Free and low-income internet options

If your household makes less than or equal to 200% of the federal poverty level (for example, $55,500/year for a family of four, $27,180/year for an individual) or you qualify for certain government assistance programs, you are a good candidate for getting help with paying for monthly internet service from the U.S. government or internet provider programs.

Nearly 30 million U.S. homes lack internet, and 18 million of those do not have it because they cannot afford it, according to the Education Super Highway’s No Home Left Offline Report.

“Affordability has now emerged as the number one barrier to closing the digital divide. We have a historic opportunity to close two-thirds of the digital divide by connecting 18 million households that have access to the Internet but can’t afford to connect,” said Evan Marwell, founder and CEO of EducationSuperHighway.

Government-funded broadband assistance

The federal government’s Lifeline program was created to assist limited-income households in affording internet.

Lifeline provides a discount of $9.25/mo. (or $34.25/mo. for people on Tribal lands). You can use it on a landline, a cellphone plan, home internet service or even an internet and phone bundle. 

Qualifying for Lifeline

If you or someone in your household participate in a federal assistance program, you may qualify for Lifeline. Those programs include Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Veterans Pension, Survivors Benefits and more. Check if you are eligible.

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) ended on June 1, 2024, due to a lack of government funding. This impacted over 20 million Americans’ access to the internet, half of which were military households.

Low-income internet programs by provider

Many internet service providers (ISPs) also offer their own low-income assistance programs to provide affordable internet access. For their student-only, low-cost programs, the ISP may require additional verifications. If you don’t qualify for a discounted internet program, check out some cheap Wi-Fi plans.

Filter your results:

Xfinity Internet Essentials 

The Xfinity Internet Essentials Program provides eligible customers discounted internet—either 75 Mbps for $14.95/mo. or 100 Mbps for $29.95/mo. You can qualify for Xfinity Internet Essentials if:

• You participate in a qualifying government assistance program such as the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), housing assistance, Medicaid or SNAP. 
• You are not an existing Xfinity internet customer
• You have no outstanding Comcast balance

Learn more about Xfinity’s Internet Essentials Program 

Spectrum Internet Assist

Spectrum Internet Assist provides qualifying customers with 50 Mbps of internet speed for $25.00/mo. In addition, an unlimited mobile line is included for one year and there are no data caps or contracts. 

To qualify, a member of your household must participate in one of the following programs: 

• NSLP
• The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) of the NSLP
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Learn more about Spectrum Internet Assist

Access from AT&T

Access from AT&T provides eligible households with 100 Mbps for $30.00/mo.* or up to $20.00 off per month on fiber plans ranging from 300 to 1,000 Mbps. 

You can qualify for Access from AT&T if you participate in a government assistance program such as: 

• Housing assistance
• Medicaid
• NSLP
• SNAP

*For a full list of qualifying programs, visit AT&T or learn more about Access from AT&T.   availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. Speeds may vary. As of 03/12/26.

How to qualify for low-income internet

Internet shoppers can receive discounted internet if their income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or if a household member receives a government benefit such as SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, WIC, Pell Grant or free and reduced-price lunch. A household can also qualify if someone participates in a Tribal-specific program.

Saving money on internet costs

If you’re struggling to pay for internet service but don’t qualify for one of the programs above, you can explore cheap internet options from a variety of providers and take other steps to reduce your bill, such as buying your own equipment if it’s cheaper and keeping an eye on hidden internet fees.

Another option is to rely on free public Wi-Fi if you live near any stores, cafes, public parks or other establishments offering free internet.

Additionally, don’t be afraid to ask providers about discounts. Many ISPs offer discounts for military and veteran families and senior citizens.

Call our experts today to learn more about affordable internet options in your area.

Low-income internet FAQs

Written by

Robin Layton

Senior Editor, Broadband Content

Robin Layton is a Senior Editor for Allconnect, dedicated to helping consumers navigate the often-co… View profile

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Anine Sus

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