Free and low-cost internet options
If internet feels unaffordable, several programs and low-cost plans can connect your home for little or nothing — here's where to look.
Key takeaways
- Lifeline and provider low-cost plans can connect eligible households cheaply.
- Being in SNAP, Medicaid, or SSI often qualifies you.
- Call 211 or ask providers directly about low-income 'connectivity' plans.
Internet is now essential for work, school, and managing money, and there are real options if the standard price is out of reach. Availability changes, so it's worth checking several at once.
Where to look for cheap or free internet:
- The federal Lifeline program, which discounts phone or internet for eligible low-income households
- Low-cost internet plans that many major providers offer to qualifying families (often tied to programs like SNAP, Medicaid, or free school lunch)
- Community resources — libraries, community centers, and some cities offer free public Wi-Fi
- Nonprofits and refurbished-device programs that pair low-cost internet with an affordable computer
How to qualify and apply:
- Check if you're in a program like SNAP, Medicaid, or SSI, which often makes you eligible
- Contact providers in your area and ask specifically about their low-income or 'connectivity' plans
- Call 211 to be pointed to local internet-assistance resources
Because federal programs change over time, always confirm what's currently available. Even if a national program has ended, individual providers usually keep their own low-cost plans, and Lifeline continues to help eligible households.
What this is
Why it matters
What you can do next
Related FAQs
Common questions about this topic, answered simply.
Who qualifies for low-cost internet?
Eligibility usually depends on income or participation in a program like SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, or free/reduced school lunch. Each provider and program sets its own rules, so check a few — you may qualify for more than one.
What is Lifeline?
Lifeline is a long-running federal program that gives eligible low-income households a monthly discount on phone or internet service through participating providers. You can apply and then choose a participating company.
Where can I get help finding a plan?
Call 211 to be connected to local internet-assistance resources, ask providers directly about their low-income plans, and check with your local library, which often knows about community connectivity programs.
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