I’m going to show you how to quickly find a good deal on Internet without cable.
If you want to get rid of cable and cut the cord like me, one of the most important things you can learn is how to negotiate a better price for Internet.
Actually, it’s a skill you should pick up even if you’re not a streaming-only household.
Not everyone has the time or patience to hone their negotiation skills. So here is a list of your best options for getting a reliable Internet connection without breaking the bank. I’ll get into more detail about these Internet service providers further down.
Internet Without Cable: By The Numbers
Most, but not all, of these rates are promotional offers that are valid for 12 months. These prices are subject to change from time to time given how a number of ISP’s operate. If you decide to delve into the second part of this guide, I’ll teach you how to negotiate for a better rate on Internet when promotional rates end.
Verizon Fios ($39.99 per month/200Mbps)
Comcast/Xfinity – ($19.99 to $39.99 per month)
Cox Communications ($39.99 – $59.99 per month)
RCN ($29.99 – $59.99 per month)
Starry Internet ($50 per month)
DSL Extreme ($28 to $63 per month)
Toast.Net ($45 per month for 50Mbps fiber connection)
AT&T Fiber Internet ($50 per month)
If you want some more details about these ISPs, you can jump down to sections on Verizon FiOS, Comcast/Xfinity, RCN, Starry Internet, Cox Communications,Toast.Net, AT&T Fiber Internet and DSL Extreme.
You’ll notice some familiar names here, including cable TV companies. That’s no mistake.
Cable TV companies knew years ago that consumers would eventually move into streaming, and that they would need still need an Internet connection.
This list is a compilation of mainstream and lower-cost options. And you’ll see some non-conventional options for Internet too. There are Mom-and-Pop businesses offering Internet.
In Denver, Boston, Washington D.C., Los Angeles and New York City, you may have a shot at getting a very fast wireless Internet without any cable subscription for about $50 per month.
Rural Internet Service
Instead of relying on packets of data coming from satellite services that provide Internet, more people are relying on mobile data as a substitute for home Internet. With the right plan, and equipment, you can get around 30 Mbps download speed for about $35 per month. You can jump down to How to Get Rural Internet Service.
How to Use This Guide to Get the Best Deal for Internet
This guide has two parts. The first part dives into the various Internet Service Providers (ISPs) available for cord cutters, or cord-nevers alike. The second part is a tutorial on how to negotiate a better deal for Internet without agreeing to a bundle.
Whether you use some or all of this guide, it’s important to figure out your minimum requirement for Internet speed. Most people, in my experience, order something that’s way beyond what they actually need. Some ISPs like that because you pay more for it.
Knowing what you actually need in advance can have a huge impact on how much money you can save each year.
Netflix has its own Internet connection speed recommendations. For HD quality, they recommend at least 5.0 Megabits (Mbps) per second. But I’m guessing you will want to be able to stream more than one device at a time.
So using the Netflix estimate as a baseline, a 10Mbps stream should serve you well if you have Hulu streaming in second room, and HBO Now in third. That’s assuming you are using DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem and a decent router. I recommend using Ethernet connections instead of WiFi whenever possible.
Keep in mind that streaming services want you to have a good experience. So their recommendation for speed is reliable and has been tested. It’s the best unbiased answer out there without doing your own testing at home.
MINIMUM INTERNET SPEED REQUIREMENTS FOR STREAMING | |
---|---|
NETFLIX | 5.0 Megabits per second – Recommended for HD quality |
AT&T TV NOW | 2.5 – 7.5 Mbps – Recommended for HD quality |
VUDU | HDX (1080p) requires 4500 kbps |
AMAZON VIDEO | High Definition (HD) videos: 3.5 Mbits/sec |
SLING TV | Constant speed of 5.0 Megabits per second or more |
* speeds represent single stream minimums |
One more quick tip
Here’s something new I learned this year while I was in the middle of revising this guide for 2019. Don’t ever assume that you know what Internet Service Providers are available to you.
I just signed up for Verizon Fios, a year after being told service wasn’t available for my home. How did I find out about this new option?
I happened to check again on a whim – not because someone made me aware that Verizon’s service area expanded. I got 100Mbps for $39.99 per month.
When I moved a year ago, I was told that only one ISP was available to me: Comcast.
Companies large and small are acutely aware that streaming is the biggest development for TV in decades. So competition for Internet – both wired and wireless – is rapidly growing.
DSL is enjoying a bit of a comeback thanks to cord cutting. The same is true with the TV antenna. Smaller fiber optic providers are worth considering if they’re available in your area. And within the next year or so, you’re going to be hearing a lot more about 5G and wireless Internet. In fact, one of my top picks in this year’s guide is a wireless Internet provider called Starry.
Part 1: Internet Service Providers for Cord Cutters
Verizon Fios: Fast fiber optic for cheap
I’m currently using Verizon Fios ($39.99 per month with pre-pay): Verizon FiOS covers 9 metro areas of the U.S. The coverage area includes Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Providence, Rhode Island, Virginia and Washington D.C.
You should look over the lineup of offers in your area. Some include covering your cost of Netflix for a year or two. But if you’re trying to keep your cost of Internet down, I recommend getting the $39.99 per month deal if it’s available. Be aware that you will likely have to rent your modem from Verizon – which is another $12 per month.
TIP: You are given the option to buy your own at any time. So instead of paying almost $200 for a new Fios modem, I found a highly rated seller of refurbished Fios routers on eBay.
So far, so good. It works great, and I’m saving an extra $12 per month off my already-discounted plan. Make sure you set up auto-pay on your account to get the full discount.
Comcast (a.k.a. Xfinity) for Internet
Before my recent switch to FiOS, I was using Comcast Xfinity because it was the only provider available in my area.
I was happy with the rate for Internet only, but I had to explain to the agent that I only wanted Internet, and not the fastest package. By the end of our conversation, I was able to secure 50Mbps download for $39.99 per month.
Xfinity currently has a dedicated page to Internet only plans so I think you’ll have no problem with signing up. If your customer service rep keeps offering you a bundle, just be firm that you’re only looking for Internet. Check out the latest Comcast Internet deals.
RCN: Great Internet-only packages
When I finally cut the cord for good a few years back, RCN was my first provider for standalone Internet.
After using a number of ISPs for streaming, RCN remains one of my favorites because of the price and quality of service. At the time, I was paying $34.99 per month. I was able to save about $10 more per month from using my own router and modem.
RCN has service in Boston, Chicago, the Washington DC Metro region, Lehigh Valley, New York City and Philadelphia. I encourage you to see if RCN is available in your area, and check out their latest promotional deals.
Starry Internet: Fast Wireless WiFi in 5 Cities
Starry Internet is only three years old, and after successful trials In Boston, the company is now expanding residential service in Denver, Los Angeles, New York City, and Washington D.C.
If you live in a building with at least 20 units, you can ask for Starry Internet service. Starry offers 200Mbps download and upload speeds for $50 per month. You’ll be using the company’s slick looking router, and the company handles bringing service to your building. That’s it.
I haven’t used Starry (yet), but I hope to as the company expands.
Wireless internet is pretty much going to be the future. I’ve been following Starry for a while now, and I’m pretty convinced they are poised to be a big player in the wireless Internet space.
The company recently reached out to me to offer an exclusive coupon code for my readers. Check to see if Starry is offered in your area. If it is, then type in the code CCR and get two months for free (a $100 value).
Cox Communications: Offering “flexibility” and Internet without cable
Cox Communications offers Internet without cable in 18 states. (See list below.) And despite being a cable company, it now takes some credit for providing some of the premium plumbing that has made the streaming revolution possible.
Cox CEO Pat Esser had a pretty interesting interview in 2016 with CNBC at a trade show in Boston. Esser said Cox has played an important role in the streaming revolution by providing high quality broadband.
“Don’t forget, this all happened because companies like Cox invested billions of dollars in our network to create this disruption,” Esser told the network. “And many times, we are the ones bringing the disruption and innovation to the marketplace.”
He added about cord cutting: “If it’s such a bad space, why does everybody want to get into it? There is (sic) more consumers consuming video in this county than ever in the history of the country. We think we’ll have to evolve our packages as time goes on. We’re doing that and we’ll have to bring to the market packages and services of content that our customers want.”
In a second interview with CNBC last year, Esser seemed to not fear the term cord cutting or streaming when asked about how the industry was changing.
“I think you have to accept the fact that the marketplace as it relates to video product is in full disruption,” Esser said.
I’ve never been a Cox customer but only because they don’t offer service in my area. But I have been following Esser closely in the news these past couple of years, and I’m impressed with what he’s been saying.
Cox says it services customers from Connecticut to California and lists 22 cities below.
- Macon
- Gainesville
- Providence
- Palos Verdes
- Roanoke
- San Diego
- Santa Barbara
- Alexandria
- Las Vegas
- Pensacola
- Irvine
- Kansas City
- Oklahoma City
- Omaha
- Tulsa
- Cleveland
- Meriden
- New Orleans
- Phoenix
- Norfolk
- Tucson
- Baton Rouge
Even if you don’t see your city listed, there might be service offered nearby. I suggest checking to see if Cox offers service in your area.
Toast and AT&T
For those living in the Mid West, Southern or Western parts of the U.S., you should consider using either Toast.Net or AT&T.
The availability of these prices may depend on where you live in the U.S. and where the company offers service. AT&T and Toast.net cover 21 states – the same ones – because they are relying on the same network.
The states are: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina , Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin.
Toast.net: an alternative for Internet without cable
The advantage of Toast.Net is that there are no data caps. Toast.net is an Ohio-based company that offers fiber and DSL.
The company has a wholesale agreement with AT&T in the same 21 states across the South and Midwest.
Toast.net has lower price points for its DSL service and no data caps. So you can stream as much as you want without penalty. The company has been promoting itself lately as a cord cutting alternative to larger and much pricier internet service providers.
I spoke to someone at Toast.net to find out how they operate. Here’s what I found out. You won’t be able to use your own modem or router, a method I prefer to avoid rental fees.
Instead, you will end up buying a new modem-and-router combo unit from the company. It’s brand new and comes out of the box when DSL gets installed at your home. It’s yours to keep since you are buying the unit from Toast.net, so you’re not paying any kind of modem or router rental fee. Usually, the company will outfit you with an Arris or Motorolla unit with a four-port switch.
Their service has a no hassle 30-day money back guarantee. This is a family-owned operation, basically the kind of mom-and-pop business that I was talking about earlier. If you have any kind of gripe, you’ll end up speaking to someone in their Toledo office.
The infrastructure is fiber running to the modem, and copper line going to the house.
Their service isn’t available everywhere. Your location will depend on what kind of plan that you can get.
You will have to use their availability checker on their site to see if you can get Fiber or DSL service in your area.In case you do go this route, it’s a 12-month contract. Afterward, your subscription runs month to month and the rates stay the same. Also be aware that if you sign up for a plan online, installation is half off ($50 vs paying $100).
AT&T Fiber Internet
AT&T Fiber Internet offers download speeds of up to 50Mbps for about $50 per month.
There are data caps, so you could face spending some cash if you’re not careful.
You get 1TB per month, which should be plenty. A one-TV home that makes the most out of their TV antenna should be just fine. While subscribing to Comcast, I also had a 1TB data cap and got by just fine while using three TVs and a number Internet-connected devices such as computers, smart speakers and phones.
If you already use a major provider for Internet, then you can probably already see how much data you are using per month. Ask a customer service rep for help if you need to figure out how to check your data consumption.
There’s an “unlimited” option with AT&T to get around the data caps, but that costs about an extra $30 per month.
Any deal you get with AT&T will last for 12 months under contract. Pricing with AT&T can vary from region to region, so it’s best to investigate what plans and pricing is in your area.
AT&T will supply you with a WiFi Gateway Router, and you’ll have to pay an installation fee that could be up to $99. Internet plans for 75Mbps and 100 Mbps are also available to qualifying AT&T customers.
After the 12 months are over, this promotion price will no longer be applied to your bill, so you should expect a rate increase. But once it’s over, you’re free to take your business elsewhere.
Read over the details about getting AT&T Fiber Internet if you live in one of those states and want to learn more.
DSLExtreme for fiber optic trueSTREAM or DSL
DSLExtreme is a California based company offers fiber optic Internet, and DSL service around the U.S.
Fiber optic plans start at about $33 per month. We know that Netflix requires a minimum of 5Mbps for HD quality. Same thing with Sling TV.
Check to see if DSLExtreme offers DSL or fiber optic in your area. DSLExtreme requires that you use one of their modems. You can either rent one for $6.50 per month or buy it for $100. And their service must be professionally installed.
Sometimes, the company waives the installation fee with certain promotions. Generally, you’re getting a promotional rate with them, and you’ll probably have to sign up for a year of service.
RURAL AREAS: Netgear Hotspot router with AT&T, Verizon
A common complaint among people living in rural areas is that Internet options are scarce. Using a low-cost mobile data plan with a hotspot router is becoming a popular option.
The device
The frontrunner as a viable substitute home Internet is using a Netgear Nighthawk Mobile Hotspot Router. The M1 (MR1100) model is a gigabit-class LTE mobile mobile hotspot router. It’s designed for a maximum download speed of 1Gbps. Buying an unlocked one will give you the most flexibility.
The Nighthawk MR1100 is sold new at Amazon, but if you’re looking for a deal, I suggest perusing listings of refurbished or used models on eBay.
This portable router functions just like any other dual-band router operating on a 2.4 GHz and 5GHz frequency.
The data
AT&T offers a pre-paid unlimited data plan for $34.99 per month. The plan is for unlimited MB for 30 days. But after 22GB of data usage, AT&T may slow your speeds. The plan automatically renews.
You’ll need an AT&T SIM card ($9.99 at Target) for this device – not the one currently in your phone. People often look at unlimited plans that are offered by resellers of AT&T that still rely on AT&T’s network.
If Verizon is more widely available in your neck of the woods, then you should consider perusing their variety of data plans.
Part 2: How to Negotiate for Internet without bundling cable
How to Access Secret Rates
About a year ago, I called Comcast for Internet service because I saw a deal online for $34.99 per month. When I started my phone call to my local Comcast agent, I was told that the “best deal” for an Internet-only package was $79.99 per month. But I could get a slightly better deal if I bundled my Internet service with cable.
Bundling is a pretty typical sales strategy with most cable companies. It is part of what’s called “upselling” the customer – something that every major cable TV and satellite TV provider practices.
It essentially means that customer service agents are trained to suggest upgrading to more services than what you’re looking for. Why? Because it reaps huge profits in the cable TV business, especially when those introductory rates expire.
To level the playing field a bit, I am going to tell you about secret rates that are never advertised. Watch this video for a minute because it’s on point with what I’m going to show you.
Be Aware of Upselling: Strike a Millennial Pose
During my call to Comcast, I was asked a number of questions about how my wife and I use our Internet. Do you stream a lot? Are you a gamer? Do you work from home?
I said no, no and no…
The truth is I do all of those things and more. So why did I tell these little white lies? Well, a couple reasons.
It’s really nobody’s business what I use my Internet service for as long as it’s legal. More importantly, I know from a government report that these questions are designed to probe for information so it can be used to upsell you more services that you’re not asking for.
So I had to stay firm: I was looking for an introductory rate without bundling any other service. Paying $80 per month was way too much, I said.
I was put on hold. A few minutes later, I was offered Internet service for $49.99 per month (60Mbps download/5Mbps upload), but it had to be bundled with phone service.
Nope, not interested. I guess I’ll call somewhere else, I told her. “I see that the introductory rate for RCN is about $29.99 per month,” I said.
That last statement prompted the agent to put me on hold again. Little did my customer service agent know: I had already checked out the local competitors in my area, and none of them had service at my new address.
When she came back, she “found” a new deal. There was a smaller Internet-only package of 25Mbps download and 6Mbps upload for $39.99 per month. This was closer to what I was looking for. The download speed was plenty for streaming on multiple devices and even gaming. But I still wasn’t done negotiating.
Keep asking questions even when you seem close to a deal
I had a question about data caps. Were there any in my area? What are fees associated with them? I was told that there was a fee – about $50 if I went over my monthly allotment of 1024GB. “No one has ever gone over it,” the agent reassured me.
No one?
I had some questions. So I was put on hold again so a manager could talk to me. What were the first words out of his mouth?
After quickly introducing himself, he said I was eligible for $99 per month deal for bundled TV and Internet. There was no mention of my question about data caps.
There was the upsell again.
Always maintain control of the conversation
I stopped him and asked for his name again. Names are important, but really what I’m doing here is reasserting my control over the conversation. This is a really important thing to keep in mind.
You need to maintain control of the conversation. And you need to understand that you’re dealing with highly trained people who are laser focused on upselling. So here’s what I did.
I explained why he was summoned to the phone. He knew why, of course. Then, I asked again my question about the data caps.
No one has ever gotten hit with an data overage fee, he said. “It’s impossible,” he added.
Impossible? Then, why have a fee to begin with?
The answer I got was some mumbo-jumbo about how it was developed back when DSL was offered. I knew there was a little bit more to the story.
After my conversation with the manager, there was no more upselling. Instead, I kept asking questions.
If you keep asking questions and maintain control of the conversation, your chances of saving money only goes up.
How I chipped off more fees for my low priced Internet
I knew that I would already be using my own modem and router. That saved me from rental fees tacked on my bill. Buying your own modem and router can save you another $11 per month, according to Motherboard.
But there is still more money to be saved.
I knew from doing a little research ahead of time that the people renting the condo that I was moving into were already Comcast customers. So I asked: Could I self install my Internet service instead of having a service technician come out?
Watching someone else hook up my equipment, and pay them to do it seems kind of silly. I still had to pay a $15 “activation fee”, which was complete bullshit.
But hey… it beats paying $90. The added savings actually came from my customer service agent. She told me that if I enrolled in autopay then a $5 credit would be applied to my bill every month. That got my monthly payment to $34.99 per month.
Now that’s a good deal – one I’ll keep for a year before I go shopping elsewhere.
5 Tips For Getting the Best Deal on Internet without Cable
1) Don’t bundle: Learn to Keep Saying No
Cable and satellite companies all work from a similar business model. They attract customers with an introductory rate that, for a time, may be a fair and competitive deal. That deal will change in a matter of months, and the price will go up (sometimes significantly).
When you call back to get the price back down, you’re met with a calm, but firm resistance. I got an introductory rate for Internet that lasted me 12 months. I also knew exactly how much my rate was going to increase after it ended. So there are no surprises for me. I only got this deal because I refused to bundle, cited rates offered by competitors and continued saying no to deals as they got better. I accepted the fourth offer made to me. You can do the same exact thing. It’s not that hard.
2) You’re quoted a price, but not fees
Let’s say a local cable company is offering an introductory offer of 25Mbps for $39.99 per month. Sounds pretty good, right? It does until your first bill shows up in the mail or your inbox invoicing you for $50. What happened? Fees, my friend. Even if you’re just subscribing to Internet, make sure you ask about the rental fee associated with your cable modem. I recommend buying your own cable modem. You could save up to $11 per month from your bill. I personally found that my Internet speed improved substantially once I bought my own cable modem. I recommend the Netgear CM600 in my review of best cable modems.
If you do wind up subscribing to cable again to get the best deal on Internet, be aware that you’re going to get hit with even fees than for rental of a cable modem. You will see line items like “broadcasting fees” or “regional sports network” on your bill that no customer service rep ever told you about. Cable companies began creating new fees as a way to charge customers more money in a way that did not affect the base price of programming packages that are advertised to you and me. Sound illegal? Maybe it should be. What I can tell you is that many customers routinely get upset about this style of billing. Congress even held a series of hearings on the matter. You can read the findings of the Congressional investigation yourself. Check out this graphic from their report on what direction broadcasting and other fees have been going in:

3) Data caps are another ugly toll
These are just another sneaky way to levy more fees on users. Except this is specifically aimed at broadband users streaming content on Netflix or a web page they are visiting. Watch too much Netflix and you get whacked with an extra charge. There has been mounting public pressure about the practice of data caps as a way to toll customers.
This is where knowing the lay of the land comes in. If you live in a market where say Charter is based, you may benefit from the fact that they’re not allowed to impose data caps for the next seven years. If you live in a Comcast-only kind of area, you might be screwed. Or maybe not.
A site like Broadbandnow.com can point you to more of a Mom-and-Pop ISP that will do you a solid. I suggest that you also read a couple of articles, one in USA Today about why Charter dropped data caps when it acquired Time Warner Cable. The other story comes from Ars Technica, which has a story about how Comcast charged a customer $1500 for data they didn’t use. The Stop the Cap site is an informative read as well.
4) Downloads, uploads & truthiness
Some ISP’s will brag about how much download speed they are capable of piping into your home. Good for them. They also may suggest to you that a baseline Internet package could slow you down and cause lags when you stream Netflix and so forth.
I’ve always used Internet speeds around 25 to 50Mbps and rarely have a problem. Just remember: download speed is the rate at which you can download something from a remote server (e.g. watching a movie on Netflix).
Most of the time, when a download slows down for you, it’s more likely the server — not your Internet connection. So getting a high speed Internet connection doesn’t actually speed up everything. Sometimes, you may also encounter lag or hangups because of shared bandwidth. Uploads is the speed at which you can post a photo on social media, or move some files to Google Drive.
5) Agents get incentives on “savings” and selling
Here’s the money saving part … There’s a lovely silver lining in the way many cable, satellite and ISP’s operate. They are terrified of losing you as a customer. They don’t want their steady stream of income (i.e. you) to go to someone else.
That’s why the cable/satellite industry has both pooh-poohed the idea of cord cutting as a growing trend, and slyly got in the game of offering broadband and alternatives to traditional cable. (Hello, Sling TV!) There’s a ton of training that customer service reps (the pawns of the corporation’s chess board) undergo to keep you as a customer.
The knights of the board are called “retention specialists” and these guys are the ones with the juice to give you the best deals on Internet service without cable. How do we tap into their special powers? First we have to understand why they want to “help” you and I so much. Retention agents at major cable and satellite companies are evaluated and compensated based on how well they can sell you more, even when you are asking to downgrade your service. Commissions can be a significant portion of retention agents’ salary. These commissions range from approximately 25 percent to 40 percent of retention agents’ salaries at Charter, Comcast and Time Warner Cable and DirecTV. These figures were compiled by Congress as the TWC and Charter merger were underway, and they’re still very telling. Retention agents are able to access their performance metrics in real-time. Draw your own conclusions with how that affects you when you’re calling trying to cancel or downgrade service.
Becoming a “save” to save on Internet without cable
If you want to downgrade from a cable and Internet bundle to just Internet service without cable, the best way to do this is to initiate the break-up. Call and insist that your last day of service will be at the end of the month. Be firm. Mean it when you call. You’ll meet quite a bit of resistance. They’ll ask what the problem is. Why do you want to cancel?
Their training is kicking in. And you can look at this diagram I’ve included which illustrates it nicely. The diagram shows the top-down approach that Time Warner Cable was using to retain as much of your current cable/Internet subscription as possible. Generally, this is fairly successful because most people don’t really want to get rid of their cable. They don’t want the hassle of removing their equipment and returning it. They just want a better deal. The truth is the cable company doesn’t want you unhooking their equipment either.

But to get that best deal for Internet service without cable, you need to get to the bottom of the scale I’m showing you. Somewhere between the “final save” and “maintain relationship”. You need to learn about the secret rates.
READ: Congress discovers cable companies maintain secret rates that are never advertised
What are the best Internet without cable deals?
I keep getting an introductory rate on my Internet — about $35 to $40 per month — after being quoted much higher prices.
What’s the best way to begin?
If I already have Internet service from a cable company and I’m not moving, I start the call by giving them a date of when I’m ending service. I schedule my cancellation date about 30 days out. Once I make my intentions known, the probing questions start. I don’t give them info they can use to upsell me. So I say I spend most of my time outside.
I end the call saying that I would only remain their customer, and think about returning to cable someday (lie) if I got the $35 per month rate. That was not an advertised rate. If I’m told no, then I end the call with my cancellation date hanging out there. Pretty soon, a retention specialist will call or email. Either way, do I end up with a lower price? Sure. Because I learned how to order off the menu, I was able to get a better deal and you can do the same exact thing.
Once you score the best deal on Internet service without cable, read my guide Cord Cutting: The Definitive Guide for help.
I cut the cord this year after being fedup with Spectrum for the past 3 yrs paying 70.00$ a mth for internet only! I have a firestick so why should i have to pay such a ridiculous amount of money just to be able to watch a tv that I’ve already paid hundreds of dollars for! Just doesn’t make any sense to me.
Where is the AT&T offers a pre-paid unlimited data plan for $34.99 per month. The plan is for unlimited MB for 30 days? Le linked URL https://buyasession.att.com/sbd/Common/ShopRatePlans.action has no unlimited plan that I can find!
Some articles that I’ve read say that there is an issue using an outdoor antenna along with the existing coax cable that runs throughout my house (i.e., I have DTV and 5 TVs; all the coax is built into the walls) and getting my internet service via Spectrum (i.e., I have Spectrum Cable Internet). I don’t really know whether these coax lines actually are the same or not. I would like to install an outdoor antenna and leverage the existing coax that runs through the house.
I agree. You instead of one bill now you end up with three or four separate bills that add up to the same thing. Like I said previously. YOu can get an antenna for local channels (That’s Great) but then there’s the internet for streaming and if you want live tv you still have to subscribe to a cable co.
I appreciate your info and efforts. Unfortunately most carriers have become wise to the “I am canceling my service” used by thousands and are now playing chicken/dare with customers telling them sorry to see you go…but offering no better rates at first
I agree. Cutting cable is great but still need internet still need some kind of cable plan to watch my Amazon fire stick. Hassle and money still.
To save a dollar or so a day, which is not that much, it seems like too much trouble and time to cut the cord. Since time is money I would not waste my time to perhaps only save pennies a day. When someone comes up with a way to really save a lot without all the hassle and inconvenience then I’ll take the plunge. Presently it’s more convenient to just pay for one service. By the way if you do the math paying for Hulu, Netflix, Amazon prime, phone service and internet access adds up to almost the same as cable! What are you really saving and is it worth your time and effort?
On hold while AT&T processes my order now. I made it clear from the outset what I wanted: drop DirecTV and keep only Internet (with improved speed and equipment). I raised the possibility of going to Toast instead of AT&T. They gave me 40Mbps and a new router for $40/month.
Nice work. That’s how you leverage a good deal.
It’s not cutting the cord because you still rely on some kind of cable company to provide Internet and that’s useless Most apps like USA Network HDTV AMC network TNT network all require log in to a TV provider on say for example Amazon fire stick which is useless to me now because I have to log in to the TV provider and it tells me I don’t have that channel access. I cancel optimum cable have Internet only and can’t watch anything I wanna watch Netflix is only good for Movies and old seasons of shows nothing new or Currently showing Not really saving any money if you have to pay separate for Internet separate for Netflix separate for hulu add it all up same as just getting a bundle package
You’re not really cutting the cord from cable because you still need them for Internet at the end the day I put my optimum cable on seasonal still have Internet and can’t watch anything I wanna watch anyway I have an Amazon fire stick and everything I wanna watch requires a TV provider Log in and then it tells me I don’t have that service so I Can’t watch the shows or the channels I wanna Netflix is great for movies that’s it what about Live TV Like HGTV Food Network USA Network AMC network all need a tv provider and service package that includes those Channels in the cable package very frustrating have no choice but to go back to cable and pay a $130 for the bundle
You aren’t really cutting the whole cable if you’re still using it to supply your internet service. The cable is definitely still connected. Therefore, calling it “cord cutting” is presumptive. I’m currently running with no cable connection, using Sprint phone hot spots to supply all my internet at speeds of 45 to 95 Mbps (traffic-dependent) (50Gb/month each line) with fewer problems than I’ve had when I used Comcast, and am saving around $120 per month by doing so.
Cut the cable 6 mos ago. I saved $136 per month. Using Direct t.v.now,gave up land-line. Internet from Comcast for 59.99.per.month with 150mbps.$11for modem rental. Also use an antenna when I feel like it. It all works.
THANK YOU!
Links to the investigation aren’t working.
Links are fixed. Thanks!
I gave Cablevision an end date. The retention e-mail/call never came. I blinked in this month’s staring contest. Next month I will probably be giving Verizon the call. $50 Internet guaranteed for one year. Right now I’m stuck at $80 for basic cable/phone/Internet (two boxes). So, I will save another $30 per month with the switch. Otherwise, I have YouTube Tv and Hulu and haven’t missed anything about cable.
I like how you mentioned that one should continue to ask questions, even if the deal is coming to a close, as this will help you better control the situation. I’ve been thinking of getting my own internet service, so these tips will help me find a great provider. Thank you so much for all these great tips on comparing internet service providers and getting a great deal.
Apologies in advance if you have already answered this question elsewhere. I’ve read and re-read your rundowns on the various non-cable ISP providers pros & cons. I’ve also checked availability and in my area (San Diego) I am able to get DSL Extreme and Toast. Do know if one or both of them will allow you to upgrade your service without any additional service fees, other than just the increase in the monthly rate? For instance, if I were to sign up for the DSL 12Mpbs package at $38.00 a month and find that I’m getting a lot of buffering/stalling when I watch Netflix/Hulu/Prime etc. and I decided I wanted to upgrade to the 24Mpbs package at $50.00 a month, I understand that it’s going to cost me an additional $12.00 a month, but do they add on any additional “service charges”, “fees” for making the change?
Hey Art,
I’m not sure that you would get stuck with extra fees if you upgraded service. I’m fairly sure that you would incur some cost for equipment up front because both TOAST and DSLExtreme require you using their equipment. But I think once that’s done, it’s done. They certainly don’t need to add anything if you’re just increasing Mbps plan. I bet either place would be happy to answer that question before you sign up.
I appreciate your tips, but for someone like me who lives in NYC, I don’t the option of choosing my internet provider. We are kind of screwed.
You should double check your options with a search tool like Broadband Now. If you truly only have one provider, call up and say you want to cancel. They might offer to knock down the price. If they don’t, inquire about a plan with lower Mbps. You only need about 25Mbps download for decent streaming. At worst, you can always upgrade later. But I’ve never found the need to.
Best deal… Cut all cables… Win Win… They will have to offer reasonable prices again, just to stay alive. Spend the extra money on a coffee or take someone, or yourself, out to dinner at a fancy restaurant once a month. You aren’t missing anything worth watching on TV. However, you are missing-out on everything that isn’t on TV, or the net.
The world could end, but you wouldn’t know it until someone tweeted it, or you waited until after the commercial, or it hit a high popular “thumbs-up” on youtube, and was associated with the “I’m bored” keyword pair you keep typing in, to find something new to watch.
Remove the umbilical cord… It was only needed when you were in the womb, and that had a data-cap and bandwidth limit too. The world/life began, the moment that thing was severed.
Thank you for providing us with such informative information. As I was reading I felt like you were speaking directly to me as I am a person who also do not like games with pricing, fees, taxes, etc…when I’m paying. I believe the truth shall set us free from the nonsense. Thank you!
I am going to stay for the rest of the summer up on river property. How can I get internet there for short term without cables?
So confused. Comcast offers rates of 150mbps. We just stream/use internet. Is that overkill? They do not offer internet only. Local ISPs do, but offer 40MB.
For me, personally, that would be overkill. I have more than dozen devices hooked up and pay for 50Mbps. I’ve never had an issue with buffering or bandwidth. So you might want to support a local ISP if they offer good service and a fair price.
Not they choices, but tv choices.. zip 15666
I am reading all you have to advise and still am not sure the best way to cut the cord. I have 5 units I rent to Lodgers. I want A SUPER cheap way to keep the business phone (6-10 incoming calls/mo), WiFi and they choices for Lodgers. The $220/mo is choking me!
My wife and I recently moved to a new area, so we are looking for a new internet service provider. I like your point about getting online to find listings of smaller carriers. This sounds like a great way to compare ISPs that aren’t just big-name brands like you said.
So who , where , what is available …. Internet only , No land line phone ,. no TV ?????
My family just recently moved and we can’t have our same internet provider and we have been having a hard time finding a good internet provider. I had no idea there was such a thing as secret rate charts! That’s really good to know. Thanks for the information!
Wonderfully informative article!! Could you unleash the secrets of Roku,Fire stick and Apple TV for us? How much internet speed does one need to support these? Are they worth getting? Cost vs Quality vs value. How do we protect ourselves?….also, May we clone you? jk
Thank you, Mary. You may want to check out my reviews section for comparisons on Amazon Fire TV and Roku devices.
https://cordcuttingreport.com/category/review/
Thanks for reading!
The broadband business as the cell phone business is a nasty scam filled business and always has been. Buyer beware.
Thank you for your work on this, after reading all this we finally switched off the cable ($210/month without any extra channels with spectrum) and got amazon fire tv and a fire stick for my daughters tv…used my name to get the introductory offer on Internet from spectrum ( had been in my wife’s name) and got PlayStation vue and Netflix…saving over $100/month now and able to watch everything we did before…only issue is that the spectrum wifi modem/router is a cheap one so we will be investing in our own. Again, thanks for all the tips and work you’ve done!
Hello! 2 quick Q’s:
It seems like it is necessary to wait until current contract is up before pulling these moves?
Also, assuming they don’t immediately offer you a good deal, what do you do for internet in that handful of days once you’ve canceled and are negotiating to become a save?
These are great questions, and I’m glad you asked.
If you are under a contract, then you should fulfill that contract. You don’t want to be in a situation where you get hit with some cancellation fee.
Once you are in the free and clear, wait until the first of the month. When you call, start off by saying that your last day with them will be the 30th/31st (whatever your calendar says). Be polite, but be firm. By doing this, you are setting up the chess board more in your favor. They won’t immediately offer you a good deal. You might even have go through with canceling and hanging up the phone. That’s all good. They need to know (or think) that you’re kicking them to the curb forever. Companies hate that and will do anything to prevent it, even if the other person on the phone with you sounds like it’s no big deal.
The upshot here is you still have your internet for a full month. Nobody is showing up the next day to rip it out.
You’re setting up a situation where they are chasing you. They will call you and offer you deals. Don’t accept the first one. It’s not the best one. Make sure you know what the introductory rates are in your area. Know what competitors are charging for Internet too. Treat this like an ex- that did you wrong, but you still care about. Your position is simple: the price you’re paying is too high. Like I said: Be polite, but be firm. Are you really going to let them back in so easy?
Love it. Thanks for the advice!
I called Comcast after my bill went up $42 for the month. I tried your suggestions. I gave them my cancellation date. They could have cared less. They offered me a $15 decrease and internet only for $89.99.
Did you really cancel or fake-cancel? As I mentioned, sometimes you need to call more than once. Here’s a couple of guys who make a living using some of the same suggestions: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/06/your-money/tips-on-reducing-cable-and-phone-bills-from-ethically-ambiguous-experts.html
I just dumped Comcast cable tv and phone kept internet. Bargained them down to $75/ month for 150 mps took about 2 weeks to accomplish. They are terrible people every things a secret. And no one tells you the same thing. My bill went from $180 to $230. That’s what sent me over the edge. Not once did they care that I was dumping $150 . Or even ask why. Those reps turn over every six months that’s why they could care less.
My wife and I have been cord cutters for years now. I will try to be a “save” and get my internet rate lowered. Our costs besides Internet are pretty good. It started when we bought an Ooma box which cost about 149.00 and replaced our landline keeping our phone number but the phone bill is now 3.95! Then we got a Roku for signing up for The Blaze TV when it was new. Now we have 3 Roku boxes and I converted an old PC into a Plex media server on which we burned all our movies we owned over too, added a hand full of tv channels (recently CBS refused to serve video…arugh). Our phones are through Cricket at $35 each with unlimited voice & text plus 3GB data (we have yet to go over that). We also enjoy Hulu, Netflix (one is going next month) and I just took on the Curiosity documentary channel for 29.99 a YEAR. We use to have an 80.00 internet, 50.00 Dishnetwork bill, 50.00 each cell, and 35.00 landline phone.
You might take a look at PlayStation Vue. ROKU is one of the devices supported. Great packages, low prices, can be watched on 5 devices at a time. In many areas the locals are also available. No boxes. No contract required. Cloud use for DVR. Right now they are the best non cable TV offering for those who would still like a live channel package and free recording capability. https://www.playstation.com/en-us/network/vue/
Wow! It’s a lot to digest but the thought of cutting cord and saving money excites me more! You have to take an active role in ‘divorcing’ your cable company! Your articles are very insightful and valuable as I’m on my journey in a cable-less home.
Thanks very much!
How to Get the Best Deal for Internet without Cable
Frustrated with trying to get a fairly priced Internet connection?
You’re in the right place if you’re looking for some relief. And you should be a little aggravated.
Broadband is scarce in most of America, and competition is rare. Even worse, someone along the way thought it was a good idea to let cable companies become the dominant Internet service providers in the U.S.
You can write a better article by cutting off the first three grafs. Writing online? Just get to the point.