When the time comes to shop for home internet, and you share the sentiments of thousands of Americans who hate their internet service providers, you probably won’t be thrilled about the prospect of sifting through ISP promotional offers for hours. It can be tempting to just buy whatever convenient internet plan your friends and neighbors are using.
And while, yes, we’re sorely limited in our internet options depending on where we live, keep in mind that you’ll have to live with the internet plan you pick. If it’s too slow, you’ll be picking up the phone in a few months to call customer service again. If you’re getting lured into a plan with hidden fees and promo pricing, you might find your bill doubling after a year or a few months have passed.
I’ve read hours of internet service plan offerings — and the customer service reviews about those offerings. To get a decent internet deal that saves you money over time and comes with speeds that can keep up with your internet usage, here are the top 10 mistakes to avoid as an internet shopper.
1. You’re not sure how much internet speed you need
Xfinity’s FCC-mandated broadband nutrition label displays the “post-introductory price” after one year of service: the monthly cost jumps from $55 to $89.
Screenshot by Cierra Noffke/CNET
Internet providers are profit-motivated, first. If you stumble upon a cheap internet plan or deal that seems too good to be true, it probably is. Plus, if you decide to call before you do some research, your customer service representative will probably try to talk you into either upgrading to a faster (more expensive) plan or adding some services you simply don’t need.
Pricing traps and promotional bait are popular among ISPs. Always read the fine print — especially before you call. If you’re not careful, you could be roped into a two-year contract, with your bill increasing exponentially in the next year. Cable providers Xfinity, Astound and Spectrum are notorious for price increases after a promotional period.
4. You’re not reading the fine print to look for contracts, hidden fees or data caps
How do I shop for internet?
It may seem daunting to buy your own router, but the decision could save you money in the long run. Most routers cost around $200, which should pay for itself after a year since many ISPs charge $10 to $15 for equipment rental. If you buy your own router, your ISP won’t be able to offer tech support if there’s an issue with the equipment, but router manufacturers often come with their own tech support anyway. Plus, newer routers often perform better than the routers ISPs rent out — CNET broadband writer Joe Supan bought his own router (which saved him nearly $1,000), and he saw improved upload speeds with his cable internet.
What is the best internet plan for home internet?
Shopping for internet is overwhelming when you’re not sure what to look for. Once you’ve determined what internet providers are available at your address, there are a few things to keep an eye out for when comparing plans:
The internet connection type: There are a few different internet connection types, and each comes with different benefits and drawbacks. You’ll be limited to what’s available at your address, but there’s a chance you’ll be eligible for either fiber internet, cable internet, cellular internet like 5G internet, satellite internet or DSL. Fiber internet is the fastest internet connection type but the least available. Cable internet offers decent speeds for decent prices, albeit with much slower upload speeds. 5G is an increasingly popular wireless option; satellite and DSL should be your last resort.
Promo pricing and price traps: Watch for flashy advertising and low prices. ISPs tend to use the bait-and-switch approach with some internet plans: a low promotional price seems alluring, but after a year of service, that price may double. Always read the broadband nutrition labels on the ISP website. You may want to switch to another internet provider or a new plan after the promo pricing is up.
Cost per Mbps: The cost per Mbps is a great way to evaluate the cost-efficiency of an internet plan. First, consider how much speed you actually need. Next, find a plan with those speeds and divide the monthly rate by the advertised speeds. You’ll come up with the cost per Mbps for each plan; a good rule of thumb is sticking to plans with a cost of 25 cents or lower per Mbps.
Data caps: Does your plan have a data cap? Read through the broadband nutrition label and the terms of service to find out. Sometimes, ISPs won’t post their “soft caps” on the broadband labels, so you’ll have to read the fine print to make sure.
Contracts: Does your ISP enforce a contract? Again, carefully read the terms of service to ensure you’re not entering into a contract agreement. You’ll have to pay a hefty termination fee to cancel.
Hidden fees: ISPs are also notorious for adding extra costs to your monthly internet rate. Double-check your broadband label to see how much you’ll actually be paying for internet each month. If you’re trying to lower the monthly cost, consider buying your router up-front. You can also call to negotiate with your ISP about waiving some of those fees.
Tech support: If you can pick a plan with good tech support, do it. Home internet is subject to outages, equipment failure or other issues beyond our control. Having a good tech support system is key to troubleshooting those issues quickly and efficiently.
