Internet for Seniors

Based on our research, we chose these three internet service providers (ISPs) as the best internet options for seniors. These companies each deliver a different type of internet service: cable (Xfinity), fiber (AT&T), and satellite internet (Hughesnet). But they all offer budget-friendly plans with plenty of data and a high-speed home internet experience.

Want a deeper look into these great internet providers? Check out our deep dives below.

AT&T makes our list of the best internet options for seniors because it offers budget-friendly options (its low-income internet service, Access from AT&T, costs $30.00/mo.) and high-speed internet service (up to 300Mbps with unlimited data).

If you get AT&T Fiber, this should be sufficient for cord-cutting and watching online streaming videos, which could also help you save money on cable TV. 

Access from AT&T  is the low-income internet option from AT&T Internet, costing $30 per month for up to 100Mbps and unlimited data. To qualify for this plan, you need to be eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), be a California resident on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, have someone in your household who participates in the National School Lunch Program, or your household income needs to be below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. If you don’t mind slower speeds and lower data limits, you can choose lower-cost Access from AT&T plans for as little as $5–$10 per month.

If you’re willing to pay more monthly, AT&T Fiber can provide faster internet service and more bandwidth for video streaming and heavy-duty online usage. Pricing for AT&T Fiber starts at $55 per month for speeds of 300Mbps, which will be more than enough for most older adults’ online activity. However, as of August 2021, AT&T Fiber is only available in 24 states.

There are a few advantages and potential downsides of AT&T Internet when comparing the best internet options for seniors.

Bottom line: AT&T is one of the best internet options for seniors, but your customer experience will depend on your budget and location. The Access from AT&T plan gives you 100Mbps and unlimited data at $30 per month. 

But AT&T Internet and AT&T Fiber are not available everywhere. As of August 2024, AT&T’s internet service is only available in 21 states, and AT&T Fiber is available mainly in major metro areas within those states. Many traditional telecom providers, like AT&T, do not offer high-speed internet in rural areas.

Xfinity is Comcast’s internet and TV service provider, available in 35 states plus the District of Columbia. Depending on your budget, several Xfinity home internet plans can benefit seniors.

We chose Xfinity as one of the best internet options for seniors because of its low-cost Internet Essentials and Internet Essentials Plus plans, which are excellent choices for qualifying low-income internet customers. However, even the regular Xfinity plans are budget-friendly, starting at $35 monthly. Xfinity delivers plenty of speed so older adults can get an excellent home internet experience.

Internet Essentials and Essentials Plus are Xfinity’s lowest-cost internet plans for people with significant financial needs. To qualify for these plans, you must be eligible for specific programs like Medicaid, SNAP, or housing assistance.

Internet Essentials is priced at $9.95 per month and gives you 50Mbps, while Internet Essentials Plus gives you 100Mbps for $29.95 per month. Internet Essentials plans require no credit check and no long-term contract. Learn more and apply online at the Xfinity website. 

If you want higher speeds or don’t qualify for Internet Essentials plans, the Xfinity 300Mbps plan starts at $35 monthly for your first two years of service. Depending on your location, you can also choose higher-speed plans of 500Mbps, 800Mbps, or 1,200Mbps, with exact pricing and availability. Depending on your state, most Xfinity internet plans offer monthly 1.2 terabytes (1,200 GB)  of high-speed data.

Let’s look at the potential upsides and disadvantages of Xfinity internet for seniors.

Bottom line: Xfinity offers two great choices of low-income internet service if it’s available where you live and qualify for the plans. If you’re willing to pay for faster internet, you can jump aboard the Xfinity Network starting at $35 per month for your first year.

However, like other traditional phone and cable companies, Xfinity might not reach every rural location. The company is working on it, though; it recently announced that it is expanding its network into more rural communities in Florida. Use our zip code search tool to see if Xfinity is available for your home.

If you live in a rural area underserved by the usual ISPs, you should consider satellite internet. Fortunately, Hughesnet is a leading satellite internet provider and one of the best internet options for seniors.

We chose Hughesnet as one of the best internet options for seniors because it has nationwide service, covering rural areas and small towns that other internet providers don’t reach. Hughesnet is also the most budget-friendly satellite internet provider, with plans as low as $50 monthly. The newly launched Hughesnet Fusion 100 GB plan is also an excellent fit for many older adults because of its faster speeds and higher reliability.

Hughesnet is our choice for the best satellite internet provider for seniors because it has the lowest-cost plans, starting at $49.99 monthly for 50Mbps and 100 GB of high-speed data.

Hughesnet is usually the better bet for budget-conscious seniors compared to the other satellite providers, Viasat and Starlink. There are a few special features that make HughesNet a better value. Hughesnet gives you an extra 50 GB per month of “Bonus Zone” data during the off-peak hours of 2 a.m. to 8 a.m., making it a great deal for night owls and early risers. Hughesnet also offers a two-year price guarantee.

However, if you’re willing to spend more money for faster speeds and bigger data bandwidth, Hughesnet can deliver what you need. Their Fusion plans offer 100 to 200 GB of high-speed data and a faster, more responsive experience powered by unique wireless technology. Unlike other providers, Hughesnet’s satellite technology covers 99% of the U.S. This makes Hughesnet a great choice for people in rural areas that often are not reachable by other internet services.

Every internet service provider has its pros and cons. Let’s look at a few for Hughesnet:

Bottom line: Hughesnet is not as speedy as Xfinity or AT&T internet, and it has limited high-speed data. Even though Hughesnet offers a Video Data Saver tool to help you stop buffering and use less data while watching videos, it should not be used as a full-time video streaming replacement for TV service. You might want to get satellite TV along with your satellite internet.

Choosing the best internet options for seniors is first a matter of figuring out how much internet bandwidth you need. Ask yourself:

• How many hours per day do I use the internet?
• What do I use the internet for—online shopping, web searches, listening to music, or video streaming?
• How many people use the internet in my house?
• Which do I use more often—home internet or mobile internet?
• Which internet providers are available in my area?

Depending on where you live, you could be limited to just one or two internet service providers. Or if you live in a central metro area where the high-speed internet infrastructure has been built up, you might have access to faster alternatives, like 5G home internet.

If you’re still working and need internet service to operate from home, your internet usage will differ from that of someone who has already retired. If you like to watch online videos, shows, and movies and use the internet instead of a cable TV subscription, you will need more data and faster speeds than someone who doesn’t use the internet for this purpose. Families often need more bandwidth for their kids’ homework and online entertainment. But if you live alone or with a partner who doesn’t use the internet much, you could get by with less.

If you’re on the go and out of the house most of the time, your mobile phone could be your primary way of accessing the internet. You might want more mobile data for your cellular phone plan instead of a more expensive home internet plan.

Whatever your living situation, make sure to keep in mind when deciding on an internet plan.

Whether you’re on a fixed income and trying to save money in your budget or comfortably retired and don’t want to waste money on internet service, there are several ways for seniors to get a better deal on home internet.

Lifeline is a federal program that gives qualifying households up to a $9.25 discount on their monthly internet subscription from select providers. Households within Tribal lands can qualify for $34.95 in discounts. Similar to the ACP, it was created by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to help qualifying low-income households afford telephone and broadband access. Even though it’s less of a discount than provided by the ACP and it has stricter eligibility, $9.25 saved per month is important for many households.

Applying for Lifeline is relatively easy. Visit the Lifeline website, follow the steps to sign up, and determine your eligibility. 

You may need to provide documentation proving that you’re eligible—this could include forms or paperwork from a qualifying government program, proof of identity, or proof of household income.

Many internet service providers offer discounts for new customers. For example, you might save $25 per month off the usual price for a three-month or 12-month introductory period. Some internet providers might even pay you extra money to switch to their plans. T-Mobile announced they’d cover up to $500 of early termination fees for new customers moving internet service from another provider.

The exact deals will depend on the internet service provider and where you live. Check the websites or ask the customer service representative when you call to sign up.

Internet service providers often offer special deals when you sign up for multiple services, such as AT&T phone service to go with your AT&T internet or cable TV with your cable internet. Satellite internet providers sometimes offer special satellite TV bundle deals, too.

Even if you spend more money with one company, you can often get extra value by bundling than if you purchased each service separately.

Many internet service providers offer referral bonuses if you get a family member or friend to sign up for service. For example, Xfinity offers a $175 “Refer-a-Friend” bonus for each friend that signs up for qualifying Xfinity services. If you love your internet service and are happy to recommend it to your friends and family, this can be a great way to earn extra cash.

Another way to get discounts on internet service is more straightforward: call customer service. Ask the representative if they can offer you any deals, discounts, or retention bonuses. And discounts aren’t just for new customers. If you’re an existing customer and tell the customer service rep that you’re not happy with the internet service and might not renew your contract, they will try harder to persuade you to stay on as a customer. They might offer significant discounts to sweeten the deal.