The average monthly cost of the Internet is $ 78. Here’s how to reduce it

If you are with the same Internet provider for a while, it is possible that it is more expensive by the year. In reality, 63 % of adults pay more than $ 195 on the Internet more than last year, And high prices are no. 1 cause People choose not to get an internet connection at all.

After analyzing more than 150 plans from the country The largest Internet providerI found that the average price for the Internet in the United States is $ 63 per month for all available speeds, with the application of automated pilot discounts. This cost does not include the cost Rental equipmentWhich, on average, add $ 15 to your monthly bill. So the actual total reaches about $ 78 per month for home internet – which is less than $ 89 per month I found US News & World Report When approximately 2,500 people included in 2024.

This is great expenses, for sure – especially when you deal with Price Many Internet service providers build their plans – but the bold price of it It increased slowly than inflation in general. According to FCC analysisThe average rate of internet pressure decreased by 19 % between 2009 and 2023.

To find out the real cost of Internet service in the United States, I turned to the CNET ISPS database, which is updated regularly by introducing addresses throughout the country for 35 of the largest service providers.

There is a huge range of prices available. amazingand Mediacomand xfinity and Fiberial fibers All offer plans start from $ 15 to $ 20 per month. Ziply also has the most dangerous internet (and faster) in the country for a mile: $ 900 a month A plan for more than 50 GB per second.

For many people, it may seem $ 78 per month as a good deal. Consider a wake call if you pay much more. You can take steps to reduce your costs, such as Negotiate on your billand Buy your equipment Or reduce a cheaper plan. But it may be the best option Completely switching service providers Or find a Low -income internet plan. There are also newer technologies like 5G Home InternetAnd that tends to be slightly cheaper and usually includes the total cost equipment. If you haven’t evaluated your options for a while, you may be surprised to find some new Internet providers on the mass.

The cost of the Internet by type

The amount you pay for the Internet is greatly affected by the type of connection you use. This analysis confirms what a lot Rural internet Customers have known for years: rural care providers are more expensive, with the slowest communications as well.

DSL and Satellite Internet – were often the only options in rural areas – were largely slower. DSL was particularly slow, with moderate download speeds of 40 Mbps only, which did not meet Definition of the minimum FCC for wide internet internet.

The Internet of satellite was more expensive than other types of communication. The price of satellite sponsors reached an average price of $ 110 per month for the 100 -megabyte download speeds.

The prices of the major internet tend to start largely, but these service providers are likely to raise their prices after a year or two (or both). The internet was also fiber on the most batch side, but the plans do not usually come with the increase in prices. The average price for the Internet fiber was $ 75 per month in the first year and $ 83 in third place – much lower than the 28 dollar cable jump from the first year to the third.

What is ISP has the lowest monthly start?

the The cheapest Internet plans Usually the most slower internet plans in the Internet service provider – although Internet service providers sometimes will reduce the fastest plans to make you interested in registering (before raising the price after a year). As a result, most of the cheap internet plans presented here are the levels of starting the Internet service provider, except for Low income plans.

border and Starry Tie with the cheapest Internet plans, but Internet service providers often offer promotional prices, so I will not be surprised to see some of these plans to switch places over time.

In addition, almost all the Internet plans mentioned below have a price increase after the first year. In most cases, the increase in prices ranges from $ 10 to $ 15 a month. The most terrible perpetrators were Kinetic and Unified CommunicationsWith an increase in the price of $ 25 and 20 dollars, respectively.

Note: The prices submitted here include automatic payment discounts, exclusion of taxes and other changing regional fees.

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Source: CNET analysis of the provider data.

What is ISP has the highest monthly starting costs?

It was also observed in my general analysis, ISPs via satellite You have the highest monthly starting costs. Satellite equipment is expensive and usually requires a pre -payment, as with Starlink. Bedouin internetThe fixed wireless rural internet option came in second place, as it also requires a strong push for equipment and high monthly costs. In fact, except Google fibersMost of the service providers are included here Rural internet providers It is possible that the only option (along with a local fixed wireless provider) for rural communities trying to connect to the Internet.

Note: The prices submitted here include automatic payment discounts, exclusion of taxes and other changing regional fees.

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Source: CNET analysis of the provider data.

Equipment fees

It included about half of the internet plans that you have seen month Modem and router Instead of renting it every month of your ISP. The middle equipment fee was $ 15 per month. Bveand rangeand amazing and amazing Get the lowest equipment costs, at $ 10 per month, while Starlink He has a higher, with the purchase of the required equipment required from anywhere from $ 349 to $ 2,500.

The following service providers do not charge the equipment:

Some service providers raise prices after a year or two

High bills It is one of the most frustrated parts of being an online agent, and this analysis has revealed how much your bill will grow in the second (or third) year. In fact, in a recent survey, I found it 63 % of adults pay $ 195 for the Internet this year What they did last year – most likely due to high prices.

Although the average price in the first year (not your equipment rental) was $ 63 per month, it rose to $ 76 in the second year and to $ 80 in the third year. Some service providers with the most severe Price He was Mediacom ($ 45 in the second year), Sparklight ($ 31 in the second year) and Spectrum ($ 20 to $ 30 in the third year). Here are the average increases in the price associated with each provider:

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Store suppliers

Source: CNET analysis of the provider data.

Unwanted fees

These are the additional fees for Internet service providers to your bill for mysterious purposes such as “network maintenance” or “technology service”. Fortunately, this is a large extent of the past. Altice, the company behind it, was forced to pay $ 15 million in A. Collective case lawsuit in 2023 For these types of drawings. I have found a handful of service providers who are currently imposing unwanted fees.

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Store suppliers

And note that, I will not be shocked to hear the Internet saving who add the fees after the registration that was not included while shopping. A Consumer reports analysis from 2022 13 suppliers with unwanted fees were found in their bills.

How to lower your internet bill

If you pay a lot for the Internet, there are several steps you can take Reducing your monthly costs. This is what you can do:

• Buy your modem and your router: These are the low fruits to lower your internet bill. If your provider charges you for equipment, buy your modem and the router will always pay for itself during the first year. I learned this myself in the difficult way when I spent Nearly $ 1,000 rental equipment of Xfinity For six years. You can usually get slightly more than $ 100. Choose cnet for The best Wi-Fi router Available for $ 75, and you can get a decent modem for about $ 50. Just make sure it is compatible with your internet provider before going on this way. As an additional reward, you may also see a nice boost in internet speeds.
• Negotiating with your current provider: Internet providers are used to being ready to work with customers when prices were out of control, but this has changed somewhat in recent years. However, getting a better price is sometimes simple such as calling the Internet service provider and order. Before calling, find the prices they offer to new customers and what are the plans available from competitors in the region. If there is a store in your area, go to visit personally. Many customers had a better luck in speaking face to a face to get an actual person on the phone.
• Reducing your plan: Many of us are likely to pay for The Internet speed is more than we need. The intermediate internet plan provides speeds of 600 MP download – which is enough to broadcast Netflix in 4K on 40 TVs at one time. The speeds announced by service providers are for WirelessAnd Wi-Fi will slowly slow it down, but you get this point. If you get speeds more than 500 Mbps, I recommend assessing whether you can get a slower plan.
• Swalcling: If everything fails, the best way to get a better price on the Internet Switching Internet service providers Completely to take advantage of the prices of the first year. You can see exactly any of the service providers available to you by entering your address on FCC wide range map. From there, you will have to enter your address on the website of each provider to find details about their plans and prices.