Best internet plans for seniors: Compare discounts and deals

Kara McGinley Paste BN

Many of the top home internet service providers (ISPs) offer deals or low-cost plans for qualifying seniors. Internet for seniors starts at $14.95 per month with ISPs like Spectrum and Xfinity. And AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon offer senior home internet plans for $20 to $45 a month. To qualify for discounts or low-cost plans, you may need to meet certain requirements, like receiving Social Security.

This is important because cheap internet for seniors can help reduce monthly bills while keeping connected to loved ones and essential telehealth services. Here's everything you need to know about senior home internet plans and how to get the best price possible for your internet needs.

The best internet for seniors

The best internet provider for seniors will offer low-cost plans with speeds fast enough to complete daily internet use and tasks with little buffering. Senior discounts on the internet plans below are for qualifying low-income households. Select from one of the following options to learn more about low-cost internet for a senior on Social Security.

Xfinity Internet Essentials: Home internet with Wi-Fi for $14.95 a month.
Access from AT&T: Fiber internet with Wi-Fi for $30 a month.
Spectrum Internet Assist: Home internet for $25 a month.
Verizon Forward: 5G Home Internet for $20 a month.

Internet companies with senior discounts

Seniors need internet access for everything from telehealth appointments to keepingin touch with family and friends, but high internet prices can make it unaffordable for those living on a fixed income.

Here's a deeper look into the low-cost plans and discounts offered by top internet providers.

Xfinity Internet Essentials – $14.95/mo.

Who is this plan best for? Xfinity Internet Essentials has download speeds of 75 Mbps. The plan connects up to five devices and supports streaming, browsing and email.
Eligibility: You must provide proof of participation in Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, WIC orother assistance programs (check the full list of eligible programs here). Must not havehad Xfinity service in the past 90 days. No credit check required.
Cost: $14.95 a month for download speeds of 75 Mbps or $29.95 a month for download speeds of 100 Mbps. This no-contract internet plan includes free equipment and free self-installation.
How to apply: Apply online or by calling 1-855-8-INTERNET.

Access from AT&T – $30/mo.

Who is this plan best for? Access from AT&T Fiber is best for seniors who want faster internet speeds for streaming, gaming and uploading files. This low-cost plan is good for homes with around 10 connected devices.
Eligibility: Households taking part in SNAP, SSI (CA residents only) or the NationalSchool Lunch Program (NSLP). You can also qualify based on household income. Find fulleligibility information here. You must reapply and show proof of eligibility annually.
Cost: $30 a month for up to 100 Mbps. If the max speed available at your home is under 50Mbps, you may qualify for a cheaper price.
How to apply: Apply online.

Spectrum Internet Assist – $25/mo.

Who is this plan best for? Senior citizens who need light to medium online usage. Bundling TV with this cable internet deal is also an option.
Eligibility: Participants must be 65 or older and receive Supplemental Security Income. Read the full list of requirements here.
Cost: $25 a month for download speeds of 50 Mbps or $30 a month for download speeds of 100 Mbps. Spectrum Internet Assist includes a free modem, parental controls and antivirus protection. No contracts. You can add a Wi-Fi router for $10 a month.
How to apply: Apply online.

Verizon Forward – $20/mo.

Who is this plan best for? Verizon Forward is an internet discount that can be applied toVerizon Fios or Verizon 5G Home Internet, making this plan great for seniors alreadyusing Verizon internet or Verizon Wireless.
Eligibility: Households that qualify for Lifeline, SNAP or Medicaid are eligible. Individualswho received a Federal Pell Grant within the last year are also eligible.
Cost: Starting at $20 a month. You can bundle your Verizon cell phone with Verizon internet to get a multi-product discount and then apply the Verizon Forward discount for the cheapest rate.
How to apply: Apply online after your Verizon internet service is installed. Ensure thatyou are eligible before starting service

Government assistance for internet for senior citizens

Lifeline offers internet or phone subsidies for qualifying households, including seniors.Senior internet discounts include $9.25 a month off your internet bill by applying for Lifeline.

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) previously offered free internet to seniors andlow-income households but is now paused indefinitely pending new funding.

Other discount internet for seniors

You may be able to find cheap internet as a senior without any income or age requirements. The plans below for seniors are under $100 a month without income qualifiers. Most rates below reflect an autopay discount.

AT&T Internet 300: Download speeds of 300 Mbps for $55 a month with no scheduled increases.
Cox Internet Go Fast: Download speeds of 300 Mbps for $50 to $70 a month for 24 months.
Frontier Fiber 200: Download speeds of 200 Mbps for $29.99 a month for 12 months.
Optimum 300: Download speeds of 300 Mbps for $40 a month for 12 months.
Spectrum Internet® Premier: Download speeds of 500 Mbps for $50 a month for 12 months.
Xfinity Connect More: Download speeds of 400 Mbps for $25 a month for 12 months.

How to avoid scams

A 2023 study out of the University of Michigan found that 75% of adults aged 50 to 80 experienced a scam attempt within the previous two years before the study. Many scammers use the internet to commit fraud, phishing and scam attacks, and often seniors are targeted.

Here are some signs to look out for to prevent scams.

Be cautious of anyone contacting you who you do not know.
Verify the source.
Use strong passwords.
Avoid sharing personal information online.

Remember: Unless you’ve directly contacted your ISP regarding an issue, an internet provider will not reach out to you proactively about tech support or computer viruses or ask for your passwords. If this happens, it’s a clear sign of a scam, and you should never share any personal details.

What you need to be connected to the internet

Many of the senior internet plans above require self-installation to get Wi-Fi access in your home. Your ISP will typically mail you the router, modem or gateway. The device will come with a set of directions to walk you through the installation process. It's typically relatively simple and the instructions are usually easy to follow. That said, you may be able to request a technician when you sign up for the plan.

With cable internet, the modem and router usually come as a single unit, called a gateway,which needs to be plugged into the cable port and an electrical outlet. 5G internet, like T-Mobile, is the easiest “plug and play” option, requiring only an electrical outlet to plug in the gateway.

For fiber internet, a technician is often required to install it due to its more complex setup— it requires an Optical Network Terminal (ONT) instead of a modem, and a router for Wi-Fi signals is still necessary.

Frequently asked questions

Can senior citizens get free internet?

There is no specific program for free internet for seniors, but the organization Lifeline offers low-cost internet for seniors and other qualifying households. Seniors can also get cheap internet through internet service providers like Xfinity, Spectrum, Verizon and more.

What is the cheapest internet for seniors?

The Xfinity Internet Essentials plan offers some of the cheapest rates for seniors, starting at $14.95 for a plan with download speeds of 75 Mbps. Keep in mind that rates vary and may change after promotion. You will need to provide proof of eligibility to qualify for most senior, low-cost internet plans.

How can seniors reduce their internet bill?

Seniors can lower their internet bill by showing proof of eligibility for low-cost plans, like proof of receiving Social Security. Seniors can also take advantage of bundling discounts and promotional offers.

Does AT&T offer senior discounts for internet?

Yes, Access from AT&T is the low-cost plan offered by AT&T. Plans with download speeds of 100 Mbps start at $30 a month. To qualify, you or someone in your household must be taking part in SNAP, SSI (CA residents only) or the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). You can also qualify based on household income. Find full eligibility information here.

Contributing: Lisa Iscrupe, Hannah Whatley, Allconnect

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