4 Keys for Finding Today's Cheapest Internet Offers

4 Keys for Finding Today's Cheapest Internet Offers

July 07, 2020Internet Services

The Internet is a necessity in today's world, especially when most of the things we need to do now need to be done from home, including work, school, banking, and our social lives. But just because you need the internet doesn't mean you need to be paying out the nose for service. The key to finding the cheapest internet is all in the details.

4 Keys for Finding Today's Cheapest Internet Offers

1. Get Only the Speed You Need

Internet speed is probably the single most costly factor that will determine the price of your internet connection. The less speed you have, the less you pay, but that doesn't mean that less speed is better. If anything, less speed will cost you time, energy, and frustration.

So, what do you do? Know what you use the internet for and plan your internet speed needs accordingly.

What You Need for Basic Internet vs Streaming/Gaming

A basic internet package these days will have about 100mbps, which is a standard internet speed used by most people who only need to access the internet for things such as emails, banking, or shopping. But if you have internet habits that take up more bandwidth than the basic user, you're going to need more speed and that will cost you a little more cash.

If your internet habits include downloading music, streaming videos, attending Zoom meetings, or gaming online, then the average internet speed you need will be 100 to 200mbps. The sweet spot that can handle the most devices, such as multiple computers, phones, or tablets, is about 150mbps, which can enable you and everyone in your household to use the internet for all these data-large tasks without any lag.

2. Go for Cable Instead of Fiber Optics

Your internet service can be piped to your computer a few different ways, such as with satellite, but the two most common methods are cable and fiber optics.

Cable internet is by far the most common type of internet, but it also is more prone to outages; fiber optics connections, on the other hand, are faster, but they're also more expensive and harder to come by. The choice between cable and fiber optics will directly impact the average cost of your internet bill, so choose wisely.

Why Fiber Optics Is More Expensive

Fiber optics are more expensive because they're harder to mass-produce and install. Of course, fiber optics are also becoming more popular among internet service providers, largely because the connection is more stable than copper cable, so their current expense might not last.

3. Consider Customer Service Costs

There will come a time when your internet service provider will need to help you remotely reset your router or visit your residence to service the internet connection. When that time comes, you should be aware that you may be incurring customer service costs.

In fact, if you do need in-person internet repair, you can expect an extra cost added to your next internet bill. That said, if you want to pay for the cheapest internet possible, read the fine print on what repair services might cost you if the need ever arises.

4. Look for Bundles

Another way to find the cheapest internet is to look for the internet that is bundled in with cable packages. Bundles are like a two-for-one deal where you are able to pay for two services at once, and this usually has the side-benefit of lowering the cost of both services.

There are also bundles that allow you to add in a home phone or fax connection, as well as streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime.

What Are Bundle Advantages?

One of the biggest advantages of a bundled cable-and-internet service is the fact that a bundled package may mean you are able to afford a faster internet connection. In fact, many cable companies throw in faster internet speed when you upgrade to a bundle or a promotional deal, which means you'll be getting a boost in your overall internet speed.

Finding a cheap internet deal is all about paying attention to the numbers and the details. It's also about more than a little self-awareness, especially when it comes to your internet habits. For example, if you know your internet habits then you know the amount of internet speed you should be looking for, which can help lower your monthly cost because you aren't paying for more than what you need.

Going for the right type of internet is also important, as cable internet may allow you to save money and bundle in a cable service so that you are only paying one bill.

Whether it's getting only the internet speed you need or being smart with bundling your services, you can learn more about how to find the cheapest internet using our internet provider comparison page.

Suscríbete al boletín