Finding the cheapest WiFi without sacrificing quality can take some serious research (and possibly multiple phone calls), but it’s well worth the effort if you’re in the market for a new internet service provider after a relocation or just want to see what else is out there that might be more affordable. That’s why we compiled these helpful pointers for striking the best possible balance between cost and online accessibility. You will acquire new skills, such as rate comparison and price haggling, that will allow you to acquire the necessary WiFi service at an affordable cost.
Finding out what WiFi services are readily available in your area is the first step before diving into a comparison of every WiFi provider available. This can save you the disappointment of obtaining a fantastic price only to learn that you are located outside the service area of the provider offering it.
Check out search engines like HighSpeedInternet and BroadbandNow as a place to begin. Entering your ZIP code into one of these sites will return a list of service providers in your area, along with information about the various plans they offer.
The next step is to determine what sort of service you require and how much you are willing to spend on it. Most service providers have several tiers of service based on download speeds, with faster speeds coming at a higher price. Usually, the service provider will describe the limits of each speed. If you only need to use the internet for basic browsing and streaming on one device, a plan with download speeds of 30 Mbps should be fine. However, a premium plan may provide downloading speeds of up to 1 Gbps, making it possible to conduct multiple high-definition video conferences or stream several media files at once.
If your household doesn’t regularly use the most advanced features, you don’t need to pay for the most expensive plan. You can figure out how much data you need with a broadband calculator like the one offered by BroadBandNow. You’ll be asked some basic questions about the number of devices in your home, your location, and whether or not you use WiFi for things like streaming videos, playing online games, and doing business video conferences. It will analyze your results and provide you with a range of recommended speeds and quality alternatives.
Once you have a solid grasp of what you need, you can refine your search. Plans and costs aren’t the only things to think about. It’s tempting to go for the lowest WiFi option, but make sure you take into account the following:
Rentable routers are offered by many WiFi service providers for a small monthly fee. Even though it might not seem like much now, this might wind up costing you over a hundred bucks a year. Finding a trustworthy router to buy is a great long-term investment.
Finding a WiFi provider that offers excellent service at a low price can be enticing. But if the plan you choose causes your work video conferences to constantly disconnect or makes watching movies online frustratingly slow, it won’t do you much good. Find out how their previous customers feel about them and what suggestions they might have.
You should also verify whether or not the potential plan has a data limit. A data cap is the maximum quantity of data that can be downloaded in a given month without incurring additional costs. You might not mind having a data cap if the only thing you ever do on your WiFi is check your email. But it’s something to think about if you stream a lot or do a lot of work online from home.
If you have recently moved into a new residence, you should expect to get postal advertisements from all of the local service providers. Many of the deals you’ll see will be limited-time offers or discounts for the first year of service. Be aware that after an introductory period, the price of some services might increase by as much as 100%.
Do you feel like you’re paying too much for your internet service? It could be time to talk to your WiFi provider about seeing if you can negotiate a discount. Dates may be crucial to your success if you have a contract in place. Some businesses depend on early termination fees (ETFs) to keep customers around, regardless of customer satisfaction with the service. However, you may have greater leverage to negotiate after your contract has a shorter duration.
If your internet service contract is about to expire, it’s a good idea to research the rates being offered to new customers. Call them up and tell them they have competition, but that you would rather stay with them if they could offer you an introductory deal.
You should compare prices with other local companies before committing to this strategy. When compared to the costs of similar plans, you may find that yours is more reasonably priced than you had assumed. If your discussions with your existing provider fail, you should have a backup plan ready.
You should be prepared to really cancel your service with your present provider before threatening to do so as a negotiation tactic. Discovering how much of a financial impact switching providers might have can also help calm nerves. The best option is to stay with your present service provider if they are willing to maintain your current low pricing. If not, then that’s fine too. To take advantage of the lower rates, simply inform your current provider that you will be canceling your service and contacting a new potential supplier.