In the era of streaming and smartphones, many of us don’t want a cable TV package or a home phone line. If this sounds like you, all you really want is a solid internet-only plan for watching Netflix and saving that precious phone data. What many people don’t realize is that most cable providers offer internet-only plans, so you won’t have to sign up for a bundle with cable TV and home phone service if you don’t want to. This isn’t rare. In fact, many popular cable TV providers like Xfinity, Spectrum, Cox, and Mediacom all offer standalone internet plans.
When you call your local cable provider, it’s likely that they will suggest triple play bundles that come with internet, TV, and a phone line. If you’re just looking for cheap internet service without a phone line or TV package, don’t let this deter you. Just because they recommend a bundle with other services doesn’t mean that they don’t also have an internet-only option. All you need to do is be clear with the representative that you’re not interested in cable TV or home phone service. If you are persistent and let the representative know exactly what you want, they will let you know if there is an internet-only deal available to you.
A very simple way to compare the different cable providers that offer internet-only deals in your neighborhood is to use our search by zip code tool. This tool allows you to see every single provider available to you and the internet deals that they offer in one convenient place.
How to get cable internet without cable TV
There is a lot of confusion when it comes to cable TV and cable internet. Many consumers think that you have to sign up for cable TV in order to get cable internet. However, these two services are completely separate. While many cable TV providers also offer cable internet and vice versa, one service is not dependent on the other. This means that you can have a cable TV package without internet, or a cable internet package without TV.
This is important to keep in mind when you’re searching for high-speed internet without cable or phone service. You might accidentally pass up a great internet-only deal if you assume that a cable provider is going to require you to get cable TV along with your internet. It’s best to compare all of the internet providers available in your area, even if they are advertised as a cable TV provider.
Internet-only alternatives to cable
If you decide that you don’t want cable internet, there are plenty of other ways to get an internet connection at home. Below is a list of the other types of internet that are available.
Fiber internet-only plans
Fiber internet is a great option for high-speed internet without cable. It’s one of the fastest and most reliable types of internet on the market, which is perfect for cord-cutters. If you’re a big gamer, streamer, or YouTuber, it’s a great option. Verizon, AT&T, and Frontier are three of the nation’s largest fiber-optic internet providers. This technology is a lot newer than most other types of internet, so it isn’t as widely available. However, it’s expanding rapidly across the country.
Satellite internet-only plans
If you live in a rural or remote area where other types of internet aren’t offered, satellite internet is your best bet. You can get a satellite internet plan essentially anywhere, as long as you have a direct line of sight to the sky from your home. Satellite speeds are not as reliable or fast as cable or fiber internet, but it is still a viable option for cord cutters. If you just want to stream Netflix and stay connected, you should be good to go. One thing to keep in mind with satellite providers is that they typically have data caps. You’ll only be given a certain amount of data to use each month. If you’re a gamer, you might run out of data very quickly. HughesNet and Viasat are the two most popular satellite internet providers.
DSL internet-only plans
Another option if you don’t want cable is DSL internet. DSL is a good choice if you’re a cord cutter that really just wants to stay connected. Internet speeds for DSL typically aren’t fast enough for heavy-duty internet users, but if you just want to watch Netflix on one screen or online shop, you’ll be good to go. DSL internet is widely available across the country from providers like CenturyLink, Frontier, and Windstream.
Fixed wireless internet-only plans
Fixed wireless is a type of internet that is another great option for internet-only plans in rural areas. It tends to be cheaper than satellite internet and offers faster speeds, so if you’re a cord cutter that wants to stream or game on multiple devices, it’s a good option. You’ll need a line of sight from your house to the provider’s tower so that an antenna on your house is able to pick up the internet signal. Fixed wireless isn’t as widely available as satellite or cable, but around half of U.S. residents have a fixed wireless provider available to them. Rise Broadband is one of the fixed wireless internet providers with the most coverage.
Popular internet-only plans
There are hundreds of internet providers across the country that offer cheap internet service without a phone line or cable TV. Here’s a list of some popular, affordable internet plans that we recommend. After you’ve found one that fits your needs and lifestyle, you can use our search by address tool to find out if they’re available where you live.
Spectrum 100 Mbps Internet Plan
Spectrum’s starting cable internet plan costs $44.99/mo and offers download speeds of at least 100 Mbps. This is plenty of speed for the average internet user or cord cutter. You’ll be able to game, stream and do work on multiple screens at the same time without any problem. Plus, Spectrum doesn’t have any data caps which is a bonus. Spectrum is currently available in 41 states, so they might be available in your area!
Xfinity Performance Plus Internet
Xfinity offers cable internet to residents in 40 states across the country. We’d recommend the Xfinity Performance Plus Internet plan which costs $29.99 per month and offers download speeds up to 60 Mbps. This is a very cheap internet plan, so it’s a good option if you’re on a budget. This should be plenty of speed for two to three people.
Frontier FiberOptic 50/50
Frontier has a fiber internet plan that comes with download speeds up to 50 Mbps for $30/mo. If you’re looking for a bit more speed, you’ll only have to pay an extra $5 a month for Frontier’s FiberOptic 100/100 plan with speeds up to 100 Mbps. Frontier is currently available in 29 states across the country. One thing to keep in mind with Frontier is that their fiber internet plans typically require a two-year contract.
Viasat Unlimited Silver
If you live in a rural area where there aren’t many options for internet, Viasat’s satellite internet will likely be available to you. We’d recommend the Unlimited Silver internet plan, which comes with download speeds up to 25 Mbps and unlimited data. 25 Mbps will be enough to keep you connected, but if you’re a gamer or several people in your home like to stream, it won’t be the ideal plan. Just know that after you’ve used 60 GB of data during the month, your internet speeds may be slowed down during busy internet traffic hours. Viasat’s satellite internet plans will require a two-year contract. The Viasat Unlimited Silver plan costs $70 per month.
HughesNet Internet
All of HughesNet’s satellite internet plans come with download speeds up to 25 Mbps. You’ll get to choose the amount of data that comes with your plan every month. We’d recommend going with at least 30 GB per month. You’ll still be able to use the internet after you hit your data limit, but your speeds will be reduced to 1 to 3 Mbps. This is too slow for streaming or gaming, but you’ll still be able to stay connected. HughesNet internet plans come with a two-year contract and start out at a cost of $59.99 per month.
Mediacom Internet 60
Mediacom offers a starting cable internet plan that comes with download speeds up to 60 Mbps. None of Medicom’s internet plans require contracts, so they’re ideal for cord cutters who want to try an internet-only plan for the first time. This plan costs $39.99 per month. Mediacom cable internet is currently offered in 22 states.
Rise Broadband 50
Rise Broadband offers fixed wireless internet in 19 different states. We’d recommend the Rise Broadband 50 internet plan, which comes with download speeds up to 50 Mbps and costs $39.95/mo. You won’t have to sign a contract with Rise Broadband, so there’s no risk to give it a try. The 50 Mbps plan comes with 350 GB of data to use each month. If you decide that you want unlimited data, you can pay $10 more a month to upgrade your plan to unlimited.
Quick Recap
You can get an internet-only plan without cable. Even if a provider offers cable TV, they’ll also offer internet-only plans. In fact, you can choose between fiber, satellite, cable, and fixed wireless internet from a wide range of providers. Use our search by zip code tool to find out which of these internet-only plans are offered where you live in just seconds!