If your household makes less than or equal to 200% of the federal poverty level (for example, $55,500/year for a family of four, $27,180/year for an individual) or you qualify for certain government assistance programs, you are a good candidate for getting help with paying for monthly internet service from the U.S.government or internet provider programs.Nearly 30 million U.S.
homes lack internet, and 18 million of those do not have it because they cannot afford it, according to the Education Super Highway’s No Home Left Offline Report.“Affordability has now emerged as the number one barrier to closing the digital divide.We have a historic opportunity to close two-thirds of the digital divide by connecting 18 million households that have access to the Internet but can’t afford to connect,” said Evan Marwell, founder and CEO of EducationSuperHighway.
Government-funded broadband assistance The federal government’s Lifeline program was created to assist limited-income households in affording internet.Lifeline provides a discount of $9.25/mo.(or $34.25/mo.
for people on Tribal lands).You can use it on a landline, a cellphone plan, home internet service or even an internet and phone bundle. Qualifying for Lifeline If you or someone in your household participate in a federal assistance program, you may qualify for Lifeline.Those programs include Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Veterans Pension, Survivors Benefits and more.
Check if you are eligible.The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) ended on June 1, 2024, due to a lack of government funding.This impacted over 20 million Americans’ access to the internet, half of which were military households.
Low-income internet programs by provider Many internet service providers (ISPs) also offer their own low-income assistance programs to provide affordable internet access.For their student-only, low-cost programs, the ISP may require additional verifications.If you don’t qualify for a discounted internet program, check out some cheap Wi-Fi plans.
Provider and programPrice*Download speedConnection type Verizon Forward$30.00/mo.discount on Fios or 5G serviceVariesFiber, 5G Access from AT&T$30.00/mo.or $20.00/mo.
off on a fiber plan up to 1 gigUp to 100 Mbps or 1,000 MbpsFiber, DSL Spectrum Internet Assist$25.00/mo.50 MbpsCable Xfinity Internet Essentials$14.95 – $29.95/mo.75 – 100 MbpsCable Optimum Advantage Internet$15.00/mo.100 MbpsCable Mediacom Xtream Connect$29.99/mo.100 MbpsHybrid fiber-cable Cox Connect2Compete$9.95/mo.100 MbpsCable Cox ConnectAssist$30.00/mo.100 MbpsCable Astound Internet First$19.95/mo.50 – 150 MbpsHybrid cable-fiber Allconnect’s choice Verizon Forward or Access from AT&T are two providers that offer discounts for eligible customers on fiber internet, which provides more reliability and speed than other technology types.If either is available near you, you can get $20.00 – $30.00 off per month on your service. Xfinity Internet Essentials The Xfinity Internet Essentials Program provides eligible customers discounted internet—either 75 Mbps for $14.95/mo.
or 100 Mbps for $29.95/mo.You can qualify for Xfinity Internet Essentials if: You participate in a qualifying government assistance program such as the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), housing assistance, Medicaid or SNAP. You are not an existing Xfinity internet customer You have no outstanding Comcast balance Learn more about Xfinity’s Internet Essentials Program Spectrum Internet Assist Spectrum Internet Assist provides qualifying customers with 50 Mbps of internet speed for $25.00/mo.In addition, an unlimited mobile line is included for one year and there are no data caps or contracts. To qualify, a member of your household must participate in one of the following programs: NSLP The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) of the NSLP Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Learn more about Spectrum Internet Assist Access from AT&T Access from AT&T provides eligible households with 100 Mbps for $30.00/mo.* or up to $20.00 off per month on fiber plans ranging from 300 to 1,000 Mbps. You can qualify for Access from AT&T if you participate in a government assistance program such as: Housing assistance Medicaid NSLP SNAP *For a full list of qualifying programs, visit AT&T or learn more about Access from AT&T.
availability.All prices subject to change at any time.May or may not be available based on service address.
Speeds may vary.As of 03/12/26.How to qualify for low-income internet Internet shoppers can receive discounted internet if their income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or if a household member receives a government benefit such as SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, WIC, Pell Grant or free and reduced-price lunch.
A household can also qualify if someone participates in a Tribal-specific program.Saving money on internet costs If you’re struggling to pay for internet service but don’t qualify for one of the programs above, you can explore cheap internet options from a variety of providers and take other steps to reduce your bill, such as buying your own equipment if it’s cheaper and keeping an eye on hidden internet fees.Another option is to rely on free public Wi-Fi if you live near any stores, cafes, public parks or other establishments offering free internet.
Additionally, don’t be afraid to ask providers about discounts.Many ISPs offer discounts for military and veteran families and senior citizens.Call our experts today to learn more about affordable internet options in your area.
Low-income internet FAQs Is it possible to get free internet? Truly free internet doesn’t exist anymore since the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) ran out of funding.You can get internet for under $10/mo.with some providers, but remember that most low-cost internet plans have slower speeds, rarely above 100 Mbps and mostly under 50 Mbps.
How do I find discounted internet near me? Check your address to see which providers are available in your area and offer discounted internet based on your income.Can seniors and veterans get free internet? There are no internet providers that offer free internet to seniors or veterans.However, several discounted plans are available if income levels are met.
AT&T’s Access is one.Community nonprofits like Everyone On can help you find free or discounted internet access in your area.Check out Allconnect’s military discount guide for other cheap Wi-Fi options.
Native Americans living on Tribal land also have cheap internet options.Are there free internet programs for students? Some schools and libraries provide free internet access for students.T-Mobile offers free internet for students with its Project 10Million program.
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