Best Internet Deals for July 2023 – CNET

Frontier logo Frontier logo

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Frontier Fiber offers a few plan selections, but for a one-size-fits-all internet deal, the Fiber 500 plan is tough to beat. Symmetrical download and upload speeds of up to 500Mbps are more than enough for just about any household, and the $60 price ($50 in select areas, and don’t forget to sign up for autopay) is lower than you’ll find from many other providers for comparable, or even slower, speeds.

Wi-Fi equipment is also included at no extra cost, as is unlimited data. Contracts aren’t required with Frontier internet unless you opt to receive a signup bonus offer.

Frontier Fiber internet special offers

On all plans excluding the new Fiber 5 Gig speed tier, your included router is an Amazon Eero 6 Plus. Fiber 5 Gig comes with a 5TP-Link Archer AXE300 6E. 

Additionally, Frontier’s 2 Gig plan, which starts at $100 per month in select areas, also comes with a $200 gift card for a limited time.

Read our Frontier internet review.

Price range $50 – $120 per monthSpeed range 300 – 2,000MbpsConnection FiberHighlights Unlimited data, no contracts, free equipment with gig service

att-logo-2 att-logo-2

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With fast, symmetrical speeds, unlimited data, no equipment fees and no contract requirements, AT&T Fiber plans are a great deal on their own. Select areas will have three plans to choose from with max speeds of 300Mbps, 500Mbps or 1Gbps, while many will have two additional multigig options (2 or 5Gbps). 

The selection of high-speed, fair-priced plans you get with AT&T Fiber is arguably the best you’ll find from any provider.

AT&T Fiber internet special offers

AT&T isn’t as creative as Verizon Fios when it comes to rewarding new customers, but it is still more rewarding than most. You can typically expect a gift card from AT&T, and that’s what the provider is currently offering. The exact amount may vary by location — some areas may see a $100 to $150 gift card, depending on the plan you sign up for — but some sort of a gift card is available with all AT&T Fiber plans. 

AT&T Fiber is also running a contract buyout promotion that offers to pay your cancellation fee with another provider in full when you switch.

Read our AT&T Fiber review.

Price range $30 – $70 per monthSpeed range 200 – 940MbpsConnection FiberHighlights Unlimited data, no contracts, equipment included with gigabit tier

Xfinity Logo Xfinity Logo

Sarah Tew/CNET

It wasn’t too long ago that bundling internet and TV service together with the same provider came with some serious savings. Now, you’d be lucky to get any discount for bundling internet and TV. Unless you live in an area serviceable for Xfinity, that is.

Xfinity offers a discount for each bundled service. With internet, TV, home phone, mobile data and home security plans available in select areas, that could add up to $50 or more in monthly savings. 

Xfinity internet special offers

New customers who sign up for Xfinity Connect More, a 200Mbps plan starting at $25 per month for 24 months, can get their Wi-Fi equipment rental included at no extra cost. The plan, along with other Xfinity internet plans, also includes unlimited data in select areas.

Read our Xfinity internet review.

Price range $50 – $70 per month (50% off for eligible 5G mobile customers)Speed range 85 – 1,000MbpsConnection Fixed wirelessHighlights Unlimited data, no contracts, free equipment, 50% discount for qualifying Verizon mobile customers

COX COX

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For those who prefer internet service on their terms with no hassles or hidden fees, there’s Cox StraightUp Internet. Starting at $50 per month, the service comes with download speeds up to 100Mbps, free equipment, free installation and a three-year price guarantee. Additionally, no contract or credit check is required.

For a prepaid plan, Cox StraightUp Internet is a fairly good deal, but the relatively slow speeds keep it from being a great deal. Speeds of 100Mbps for $50 per month equate to a cost per Mbps of 50 cents, which is high compared to most internet plans. On the other hand, the convenience of a prepaid service, along with no data cap, free equipment and a three-year price guarantee go a long way to make up for the high cost per Mbps.

Cox internet special offers

There are currently no limited-time promotions available to new Cox internet customers.

Read our Cox review.

Other internet deals to look out for

Internet deals and promos vary by provider and providers vary by location, so there could be any number of deals available at your address. Here are some other noteworthy deals in addition to the ones listed above that you may want to consider.

Astound: Free service, gift cards, free install. Astound’s internet offers vary by location and are a bit all over the place. New York City customers can get the biggest payout — two free months of service and a gift card up to $100 when signing up for the provider’s fastest plan. In other areas where Astound service is available, promotional offers and plan details will vary.

Kinetic: Up to $200 in gift cards. Windstream by Kinetic is giving away gift cards in the amount of $100 or $200 to new customers in select areas.

Optimum: $100 gift card with 1 Gig plan. New Optimum internet customers can sign up for the 1 Gig plan and receive a $100 gift card. Additional savings when you bundle with Optimum Mobile Unlimited are also available with all Optimum internet plans.

T-Mobile 5G Home Internet: Savings for eligible T-Mobile Magenta Max customers. Qualifying T-Mobile customers can get $20 off their 5G home internet service, bringing the cost down to $30 per month for speeds ranging from 33 to 182Mbps.

WOW Internet: Up to $300 in gift cards. Wide Open West incentivizes customers to opt for faster speed tiers. Starting with the Internet 200 plan, customers can get a gift card ranging from $50 to $300, depending on the plan you choose.

Ziply Fiber: Free month and installation. New Ziply Fiber customers can get free installation and a free month of service when they sign up for any plan. 

Internet deals FAQs

What’s the best internet deal?

A plan with low cost per Mbps will often be the better internet deal. Look for plans that offer fast speeds for relatively low pricing. 

For example, Frontier Fiber 500 includes max download and upload speeds of 500Mbps, starting at $60 a month for a cost per Mbps of 12 cents. Compare that to a similarly priced plan or one even cheaper from another provider — such as the Cox Essential plan, which has a lower starting price at $40 a month, but significantly lower download (100Mbps) and upload (just 5Mbps) speeds — and you’ll likely find Frontier Fiber 500 to be the much better internet deal.

If you have the luxury of facing similar pricing and speed options from multiple providers, look for special promotions, equipment costs, contract requirements and other service factors to determine which provider has the best deal.

What internet deals are available to students and seniors?

Most major providers have a discount internet program available to qualifying low-income households, including those with students and seniors. Plans are typically in the $20 to $30 range and often come with broadband speeds of 25Mbps or higher. Additionally, Lifeline is a federal program that grants eligible households up to $9.25 per month to apply to their internet costs. 

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