How do I get low-income internet?
Your income bracket doesn’t have to limit your internet access. If your home needs a boost to cross the digital divide, take advantage of low-income internet options in your area.
Many internet providers have special programs that offer budget internet service for prices that start at $9.95 monthly for 100 Mbps download speeds.
Read on to see if you qualify for these special low-income internet plans.
Do I qualify for low-income internet plans?
Each of the low-income options we’ll discuss has different standards to qualify. But you’re a good candidate for most if your household makes less than or equal to 200% of the federal poverty guidelines or you already qualify for one or more government assistance programs:
- National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
- Public Housing (HUD)
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- And more
But if you’re not eligible for low-income internet, don’t worry—we have other articles with recommendations for cheap internet service for your home and current internet deals. Check out low-cost internet providers like Xfinity, Verizon Fios, Cox, and AT&T and see if these providers are in your area.
Cheap Wi-Fi for low-income homes
Many ISPs offer great low-income internet plans, which are great alternatives to the ACP. These plans range from around $10 to $30 per month and typically offer around 50 to 100 Mbps download speeds.
Each provider has their qualifications that must be met, so ask each provider to find out which plan best suits your needs. Generally, you’ll need to apply directly with the ISP to qualify for their special low-income internet plan.
Your household will typically need to be involved in a qualifying federal assistance program like SSI or Medicaid to get their low-income internet service. When you combine these programs with the government internet program Lifeline, you may even be able to get home internet for free.
| Provider low-income initiative | Price | Download speed | Qualifying programs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Essentials from Comcast (Xfinity) | $9.95/mo. | 50 Mbps | Federal Pell Grant HUD LIHEAP MEDICAID NSLP/Head Start SNAP SSI TANF Tribal assistance VA Pension WIC |
| Spectrum Internet Assist** | $24.99/mo. | Up to 50 Mbps | NSLP SSI |
| Access from AT&T | $10.00/mo. | Up to 25 Mbps | SNAP SSI |
| Cox Connect2Compete* | $9.95/mo. | Up to 100 Mbps | HUD NSLP SNAP TANF |
| Mediacom Connect-2-Compete* | $9.95/mo. | Up to 25 Mbps | NSLP |
| Internet First (Astound Broadband) | $9.95/mo. | Up to 50 Mbps | Federal Pell Grant HUD LIHEAP MEDICAID NSLP/Head Start SNAP SSI TANF Tribal assistance VA Pension WIC |
| Optimum Advantage Internet | $14.99/mo. | Up to 50 Mbps | NSLP SSI |
| Frontier Fundamental Internet | $19.99/mo. | N/A | CalFresh Medi-Cal SSI |
| Verizon Lifeline | $0.00-49.99/mo. | Up to 200 Mbps-940/880 Mbps | Lifeline |
| Cox ConnectAssist | $30.00/mo. | Up to 100 Mbps | Certain public housing Certain tribal programs Federal Pell Grant LIHEAP Head Start SNAP SSI TANF VA Pension WIC |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Taxes and fees may apply.
*Home must have a student in K-12 to qualify.
**No contract required. Available in select areas only.
Why you should trust us
Our internet experts have spent years keeping their ears to the ground for government assistant programs and internet provider programs that offer free or discounted internet for low-income households.
We strive to provide all the relevant links to help you get internet where you live, while also sharing our insight into which offers will get you the best bang for your buck, reliability, features, and customer satisfaction.
