Best Internet Plans for Every Budget in 2025
Okay so I've spent way too much time researching internet plans across different price points. My friends and family keep asking "what internet should I get?" and I got tired of explaining it over and over.
So here's the breakdown - what you can actually get at different price points in 2025, based on real plans from major providers.
Important note:
Prices are "new customer" promotional rates. After 12 months, expect $10-20/month increases. Also, availability varies by location - not all providers service all areas.
Under $40/Month - The Budget Tier
Let's be real - budget internet kinda sucks. But if you're tight on money, here are the least-bad options:
Spectrum Internet (100 Mbps)
$30/month (year 1)
What you get: 100 Mbps download, 10 Mbps upload
Good for: 1-2 people, basic streaming, browsing, email
The catch: Goes up to $50/month year 2. No equipment included, add $5-7/month for modem rental or buy your own.
Xfinity Connect (75 Mbps)
$35/month (year 1)
What you get: 75 Mbps download, 10 Mbps upload
Good for: Solo user or couple, light usage
The catch: 1.2TB data cap (annoying but hard to hit). Price jumps to ~$55 after promo ends.
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet
$30/month (with phone line)
What you get: Variable speeds (typically 50-200 Mbps)
Good for: Areas with good 5G coverage, renters who can't get wired
The catch: Speed varies wildly depending on tower congestion and your location. Equipment included though.
My take: If you qualify for T-Mobile's $30 rate (need their phone service), try it first. If speeds suck, go with Spectrum. 100 Mbps is enough for casual use.
$40-60/Month - The Sweet Spot
This is where you start getting actually decent internet that won't make you want to throw your router out the window.
AT&T Fiber 300
$55/month
What you get: 300 Mbps download, 300 Mbps upload (fiber!)
Good for: Small families, work from home, gamers
The catch: Need fiber availability in your area. Equipment rental is $10/month extra.
Why it's good: Symmetric upload speeds are a game-changer for video calls.
Spectrum Internet (300 Mbps)
$50/month (year 1)
What you get: 300 Mbps download, 10 Mbps upload
Good for: Families, multiple streamers, moderate downloads
The catch: Upload still sucks (cable limitation). Jumps to $70 year 2.
Why it's decent: No data caps, widely available.
Verizon 5G Home
$50/month (with phone line, $60 without)
What you get: Variable (100-300 Mbps typical)
Good for: Areas with good Verizon coverage
The catch: Like T-Mobile, speeds depend on tower load. But generally more consistent than T-Mobile in my testing.
My take: If AT&T Fiber is available, get it. If not, Spectrum 300 is solid for most families. The 5G options are great if you're in a good coverage area and don't want to deal with installation appointments.
$60-80/Month - Premium Performance
Now we're getting into "actually fast" territory. This is what I'd recommend for most people if you can afford it.
Verizon Fios 500 Mbps
$65/month
What you get: 500 Mbps download, 500 Mbps upload
Good for: Families, heavy users, work from home, content creators
The catch: Limited availability (mainly East Coast cities)
Why it rocks: Fiber is just better. Consistent speeds, great uploads, no data caps.
Xfinity Gigabit
$70/month (year 1)
What you get: 1000 Mbps download, 20 Mbps upload
Good for: Large households, people who download everything
The catch: That upload speed is criminal for a $70 plan. And it's still 1.2TB data cap.
My opinion: Overpriced for what you get, but sometimes it's your only option for gig speeds.
AT&T Fiber 500
$65/month
What you get: 500 Mbps download, 500 Mbps upload
Good for: Everything. This plan handles it all.
The catch: Equipment fee unless you use your own compatible router
Why it's great: Same as Verizon but more widely available.
My take: Get fiber if available (Verizon or AT&T, doesn't matter much). If cable only, the Xfinity gig plan is overkill for most people - drop down to their 600 Mbps plan for $60 instead.
$80+/Month - The "I Want The Best" Tier
Honestly, most people don't need to spend this much. But if you want bragging rights or actually have legit needs...
Google Fiber 1 Gig
$70/month
What you get: 1000 Mbps download, 1000 Mbps upload
Good for: Tech enthusiasts, large families, small offices
The catch: Only available in like 19 cities. Check if you're lucky.
Why it's worth it: Best customer service I've experienced. No data caps. Simple pricing.
Verizon Fios Gigabit
$90/month
What you get: 940 Mbps download, 880 Mbps upload
Good for: Power users, multiple WFH professionals, content creators
The real benefit: Rock-solid reliability during peak hours.
AT&T Fiber 1 Gig
$80/month
What you get: 1000 Mbps download, 1000 Mbps upload
Good for: Same as above
Value prop: Slightly cheaper than Verizon in most markets.
My take: Google Fiber is the best value if available. Otherwise, AT&T and Verizon are basically the same - go with whoever's cheaper in your area.
Special Situations
If You Live in Rural Areas
Your options probably suck. Sorry. But here's what's available:
- Starlink ($120/month): Actually decent now. 50-200 Mbps with high latency. Expensive but beats DSL.
- Verizon/T-Mobile 5G Home: If you can get signal, try this first before paying for Starlink.
- DSL: Last resort. Slow and unreliable but cheap (~$50/month for 25 Mbps)
If You're a College Student
Check if your ISP offers student discounts. Xfinity does $30/month for 200 Mbps in some areas. Also, your campus might have deals you don't know about.
If You're Low Income
Look into these programs:
- Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP): $30/month off internet (check if still funded in 2025)
- Comcast Internet Essentials: $10/month for 50 Mbps
- Spectrum Internet Assist: $18/month for 100 Mbps
- AT&T Access: $30/month for 100 Mbps
You need to qualify (government assistance, SSI, student lunch program, etc.) but these are legit programs.
How to Choose
Here's my decision tree:
- Is fiber available? If yes, get fiber. Stop reading, just get it.
- How many people/devices?
- 1-2 people: 100-300 Mbps is fine
- 3-4 people: 300-500 Mbps
- 5+ people: 500+ Mbps or consider mesh WiFi
- Do you work from home with video calls? You NEED decent upload speeds (15+ Mbps minimum). Fiber is ideal.
- Are you a gamer? Latency matters more than speed. Get cable or fiber, avoid satellite/5G.
- What's your actual budget? Don't overspend on speed you won't use. 100 Mbps handles Netflix 4K just fine.
Hidden Costs to Watch For
- Equipment rental: $5-15/month. Buy your own modem/router to save money long-term.
- Installation fees: $50-100 typically, sometimes waived for new customers.
- Early termination: Some have contracts with $200+ cancellation fees.
- Data overage charges: If you have a cap and go over, it's like $10 per 50GB. Ouch.
My Personal Recommendations
Best Overall Value: AT&T or Verizon Fiber at any speed tier. Reliable, fast, symmetric uploads.
Best Budget: Spectrum 100 Mbps at $30-50. Gets the job done without breaking the bank.
Best for Families: Any fiber 500 Mbps plan. Sweet spot of speed and price.
Best for Rural: T-Mobile/Verizon 5G Home if available, otherwise Starlink if you can afford it.
Best Customer Service: Google Fiber (but limited availability).
Check what you're currently getting:
Run a speed test to see if you're actually getting the speeds you're paying for. You might be overpaying for a plan that's not performing.