Best Prepaid Internet Providers & Plans

Our favorite prepaid internet service providers (ISPs) include Verizon Fios, Xfinity, and Cox. While many plans require a commitment of several months (or even years), select internet packages offer no-contract flexibility.

With a prepaid internet offering, you’ll appreciate the freedom to start and stop service anytime. Whether you’re in the market for high speeds and unlimited data caps or sweet savings, these are our picks for the best prepaid internet providers and plans on the market.

Best Prepaid Internet
Providers & Plans

A prepaid internet package provides great connectivity with no annual contract or credit check. Here are our favorite prepaid home internet offerings. 

Cox | StraightUp Internet | $50/month—Best value prepaid internet plan

With plans beginning at merely $50/month, Cox StraightUp Internet gives you internet with no credit check, long-term agreement, or deposit. You’ll even enjoy a free Wi-Fi modem. Its $50/month tier provides up to 100Mbps download speeds which is enough for watching She-Hulk on Disney+, playing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge online with friends, or working from home. Aside from its StraightUp plan, Cox also includes no-contract internet at up to 1Gbps download speeds.

In our testing, we liked Cox’s roster of plans, up to Gigabit internet speeds, and excellent reliability. Unfortunately, Cox StraightUp Internet includes a 1.25TB data cap. For reference, you could download every season of Game of Thrones without exceeding 1TB, so most folks won’t come close to that threshold. Despite its monthly data cap, Cox is a solid ISP that gives you plenty of no-contract internet tiers at reasonable prices. 

• Pros: Low cost, reliable ISP, free equipment rental
• Cons: 1.25TB monthly data cap

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Xfinity | Prepaid | $30/month—Best budget prepaid internet plan

Xfinity prepaid internet sets you back only $30/month for 30 days of service. There’s no annual contract, and all you’ll need to get started is the Xfinity Prepaid Internet Starter Kit which includes a modem. You’ll enjoy 100Mbps download speeds, enough for a simultaneous pair of 4K video movie streams.

We appreciate Xfinity’s no-strings-attached affordable prepaid internet plan. Xfinity offers wide availability, fast internet, and reasonable pricing. Unfortunately, the 100Mbps download and 20Mbps upload speeds are pretty low. However, if you're on a budget, Xfinity delivers great prepaid, no-contract internet.

• Pros: Affordable, no contract or credit check, easy to self-install
• Cons: Mediocre upload and download speeds

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Prepaid Mobile Internet Options

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Outside of traditional cable and fiber-optic internet, mobile broadband lets you connect from virtually anywhere. Sign up for a prepaid mobile hotspot plan and add a mobile hotspot device, and you’re ready to go. Although wireless internet lets you connect at home and on the go, we don’t recommend it for everyday networking. Instead, mobile broadband is better suited as a backup for when your primary internet goes down or for when you travel.

T-Mobile’s prepaid home internet service gets you a best-in-class 5G footprint, while AT&T provides a reliable 4G LTE network with growing 5G coverage. Verizon boasts exceptional 4G LTE and fast-but-hard-to-find 5G. We also recommend Boost Mobile with its Mobile Go Unlimited hotspot offering.

How to Pick a Prepaid Internet Plan

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There’s much to consider when choosing a prepaid internet plan, from provider footprints to costs and data limits.

ISP availability

Because ISPs vary by region, you’re limited to internet providers in your area. Check what companies offer plans in your region, then select a prepaid offering.

Monthly price

Set a budget and pick a plan that fits the bill. For prepaid home internet, Verizon Fios, Cox, and Xfinity start around $30–$50/month. However, Fios also includes multiple plans, including fiber internet at higher prices.

Monthly data cap

Although Verizon Fios gets you prepaid internet with no monthly data cap, Cox and Xfinity feature around 1.2TB download limits. That’s generous enough for all but the most hardcore gamers, film buffs, and smart home enthusiasts.

Max upload and download speeds

Prepaid internet plans begin at 50Mbps and go up to 940Mbps for download speeds. For surfing the web, casual gaming, and streaming videos on one or two devices, up to around 300Mbps should suffice. For simultaneous 4K video streams and serious gaming, consider 500Mbps to 1Gbps (or faster) download speeds.

Internet type: Fiber vs. cable vs. mobile internet

Fiber internet offered by ISPs like Verizon Fiber provides the fastest possible home internet. Cox StraightUp and Xfinity Prepaid get you reliable internet. Although we don’t recommend mobile hotspots for regular at-home use, both major and smaller carriers let you enjoy internet access around the house or while traveling.

Best Prepaid Internet Providers and Plans: FAQs

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Who has the best prepaid internet service?

Verizon Fios offers the best prepaid internet service with various plans and prices and no data caps paired with generous upload and download speeds.

Is there a prepaid internet service?

Yes, there are several prepaid internet plans from service providers, including Verizon Fios, Xfinity, Cox, and CenturyLink.

Is prepaid internet unlimited?

Yes, Verizon Fios offers prepaid internet service with no data cap.