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 9, 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 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 use EveryoneOn to find specific offers at their address.
ACP-Only Plans
These plans are offered exclusively to Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) participants who use their ACP benefit to pay for the plan. With the $30 ACP benefit ($75 for Tribal participants) applied, these plans come at no cost to the customer.
Provider | Plan | Monthly Service Cost | Speed (Download/Upload) | Service Type | Additional Taxes and Fees | Service Area | Other Notes |
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Allo Communications | ALLO 100 Mbps Internet Service | $0 | 100/100 | Fiber | None | Map | |
Astound (Powered by Wave) | 150 Mbps Internet | $0 | 150/- | Fiber, Cable | See Notes | Map | We were not able to obtain any information about the upload speed and extra taxes and fees associated with this plan. |
Breezeline | Internet Assist Plus Plan | $0 | 100/10 | Cable | None | Map | |
Comporium | Connected Internet Program | $0 | 100/100 | Fiber, Cable | None | Map | |
Frontier | Frontier Fiber Internet 100 Mbps | $0 | 100/100 | Fiber | None | Map | |
Hawaiian Telcom | 100 Mbps Fiber Internet | $0 | 100/100 | Fiber | $34.99 activation fee (customer may request a waiver) | Map | |
Ideatek | Ideatek Essential Access | $0 | 100/100 | Fiber, Fixed Wireless | None | Map | |
Jackson Energy Authority - EPlus Broadband | EPlus Broadband Internet Package 100x100 Mbps | $0 | 100/100 | Fiber | None | Map | |
MLGC | MLGC Low Cost 100/20 Mbps Internet Plan | $0 | 100/20 | Fiber, Cable | None | Map | |
Optimum | Optimum Online (300 Mbps) | $0 | 300/300 | Fiber, Cable | None | Map | |
Spectrum (Charter Communications) | Spectrum Internet 100 | $0 | 100/10 | Cable | None | Map | Spectrum Internet 100 promotion price (including WiFi) is $29.99/mo for 2 years; standard rates apply after promotional period. If rates increase, it may no longer be completely free to ACP customers. |
Verizon | Fios Forward 300 | $0 | 300/300 | Fiber | None | Map | |
Vermont Telephone Company | ACP “All In” Fully Funded Plan | $0 | 100/100 | Fiber, DSL | None | Map | |
Wow! Internet, Cable and TV | ACP Internet 100 | $0 | 100/10 | Cable | None | Map |
Low-Cost Plans (Eligibility Requirements)
These plans are offered to customers who meet specific eligibility requirements. The eligibility criteria for these plans are often broader than those for ACP, and they do not require participation in ACP to qualify for the low-cost offer. This means that some customers who are not eligible for ACP may still qualify for these plans. Eligibility varies by plan, but is generally based on income, participation in other assistance programs (e.g., Head Start, TANF, LIHEAP), or being part of a target group (e.g., K-12 students, residents of housing authority-owned property). ACP participants may use their benefit to pay for these plans.
Provider | Plan | Monthly Service Cost | Cost with ACP Benefit | Speed (Download/Upload) | Service Type | Service Area | Eligibility / Other Notes |
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AT&T | Access From AT&T ($30) | $30 | $0 | 100/100 | Fiber, DSL | Map | Access from AT&T is a low-cost program for home internet access in the 21 states where we offer wireline home internet services to limited income households who participate in the:
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Comcast Xfinity | Internet Essentials Plus | $29.95 | $0 | 100/10 | Cable | Map | You may qualify if you:
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Comcast Xfinity | Internet Essentials | $9.95 | $0 (Additional taxes and fees may exceed ACP discount) | 50/10 | Cable | Map | You may qualify if you:
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Cox Communications | ConnectAssist Package | $30 | $0 | 100/3 | Cable | Map | Unlimited data will be removed after 12 months and 1.25TB data limit will apply. ConnectAssist is available to households currently participating in one of the following programs:
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Cox Communications | Connect2Compete | $9.95 | $0 (Additional taxes and fees may exceed ACP discount) | 100/3 | Cable | Map | Connect2Compete is available to households with at least one K–12 student who currently participate in one of the following programs:
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Human-I-T | Human I-T Connect | $15 | $0 monthly ($85 upfront modem fee) | -/- | Mobile Wireless | Map | Eligibility Criteria; Mobile wireless relies on cellular networks so speeds vary by location and coverage. |
Optimum | Optimum Advantage Internet | $14.99 | $0 (Additional taxes and fees may exceed ACP discount) | 50/- | Cable | Map | You may qualify for Optimum Advantage Internet if you’re in one of the following groups:
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PCs for People | Bridging the Gap | $15 | $0 monthly ($45 upfront modem fee) | 50/10 | Fixed Wireless, Mobile Wireless | Map | Eligibility Criteria; Mobile wireless relies on cellular networks so speeds vary by location and coverage. |
Spectrum (Charter Communications) | Spectrum Internet Assist | Location dependent (minimum $17.99) | $0 (Additional taxes and fees may exceed ACP discount) | 30/4 | Cable | Map | To qualify for this program, one or more members of your household must currently receive assistance under one of the following programs:
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Starry | Starry Connect | $15 | $0 | 30/30 | Fixed Wireless | Map | Eligibility information here |
Starry | Starry Select | $30 | $0 | 100/50 | Fixed Wireless | Map | Eligibility information here |
Xtream (Powered by Mediacom) | Connect2Compete Plus (C2C+) | $30 | $0 | 100/5 | Cable | Map | Your household may qualify if:
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Xtream (Powered by Mediacom) | Connect2Compete | $9.95 | $0 (Additional taxes and fees may exceed ACP discount) | 25/- | Cable | Map | Your household may qualify if:
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Low-Cost Plans (No Eligibility Requirements)
These plans are offered to all customers where the service is available, with no special eligibility criteria. ACP participants may use their benefit to pay for these plans.
Provider | Plan | Monthly Service Cost | Cost with ACP Benefit | Speed (Download/Upload) | Service Type | Service Area | Eligibility / Other Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Digital C | EmpowerCle+ | $18 | $0 (Additional taxes and fees may exceed ACP discount) | 50/20 | Wireless | Map | |
Vexus Fiber | Vexus 150 Mbps High Speed Internet | $30 | $17 in monthly fees | 150/150 | Fiber | Map |
Notes
Speed (Download/Upload) – The download/upload speeds listed for each plan are the fastest speeds advertised for that plan. Actual speeds may vary depending on the type of service available in a given area, along with a range of other factors, some of which can be controlled by the provider and some of which can not.
Service Type – Service Type refers to the general type(s) of broadband technology through which the service is delivered. Where more than one type of service is listed, the provider generally offers service through the best technology (e.g., fiber) where it is available and through another technology (e.g., cable or DSL) where it is not.
Additional Taxes & Fees – Additional taxes and fees are meant to include any costs beyond a plan’s monthly subscription cost. These could include one-time costs like installation fees, as well as recurring costs such as taxes and monthly equipment rentals. These fees may or may not always be covered by ACP benefits. While NDIA makes an effort to document all additional costs, it is possible that some costs may not be readily apparent on a provider’s website.
Service Area – Service area mapping is shown for each provider and is not plan-specific, and some plans are not offered across a provider’s entire service area. Broadband Now is used to show general service areas, as they provide consistent mapping across all providers. For specific availability information about each plan, users should contact providers directly, using the links provided in the “Plan” field.
Inclusion Criteria
Free and Low-cost offers must meet the following minimum criteria to be included on this page:
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
Updates and Adding More Offers
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 above.