10 Real Ways to Get Free Internet

Are you interested in getting free internet? If you’re unhappy with the cost of your monthly internet bill, you may want to try some of these ways to get free internet.

By taking advantage of options, you might save hundreds of dollars each year.

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How to Get Internet For Free

Check out these options to get internet for free. You might be surprised to find multiple options that might help you save money on internet costs.

1. Xfinity Residential

Xfinity Residential now has an Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Qualifying customers can receive a credit of up to $30/month for their internet and mobile services, or potentially qualify for Free Xfinity Internet.

Enjoy speeds up to 100 Mbps for only $29.95/month or see if you qualify for free.

You’re eligible to participate if you (or someone in your household) meet one of the following requirements:

Your household income is at or below twice the federal poverty level (for example, $55,500/year for a family of four, $27,180/year for an individual).

You participate in specific federal assistance programs such as Lifeline, SNAP/EBT, Medicaid, or free and reduced-price school lunches.

Note: When applying for ACP, you may have to show proof of income, like a tax return or three consecutive pay stubs.

2. FreedomPop

FreedomPop offers one of the most generous plans for free Internet access. They send you a small wireless router access point. You carry the device and turn it on when you need Internet access.

The device is super convenient and works wherever you are, letting you browse as long as you want.

They ask for a deposit on the device, but if you return it within a year, you get a full refund. If you decide to keep using FreedomPop, you keep the device, and they keep the deposit as payment for the device.

FreedomPop’s free plan includes 500MB of free data each month. This should cover the needs of most light users; however, if you need more data, you may want to switch to one of their other plans.

For example, they have a 2GB plan as low as $9.99 per month if you prepay for 12 months. Even though the other options at FreedomPop aren’t free, they may cost you less money than your current Internet service plan does.

3. NetZero

NetZero is one of the oldest Internet providers available. It works differently from FreedomPop. With NetZero, you access the Internet via CD installation or downloaded software instead of using a mobile router.

NetZero limits its free Internet access to 10 hours a month, so this option will also work best for light users. NetZero has a “no obligation” policy, which means you don’t have to sign a contract to use their services.

They have other monthly plans that charge a monthly fee if you want more available Internet access.

NetZero also offers super affordable mobile data plans. If you want Internet access on your phone but don’t want to pay a lot, here are some of their options.

200 MB of data per month: Free
500 MB of data per month: $17.95 per month
1 GB of data per month: $27.45 per month
2 GB of data per month: $45.95

The free option could be great if you use little to no data on your phone. You’d have data for emergencies or rare access needs, and get it for free.

4. Juno

Juno is another carrier that offers free Internet and a variety of paid Internet access plans. Their free plan is limited to ten hours per month and is good for light users. Juno also offers a no-obligation, no-contract policy.

5. National Chain Stores

Another way to get free Internet access is to take advantage of nearby national chain stores and businesses offering free Wi-Fi. Many national chain stores and restaurants offer customers free Internet access.

Most popular nationwide chains that offer free Wifi:

McDonald’s
Panera Bread
Starbucks
Whole Foods
Marriot Hotels
Dunkin’ Donuts
Buffalo Wild Wings
Office Depot
Target
Barnes and Noble
Best Buy
Apple Stores

Note that you might be tempted to spend money if you’re using free Internet provided by stores and businesses. For that reason, you may want to be careful when planning your shopping.

Commit to not doing unplanned shopping while taking advantage of the free Wifi available at stores and other locations.

Other places where you might find free Internet access in your area might include airports and other local non-chain businesses. Most non-national businesses have a sign posted if they offer free Wifi.

Since you’re likely visiting at least one of these national stores or businesses on a semi-regular basis, it might be helpful to take advantage of their free Internet access.

6. Wifi Free Spot

To help you track down local and national businesses in your area that offer free Wifi Internet access, you can check out a website called Wifi Free Spot.

This site has a directory that can be accessed by clicking on the state or country you’re in. It will show you all of the free Wi-Fi places in that state or country.

The great thing about the Wifi Free Spot website is that it can be really useful if you’re traveling and want to find free Internet access in the area you’re traveling in.

7. Your Local Library

Most local libraries have computers that allow you to access the Internet for free. All you have to do is become a library member, and for public libraries, that’s free as well.

Granted, you will have to be at the library to get Internet access, but the library has added benefits. It’s super quiet, and you’ll have very few interruptions. You may not always have that quiet of an environment at home.

As a bonus, you can borrow free books, magazines, and DVDs to bring home while you’re there.

8. Everyone On (Connect2Compete)

Everyone On is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping low-income families get Internet access for free or cheap. When you enter the site, you can hit the red “find offers” button at the top.

If you qualify for this program, you may be able to get super cheap devices as well. Qualifying individuals and families can often get cheap laptops or other devices.

Note: To qualify for this deal, you must meet certain low-income standards or be eligible for certain public assistance programs.

9. Check With Local ISPs

Although they don’t like to advertise this fact, many local ISPs do provide ways to get free Internet service. They may offer free Internet service for a certain time with bundle packages.

Or, they might offer free Internet service if you bundle and use dial-up instead of faster ways to connect. Check with your current ISP for deals. Then, check with competing Internet Service Providers.

You never know what kind of offers they might have to get you to switch from a competing company.

10. ISP in Area

If you’re looking for other options to get free Internet access, check out the Internet Options. This is a search engine site that allows you to search by state or zip code to find free Internet in your specific area.

It’s free to use and can be a great catch-all site for finding free Internet, whether you’re at home or on the road.

FAQs About Free Internet

Here are some questions you might be wondering about getting free internet access.

Can you really get free internet?

Yes, many companies offer plans that offer completely free internet. These plans are limited to a certain speed or a certain amount of data that can be used for free.

Is free internet worth it?

It can be worth it to occasionally browse the internet or just check your email. In many cases, it is not worth it if you are looking to stream movies or play video games which require more data than the free plans offer.

How can you get unlimited internet for free?

The best place to get unlimited internet for free is at libraries, coffee shops, or bookstores.

How To Get Free Internet Access – Summary

If you want to save money on your Internet bill, one of the ways mentioned above might be right. Every dollar saved means more money toward your financial goals.

And if these free Internet options don’t work for you, at least try to find a more affordable plan. By minimizing your Internet costs and other expenses, you free up money for financial goals.

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