If you’ve ever dealt with ISP customer service, you may have felt that they’re always trying to get as much money out of you as possible. They lock you in with contracts and then lower your speeds, so you either have to keep using poor service or pay an early termination fee. Other providers charge overage fees every time you exceed the data cap, which can amount to higher than the monthly premiums.
To top it all off, the recent record-high rates of inflation have made everything costlier. But you may be surprised to hear that the internet service is an exception. The cost of broadband internet has consistently been decreasing over the past five years. Getting a high-speed internet deal is actually cheaper today than ever before.
However, you’ll need to put your thinking cap on to identify the best deal out there. Many ISPs are still trying to lock you into overpriced, under-delivering deals.
The key is simplicity. The simpler the deal is, the easier it is to tell exactly how much it’ll set you back by.
In this guide, we share tips to identify the best internet deal available in your area. Let’s dive right into it.
1. Find a Deal with a Long Promotional Period
Many ISPs have promotional deals for first-time customers. These deals cost you significantly less than what you’re paying right now for the same or higher speeds. But the price isn’t the only factor that makes promotional deals better than others.
Promotional deals typically last 12 months, after which you’re charged standard rates to continue the service. Some deals such as Grande Internet extend this to 24 months, so you save twice much as you would with a standard Internet deal.
2. Don’t Get Into a Contract
The internet speed advertised with the deal is only the top speed. When many people in the same network are using the internet, your ISP may throttle your speed to lower the risk of network congestion and allow low-latency internet access to everyone. The extent to which your speed is throttled depends on network bandwidth and the number of users on the network.
ISPs with poor networks find it difficult to retain customers. They fail to deliver even close to the advertised speed and customers end up canceling the service. This is when they try to lock you in with a contract in exchange for a discount or a mandatory contract—don’t fall for it. Always choose a plan free from contracts so you’re free to switch whenever you want.
3. Get an Unlimited Plan, It’s Worth It
Another way you may end up paying more for internet than your premium overage charges is with overage fees. Some internet plans have data caps. If you exceed the data cap, you’re charged for the extra data you use that month by the Gig.
These charges are typically very high. You have to think twice before streaming 4K or downloading heavy files. Do yourself a favor and choose an unlimited data plan.
4. Combine With TV
Contacts and data caps aren’t worth the discounts they get you, but internet TV combo deals are. Many ISPs deliver both TV and internet via the same network. It’s cheaper for them to deliver internet and TV to the same house than to deliver these services individually.
This means that choosing the same provider for both TV and internet will also cost you less than using separate providers for each. For instance, Grande Communications has combo deals starting from just $59.07 per month for 12 months with internet speeds from 600 Mbps to 940 Mbps. Consider switching the TV service to your new internet provider as well.
5. Skip Fiber-To-The-Premises
Fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) is the most capable internet connection you can get right now. However, it’s not worth it for most residential users. It can deliver speeds up to 100 Gbps but it has significantly higher monthly and installation costs compared to cable internet. This is why the use of FTTP is mostly limited to commercial customers. If you’re looking for the highest value for your money, skip FTTP.
6. Choose a Local ISP
Internet connection is costlier in some places compared to others. Nationwide ISP has the same promotional deals (but different standard rates) for all their service area. Local ISPs, on the other hand, can bring promotional prices closer to the cost without risking loss.
Grande services are exclusive to Texas, which is how it’s able to offer deals with a two-year price lock for unlimited, contract-free internet. Head out to www.buytvinternetphone.com/grande/customer-service to learn more.
Conclusion
Internet service prices have been going down for the last five years. It’s recommended to get a deal with a long promotional period, no data caps, and no contracts. Bundling with TV and choosing a local ISP can also improve value for money.
