When you buy through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more.
Peter Dazeley/Getty Images
- Many internet service providers (ISPs) offer specially discounted plans for households receiving economic assistance from the government, such as the National Student Lunch Program (NSLP).
- Many of these plans cost less than $20/month and include networking equipment.
- The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) also has a program to help defray the cost of internet service for low-income households.
No matter who you are, picking out a home internet plan is tricky. You'll be faced with the decision of what speeds you need on the plan, whether you need to rent a modem and router, how much data you think you might need, and (if you're lucky enough to live somewhere with multiple options) which internet service provider (ISP) to try getting your internet from.
That difficulty gets even harder when you're working on a tight budget and have to ensure your internet will be robust enough for education, especially as many schools turn to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fortunately, there are actually many options available from ISPs to help low-income students get internet in their homes. In many cases, these low-cost internet plans will cost less than $20 a month, have no long-term contracts, and include free equipment while you're subscribed. Availability of these plans will depend on your region, as not all ISPs offer service in every region, and on household incomes or eligibility for government assistance programs like Medicaid, Food Stamps, or commonly the National Student Lunch Program (NSLP). Many plans are also only available for new subscribers.
We'll guide you through the variety of affordable internet plans for students in low-income households, so you can understand what each is offering and find one available for you.
See below for the most affordable home internet plans.