How Can I Get Free Internet Service
How to Get Gratuitous Internet and Wi-Fi
In 2021, 46% of low-income parents said their kids have faced technological issues such as completing schoolwork from a jail cell phone, missing assignments because they don't have access to a computer at habitation, or having to use public Wi-Fi due to unreliable home internet.ane
Information technology'southward true that internet access is more critical than always for taking care of school and work at home. But if you discover yourself unable to afford internet service in your area, you might try one or more of these free internet options instead.
We compared several free and low-cost internet options, checked out ways to get inexpensive computers, and validated suggestions shared online to pull upwardly a list of means you lot can get cheap or free internet and Wi-Fi at home. Permit's dig in and explore your options.
Can you really get free internet?
Yes, y'all can become gratis internet. The simply thing is, your options are somewhat limited to the following:
- Jail cell phone hotspots
- Public Wi-Fi
- Punch-up internet service
- Low-cost aid programs
The other thing about free internet is that yous may not get access to free high-speed internet. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) calls 25 Mbps download speeds "high-speed" internet, merely some free internet options probably won't get yous 25 Mbps speeds.
Wi-Fi tends to be slower considering its signal gets weaker as it travels through objects and even air to go to your device.
And punch-upward unremarkably comes with speeds of 56 Kbps. (Remember expert old "56K" back in the day?) For comparison, 56 Kbps equals 0.056 Mbps. That'due south non very fast by today's standards.
Is your free net ho-hum?
Is gratuitous net legal?
Yes and no. All of the options for complimentary internet we cover hither are legal. Just in that location are definitely illegal means to go free net besides.
Bottom line: If you're non sure whether you lot accept permission to utilize an internet service without paying, don't use it. Ask commencement, or try a dissimilar way to get gratis internet.
Free internet services
Free internet service that isn't Wi-Fi or a mobile hotspot is likely going to be punch-up. Right now, there are 2 nationwide free punch-up cyberspace services: NetZero and Juno.
One thing you lot should know earlier you connect to complimentary punch-upward cyberspace is that yous could rack up long-distance or price charges. That'southward because dial-up uses your phone line. And then it'southward a good idea to cheque the dial-upward access numbers and telephone call your telephone visitor to make sure yous can avoid a massive bill getting dropped in your mailbox.
NetZero punch-up internet
NetZero dial-up internet is free for 10 hours a month. It also offers thousands of different access numbers to make sure you can connect anywhere in the Us. And y'all can create as many e-mail addresses every bit you want for costless.
NetZero dial-up features
- Free for 10 hours a calendar month
- Admission numbers available beyond the US
- Multiple free email addresses
NetZero also offers a free mobile internet service that comes with 200 MB of data each month. Merely you'll need to buy a NetZero device to get its mobile broadband service.
Sign Upward for NetZero | Check NetZero Access Numbers
Juno dial-up internet
Juno is another dial-upwards internet service that'due south free for 10 hours a calendar month. In fact, both Juno'south and NetZero'southward websites expect so eerily similar that we wouldn't be surprised if they're actually the same company.
Juno fifty-fifty comes with the aforementioned set of perks as NetZero: access numbers covering multiple US locations and the chance to make as many free electronic mail addresses as you want.
Juno dial-upwardly features
- 10 hours of dial-up internet for free each month
- Thousands of US access numbers
- Multiple email addresses for free
Sign Upward for Juno | Cheque Juno Access Numbers
Gratuitous prison cell telephone plans and hotspots
For a completely free mobile internet selection, bank check out FreedomPop. It offers a 25 MB data programme that costs nothing each calendar month.
Another way yous can trim your monthly beak down is to abolish your cyberspace service and use a mobile hotspot instead. This might be less costly if you already have a cellphone programme, plus it's nice to deal with just i bill a month instead of two. (Or more.)
Most every cell telephone company offers a hotspot plan, or yous tin can choose to grab a mobile data programme and just apply your telephone for online activities.
FreedomPop cell telephone plans
If you're looking for absolutely free mobile internet, one of your few choices is FreedomPop. The gratis data plan comes with 25 MB of information at 4G LTE/5G speeds each calendar month. The only caveat? Your SIM menu kit costs a old fee of $10, and it'southward for GSM phones only.
Can you use FreedomPop'south GSM SIM kit?
Y'all'll need a GSM phone to use FreedomPop'due south SIM kit. If your telephone came from AT&T or T-Mobile, it's probably a GSM phone. If you lot're notwithstanding non sure, bank check out our GSM versus CDMA guide for help.
Likewise, that'due south not a lot of information to use each month. Then don't look to stream Netflix or play games on your phone with a gratis FreedomPop plan.
View FreedomPop Plans | Read the FreedomPop Review
The best mobile hotspot plans
For those because cut ties with traditional internet as a fashion to lower your bills, nosotros recommend looking at Visible, Verizon, and AT&T hotspot plans as an alternative.
Our mobile experts flagged the following hotspot plans as ones to seriously consider:
- Best upkeep hotspot plan: Visible Wireless Unlimited Plan
- Best hotspot coverage: Verizon Wireless Exercise More Unlimited program
- Best for lots of high-speed hotspot data: AT&T Wireless Unlimited Elite plan
Y'all tin get more info on how these plans stack up in our guide to the all-time mobile hotspots. And for reference, 5G speeds average nearly l Mbps, while 4G LTE speeds boilerplate a max of xxx Mbps.
Best mobile hotspot plans
Information effective 4/half dozen/2021. Offers and availability vary past location and are subject to modify.
Curious how to get a mobile hotspot?
You can set up a hotspot with an Apple or Android telephone—or you tin can utilise a special hotspot device. See our hotspot device recommendations to find out which works best for you.
How to turn on a hotspot
Turning your phone's hotspot on is as uncomplicated as flipping a switch.
On my Android device, I found the Mobile Hotspot and Tethering options under the Settings → Connections bill of fare.
Screenshot courtesy of author.
Every bit for Apple devices, cull Personal Hotspot nether your Settings menu to turn your hotspot on. Pro tip: If you're looking for your hotspot network, it'll probably evidence up as "[Your Name]'s Telephone."
Screenshot courtesy of author.
Free Wi-Fi maps and networks
If it'due south free Wi-Fi you're after, your all-time place to start is a map of gratis Wi-Fi hotspots. A handful of these exist, and the most popular maps are the following:
- WiFi Map
- WiFi Free Spot
- NetSpot app
- Instabridge app
The NetSpot app that comes with a gratis version and tin exist downloaded on your Windows or macOS computer. The app comes with a Discover fashion, which scans the area for Wi-Fi networks and shows you the bespeak forcefulness of each ane, along with other details.
And Instabridge, another app for your phone, lets users share complimentary Wi-Fi network info with each other—including passwords.
Simply remember, you lot should get permission to connect to any Wi-Fi hotspot—and even a free Wi-Fi hotspot should be secured. You may need to ask for a password, simply that minor annoyance is well worth information technology to avoid getting targeted by cybercriminals.
Use a VPN to secure your costless Wi-Fi connection
A VPN tin can keep you prophylactic online, and there are even free VPN services if you lot desire to avoid another monthly fee.
Community mesh networks
A couple of lesser-known options for free internet access are municipal wireless networks and customs mesh networks.
A municipal wireless network is commonly run by a city and used to cover large areas with publicly available Wi-Fi cheers to lots of wireless access points like the LinkNYC kiosk in the photograph. Similarly, a community mesh network can cover a large area with Wi-Fi, but it uses personally or community-owned Wi-Fi routers to do that.
While setting upward your ain mesh network might require a college learning curve, GoTenna has a map of all self-reported community mesh networks in the Usa.
Depression-cost regime and provider programs
If yous're a low-income family, you've got a few other options for cheap and free internet. These authorities programs can either offer you a special, depression-cost internet program or offer a benefit or subsidy to help you pay for your net service.
These programs include the new Affordable Connectivity Program, which started as the Emergency Broadband Benefit in 2021, the Lifeline program, and Connect2Compete plus other programs run past net service providers (ISPs).
| Plan | Cost | Download speed | Qualifying programs | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q-Link Wireless | Free | 4.5 GB of mobile data on 4G LTE speeds | SNAP, Medicaid | Apply At present |
| Comcast Xfinity Internet Essentials | $nine.95/mo. | l Mbps | NSLP, HUD, Medicaid, SNAP, SSI | Apply Now |
| Cox Connect2Compete* | $9.95/mo. | Up to 50 Mbps | NSLP, SNAP, LIHEAP, WIC, TANF | Apply Now |
| Internet First | $9.95/mo. | Up to fifty Mbps | NSLP, HUD, Medicaid, SNAP, SSI | Apply Now |
| Mediacom Connect2Compete* | $9.95/mo. | Up to 25 Mbps | NSLP | Employ Now |
| AT&T Access | $10.00/mo. | Up to 25 Mbps | SNAP, SSI (CA simply) | Apply Now |
| Altice Advantage | $14.99/mo. | Up to 50 Mbps | NSLP, SSI, Veteran aid programs | Apply Now |
| Spectrum Internet Assist | $14.99/mo. | 30 Mbps | NSLP, SSI, CEP | Utilise Now |
| Verizon Lifeline | $19.99–$59.99/mo.** | 200–Up to 940 Mbps | Lifeline | Use Now |
Information constructive 4/half-dozen/2021. Offers and availability vary past location and are subject to alter.
*Must have a child enrolled in K–12 schoolhouse.
**With $20/mo. Lifeline disbelieve.
Not sure what all those acronyms mean? We experience you. Here's a quick crook sheet:
- FPHA: Federal Public Housing Assistance
- HUD: Housing and Urban Evolution's public housing programs
- LIHEAP: Low-Income Home Free energy Assist Plan
- NSLP: National School Lunch Program
- SNAP: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- TANF: Temporary Help for Needy Families
- WIC: Women, Infants, and Children Program
Nosotros've got more info on these government programs, including how to apply and who qualifies, in our depression-income internet guide.
Lifeline programme
If you can get Verizon Fios Home Internet in your area, then we recommend checking out the Verizon Lifeline program. Otherwise, the government'south Lifeline programme gives y'all $ix.25 a month to help pay for your internet bill (or $34.25 a calendar month if you authorize for Tribal Lifeline).
Lifeline is bachelor to any household in the U.s.a. that includes someone who meets the following criteria:
- Your income is 135% or less than federal poverty guidelines
- Y'all're enrolled in SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, FPHA, or veteran's pension or survivors benefit
There'southward besides the Tribal Lifeline program. It applies to anyone living on Tribal lands who has someone in their household enrolled in at to the lowest degree one of the programs listed higher up or one of the following:
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
- Head Start
- Tribal TANF
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
Other assistance programs
A handful of nonprofits are also ready and willing to help you detect depression-toll internet. And if a laptop, tablet, or computer is out of your price range, many of these can too get yous reduced-cost applied science.
- EveryoneOn helps you observe low-cost internet service in your boondocks or city and low-cost devices.
- Human-I-T helps you search for low-toll internet and refurbishes donated technology so yous tin buy it at a more than affordable toll.
- PCs for People resells refurbished technology at more than affordable prices and offers low-toll mobile internet for $fifteen a month.
Now that you know how to become gratuitous cyberspace service, check these out next.
Look for internet deals in your area.
Learn more hacks to lower your net bill.
FAQ
Still take questions virtually low-income and free cyberspace? We're here to help.
Can I get gratuitous internet at home?
Yes, you can get free net in your habitation with dial-upwards services like NetZero, mesh Wi-Fi networks, or even a mobile hotspot.
Can a VPN give me free internet?
Yep, a VPN can requite you lot costless internet past using loopholes in your network, but nosotros don't recommend this. It's potentially illegal and requires a certain level of tech savviness.
But VPNs exercise keep you protected while you're using free net—that's why we highly recommend using a VPN if you're on public Wi-Fi. Here's a list of our fave costless VPN services to go y'all started.
How do you lot qualify for costless internet?
Yous don't necessarily need to qualify for complimentary net similar the dial-up offered by NetZero or the mobile internet offered past FreedomPop. But government and Internet service provider help programs often come with income requirements—or they crave at least one person in your household to be enrolled in an help program like SNAP, SSI, or TANF.
The qualifications vary depending on which internet assistance program y'all're looking at. Then we recommend taking a close look at what programs qualify and how you need to provide proof.
What'due south the cheapest manner to get Wi-Fi?
The cheapest manner to get Wi-Fi is to apply a free public network. Bated from checking out your local library or Starbucks, the easiest style to notice free Wi-Fi is with a map tool similar WiFi Map or an app similar NetSpot or Instabridge.
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