How to Get Free (or Cheap) Internet
It is nearly impossible to get by today without an internet connection. Adults and kids use it daily for work and school. Almost every business you go into has some way of communicating online. Grocery stores have digital coupons, doctor’s offices set appointments and keep personal records in the cloud, communities use it to publicize events, and families keep in touch through email and shared calendars.
But if you are on a fixed income, or money is tight, a high monthly bill for the internet might be out of the budget. Here are several ways to get free (or cheap) internet.
Affordable Connectivity Program
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), passed in November 2021, is a benefit of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and is designed to assist low-income families in affording broadband services. The discount provides up to $30 a month off ($75 if you live on tribal lands) of internet service for qualifying families. In addition, eligible households may qualify for a discount of up to $100 on the purchase of a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet.
To qualify for ACP, your household income must be at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. In 2023, for a household of four, that would be $60,000. Those that participate in programs such as SNAP, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, SSI, WIC, Lifeline, the National School Lunch Program, or a tribal specific program are automatically eligible. You are also eligible if you received a Federal Pell Grant for the current year or participate in an internet provider’s existing low-income program.
Many internet companies participating in the ACP offer a high-speed package for $30 per month, making this option free for those that qualify. The FCC defines high-speed internet as internet that has at least a 25 Mbps download speed. This speed is often good enough for most small households with regular internet usage. For those that need 4k resolution or have a lot of devices connected, 25 Mbps might not be fast enough.
To see if you qualify and to apply online, head to www.ACPbenefit.org. If you bundle ACP funds with Lifeline and the internet provider’s low-income plans, you could have very cheap or even free high-speed internet.
Lifeline
Lifeline is another government program that offers $9.25 per month off either internet or phone service. If you live on tribal lands, you can receive up to $34.25 per month. Find out if you qualify by visiting https://www.lifelinesupport.org/do-i-qualify/. The qualifications are similar to ACP, with a lower income threshold, which is 135% of the federal poverty level.
You also qualify if you or anyone in your household participates in SNAP, Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income, Federal Public Housing Assistance, Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit, or any tribal assistance programs.
If someone lives in your house but does not share money or expenses, they can each qualify for a discount under Lifeline even if you share the same internet connection. Stack these discounts and save even more!
Internet Providers
Many internet providers offer their own low-income initiative. Find out what providers serve your area and call their customer service line. Don’t limit yourself to just the big players like Comcast, AT&T, and Verizon; check with smaller, regional providers as well. They may have lower or competitive rates and offer discounts to expand their customer base. See what internet providers are at your address, and ask your neighbors who they use to find out what works the best.
If you have your cellular phone service with a particular provider, ask them about bundling services. Often the more services you get from a company, the better rate they may offer. For example, if you pay $20 for cell service and $20 for internet, they might sell both in a package for $30 – instant savings. Depending on who you call, you might also be able to bundle your cable TV.
Before signing a contract, ask them if that’s the best they offer. If you’ve done your homework, they may offer a price match or have unadvertised coupons that can lower your rate further.
Senior Discounts
If you are a senior and qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you may also qualify for a senior discount. Call an internet provider and ask for rates. The most popular choices are AT&T, Spectrum, CenturyLink, Cox, and Infinity, but also check other providers. They may have a program that is not widely advertised.
Other Discounts
If you are a college student or have kids at home participating in the National School Lunch Program, SNAP, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or Public Housing, tell your provider, as they may have additional discounts.
Public Networks
Head to your local library, where you can use free Wi-Fi and computers. If you use their computers, your time may be limited depending on how many patrons are waiting. You can find a quiet corner during library hours if you bring your own device. The librarian is also a wealth of information about other internet options in the area and free resources such as classes on how to use popular programs and internet navigating basics.
Coffee shops, fast food restaurants, the gym, hotels and other places you might visit will often provide a Wi-Fi password to let you access free internet while you are at their location. The one thing to remember is that these are open networks, meaning there is a better chance your device could be hacked or your information stolen. Ensure you have a robust security program, like Norton or McAfee, installed on your computer. Avoid passing sensitive information, like banking information and social security numbers, across the network while connected.
Hotspots
Use your cell phone as a mobile hotspot. You won’t need a separate internet connection if you have a good data plan. Find the button in your phone settings and turn it on. Then connect to your computer through the password found in your phone. The great thing about this is that you can access the internet anywhere you have cell service. However, mobile hotspots have their limitations. They are generally only meant to be used for light internet activities like checking email and web surfing. If you want to stream your favorite show, you might find the hotspot has a hard time keeping up. It will also eat up your data allowances quickly so might not be a great option if you don’t have an unlimited data plan.
Things to think about
Check the internet speed for the discount package. Often, providers offer cheaper packages but with reduced speeds and/or limited minutes at a higher speed. If you rely on the internet for Zoom meetings or schoolwork, you might experience frustration. You could use the slower speeds at home and head off to a free hotspot for your meeting.
And as a reminder, you can often use more than one discount. If you are a senior veteran on a low income, ask for the senior discount, the ACP credit, the Lifeline credit, and any veteran discount. Adding these will reduce your bill or even provide FREE internet!