How To Get Cheap Internet Faster Than This Search
Saving money is important and it helps if you can cut costs on necessary but costly expenses, such as Internet access. If you are happy with your provider, but not your bill, then you can try negotiating. When you save on bills, including your internet bill, you have more room in your budget.
If you are looking for ways on how to get cheap internet, these tips can help you.
Buy Your Own Router And Modem
If you plan to stay with your current internet provider for a few years then it can be more cost-effective to get your own hardware, instead of renting it. Providers will charge between $10 and $15 every month in order for you to rent their equipment. If you stay with the company for just two years, those costs can be between $240 and $360. You can get your own top-rated router and modem for around $200. Keep in mind that if you are using this trick for how to get cheap Internet, some providers won’t offer any troubleshooting or support for personal hardware so you may need to rely on some tech-savvy individuals in your life.
Determine What Type Of Internet Services Works For You
There are different Internet connections available to you. Broadband is now considered the general term for any service that is quicker than dial-up.
DSL
This option is delivered with a standard telephone line. For the average home and user who just casually surfs the Internet and occasionally streams TV shows, music, and movies, this type of connection is sufficient. It can be a much cheaper option when compared to other Internet options. You will find that it’s usually fast enough for you to stream HD video but likely on only one device. This is important to note if you have a roommate or live with teenagers.
Cable Internet
This is delivered by your cable TV provider. Cable Internet is usually faster than DSL but more expensive. The number of users in your area can have an impact on the connection speeds and this results in slow service during some peak usage times.
Fiber Optic
This is a relatively new option and your Internet is delivered through a fiber optic cable system. It can deliver information over longer distances and faster. This service may not be available in your area since most businesses and homes aren’t wired for this type of Internet.
Other alternatives
In addition to broadband options, there are also alternatives as more technology becomes available. Some customers are just relying exclusively on wireless 4G data from their cell phone provider. If you get reliable service from your existing cell phone provider, such as Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, or AT&T, then you can have speeds between 3 and 40 Mbps, which is actually what’s in line with broadband options. This means you are able to take the Internet with you wherever you go.
Determine Your Speed
In addition to choosing the right type of internet service, you also need to determine your speed. Some providers take speed to the next level and while it’s great if you need that level of service, you likely don’t. Dropping to a more appropriate and lower speed can reduce your monthly bill. Use a chart to determine the speed you need and then contact the provider to lower your current plan. The recommended speeds assume that multiple devices are doing the activities listed so you are able to adjust down if you don't have more than one streaming video at a time.
For example, if you have one to three devices needing standard web browsing and email services with HD video streaming, you only need about 18 Mbps.
However, if you want online gaming, you should consider 30 Mbps.
Consider what you are using your Internet for and don’t pay for more speed than you need. If you decide that your Internet speed is too slow for your needs once you have downgraded, you don’t need to worry since the provider will gladly sell you a faster one in the future.
Negotiate the Bill
You don’t need to be a salesperson to negotiate your bill. Even with a non-competitive environment, Internet providers do place a lot of value on you as a customer. Negotiating comes down to two things. Being prepared to cancel so they make offers in order to keep you and being polite to the person you are speaking to.
First, look at your situation. Do you pay your bill on time? Are you near the end of the contract? If the answer is yes to both questions then you are in a better place to negotiate. Calculate how much you pay yearly so that you can quote that number to the representative you are speaking to. Negotiations may be tricky when you are in the middle of the contract. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t try if the cancellation fee is less than what you could be potentially saving. Be sure to have the full picture before you get on the phone, including promotions you have taken advantage of, price hikes during your contract, and any issues you have experienced.
Do your research and familiarize yourself with other options in your area. There will have to be consequences if the sales rep doesn’t lower the price and that consequence is you taking your business somewhere else. If you live in an area with only one Internet provider, it means that you live in an area where negotiations can be an uphill battle. Get on the phone with the competition and be sure to note what they are offering. Chances are that you will get a sign-up deal when you go with them, which means that you have some bargaining power when you negotiate with your current provider. You can also ask around to see what family and friends are paying for the service if they have the same provider. If they are paying more than you then be sure to bring this up during your call.
You can apply strategies you learn here for negotiating bills to any bill, not just this one. Here on Billry, you can also learn how to save that extra money you’re left with when you get the best deal anywhere you can. It’s important that all this money doesn’t go to waste.
Bundle Services
If you already have cable then you can save a lot if you bundle your Internet and cable plans. However, be alert if the provider is trying to upsell you. Carriers will try to talk you into extra channels or speed for just $5 a month but this small increase adds up over time and will defeat the purpose if your goal is learning how to get cheap Internet. If you don’t already have cable then this option may not work for you.
If you sign an extended contract then it’s easier to save. This works if you know you are going to be living in a place for an extended period of time. Just remember that you will need to shop around once your contract ends since the rate can go up once the promotional price expires.
Check On Government Subsidies
The government has subsidies for Internet access if you are already enrolled in certain government programs or are below a specific income threshold. Check with the Federal Communications Commission website to learn about income requirements.
Get a Bare-Bones Internet Service
If you really want to learn how to get cheap Internet then find the cheapest prepaid data-only plans for a mobile hotspot device. These plans are only suitable for activities such as email or social media and are not made for gaming or streaming.
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Order Your Service Online
There may be a discount if you set up your Internet service online. This could be because you won’t have to talk to someone and use up customer service hours that are valuable. It can be a very smooth process and, if you are Internet savvy, it may not be any different than talking to an individual to set up service.
Skip Wi-Fi At Home
Depending on your needs when learning how to get cheap Internet, you may just decide to skip paying for Internet at home and rely on your workplace or public Wi-Fi. In addition to public places, such as libraries, other businesses are offering Wi-Fi to customers. This can be a good option if you aren’t a regular user. However, if you do go with this option, you don’t want to send or access any personally identifying information, such as your credit card or bank account, when using unsecured public access. You may also feel like you need to get a drink at your local coffee shop if you are spending hours there using the Internet so you may not be saving much money.
Cheap Internet Providers
The question we ask ourself often is “How do I save?”. One of the ways is to get cheap internet from your internet service provider. When researching how to get cheap Internet, you will come across different options that may be useful to you.
You can’t get any cheaper than free and this is what you get with this service. Freedom Pop offers a mobile internet plan that allows you to have 500 MP of free data. There is a catch, as there often is with anything free. You do need to make a one-time purchase of a mobile hotspot that is your Wi-Fi hub. If you hit your data limit then its costs are pretty expensive and add up quickly. This can be a great option for someone that just wants to browse the web and check email at a cheap rate. However, if you are a moderate to heavy Internet user and need to work online or stream videos or games then it helps to get a more conventional plan.
T-Mobile offers Internet plans that start at $10 a month and you can get a decent amount of data. Once again, this type of plan doesn’t suffice if you are always watching Netflix or rely on streaming video instead of cutting the cord.
This company has been around for a while and is known as a cheap Internet provider. There is a free plan for those who don’t use the Internet very often and then plans range based on how much you are going to use.
Juno is also a cheap Internet provider that has been around for a while. It’s a no-frills DSL service and speeds aren’t that fast. For those who don’t need to rely on the Internet for everything they do and don’t need the fastest Internet available, you can save money over the course of a year.
Tips For Choosing Your Internet Service Provider
One of the main ways to learn how to get cheap Internet is by choosing the right internet service provider. You have to wade through package choices, contract details, and tons of fine print so you want to make sure you find the right one.
Find Providers in Your Area
Not every provider is going to be available in your area. Coverage areas vary by provider so your options may be limited from the beginning. Prices, package lineups, special offers, and speeds can also vary by location and what you see online may not be what you get. Check the availability of the package you want in your area before you decide it’s the right one for you. Many providers have different pricing structures for different areas so you could possibly pay more or less if you move. In order to find providers, it’s best to use a service to pull all the Internet service provider info from your area into one convenient place so that you don’t just have to call all the providers.
Compare Plans
Once you have providers it’s time to narrow down your choices. You need to look at the pricing, plans, speeds, installation and equipment costs, data caps, and customer satisfaction ratings. While satisfaction ratings may not be a huge concern for you, it helps to know what other people in your area think of the service, especially if there are frequent outages.
Figure Out Your Needs
When learning how to get cheap Internet, the main step is really figuring out your needs. This way, you aren’t paying for more than you need and you aren’t going to be hit with data caps and overage fees if you are using more than you pay for. You can use handy online tools in order to figure this out so you have the right speed and data for your situation. When evaluating your Internet speed, there are questions you can ask yourself. How often do you stream video in HD? How many people are streaming in your home on a regular basis? How many smart devices are connected to your Internet? Keep in mind that each smart device you have connected, such as a security camera that uploads data continuously, can eat up the bandwidth quickly.
Test Your Internet Speed
When you know what Internet speed you need, test your current connection to see how it matches up. You may already have an idea of how happy you are with your current Internet. By testing the speed to see what your actual speed is, it helps give you a benchmark to compare against other packages and providers. There are plenty of free tools online to test your current speed.
Know if You Are Switching Providers
If you are looking into another provider while you learn how to get cheap Internet then you will need to know if you are currently under a service agreement. Ending one of these agreements or contracts could cost you a lot of money in early termination fees. While some providers have moved to a contract-free model, especially in the last few years, you will still be required to pay for certain ones. It can be hard to get out of these fees. Many providers are very strict about enforcing them. In addition to the termination fees, you will be responsible for returning the old equipment. Usually, this can just be a matter of taking the pieces to a designated dropoff point but each provider will have different instructions.
Choose the Provider
Finally, after you have done your research, it’s time for the exciting part of choosing your provider. With all the research you have done on the providers in your area and how to get cheap Internet, you can feel confident in your choice.
Conclusion
Learning how to get cheap Internet can be a great way to lower your monthly bills and fit this necessary service into your budget. There are plenty of different things you can do when learning how to get cheap Internet. The most important part is to think about your needs. Getting cheap Internet isn’t going to help you much if you aren’t able to use the Internet in a way that benefits you or you are slapped with overage fees from using too much data. If you are hoping to stick with your current provider, use the tips in order to negotiate a lower bill.