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CostHelper > Consumer Electronics  > Computers & Internet > Internet Access

Internet Access Cost


How Much Does Internet Access Cost?

 
low costDialup: $10-$12.50 a monthaverage costDSL: $20-$45 a monthhigh costCable or Fiber Optic Broadband: $25-$145 a month

These days there are several options when purchasing Internet access at home. For those who prefer lower prices but don't mind slower speeds, dialup options via a telephone and computer modem are still available. But for people who desire faster download and upload speeds to watch streaming video and to surf the web more quickly, DSL (broadband Internet over the telephone line), cable (Internet through the cable television coaxial line) or fiber optic (digital data transmissions of light) offer broadband options for faster home Internet service.

Typical costs:

  • Though not as common as it once was over a decade ago, dialup Internet access does still exist and is a low-cost option for those who are looking for an inexpensive plan and only do not necessarily view multimedia content.
  • NetZero[1] , Juno[2] and EarthLink[3] still offer these unlimited dialup services Internet for $10 to $12.50 per month.
  • DSL service from AT&T[4] currently has three monthly high speed Internet plants at $35 (1.5 Mbps down/ 384 Kbps up), $40 (3.0 Mbps down/ 512 Kbps up) and $45 (6.0 Mbps down/ 768 Kbps up). These plans all assume that one does not have local home phone service from AT&T. Having home phone service and then adding on a new high speed Internet plan from AT&T[5] can add $20-$25 per month for the first year, then runs $20-$40 per month depending on the speed. Not all plans are available in all areas.
  • Cable broadband Internet service from a company such as Comcast[6] require that the customer be a current subscriber to either cable TV or their digital voice service in order to sign up for one of the Internet access plans. Cable broadband speeds tend to be faster than DSL and may cost more in some cases. The "Economy Internet Service" (1 Mbps down/ 384 Kbps up) costs $25/month. The next level "Performance" (12 Mbps down/ 2 Mbps up) is $43/month. Their "Blast!" speed tier (16 Mbps down/ 2 Mbps up) is $53 a month and the "Ultra" option (22 MBPs/ 5 Mbps up) comes in at $63 a month.
  • Fiber optic broadband is another option as the technology is fast becoming more and more prevalent in neighborhoods. These speeds are can be even faster than cable broadband. Verizon[7] offers such a service and does not require home phone service. However, the price is $5 less on the plans if the customer does already have Verizon home phone. Their three plans come in at $55 a month (15 Mbps down/ 5 Mbps up), $70 a month (25 Mbps down/ 25 Mbps up) and $145 a month (50 Mbps down/ 20 Mbps up).
Related articles: Desktop Computer, Laptop Computer, Internet Phone Service, T-1 Internet Connection

What should be included:
  • For faster broadband speeds, a wireless broadband router and a network cable to connect to the home computer may be included in the kit.
  • Often, there is additional packaged software such as antivirus, pop-up blockers or spam protection that have a limited free trial for a few months.
Additional costs:
  • For the broadband services, if the customer is able to do a self-installation, there is usually no charge. Technician installation can range from $50-$80 (Comcast and Verizon) to $200 (AT&T).
  • Having the technician also set up the actual home network or do the computer connection can add $100.
  • For dialup Internet access, an internal PCI modem for the dialup option costs between $8 and $20. An external or USB modem can cost from $25 to up to $70.
Discounts:
  • For broadband services, there are often bundled services (Internet and cable TV, Internet and digital voice or Internet , etc.) that can bring down the total cost if a customer already has one of the services mentioned.
  • TIP: Broadband providers sometimes offer customer retention promotions. If the costs goes up after the promotional pricing is over, it doesn't hurt to call customer service and inquire about extending a promotion for customer loyalty.
Shopping for internet access:
  • Note that not all services and providers may be available in a particular geographical location. Most of the time, there will be at least two or three options available to a home computer user for Internet access. Service quality and speeds may also vary as well.
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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments

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Happy with ATT gigabit fiber
Amount: $69.99
Posted by: Now1000 in San Jose, CA.Posted: June 6th, 2021 09:06PM
Provider: AttType of Connection: Gigabit fiber
Speed: 1000
I used to use Comcast but got frustrated with the unreliability of their speed — by day it could slow down but it’d be very fast late at night.
I got a promotional price for the first two years, then my bundle (with a kit of sports channels) shot over 200 a month. Plus ATT uverse stopped carrying Pac 12 Networks — hey, people on the west coast want to watch their local teams, too!
When I cancelled the bundle, they gave me just the Internet for 70 a month, a price I’m happy with becauss I need the speed. Plus, for now at least, they are giving HBOMax for free for gigabit customers!
During the football months, I get a cable streaming service like fubo for just a few months and stream my sports channels (espn, foxsports, espn2, espnu and pac 12 networks)
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internet
Amount: $12.50
Posted by: Ricardo Antoine in Brooklyn, NY.Posted: October 2nd, 2018 09:10AM
Provider: internetType of Connection: wi.fi
Speed: high
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Have to fight for it yearly but...
Amount: $40.00
Posted by: Eug in Brooklyn, NY.Posted: April 9th, 2017 11:04AM
Provider: OptimumType of Connection: Cable
Speed: 60/25
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SICK OF DRY LOOP DSL AND TIRED OF PAYING MONEY FOR SUCH CRAPPY SERVICE
Amount: $76.00
Posted by: Unhappy with AT&T DSL IN IRVING,TX in IRVING, TX.Posted: January 17th, 2017 09:01AM
Provider: AT&TType of Connection: DSL
Speed: 5.4 mBPS / 1.5 MBPS
THE up is the avg speed, the max speed of the up is 9.8 mbps.
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Juno DSL
Amount: $37.00
Posted by: meagain in Los Angeles, CA.Posted: December 26th, 2016 04:12AM
Provider: Juno DSLType of Connection: DSL Broadband
Speed: 3008Kbps/384Kbps,
Of course the download speed is always significantly less than what is advertised and the
upload speed is so slow that I rarely try to upload anything. The connection is unreliable and is "lost" several times a day. This interupts downloads and requires rebooting the modem..it gets tedious. They have raised the price ten dollars per month in the last two years. The last one jumped up 6.00/mo.in Dec.2016. They are getting very close to the point where their somewhat mediocre service levels will no longer be worth the buffering,sputtering,freezing,slowness,
connection losses,and the increasing prices. One more price increase without improved service will send me elsewhere. The connection was just lost have to reset the modem now...see what I mean???
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AT&T 1.5mb service
Amount: $50.00
Posted by: ThereHasToBeABetterWay in Winfield, IL.Posted: September 1st, 2016 12:09PM
Provider: AT&TType of Connection: DSL U-verse
Speed: 1.5mb
AT&T just added on equipment rental fees, so now I am paying $50/mo for 1.5mb download service.
No TV, no phone, just internet.
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Park Region is pricey compared to national average
Amount: $58.98
Posted by: Device Tattoo in Dalton, MN.Posted: July 8th, 2016 04:07AM
Provider: Park RegionType of Connection: DSL
Speed: 235-249kbs
For the price i'm paying i believe Park Region is a complete RIP OFF! The speed is a miserably slow @ 2mbps for the basic plan. They offer faster plans if your willing to spend spend spend each month.
Maybe i'm too use to East Coast cable (NJ), where you pay for a plan but it has nothing to do with "speed". instead it depends entirely on the line running down your street. I was fortunate enough to have a T1 cable connection there for awhile. zoooom!
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Near Houston
Amount: $111.00
Posted by: Sp1n in Brazoria, TX.Posted: May 26th, 2016 06:05PM
Provider: Coastal LinkType of Connection: Cable
Speed: 20mbps down 1.5 mbps up
Before I start I will post information readily available from netflix.
Below are the Internet download speed recommendations per stream for playing movies and TV shows through Netflix.
0.5 Megabits per second - Required broadband connection speed
1.5 Megabits per second - Recommended broadband connection speed
3.0 Megabits per second - Recommended for SD quality
5.0 Megabits per second - Recommended for HD quality
25 Megabits per second - Recommended for Ultra HD quality
I w@H, I have security cameras, and i also have satelite that uses my internet speed for vod and these speeds are not enough. I can't game and stream at the same time nor much else tbh. I know what I'm doing in this field and have been working in it for 7 years now. It would be nice if we could pass a law that would provide us with equal access across the country instead of catering to certain criteria. I wouldnt even mind paying more as I was paying 165 for business class cable where i was for 50/5.
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Criminal
Amount: $74.00
Posted by: Tom Goll in Nashua, NH.Posted: May 22nd, 2016 05:05AM
Speed: 25
Way too much for just internet. Comcast has a monopoly in NH
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internet
Amount: $64.95
Posted by: a user in hebron, IL.Posted: May 20th, 2016 05:05AM
Provider: mediacomType of Connection: cable
Speed: fast
reliable95% late fee if one day late 8 dollars
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highway robbery
Amount: $180.00
Posted by: kamo22 in houston, TX.Posted: April 30th, 2016 05:04PM
Provider: comcastType of Connection: cable
Speed: 25down 4-5up
i look at my bill and the bundle alone cost $120.
so that means $60. in equipment and made up fees and surcharges,the TV service is just crap with signal glitch and blackout on-demand works when it feels like , service calls are pointless nothing ever gets fixed.
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Alaskan Communications
Amount: $75.00
Posted by: Alaska Comms. in Anchorage, AK.Posted: April 8th, 2016 08:04PM
Speed: 3.7/0.7 Mbp
Have had Alaska communications since they were called ACS. Had one problem since then... love their unlimited vs the throttling GCI....
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Cincinnati Bell
Amount: $80.00
Posted by: dissatisfied cincinnati bell customer in cincinnati, OH.Posted: March 24th, 2016 08:03PM
Provider: Cincinnati BellType of Connection: Fioptics
Speed: claims 20mbps
i do not recommend this company. Not good internet speed, with constant problems. when you memorize a busines phone number, you know its bad. i usually get around 7-9 mbps download...false advertisement.
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Fidelity communications cable
Amount: $60.00
Posted by: Eli Protiva in Rolla, MO.Posted: December 28th, 2015 07:12PM
Speed: 20dn/2up
The service disconnects randomly.
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cable internet only
Amount: $60.00
Posted by: chilehead in greenville, SC.Posted: August 19th, 2015 06:08AM
Provider: charterType of Connection: cable
Speed: 50 Mbps down
Was on a promo for $40/month, now its $60/month. I stream everything, so do not want cable TV. Now I pay the internet only, no bundle price. Would pay $40 for 25 Mbps, but they do not offer it.
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Cox Communications does ONE thing well
Amount: $66.00
Posted by: clint in San Diego, CA.Posted: August 3rd, 2015 01:08AM
Provider: CoxType of Connection: Cable
Speed: DL 60Mbps/ UL 8 Mbps
When I got cox high speed internet back in 2001 it was only $25.00 but then they started doing that bundle crap. The more services you have the lower your bill.. Their TV service is sub-par, their phone service is useless since no one has a LAN line but their internet has always been reliable even if it has gone up $41 dollars in the past 15 years.
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mid hudson Cablevision sucks a big one
Amount: $80.00
Posted by: a user in Catskill, NY.Posted: December 27th, 2014 09:12PM
Speed: 5mb download
Supposed to be 5mbs but consistent 2.5mbs.
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Limited choice in our Area
Amount: $80.00
Posted by: Stevie G in Toledo, OH.Posted: October 9th, 2014 01:10PM
Provider: Buckeye CableType of Connection: Cable
Speed: 50Mbps (Download) / 5Mbps(upload)
Was Paying $50/mo for 33mbps at a promotional price, then was going up to $92/mo.
I Was also getting 250 Gb/mo of usage.
Now getting 500 Gb/mo
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High price of data in the country
Amount: $60.00
Posted by: Ron Jermy in Granite Falls, MN.Posted: May 27th, 2014 07:05PM
Provider: Mvtv WirelessType of Connection: Tower
Speed: 2.5 mbps
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Time Warner Expensive
Amount: $200.27
Posted by: lesighinwi in Silver Lake, WI.Posted: May 22nd, 2014 11:05AM
Provider: Time WarnerType of Connection: Cable
Speed: 20mbps
Unfortunatly we only have Time Warner available in our little town, and for a gamer, sat internet is not an option. We have cable TV, phone, and net in a bundle and cannot get a lower price.
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very happy with my dsl
Amount: $30.00
Posted by: saul cabrera in yakima, WA.Posted: September 23rd, 2013 09:09AM
Speed: 12 mps
This internet is pretty fast and reliable.
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charter
Amount: $56.00
Posted by: mad in wausau, WI.Posted: January 28th, 2013 09:01AM
Provider: charter internetType of Connection:
Speed: 1.5 to 3
to be told it was so fast during the day it is so slow at night its ok
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Comcast Xfinity + Digital TV = 141
Amount: $141.00
Posted by: Kiyoshi in Maltby, WA.Posted: January 14th, 2013 06:01AM
Provider: comcastType of Connection: cable
Speed: 20 mbps down/6 mbps up
The performance is good, but the bundled cost is expensive. How much do others pay for the same service and performance?

I am submitting on Jan 14, 2013. (The dropdown box doesn't show 2013!)
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External Resources:
  1.  www.netzero.net/
  2.  www.juno.com/
  3.  www.earthlink.net/access/
  4.  www.att.com/dsl/start/index.jsp?_requestid=1830
  5.  www.att.com/dsl/start/index.jsp?_requestid=1833
  6.  /www.comcast.com/localization/localize.cspx?Referer=%2fshop%2fbuyflow2%2fproducts....
  7.  www22.verizon.com/home/fios-fastest-internet/fastest-internet-plans/
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