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Best cost-efficient seniors internet deal
Best cheap seniors internet plan
Best seniors internet plan to bundle with a mobile plan
Best seniors internet plan for speed
Best seniors internet plan to bundle with Wi-Fi
Most comprehensive seniors internet plan
Best seniors internet for military veterans
Shopping for internet and navigating flashy promotional pricing can be overwhelming when you’re not sure what to look for. Finding cheap internet is essential for seniors and retirees looking for a reliable internet connection that fits a fixed-income budget.
Arecent survey also found that 63% of adults are paying more for internet this year than last year for roughly the same speeds. Now, more than ever, it’s vital to find an internet plan that doesn’t break the bank.
To help you decide which internet deal is best for you, we’ve compiled a list of the top internet discounts based on cost, added fees, service details and military status and have provided you with our top picks.
Read more: Check out the best monthly internet deals.
Tips for choosing the best internet plan
Start with government programs
Unlike your local diner, most internet service providers don’t offer senior discounts. There are low-income deals worth exploring (and we’ll get into them later), but your best bet is to begin by taking advantage of federal programs. One such plan jumps to mind and has been around since 1985.
Lifeline is a decades-old program that can help eligible customers with phone or internet bills. While it’s not specifically geared to older citizens, several of its qualifiers — including participation in Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income, Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit — apply to seniors. Lifeline aims to help low-income households, so retirees on an exceptionally tight, fixed income, including those in Federal Public Housing Assistance or those using the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, might be able to participate.
What do you get if you do qualify? Older people can get up to $9.25 a month off their internet bill or $111 a year off the cost of being connected at home.
Be sure to check our low-income internet guide for all 50 states. Depending on where you live, there may be statewide or community-led programs.
Try to avoid scams
Beware of some ISP sites with “senior deals” pages, which are often ads masquerading as helpful tips. They’re trying to sell you on higher-speed plans instead of showing you legitimate discounts or unveiling special deals. Unless you have some heavy streamers, gamers or remote workers in your house, you probably don’t need all the speed offered in those plans. The Federal Communications Commission’s guidelines advise at least 100 megabits per second in download speed and 20Mbps in upload speed, with a recommendation of at least 25Mbps for streaming in HD 4K.
Also, be sure to pay close attention to the fine print. If a “senior deal” doesn’t explicitly mention data caps or additional fees, you might see extra charges added to your bill. Know precisely what you’re paying for before you buy. To avoid paying more, read our guide on how to spot those hidden fees better.
What’s the cheapest internet service for older adults?
Our top picks for the cheapest internet for seniors are Xfinity’s Internet Essentials plan and Astound Broadband’s Internet First plan. Xfinity’s plan costs $15 monthly for 75Mbps of speed, and Astound’s plan costs $20 monthly for 150Mbps. Although Xfinity’s plan is slightly cheaper than Astound’s plan, you’ll get more speed for a better cost per Mbps with Astound. Both plans are targeted at low-income households and people over 65 who participate in Medicaid or SSI. With no data caps or required credit checks, these budget-friendly plans are perfect for households with light internet usage (like streaming, shopping online or checking your email).
Best internet deals and discounts for seniors
Our take – Internet First, Astound’s affordable internet plan, is $20 monthly and offers up to 150Mbps download speeds. The plan is available in California, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Texas, Washington and the District of Columbia. No contracts or credit checks are required. Although not exclusively for seniors, it’s available to eligible low-income households and participants in SSI or Medicaid. In addition, Astound is offering the first three months for free with no installation fees. The modem is included, but customers can add a Whole-Home Wi-Fi device for $5 a month.
75 – 100 Mbps
$15 – $30 per month
Our take – You may be eligible for Xfinity’s Internet Essentials plans if you’re a senior who participates in Medicaid or SSI, receives a VA pension and more. You might also be eligible for these plans if you’ve not accessed Xfinity’s services for the last 90 days. Xfinity offers an Internet Essentials plan for 75Mbps running for $15 monthly and an Internet Essentials Plus plan with 100Mbps running for $30 monthly. Neither plan enforces a data cap or requires a credit check. Participants also get free access to Xfinity Wi-Fi hotspots.
75 – 100 Mbps
$15 – $30 per month
Our take – People 65 and older who receive or are eligible for SSI, US military veterans receiving state or federal assistance and households participating in the National School Lunch Program qualify for Optimum Advantage Internet. Optimum also offers a low-cost plan for $15 monthly, but only has 50Mbps of speed. If you’re looking for a cheap mobile plan, you can bundle Optimum’s mobile plan with that 50Mbps plan for $40 monthly. Optimum uses T-Mobile’s 4G LTE and 5G coverage and offers 1GB of data, plus unlimited talk and text.
Our take – If you receive SSI benefits in California or participate in SNAP in any of the 22 states within the AT&T serviceability area, you’re eligible for the Access from AT&T program. This plan features download speeds of up to 100Mbps for $30 a month. Equipment is included in this plan and you won’t have to deal with any installation fees, data caps, contracts or deposits.
Our take – New customers aged 65 and over who receive SSI are eligible for Spectrum Internet Assist. It features up to 50Mbps in download speeds and 4Mbps upload for $25 a month and includes a free modem, no data caps and no contracts. Wi-Fi is available for an additional $5 a month.
Our take – ConnectAssist is geared toward low-income households without children. Several eligibility programs apply to older people, including Veterans’ Pension, Supplemental Security Income and Medicaid. For $30 a month, qualifying households can receive a 100Mbps plan — including a free modem and access to over 4 million Wi-Fi hotspots across the country. There is a monthly data cap of 1.25TB. However, you won’t be charged with overage fees if you exceed that threshold. In addition, no contracts are required and self-installation may also be available at no extra cost.
Fixed wireless
$45 – $65 per month
Our take – Rise Broadband, a popular rural internet option, features a discount of 10% off monthly internet service for retired and active military personnel. Call Rise Broadband’s customer service at 844-816-9149 to learn more about your eligibility.
Fixed wireless
$45 – $65 per month
How does internet access benefit older adults?
For many people, browsing online is a way of life. Gaming, streaming and staying connected through social media aren’t just a habit; they’re effectively a need. Some older generations may be more apprehensive about getting online, especially with the never-ending developments and changes in technology that occur so frequently.
Internet access can benefit seniors in many ways, including social connection and mental stimulation. Additionally, the absolute attachment of the internet to everyday life makes it increasingly difficult to pay bills, file taxes, or get help during an emergency without a reliable internet connection.
How can older adults stay connected online?
Two essential elements are required to stay connected online: a device for internet access and a reliable internet connection. Whether you opt for a cellphone, computer or tablet, accessing the internet from your household requires a dependable service plan. There are multiple providers and options, but the right fit for you depends on availability and what type of activities you plan to use the internet for.
What are the best social media apps for seniors?
Email is one of the most popular online tools that older generations use. It’s a great option for efficiently communicating with loved ones, regardless of distance.
Unlike email, social media outlets like Facebook, Pinterest and YouTube won’t come already downloaded onto your phone. Those three apps also make it easy for older people to interact with family and friends.
What’s the easiest way for seniors to get internet on their phones?
To access the internet on your phone, you have two options: Connecting to a home internet server or visiting a location that provides free Wi-Fi.
Some providers offer a phone and internet bundle if you want a phone plan and a household internet service. Companies like AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile offer plans that combine the two to save you money.
How chose the best internet deals for retirees
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information, drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
It doesn’t end there: We use the FCC’s website to check our data. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication. Once we have this information, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
- Are customers happy with their service?
The answer to those questions is often layered and complex, but we recommend the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three. To explore our process in more depth, visit our explainer on how we test ISPs.
What’s the final word on senior internet deals?
Older adults have access to various deals and discounts regarding home internet connections, but few companies offer plans exclusively for people over 65. Most are more targeted toward low-income households that might also include the senior demographic.
The government program Lifeline is also a way to get money knocked off your monthly broadband bill. Even if you’re unsure whether or not you’re eligible for this program, it’s worth checking out.
If you’re looking for speedier plans, the option to bundle television or mobile devices with your internet could bring decent savings. Whichever direction you choose, be sure to explore all of your options before making a final decision. Pay attention to added fees, service terms and the fine print to maximize your savings and avoid being scammed.
Internet deals for seniors FAQs
What’s the cheapest internet plan for older adults?
Xfinity’s Internet Essentials and Optimum’s Advantage Internet offer the cheapest plans. They both cost $15 monthly, though Optimum’s plan offers only 50Mbps, while Xfinity offers 75Mbps. Alternatively, the best cost-efficient low-cost plan is Astound Broadband’s Internet First plan, which costs $20 monthly for 150Mbps. All plans come with no data caps and no credit checks, but Astound allows customers to try out the plan before they buy, with three months of service for free.
What’s the best type of internet plan for retirees?
Ultimately, the best type of internet plan will come down to availability at your address and which one is best for your household needs. If you want the cheapest internet plan that’s aimed toward older people, Xfinity or Astound are the providers who offer the best deals. If you want more speed or want to bundle your service with TV or mobile devices, you’ll want to look into other plans.
Can seniors get internet service for free?
Technically, yes, but it’ll take a few maneuvers. You must be eligible for the federal program, Lifeline. It’s not explicitly for older adults, but if you participate in Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income or Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit, you may likely qualify. Once you do that, you become eligible to get up to $9.25 off the cost of phone, internet or bundled services, which may drop your bill close to $0 (depending on the cost of your internet plan).
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Can older people bundle their internet with TV service?
Do any cable companies offer discounts for older adults?
No, not specifically. Several cable internet companies feature discount programs and plans that can apply to seniors. For example, Optimum offers Optimum Advantage Internet, a 50Mbps plan for $15 a month that includes free installation, unlimited data, no contracts and a Wi-Fi router. Among the eligibility criteria are veterans receiving state or federal public assistance or people aged 65 and older who participate in Supplemental Security Income. Astound Broadband’s Internet First program and Spectrum’s Internet Assist also include the SSI participation qualification. Finally, Comcast Xfinity’s Internet Essentials accepts SSI and participation in Medicaid or a VA pension.
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Does Xfinity offer discounts for older people?
Xfinity doesn’t offer a discount that’s explicitly for older people or a 55-plus plan. But it does offer a low-cost internet plan, called Internet Essentials, which features 75Mbps and 100Mbps tiers for $15 and $30 a month, respectively. Among the qualifications are participation in Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income, public housing assistance and VA pension.
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What are the best internet discounts for veterans?
Rise Broadband is your way to go if you’re seeking a veterans discount on any internet service plan. They offer 10% off any monthly plan for those active in or retired from the military.
