of the following public assistance programs: National School Lunch Program (NSLP), Housing Assistance, Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and/or Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). | BroadbandNow's Atlantic Broadband Availability Map | APPLY ONLINE or call 855-594-1249 to learn more | Atlantic Broadband internet support page; scroll down to "ATLANTIC BROADBAND INTERNET ASSIST PROGRAM" |
| VERIZON | Fiber optic (FIOS) Internet service at any available speed (minimum speed is 200 Mbps symmetrical) | Beginning April 3, 2020, a $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 | 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 |