If you’re living on a low income in the United States, you may be able to get completely free internet service! We’ve got the scoop on those programs, as well as some vital internet discount programs that may be able to help you stay connected even when you can’t afford that monthly bill.
If you’re paying more than $15 a month toward your internet costs, you absolutely need to check this out. It’s one of the most helpful cost-cutting programs we’ve ever found, and we’re excited to bring this information to you in this post.
Free Internet for Low Income
We’ll start with a quick review of the programs that offer free internet for low income customers. These programs are more limited than the $10, $15 and $20 internet discounts we’ll discuss below, but they also offer the greatest relief. If you don’t see something in this section you’re eligible for, don’t give up! Just check the discount list below.
- T-Mobile’s Project 10Million: This program provides up to 200GB of free internet through a mobile hot spot for eligible K-12 students. If you need more than that, you can purchase an additional data pass for just $10. It only takes 5 minutes to apply, and you can keep the internet connection for 5 years! To qualify, you just need to have a K12 student in your household who is enrolled in an eligible low income program like SNAP, EBT, TANF, CEP, FDPIR, National School Lunch Program, Medicaid or Head Start. Sign up here.
- Google’s Gigabit Program: If you live in a participating affordable or public housing complex, you may be able to get free Gigabit Internet service from Google Fiber. This program provides free monthly internet service for people who live in affordable or public housing. Activate yours now.
If you aren’t eligible for any of those programs, you may still be able to get completely free internet through one of these sources.
- Local Libraries: Many libraries around the United States offer free hotspot internet services that you can check out and take home. You can usually borrow these hot spots for several weeks. In some areas, you can keep them through the entire school year! It just depends on your local library‘s offerings and policies.
- Local Schools: If you have a K-12 student living in your house, you may be able to get free home internet service from your local school. Since the internet is such a vital tool for schoolwork, there are hundreds of schools across the United States that have helped their students stay connected. Ask your school office right away to see if they offer this type of assistance.
- Neighborhood WiFi: Some local neighborhoods around the United States have started introducing free neighborhood WiFi to help low income families stay connected. For example, the NoMa area in Washington DC provides free public WiFi services across 32 blocks. NYC is also considering doing something similar. These neighborhood internet services are available for free to anyone within range.
Internet for $30 or Less
Many internet service providers (ISPs) offer low cost internet plans for people who meet certain income limits. These programs are extremely helpful, because we all know that the internet is a necessity in today’s past-paced, super-connected world.
Here are some plans that you may be eligible for:
- Access from AT&T: Depending on where you live, Access from AT&T will cost either $15 or $30 per month. That’s because the price it based on the maximum available speeds in your area. You need to have a household income that is 200% or less of the Federal Poverty Level OR be participating in a qualifying program like SNAP or National School Lunch Program to qualify. Apply online.
- Comcast Internet Essentials: You may be able to get home internet for $14.95 per month through Comcast Internet Essentials. This program provides speeds of up to 75 Mbps. This program is for low income customers who get benefits from programs like SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, SSI, NSLP, LIHEAP, WIC, VA Pensions, Head Start, Pell Grant, public housing assistance or various tribal programs. Apply online.
- Connect2Compete: There are several ISPs like Cox that offer a program called Connect2Compete. This program typically offers discounted internet service for just $9.95 per month to eligible low income students. You’ll need to contact your ISP to see if it’s available in your area.
- Cox ConnectAssist: You may be able to get Cox service for as low as $30 per month if you receive help from a qualifying government programs. Their list of eligible programs includes SNAP, WIC, SSI, Veteran’s Pension, Pell Grant, certain public housing programs and certain tribal programs. You can apply online.
- InternetFirst: Astound offers a fast 150 Mbps service for just $19.95 per month to eligible low income people. You must participate in either Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, NSLP, or housing assistance to qualify. Sign up online.
- Spectrum Internet Assist: You may be able to get internet from Spectrum for just $25 per month. If you want, you can double the speed of this service for an extra $5 a month. You may be eligible if you receive SSI or have a child that receives discounted school meals through the National School Lunch Program. Enroll online here.
- Mediacom’s Xtream Connect: You may be able to get Mediacom service for as low as $14.99 per month through their low income discount program. It’s available for people who participate in SNAP, Medicaid, WIC, SSI, FPHA, Section 8, NSLP, Pell Grant, Lifeline Program, and various housing or tribal programs. Sign up here.
- Optimum Advantage: Low income customers can get Optimum service for just $14.99 per month through the Advantage plan. It is not immediately clear what the requirements are for this program. You can get more details on their website.
More Free Internet Options
If you’ve reached this point in the article and you still haven’t found any services that work for you, that’s definitely frustrating. There are a few other ways that you may be able to access free internet without having to pay the bill but these are definitely not the easiest or most convenient options.
- Go to the park. Some cities have started adding free public internet services to their local parks. For example, Detroit installed free public internet access and device charging stations at various parks throughout the city in 2024.
- Try Starlink after disasters. Elon Musk has started deploying Cybertrucks with free internet services to areas affected by disasters. This happened when LA was hit by the wildfires in early 2025 and when the hurricanes hit the south in 2024.
- Go to the library. Community libraries have always been a bastion for low income Americans. They offer access to computers, internet access, specialized equipment and often even free museum passes for people who need them. You can always use the computers at the library if you run out of other options.
Relief Recap
There are many ways that you can still get free internet for low income customers, whether or not you get food stamps benefits. From free hotspots to steeply discounted home internet services, this post contains all the ways we’ve found that you can save money while staying connected. Contact the providers on this list for details!
Nichole I can’t believe you didn’t mention the free Wi-Fi at most fast food/ dine in restaurant’s ” TACO BELL , KFC, DEL TACO, OLIVE GARDEN , CLAIM JUMPER ” or supper market’s ” STATER BROS, FOOD 4 LESS, RALPHS, VONS,” and Drugstores such as, “TARGET or Walmart, Rite aid , WALGREENS ETC! ” MOST places just have to sign into their server network and accept their terms of agreement .
Also Nicole I really think u need to look into findhelp.org u just put in your zip code and check what u need help with and it will give u a list of every non profit in your area that helps with that specific subject free of cost so u can click utility assistance and it’ll give you a list of very nonprofit in the area that will pay your bills or that helps with that type of category all free of charge I’ve got in my bill paid a bunch of times by then you just have to go down and list and call one by one
Hope this helps!
Thank you so much. I wish I’d known about this earlier. I need help getting out of an abusive relationship and this will be so helpful. Thank you as well Nicole.
As of June 1, 2024, the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) has ended due to a lack of additional funding from Congress. The ACP was a $14.2 billion program that provided discounts on internet service and connected devices to low-income consumers for two-and-a-half years. However, households may still be able to receive internet service after the ACP ends if they meet certain conditions.
Thank you so much for the info though. If anyone needs internet call your local providers and ask for low cost internet, they have different names. Mine is internet essentials from Xfinity in Florida. They offer wifi for as little as 9.95/mnthly.
I just found out this year that people with hearing loss, who need to use a captioned phone from the ClearCaptions people, can transfer their phone to service to ClearCaptions. They will have to get a new phone number assigned to them by CC, but the service will be free.
These are right on target because when I signed up for ACP, in Feb 2024 it became unavailable because they considered it a pandemic relief program and yes, Congress played with us and then tried to come up with alternatives and these were good alternatives. I have Spectrum and mine is $29.99 for 100mbps because I was already a customer, but others coming onboard $24.99. Better than actually $96 I would have been paying. Except for Spectrum always being so expensive, they do have Great Customer Service. I don’t feel I have lost any speed and I was used to High Speed at one time.
I’m on disability kids in school need internet that doesn’t cost that much
Hi. If the resources above are not helpful, it may be worth calling 211 to see if there is anything else they can suggest in your area.
@Lilt C, Same thing happened to me! Made NO sense. They are running ads now that say if you’re currently getting the ACP with your Xfinity service, that you are auto-eligible to get the Internet Essentials plan when ACP ends even tho you’re already a Comcast /Xfinity customer currently. I’m not sure that I believe that because of being denied b4 for that senseless reason, but I guess I’m going to find out soon. Wish me luck.
I just received a letter from Optimum cablevision, the ACP is ending April 1 2024. Is there another program that can help with the free interenet?
Thank you very much for this information Nicole. I hope I’m able to access one of these discounts
Love your Informative videos about ways to take advantage of different types of sites, grants, organizations etc
KEEP IT COMING!????????
I am 55 yrs old, unemployed, and just applied for ssdi. Unfortunately, I live in Illinois. How can I get free internet? Is there a way I can get help paying my present internet bill as I haven’t had any income for the past month and I am about to lose everything. Any help or suggestions would be very appreciated.
@Diamond Soto, I’m not sure if it works differently where you live but here in Raleigh, NC you can receive both Lifeline service and ACP benefit at the same time. I receive Lifeline service through Assurance Wireless, who, by the way, is fantastic. They give you a free smartphone with unlimited talk/text and data including 10Gb of hotspot data!
Then I apply my ACP benefit towards my home internet service, which is currently being provided through Spectrum, who I’m really not pleased with in all honesty. I can’t get the low income internet service since I have an existing account with them and almost immediately after I began receiving the ACP benefit they abruptly raised the monthly rate over $20!! So ultimately, I’m only paying $10 less than I was paying before the discount. However, unfortunately, they are 1 of only 2 options for internet service providers in my area, the other is CenturyLink. The irony is never lost on me.
Incidentally, if anyone has any advice they can give me regarding alternative sources of home internet/wifi service I would love to hear it. And hopefully, the info I’ve given will be of some help as well.
Hi Alysia. Have you tried the Affordable Connectivity Program already?
Do you have any research on discounted/free subscription for Microsoft Office? This is a very costly annual expense, if you have limited funds.
Hi. Your local library may be an option.
Do you have any info. on free/ discounted Mobile hotspot devices or services. This is especially needed for homeless individuals/ small- less populated areas that may not have access to libraries?
You may be able to do that with some cell phone plans. https://lowincomerelief.com/free-phones-free-cell-phone-service/
The cost of internet service (in the US) is so inflated to begin with that even with the so-called low income discounts it’s no where near affordable. This is 2022 and I’m paying $64 total every month for home phone, wifi and mobile. That may not sound like a large bill, but my income is less than $800 a month!
@Pat, Try PCs for People. Excellent service and good people It’s $16.00/mo for internet but I think there are qualifications. Also, I have mobile phone service with unlimited talk, unlimited text and 2Gigs mobile data for $10.00/mo plus tax through a company called Tello. I don’t know about “home” phone. Please give them my name if you sign with them. I get 1 month free for new customer and no I do not work for them.
@Karen Robinson,
Hello,
Thank you for providing info to all of us!
I suppose I’m not understanding how the ACP and free phone service work. I live in Texas. I had a government phone until I signed up for the ACP. Now I have internet but no phone. Can you explain what’s going on? Can I not get both?
Hi Charlotte. You should be able to use Lifeline if you aren’t already: https://lowincomerelief.com/free-phones-free-cell-phone-service/
@Charlotte,
Spectrum has a special for internet for a year and free phone. I forgot about that one. If there is no spectrum, the name could be a little different. It doesn’t hurt to try. Free is Free.
@Catherine Marucci,
There is a list of names that will allow it or at least there was, so check for the names of ones that do and they increased it to $13.95 in Maine anyway.
how do you purchase low income laptop is there any available website or company that allows a free laptop would greatly appreciate if anyone would respond with required information
Hi. Here are a few possible options: https://lowincomerelief.com/free-computers-for-low-income-families/
I live in nc every provider I have contacted either does not provide for my area and the ones that do are still to expensive
Hi Kelly. It may be worth calling 211 to see if there are any additional programs in your area.
@Kelly, Try PCs for People. Excellent service and good people It’s $16.00/mo but I think there are qualifications.
@Kelly,
Perhaps they are called by a different name. I did notice the names are almost the same but different. See if you can find out still. It is a shame to have to pay such high expenses. I’m sure you could use that money somewhere else like most of us can.
I’m getting free internet right now, I heard it was going to change, Is the government going to pay 30.00 and were responsible for the remainder??? Thanks
@Elizabeth, Since Feb 7, 2024 they were turning away new ones like me, but as of May 31 it was over. Congress did not continue the program and it was a good one.
@Trina,
Great article! This is very helpful for those who need basic internet access without shelling a lot of bucks on high speed subscriptions. The internet has become a part of our daily lives and internet access is essential in education and work. Availability of these low priced subscriptions might vary highly depending on your provider’s coverage, and be sure to read between the lines for data caps and throttling.
YES THIS SIGHT IS VERY INFORMATIONAL …….
THANK YOU
2020