Best Internet Providers for Seniors (2025)

Starting Cost: $40 per month

With prices starting as low as $40 a month, Xfinity offers speeds of up to 2,100 Mbps, plus one free year of mobile service with all plans.

With Xfinity, we paid for speeds of 600 Mbps, although the limit was 2,100. This is significantly faster than other providers on this list like Spectrum which offer max speeds of only 1,000 Mbps. However, it is not as fast as AT&T, which offers speeds of up to 5,000 Mbps.

We installed our Gateway ourselves, and it only took a few minutes. It was as easy as plugging it in, downloading the app, and following the step-by-step instructions; we didn’t have to pay a dime for installation. However, we did have to pay $15 per month to rent the Gateway, while many other companies like Cox, Spectrum, and T-Mobile offer their modems for free. But note that if you have a compatible modem or gateway, you can skip this extra fee.

On a more positive note, the Gateway comes equipped with software that blocks risky sites and network threats. If cybersecurity is a concern of yours, you’ll appreciate the features built into the Gateway.

One huge advantage of Xfinity is that its internet plans start at only $40 a month with the 400 Mbps speed. You can sign either a one or five-year contract. Seeing that the one-year prices are lower, this may seem like a no-brainer; you can save money and sign up for less time. But keep in mind that after the year is up, your prices will most likely increase, while the five-year contract locks them for its entirety. Paying more now on a monthly basis could mean paying less over the next five years.

Xfinity Internet Plans Comparison

When it comes to customer service, Xfinity is lacking. When our internet stopped working one day, we had to chat with a robot before we could access phone support.

Although Xfinity may be lacking when it comes to customer service, it offers fast speeds, affordable prices, cybersecurity features, and free installation.

To learn more about this provider, read our guide to Xfinity internet for seniors.

Starting Cost: $55 per month

AT&T offers the fastest internet on this list: up to 5,000 Mbps with fiber internet, but note that this may not be available in all areas. In my neighborhood, I qualified for 1,000 Mbps. This was  still incredibly fast, enough for me to use more than 15 devices at once in my home. That’s ideal if you’re a gamer or someone who frequently sends large data files. Compared to cable internet, fiber internet has 25 times as fast upload speeds. So it’s a great choice if you want to use multiple devices without buffering.

Setting up fiber internet from AT&T requires professional installation, while setting up broadband internet is free. We got fiber, and our serviceman set up our gateway in just over four hours, which is typical for fiber internet as it includes fiber optic cables. When we were having some internet connection issues, we went to AT&T’s website, found a relevant article, and followed the steps.

However, if we couldn’t figure it out from the support article, there was also a community forum, live chat, and a phone line, available weekdays 9 a.m. through 9 p.m. CT and weekends 4 a.m. through 1 a.m. CT. That’s nearly 24 hours of service, and we loved that AT&T didn’t make it hard to find the phone number, unlike Xfinity.

There are five plans for the internet from AT&T, ranging from $55 to $245 per month. These plans are straightforward and do not include streaming services or discounts on restaurants like T-Mobile’s plans.

However, AT&T plans do include what the company calls “ActiveArmor,” which blocks internet threats like malware. Additionally, all fiber internet plans below can get you a $150 reward card if you purchase fiber internet and eligible wireless service.

All plans include free equipment, although installation can cost up to $99. There is also an option to self-install for free, but it won’t be as simple as plugging in a Gateway like Xfinity. All plans are monthly, but prices are locked for the first year.

AT&T Internet Plan Comparison

Although AT&T provides fast internet for reasonable prices, it doesn’t have the “perks” we’ve received from other providers — from T-Mobile Tuesday and Xfinity Rewards to Peacock, Apple TV+, and Netflix. If you want an internet package that does more than just internet, we’d recommend checking out T-Mobile or Xfinity.

For the fastest internet, there’s no better provider than AT&T if fiber internet is available in your area. Plus, their overall prices are highly affordable, considering how fast the speeds you get.

To learn more about our experience with this provider, read our full guide to AT&T internet for seniors.

Starting Cost: $30 per month

We’ve all experienced the bad feeling that accompanies signing up for a product or service, then being inundated with hidden fees. Some of the providers on this list, like AT&T and CenturyLink, charge extra for installation or even Wi-Fi equipment. But with Spectrum, the monthly fee is the only thing you’ll pay for (plus taxes).

Spectrum makes getting the internet simple and affordable. We got our router from a local Spectrum store, but you can also have it shipped. Then, we installed our system ourselves by connecting our router to our Ethernet port and power. The router updated for about 10 minutes; then we scanned a QR code on the side of the router and named our Wi-Fi network. Once we created a password for our router, we visited Spectrum’s website and activated our service. The best part? It didn’t cost us a thing to install or get the equipment.

While Spectrum’s pricing may seem a bit high, costing $50 per month for 500 Mbps speeds, it’s important to remember that Spectrum includes the price of its equipment. For example, Xfinity starts at $30 per month for 300 Mbps speeds, but if you don’t already have a modem, you’ll have to pay $15 per month to rent equipment, bringing costs to a similar level.

Spectrum Internet Plan Comparison

Aside from the one-time Visa gift card and antivirus software, Spectrum is free of perks like discounts or streaming, similar to AT&T. If you want streaming services and discounts, check out Xfinity or T-Mobile.

If you want to keep things simple when it comes to buying internet, Spectrum is perfect for you. All you’ll pay each month is your monthly internet charge, and your price is locked for a year, despite the monthly contracts.

To learn more about this provider, read our guide to Spectrum internet for seniors.

Starting Cost: $50 per month

T-Mobile is known for its 5G networks, which apply to its home internet and phones, and the company now offers both 5G home internet and fiber internet options, giving customers more choice based on availability in their area. You can either save money by bundling your home phone and internet. Or, if you want to skip bundling, you can buy internet for $35 per month (with AutoPay and a $15 monthly bill credit) when you pair it with any T-Mobile voice line. Another big advantage of T-Mobile’s home internet is its easy setup process.

T-Mobile offers two types of home internet: 5G Home Internet and Fiber Internet.

5G Home Internet: Since T-Mobile’s 5G home internet uses the company’s 5G network, no in-depth installation was required. Unlike Verizon, which required a technician to run wires from our house, T-Mobile internet setup was a breeze. We simply plugged in our free Wi-Fi Gateway, paired it to our phone, and were up and running in about twenty minutes.

T-Mobile claims that its typical home internet download speeds are between 87 and 415 Mbps, but in our experience, we found the download speeds usually hovered around 300 Mbps. While this is slower than other providers’ maximum speeds on our list, it was more than enough to browse the web and stream music and videos on multiple devices.

Fiber Internet: T-Mobile’s new fiber plans offer ultra-fast speeds with unlimited data, no equipment fees, no installation fees, and no annual contracts. These fiber plans are expanding to over 500,000 households across the U.S, and some plans come with price guarantees of up to 5 years. So if 5G internet speeds are not quite fast enough, T-Mobile fiber might be a great option, offering speeds up to 2 Gbps, among the fastest providers on this list.

T-Mobile Home Internet prices start at $50 per month for the Rely Home Internet plan, which is a bit higher considering that Xfinity starts at $25 per month. Note that for T-Mobile, our prices included a discount for enrolling in automatic payments. If you wanted to pay each month manually, the internet service would cost $55.

The good news? T-Mobile has monthly contracts, so you won’t be locked into any long-term commitments. Further, the company offers a 5-year price guarantee (excluding taxes and fees).

While the Wi-Fi equipment was free with all plans, we had to pay a $35 device-connection fee when we bought the internet package, even though we installed the equipment for free. We prefer companies like Spectrum with truly free installation. T-Mobile is most worth it if you already want to bundle home internet, mobile phone, and some great streaming services.

T-Mobile’s new fiber plans start at $75 per month (or $60 with a voice line) and offer significantly faster speeds than the 5G options. All fiber plans include a 5-year price guarantee, meaning your internet price will not increase during this period.

Not available in all areas. Return each device undamaged or fee may apply. AutoPay discount requires bank account or debit card, otherwise $5 more/line/mo. May not be reflected on first bill. See Terms and Conditions (including arbitration provision) at https://fiber.t-mobile.com/legal/terms.

Disclaimer:  5-year price guarantee means that T-Mobile won’t change the price of fiber internet data for at least 5 years while you are on an eligible plan. Taxes & fees, voluntary equipment or speed upgrades, future wireless generations, select limited-time promotions, per-use charges, third-party services, and network management practices aren’t included. This guarantee starts when you activate or switch to an eligible plan and doesn’t restart if you add a line or change plans after that.

T-Mobile Internet Plans Compared

Pricing may vary by location.

Rely plans can experience fast speeds with T-Mobile’s latest 5G gateway, delivering typical download speeds between 87 Mbps–318 Mbps. All-In and Amplified Internet plans can experience fast speeds with T-Mobile’s latest 5G gateway, delivering typical download speeds between 133 Mbps–415 Mbps. 25% of our customers see speeds below and 25% see speeds above these ranges. Mobile 5G Home Internet is delivered via 5G cellular network and speeds vary due to factors affecting cellular networks.

T-Mobile Fiber Internet Plans Compared

Disclaimer: 5-year price guarantee means that we won’t change the price of fiber internet data for at least 5 years while you are on an eligible plan. Taxes & fees, voluntary equipment or speed upgrades, future wireless generations, select limited-time promotions, per-use charges, third-party services, and network management practices aren’t included. This guarantee starts when you activate or switch to an eligible plan and doesn’t restart if you add a line or change plans after that.

The biggest drawback of T-Mobile applies to people who want to buy internet only. Maybe you already have a mobile phone provider and are not looking to switch. Or perhaps you simply don’t have a cell phone. Whatever the reason, T-Mobile’s Rely Home internet plan, which costs $50 per month (with AutoPay), doesn’t include any of the streaming perks of other providers.

For the 5G plans specifically, internet speeds can fluctuate, and max speeds are generally slower than other providers. However, the new fiber plans address this concern with consistent, ultra-fast speeds up to 2,000 Mbps.

T-Mobile is the most worthwhile if you want to bundle your internet and phone, especially with the new fiber plans that offer additional discounts for voice line customers.

>>Read more: T-Mobile Senior Phone Plans

If you want home internet and a voice line rolled into one, then T-Mobile is one of the most affordable options available. With the addition of fiber internet, T-Mobile now offers solutions for both easy setup (5G) and ultra-fast speeds (fiber), making it suitable for a wider range of needs. To learn more about this provider, read our guide to T-Mobile internet for seniors.

Starting Cost: $55 per month

Even though long-term contracts have the pro of locking in prices, not everyone is open to commitments. But with CenturyLink, all of the plans are month-to-month, leaving you to come or go as you please.

CenturyLink’s internet offerings are pretty straightforward. We had the options of 500 or 940 Mbps; all contracts were monthly, so when we got the lower speeds initially, we could easily upgrade.

Now, with that lower-tier option, we had to lease our router for $15 a month, unlike Spectrum with its lack of equipment fees. We also could have bought it for up to $200, and we had to pay a $149 installation fee. However, the installation and equipment would have been free with the 940 Mbps plan.

CenturyLink lacks the antivirus software of other companies like AT&T, Spectrum, and Xfinity, but it does have something unique: a referral program. With the referral program, every time we turned a friend into a customer, we both got $100, plus $10 to donate to a charity we could select from a list. If you’re good at convincing people to do things, CenturyLink could actually make you money, up to $600 per year before you’ll be taxed as a 1099 employee!

CenturyLink has recently made its lower-tier plans five times as fast and $5 cheaper, making it an affordable provider: 500 Mbps is $50 per month, but you’ll also have to pay for installation plus Wi-Fi equipment. However, if you want free installation and equipment, go with the 940 Mbps plan for $75 a month.

If you really don’t want to get locked into a contract, CenturyLink’s monthly plans will appeal to you. It doesn’t offer any other discounts, streaming services, or antivirus software, though.

Even with the free installation and equipment of the 940 Mbps plan, $75 per month is still not the lowest price for the speed. Xfinity is only $65 a month for 1,100 Mbps, for example, while Spectrum is $70 a month of 1,000 Mbps. No matter how you slice it, CenturyLink isn’t the most affordable option on the market, especially considering the lack of extras.

CenturyLink may be pricey, but the prices don’t look as terrible with the higher-speed plan and the referral program. If you know how to win friends and influence people, it’s possible you could leave richer than you started.

To learn more about this provider, read our guide to CenturyLink internet for seniors.

Starting Cost: $30 per month for qualifying homes or $50 per month

While the federal government’s Affordable Connectivity Program may have ended, some internet providers have continued to offer discounts to qualifying households. Cox is one of those providers. If you qualify for its Affordable & Reliable Internet plan, you’ll get speeds of up to 100 Mbps, access to 4 million hotspots, unlimited data and a free modem rental for $30 a month. This is the lowest price on this list, tied with Spectrum.

We’ve tried out internet companies, and Cox is one of the fastest, though not quite as fast as AT&T’s 5 gigs; Cox offers 2 gigs of download speeds. Typically, companies top out at about 1 gig (1,000 Mbps). If you’ve got a house full of grandkids or you love playing online video games, these fast speeds will be more your speed.

Cox’s pricing ranges from $30 per month for qualifying houses, all the way up to $150 per month for 2,000 Mbps. However, only the plan for qualifying households includes a modem. Similarly to Spectrum and CenturyLink, there are no streaming services or discounts with this company. So how does the pricing compare?

Cox is only the most affordable if you live in a qualifying household. Otherwise, it starts at $50 a month for 300 Mbps, not the lowest price we’ve seen. Xfinity is twice as fast for only $10 more per month, while Spectrum is 200 Mbps faster for only $9 more per month. Even on the higher end at 1-gig, Cox is priced higher than many other providers. AT&T charges $80 per month for 1,000 Mbps, for example. So we’d only recommend this provider to qualifying households if your budget is tight.

Cox Internet Plans Compared

Even though Cox is one of the only internet companies on this list to offer 2-gig speeds, we wish it were available in more locations. We checked at least three of our addresses across three different states before finding a location in Rhode Island (and then finding that it was “coming soon”). As of June 2025, Cox is only available in the following states:

• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Connecticut
• Florida
• Georgia
• Idaho
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Louisiana
• Massachusetts
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Rhode Island
• Virginia

If you participate in an eligible program, you’ll save money by getting your internet from Cox.