The internet has become the necessity that we all look for when moving to a new home.
Even if you are living in your home for quite a long time, things are going to be quite challenging when it comes to hunting down the best internet plan for your home.
In the digital age, surviving without high-speed internet is nearly impossible.
From managing different home devices to working for a brand on social media and streaming on Netflix to downloading movies, your daily chores are dependent on this utility.
However, the thing that haunts every internet customer is the rising bills, hidden costs, and other charges. And saving sometimes almost looks impossible.
You may find 5 tricks to lower your bills on YouTube and a detailed blog post on how to save money on internet bills.
We at internetjin.com believe in providing all the information related to the internet whether it be troubleshooting, how to speed up the internet, getting the best internet deal, and anything that could benefit readers.
So today our topic is tricks to lower your internet bill, whether it be Xfinity, Spectrum, Cox, Verizon, or any other service provider.
But before we discuss it in detail, we would like to discuss how to choose an internet provider as it will help you in the future to save money on your internet bills.
How to choose an internet provider to save money ?
Available Options in Your Area
If you search best home internet provider in my area on Google, you will find a number of options. From cable internet to fiber optics and satellite internet to DSL.
Now if you evaluate what type of internet connection suits you best, the answer lies in the number of people living in your home and activity type.
For instance, if you are a single dude who only needs to check emails, watch YouTube videos, or sometimes visit social media you can subscribe to DSL internet, which is quite affordable.
However, if you are living with two to three members with high to moderate and low internet usage, you can go for cable internet.
While if you are living in a rural area, there is no option other than satellite internet, which is quite expensive.
Another option is to go for fixed wireless, which gives more freedom to internet users in terms of data caps, cost, and speed.
There are also internet users who work remotely and need high-speed internet to download and upload speed.
Also, there are several other members at home who like to stream in 4K, play online games, and download heavy files. The internet connection you need will be either cable internet or fiber optics.
Make sure to look for all available options in your area and evaluate what are your needs.
By selecting the best option available for your home, you will be able to save much of your money.
Download and Upload Speed
The upload and download speed is another great factor when looking for an internet provider in your area.
The majority of the population believes in having high-speed internet that offers a whopping download speed and decent upload speed.
But if you really want to get the best value for money, it is good to evaluate your internet usage and requirements.
For instance, a house full of gamers, streamers, and downloaders cannot rely on a DSL internet connection offering a speed of up to 25Mbps.
And similarly, a household that only uses the internet for basic activities such as surfing websites, socializing, and watching YouTube occasionally does not need a 1 Gig internet speed.
A stable and reliable 50Mbps internet connection is enough to fulfill the requirements.
No Contract Plans
The best plans are no contract plans, particularly if you are a frequent mover and need to cancel your subscription often.
Look for an internet service provider which offers a no-contract internet plan so that you can avoid hefty internet cancellation charges.
If not available, you can surely look for contract buyout options offered by various service providers including Spectrum, Cox, and Xfinity.
Unlimited Data Caps
Another thing to look for when searching for an internet service provider is to look at whether the internet plans are free of data caps or come with any restrictions.
If your usage is extreme, having an unlimited internet plan can help you free yourself from all the worries.
However, if no internet provider in your area offers unlimited data, try to subscribe to the one offering a greater amount of data limits.
Discounts and Promos
Internet service providers are found in every area or Zip Code. to stay competitive and beat rivals, they have to offer something extra to benefit and attract people and take the lead.
Discounts and promos on internet plans are offered by almost every service provider.
For instance, the promo price for new internet customers is obvious, which allows a discounted price for the first 12 months.
Moreover, it is also good to look for extra perks, discounts, and packages.
For instance, Spectrum offers Spectrum One for new customers and offers free advanced WiFi along with an unlimited mobile line free for 12 months.
All you have to pay is for the Spectrum Internet plan, no matter which one you choose.
How to Save on Internet Bills?
In our previous section, we discussed some of the tips on how to choose an internet provider.
Or in short, what factors and features to look for when hunting for the best internet service providers in your area?
Now comes the real part i.e. how to save money on internet bills. Let’s see what you could do.
Choose Your Speed Wisely
The majority of internet users fall into the trap of bristling and glazing high-speed internet.
Yes, you do need high-speed internet, but not as high as you have chosen. Let us explain what does that mean.
For instance, if you choose a cable internet plan offering a speed of up to 500Mbps, while you only need internet for browsing websites, playing games sometimes, or streaming Netflix on weekends, you will end up paying more without any reason.
How could you expect to save money on your internet bills?
Even if you and your partner are using the internet at an extreme level, you may not need an internet plan of more than 100Mbps.
And that is how you can save much of your hard-earned money on internet bills every month.
When choosing the best internet plan, make sure to look at speed, how many devices need to be connected, and what activity needs to be performed.
Go through plans and packages offered by different service providers. It is easy for you to pick the best internet plan for your home if you are living alone or with your partner.
Check whether the internet plans are offered with unlimited data or if you need to buy extra in case it reaches its limits.
All of the factors we have discussed before should also be considered when trying to save on internet bills.
Don’t Rent Equipment from Service Provider
The majority of internet service providers offer equipment that is charged on a monthly basis.
And that could also surge your internet bills without any reason. Don’t worry, it is not too difficult to control this type of surcharge.
You can visit any local electronics store near your area, or simply visit the online store to buy your own modem and WiFi router or WiFi router combo.
There are wide varieties of modem and wireless routers to facilitate low to moderate and extreme internet users.
If you are just a basic internet user, make sure not to go for a router beyond hundred dollars. However, if you are a pro gamer, it would be better to buy wireless routers designed for gamers only.
Some of the best brands of modem and router combos include Arris, Netgear, Linksys, Motorola, Asus, TP-Link, and many more.
Bundle Your Internet with Other Services Like Mobile or TV
In the United States, the majority of internet users prefer cable internet. The reason is that it is available and accessible in almost every area. Moreover, the cable service providers also offer deals and packages to facilitate internet users with other utilities like cable TV and phone.
If you sign up for any of these bundles, you will be saving as much as $20 to $40 per month or even more.
In recent times, Spectrum has introduced Spectrum One for its customers. It allows you to save as much as $400 per annum by combining Spectrum internet plan along with Spectrum Mobile and Advanced WiFi.
All you have to pay is the cost of Spectrum internet plan, no matter which one you choose.
While the Spectrum Advanced WiFi and Spectrum Unlimited Mobile lines will be included free of charge for 12 months.
Do Comparison Shopping Before Subscribing
Comparison shopping will help you save much of your money at the end of each month. You won’t regret your time spent on research and analysis.
Whether you are going for a new connection or simply want to switch your internet service provider, comparison shopping will help you do more with less.
Comparing internet service providers will always be fruitful as you may not get what you want, but surely will compensate with other benefits.
For instance, if a service provider is not offering contract-free internet plans, it might be giving a free modem along with unlimited data caps.
All of these factors can also hugely impact your internet bills.
In addition, the service providers make sure to give special promo prices when you sign up.
The prices will definitely increase after 12 months.
But if you want to halt your monthly bills to a specific amount, you need to check service providers offering guaranteed pricing for a specific time usually 2-4 years.
Negotiation will Help You Save on Internet Bills
Expensive internet plans are hard to get rid of.
If you have signed a contract with an ISP, you can still look for a better deal.
Get yourself an idea about what internet providers are offering in your area such as download speeds, prices, and perks.
Once you have noted down the pricing and plans of other internet providers, you can call your customer support for negotiations.
This is super helpful if your service provider is not delivering speed as advertised and charging more than other service providers in the area.
But if you have never talked to customer support and are feeling a bit hesitant, don’t worry.
You can simply follow the tips to help you get a better deal and savings on your bill.
- Compare your service side by side with other providers. What download and upload speed you are getting, and how many channels if you have bundled it with the internet?
- Don’t compromise on poor quality vs discounts given. Get yourself prepared to cancel the service anytime, if the service provider is not paying heed to your complaints and queries.
- Check the pricing and plans of other internet providers in your area. It really hurts any service provider to let the customers go. So when talking to customer service on the phone, make sure to keep the list of perks, pricing, and benefits with you. Tell them what you will be getting by switching to another provider. And if the service provider really cares about its customers, it should definitely compensate and provide some kind of discount or benefits.
- Make sure that you speak to ISP’s retention department. The reason is that the staff hired in the retention department is trained to retain customers in the best possible manner. Whether it be by offering discounts or giving some kind of perks or freebies.
- Don’t be rude while talking to the representative. Be polite, but stand firm on your demands. If you are good at mincing and sugarcoating words, you can definitely land a deal that you can’t refuse.
- You need to know what’s being offered by competitors and what you really want from your service provider. Be straightforward and ask for your demands. As we have mentioned earlier, you must have the courage to cancel the services without giving a second thought.
Unsubscribe from any Cellular Plan
We know it is important for you to have cell phone plans as well to keep you connected on the go while away from home.
Especially when it comes to internet data, unlimited plans are surely going to keep you connected and engaged in online activities like video calling, streaming, and downloading. But the price you pay is surely going to put a hole in your wallet.
Instead of trying to find an unlimited cellular plan, the best way is to look for plans that cater to your monthly usage.
Check your previous bills and see the details about calls made, texts sent and received, and data used.
Once you have analyzed the average consumption, you can now choose a plan that is offered at a much lower price.
If that too is expensive, you can try other cellular data providers offering at cheap rates.
Ask for Discounts and Promotions
Ordering internet service online automatically qualifies you for a discount.
Only a handful of companies are offering discounts on ordering online. Moreover, service providers also offer a discounted price for first-time customers for a limited time.
If you are going to subscribe to an internet service, make sure to give a call and ask for any other perks and discounts available.
For instance, you can ask what special offer is available for me if I bundle it with cable or a mobile line.
And during the shopping season, you can ask for a favor, if you have been a customer for a long time.
You should also visit the official website regularly to keep an eye on special promos and discounts.
For instance, during Christmas, Cyber Monday, and Black Friday, some internet providers will leap forward to offer special gifts to customers. Don’t miss the chance and grab it to save on internet bills.
Downgrade Your Speed
You probably chose the best and fastest speed to ensure daily online activities run smoothly without lags and disruptions.
But due to less knowledge, you may have not evaluated what is the required speed to keep you and your family connected.
If your household has three members, a 500Mbps connection is too high and that also reflects in your monthly internet bills.
But there is also an option to downgrade your plan by calling customer support.
By downgrading your plan, you will be able to lower your internet bill and save more of your hard-earned money.
Unsubscribe from Extra Services
You might have only subscribed to the internet plan shown on the official website of the ISP.
But if you look at your bill, you will find some other charges that would stun you. You may have selected add-ons just before checking out.
You can always call customer support to ask what extra charges are being imposed. After knowing the details, you can decide whether you need it or not.
If you find that the add-on is not for you, you can unsubscribe from it.
In recent times, people are cutting the cord and shifting to streaming services.
The reason is that cable TV service is quite expensive.
You have to pay a hefty amount every month with other charges, and a long list of unwatched channels.
And if you have signed a contract, you can’t even cancel it before time to avoid the hefty fee.
That is why if you are not watching more than 3 to 4 channels, paying hundreds of dollars is wasteful. Get your cable TV disconnected and move on to streaming platforms.
If you just want to watch TV-series and movies, Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu are the best options.
But if you also wish to watch live channels including sports, news, and live events, the best option is to go for Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, FuboTV, and many more.
Check for Special Discount Programs
If you belong to a low-income household, you can also benefit from Affordable Connectivity Program which allows you to get additional discounts on internet plans.
For instance, Spectrum Internet Assist offers a discount of up to $30 on internet plans. If you are a participant in one of the following programs, you will be eligible for Spectrum Assist Program:
- National School Lunch Program
- Supplemental Security Income (65+ age)
- Community Eligibility Provision of the NSLP
If Spectrum is not available in your area, you can check on which service provider is offering a low-income household program.
Some internet service providers also offer special student discounts to allow students to connect to the internet for the purpose of education and learning.
Make sure to have a student card as proof that you are still studying and are eligible for a discount.
Some of the Low Income Internet plans offered by different service providers include:
| Low Income Internet Plan | Price Per Month | Download Speed | Qualifying Programs |
| Spectrum Internet Assist | $14.99 per month | Up to 30Mbps | SSI, NSLP, or CEP of NSLP |
| Access from AT&T | $5-$10 per month | Up to 768Kbps-10Mbps | SNAP |
| Mediacom Connect2Compete | $9.95 | Up to 10 Mbps | NSLP |
| Cox Connect2Compete | $9.95/mo. | Up to 25 Mbps | NSLP, SNAP, TANF, HUD |
| Internet Essentials (Comcast Xfinity) | $9.95/mo. | Up to 25 Mbps | NSLP, HUD, Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, and more |
Summing Up
In this post, we have curated some of the best ways to save on internet bills.
Some of them include downgrading internet speed, buying your own equipment, looking for subsidies, opting out of the TV and other services, and negotiating with your current service provider.
Hope now you are completely aware of how to save on internet bills and keep your wallet fat.
