All the Ways You Can Get High-Speed Internet Without Cable or a Phone Line
Our team brings expertise from hundreds of hours researching ISPs. We’ll help you find the right standalone internet package for your home.
How do I get internet without cable?
Wondering how you can get wireless internet without cable or a phone line? Not allowed to run a cable line into your apartment or cabin? Look no further. We’ve compiled the best local internet providers that offer internet-only plans, and our seasoned editors have ranked them according to our strict standards.
You can jump down to check out the best local internet-only provider options available in your area.
Or, for more detailed info on the different types of internet providers and connections available, skip to our thorough guide to the best internet you can get without cable or a phone line (spoiler alert: it’s fiber or 5G home internet.)
Best internet-only providers near me
Pro tip: Click the “Change zip” button below to see providers in other areas.
Can you connect to internet without cable? Yes, and fiber-optic internet is your best bet
Fiber internet is faster and more reliable than cable or DSL internet, and you won’t have to worry about issues like frequent outages or unpredictable service. Plus, fiber is the only internet type that supports equal download and upload speeds. Its one drawback, though, is spotty availability—your neighbor could qualify for fiber, but you might not.
We recommend Google Fiber as our overall best fiber internet option, followed by Verizon Fios for its fast speeds, Quantum Fiber for its high customer satisfaction, and AT&T for its flexibility. All four of these providers scored high in our annual customer satisfaction survey, and if you can get them in your area, we recommend that you snatch them up.
If you’re lucky enough to have more than one of these fiber providers available in your area, we think Google Fiber is the best of the best. But you can’t go wrong with any of them for reliability and excellent performance (and no cable or phone lines needed).
What is the cheapest way to get Wi-Fi and wireless internet service in your home? We say fixed wireless internet is the best deal around
Most U.S. cities have fixed wireless transmitters. Think of them as little cell towers beaming Wi-Fi signals in all directions.
Some transmitters belong to internet service providers you may not recognize, but the signals are even better than 4G—as long as you’re in direct line of sight, with no mountains or skyscrapers between you and the transmitter.
T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T have launched fixed wireless services that use their 5G networks to bring internet service to your home. Check out our 5G home internet guide and best 5G home internet providers review to learn more about 5G home internet services.
Our favorite of the bunch is T-Mobile 5G Home Internet ($35.00–$70.00/mo., 87-415 Mbps download speeds), which we ranked as the ISP with the best value. Even with unequal download and upload speeds and a larger number of outages compared to fiber providers, we think T-Mobile 5G Home Internet is still the best deal around. And even though 5G Home Internet uses mobile data networks, you still don’t need a phone line.
Cable internet without cable TV can feature good speeds at a reasonable price
Gasp. Aren’t we trying to avoid the c-word? Yeah. But there’s cable TV, and then there’s cable internet service.
Cable internet is a solid option because it’s faster and more reliable than DSL or satellite and available without bundling phone or cable TV service. When it comes to cable internet, we recommend our top-ranked providers: Astound Broadband for its fast speeds and Spectrum for its flexible no-contract plans.
Beware, though, many cable providers (including Spectrum) have hefty price hikes after a year. That’s one of many reasons why cable ISPs have fallen down the ranks of our customer satisfaction survey, while fiber providers (which typically don’t have price hikes or sneaky fees) dominate the top spots.
DSL internet will get the job done if it’s your only home internet option
A DSL (digital subscriber line) connection is slower and less reliable than fiber, fixed wireless, and cable internet, but it’s widely available. You don’t need a landline with phone service for DSL internet, but you will need to use your home’s phone jack.
If DSL is the only option in your area, be sure to check what download speeds your potential providers offer to your home—most DSL plans max out at 100 Mbps, but some rural areas can’t get more than 10 Mbps.
DSL plans are difficult to recommend due to their less-than-impressive speeds and reliability, but CenturyLink’s Simply Unlimited Internet and Windstream’s Kinetic Internet plans will do in a pinch. Both providers’ DSL plans start at $50–$55 per month and come with unlimited data, which we won’t turn up our noses at.
Pro tip: If DSL providers in your rural area don’t offer broadband internet speeds, there may be other options. Head over to our Rural Internet Guide to learn how to get fast internet in rural America.
Satellite internet is a last resort for home internet service
Satellite internet is the slowest and least reliable internet service, but it may be the only choice for people living in rural areas.
There have been two main satellite internet providers in the past: Hughesnet and Viasat. Hughesnet tends to be cheaper, but Viasat offers a plan with speeds up to 150 Mbps.
Recently, Starlink has entered the competition and boasts high marks in our customer survey to boot. Starlink has speeds up to 220 Mbps, which is impressive, but spotty availability and high prices are its downfalls. Check out our guide to the best satellite internet providers for more info.
Wireless internet service FAQ
Can you get internet without a cable?
Internet doesn’t require a cable TV subscription. If you can’t run a cable into your home, you can also get internet through a 5G home internet provider like T-Mobile or Verizon 5G Home Internet. If you’re in a rural or remote area, you can also use satellite internet providers like Starlink, Viasat, or Hughesnet.
How can I connect to Wi-Fi without an internet cable?
Wi-Fi internet is wireless, so you don’t need a cable to get an internet connection. You simply need to connect your device to your wireless network by inputting the network password.
How do I get Wi-Fi on TV without cable?
Modern TVs typically have integrated Wi-Fi antennas, so you’ll only have to use your network password to get a Wi-Fi connection on your TV. If you have an older TV, you can install a smart device from manufacturers like Roku, Amazon, or Google to get TV Wi-Fi setup without a cable.
How do I get wireless Wi-Fi at home?
Nearly every ISP offers a Wi-Fi router to internet subscribers, although the cost varies by a provider-by-provider basis. You can also purchase your own Wi-Fi router and connect it to your modem to get wireless internet without a cable at home.
Why you should trust us
To find the best wireless internet providers, we spent thousands of hours analyzing each ISP’s plans based on factors including price, reliability, and features like free equipment. We also relied on our review database to determine which internet provider offers the best cable-free service.
We also used feedback from our annual internet customer satisfaction survey to find out how current customers felt about their ISPs. Not only that but we did hands-on testing of our own home internet to round out our ratings of select providers.
For more information on our methodology, check out our How We Rank page.
Disclaimer:
* Price per month with Auto Pay & without select 5G mobile plans. Consumer data usage is subject to the usage restrictions set forth in Verizon’s terms of service; visit: https://www.verizon.com/support/customer-agreement/ for more information about 5G Home and LTE Home Internet or https://www.verizon.com/about/terms-conditions/verizon-customer-agreement for Fios internet.
