Why your internet bill might increase

Promotional rates

The most important price increase to be aware of is the one after your promotional period ends. Nearly all internet providers offer promotional rates for their new customers. This means the listed price for internet service is the promotional rate and not the regular rate. However, most providers don’t advertise their regular rates. As a result, you can go on a goose chase to find out how much you will be paying for internet service each month after that promotional period ends.

Allconnect, however, has made it easy for you by breaking down all of the major ISP price increases. Even if you do not see your provider on the list, keep in mind these two things when buying internet:

Unless your provider specifically says your plan is Price for Life, expect your bill to increase sometime between 3 to 24 months into your service.
If your provider increases its prices once, expect them to do it again in the future.

So, which providers increase their prices after the promotional period and by how much? Find out below:

Summary of price increases for top ISPs

Provider	Price increase	Promo period length	Additional details
AT&T	$0 – $10/mo.	12 months	No price increases for AT&T Fiber, $10 for DSL plans
Cox	$20 – $34/mo.	12 months	Rate increases vary by internet package
HughesNet	$10/mo.	6 months	Prices increase after 6 months even though the contract is 24-months.
Kinetic by Windstream	$15 – $18/mo.	12 months	Rate increases vary.
Mediacom	$10 – $70/mo.	12 months	The more expensive the package, the more expensive the price increase.
Sparklight	$10 – $60/mo.	6 – 12 months	All plans increase after the first 12 months except for Sparklight’s cheapest plan (100 mbps), which increases by $15/mo. after the first 6 months.
Spectrum	$25/mo.	12 months	After 12 months of service, your bill will increase by $21/mo. for internet-only and by $25/mo. for bundles.*
Viasat	$20 – $100/mo.	3 months	The more expensive the package, the more expensive the price increase.
Xfinity	Up to $45/mo.	12 – 24 months	Most plans increase by $30/mo. after the first year.

Expert tip: Pay attention to which ISPs increase all of their plans by the same amount and which ISPs increase their more expensive plans at higher rates than their cheaper plans.

Overall, the providers that increase prices the most after a promotional period are Mediacom, Viasat and Sparklight, with an increase of up to $100/mo. However, this increase is only for these providers’ most expensive packages. When it comes to their cheapest plans, prices increase by as low as $10/mo.

The providers that increase their plans the most for low-tier packages, therefore, are AT&T, Spectrum and Xfinity because they increase their rates by the same amount for nearly all of their plans ($20 – $30/mo.).

This means that if you are looking for a cheap internet package, your price increase will be lower with Mediacom, Viasat and Sparklight after the first 12 months than it will be with AT&T, Spectrum or Xfinity. And if you are looking for a high-tier package, your price increase will be higher with Mediacom, Viasa and Sparklight after the first 12 months than it will be with AT&T, Spectrum or Xfinity.

How about Verizon and Optimum?

Two of the biggest providers, Verizon and Optimum, are particularly secretive about their price increases. However, just because they don’t list what their rates are after the first 12 months, doesn’t mean they don’t increase them. Based on what customers have reported, expect at least a $15/mo. price increase after the first year.

Hidden fees

It’s also important to keep hidden fees in mind when shopping for internet. As we mentioned above, the advertised price is likely not what you will end up paying, not only because of promotional rates but also due to hidden fees like equipment costs, service fees and installation fees.

How you can save on internet

There are a few steps you can take to try and save on your monthly internet bill:

Shop other internet providers — if you are not happy with your ISP’s pricing, you may want to consider switching. Some providers will have cheaper plans than others, price guarantees, no hidden fees, etc.
Buy your own equipment — Buying your own equipment, like a modem or router, can save you money in the long run since you won’t have to pay the provider’s monthly fees.
Look for low-cost options — Explore low-income internet options from various providers.

Negotiate your bill — You can always try and negotiate a better deal for yourself on your internet bill. You may be able to get out of some unwanted extra fees.

FAQs

Why did my internet bill increase?

Your internet bill could increase for a few different reasons, but mainly due to second-year price increases. Usually, providers offer you promotional pricing for a set amount of time and then increase the price of your internet after that period is over. Make sure you read the fine print of your internet plan so you know what to expect.

What are hidden fees?

The advertised price of your internet plan is usually not the price you’ll end up paying. Your provider will likely tack on various hidden fees, like equipment fees, installation fees or service fees.

How can I save on internet?

You can save on internet by switching internet providers, buying your own equipment to save on rental fees or exploring low-income internet options and programs.

Written by:

Ari Howard

Associate Writer, Broadband & Wireless Content

Ari Howard is a staff writer Healthline and spent two years as a writer on the Allconnect team. She specialized in broadband news and studies, particularly relating to internet access, digital safety, broadband-… Read more

Edited by:

Robin Layton

Senior Editor, Broadband Content

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