Best Prepaid Home Internet Plans for 2023
Prepaid internet plans are ideal for simple, pay-as-you-go pricing without contracts or credit checks. Here are my top picks for prepaid home internet.
- Prices from $50 per month
- Speeds from 100Mbps
- 1.25TB monthly data allowance
- Prices from $50 - $90 per month
- Speeds from 300 - 940Mbps
- Unlimited data
- Prices from $15 - $45 for 7 or 30 days of service
- Speeds from 50Mbps
- No contracts
Setting up your home internet can be a serious headache, especially with the credit checks, contracts, monthly equipment fees and other hassles. If you're looking for an easier way to get connected, a prepaid internet plan may be your best option.
Prepaid internet plans are separate from a provider's standard plans and often come with easy enrollment conditions -- no credit checks, minimal or no upfront costs, no contract requirements -- and straightforward, pay-as-you-go pricing. Prepaid internet is also separate from low-income internet plans, in that there are no qualifications to sign up. The lack of high speeds and overall value are often a drawback to prepaid internet (aside from Verizon Fios; more on that below), but you may consider slower speeds a fair trade for simple, cheap internet service.
Shopping for a faster internet speed?
With the continued economic strain of inflation, and the proliferation of remote working and education, more prepaid internet options would be ideal, but Cox, Verizon Fios and Xfinity are currently the only major ISPs with prepaid plans. Consequently, they make up the list of the best prepaid internet providers. You'll find everything you need to know about their prepaid home internet services below.
Best prepaid internet plans overview
| Plan | Starting price | Max speeds | Equipment cost | Monthly data cap | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cox StraightUp Internet | $50 | 100Mbps download, 5Mbps upload | $0 | 1.25TB | None |
| Verizon Fios Prepaid | $40-$80 | 100-940Mbps download, 100-880Mbps upload | $100 upfront (skippable) | None | None |
| Xfinity Prepaid | $45, $15 for 7 days or $45 for 30 days thereafter | 50Mbps download, 10Mbps upload | $35 upfront | 1.2TB | None |
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For the most part, Cox is your run-of-the-mill cable internet provider. Aside from gig service and a 500Mbps plan, speeds are low while pricing could be seen as somewhat high. That said, the provider does have a good prepaid internet plan (not to mention a decent add-on for gamers).
Cox's prepaid internet plan, StraightUp Internet, is about as straightforward as it gets when it comes to signing up and paying for home internet service. There are no credit checks, equipment fees or term agreements required, and the monthly price of $50 is good for three years.
Max download speeds of 100Mbps are not bad for $50 per month. The same amount will definitely get you faster speeds with standard plans from Xfinity or Spectrum, but there's enough speed to support browsing the web on your computer or smartphone along with streaming and online gaming. A wired connection will deliver the best speed and reliability, but the Wi-Fi router included with Cox StraightUp Internet can create a wireless connection suitable for a couple of users and devices.
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Verizon is the only major provider with multiple prepaid options, including a gigabit plan. Pricing is roughly the same as standard Verizon Fios plans, but speeds on the two lower-tiered plans are a bit slower (100Mbps and 300Mbps compared to 200Mbps and 400Mbps). Still, $40 a month for up to 100Mbps or $60 for up to 300Mbps over a 100% fiber connection is a good deal for a prepaid service -- if you can get past the potentially high startup costs.
Unlike Cox, Verizon Fios does not include equipment in the cost. Instead, customers are required to purchase equipment up front for $100 or provide their own equipment. Even if you buy your own compatible router (see our list of the best Wi-Fi routers), a $100 setup fee may still apply. The good news is that, if you choose to purchase equipment through Verizon, the company will waive the cost for your first month of service.
The free month of service is nice, but one of the main appeals to prepaid services is how easy, and often, affordable, it is to get started. With up to $200 in initial costs (equipment purchase plus setup fee), Verizon Fios is one of the more expensive prepaid internet providers, at least in the beginning. If you can make it past that first month, the ongoing speed and value of Verizon Fios prepaid plans could be worth the initial costs.
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Comcast's Xfinity Prepaid internet comes with one max speed, 50Mbps download and 10Mbps upload, but when and how you pay is up to you. With Xfinity Prepaid, you'll "refill" (read: prepay) your internet service by the week or by the month.
Like Cox and Verizon Fios prepaid internet services, there is no credit check, deposit or contract required to get started with Xfinity Prepaid. To sign up, all you need is your address, $35 for the equipment purchase and $45 for the first 30 days of service. After that, you can refill seven days of service for $15 or, the more economical choice, 30 days for $45.
The option to prepay for a week of internet is ideal for anyone such as students or out-of-state visitors who need service for a short time, or those living on limited incomes who would rather break their monthly internet costs up into weekly payments. And if paying for internet service every seven days sounds like a hassle, be sure to sign up for Xfinity's autopay option (but remember to cancel it if and when you move).
Prepaid internet FAQs
What is prepaid home internet?
Prepaid internet is a pay-as-you-go internet service that allows you to pay for the next week or month of service ahead of time, in order to avoid fees and other conditions that come with most standard internet plans. Prepaid internet plans typically require no credit check, deposit or term agreement.
Why get prepaid internet?
Prepaid internet is best for those who would rather bypass the common conditions of signing up with an internet service provider, such as credit checks and term agreements. Speeds are often lower than you'll get with standard internet plans -- Cox and Xfinity prepaid plans come with max download speeds of 100Mbps and 50Mbps, respectively -- but the ease of signing up and lower fees may make prepaid service the more sensible option for some households.
Do I have to qualify to get prepaid internet?
The prepaid internet providers listed above, Cox, Verizon Fios and Xfinity, do not have any special requirements or qualifications to sign up for prepaid service. Your address and initial costs for service are often all you need to get started.
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