The best prepaid internet providers of 2021

What is prepaid internet?

You’ll mostly hear the word “prepaid” followed by “phone plans,” but there are a number of providers who offer prepaid home internet plans, too. It works the same way — you pay for service upfront, you’re not locked into any contracts and you won’t have to put down a deposit. But instead of paying for minutes or texts upfront, you pay for internet service. 

*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. Last updated 08/19/21.
**Based on average AT&T 5G speed scores from OpenSignal July 2021 report

Many people pay using a debit or credit card each month — most prepaid internet service providers will give you a heads up when you’re nearing the end of your cycle — but you can usually pay in-person at one of the provider’s stores or at a local retailer, too.  

None of the plans listed above require any sort of deposit or credit check to activate service, but you’ll typically have to purchase your own modem or hotspot. You can also check out our review of the best no-contract internet plans for more options.

How we found the best prepaid internet plans

To find the best prepaid internet plans, we evaluated every broadband provider that offers prepaid internet in four categories: affordability, performance, value and customer satisfaction. Each category contains multiple sub-factors, all of which are weighted differently to impact the provider’s overall score.

To find the best prepaid internet plans, we evaluated every broadband provider that offers prepaid internet in four categories: affordability, performance, value and customer satisfaction. Each category contains multiple sub-factors, all of which are weighted differently to impact the provider’s overall score.

For each sub-factor, we score all providers on a continuous scale of 1 to 5, relative to the industry as a whole. Because the average download speed in America is currently 180 Mbps, for example, we assigned all plans with download speeds between 100 and 299 Mbps a score between 3 and 4. Xfinity’s 200 Mbps plan received a 3.50 score for download speed, while Spectrum’s 400 Mbps plan got a 4.16.

We only considered standardized data points in our scoring system. More abstract data like consistency of service and brand reputation is still part of our analysis, but we opted to let our writers address them in the context of each review.

Learn more about our methodology

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Our picks for the best prepaid internet providers of 2021

• Verizon Fios – Best overall
• Xfinity Prepaid Internet – Cheapest prepaid internet service
• Cox StraightUp Internet – Another cheap option
• AT&T Prepaid – Best availability

You can learn more about each of these prepaid internet service providers in the sections below.

Allconnect Rating

4.07 / 5

Verizon Fios – Best prepaid internet service overall

Why we recommend it: Verizon Fios is one of the best internet providers in the country, so it makes sense that it would have the best prepaid home internet, too. It’s not quite as good of a deal as regular Verizon Fios service — the $39.99/mo. prepaid plan gets you 100 Mbps instead of 200 Mbps — but it’s still the best in the business. Plus, if you purchase your router from Verizon, they’ll pay for your first month of service.

What else to consider with Verizon prepaid internet:

• Expensive equipment: You’ll have to purchase your own router with Verizon prepaid internet, and it’s on the pricey side at $199.99. That said, Verizon will pay for your first month of internet when you buy your router through them. You also have the option of using your own Verizon-compatible router. 
• Symmetrical speeds: With Verizon Fios, you’ll get the same download and upload speeds. That means your connection will be able to handle activities like online gaming and uploading photos without a problem.

View more Verizon Fios internet plans

Allconnect Rating

3.33 / 5

Xfinity – Cheapest prepaid internet service

Why we recommend it: At just $45/mo., Xfinity has one of the cheapest prepaid internet plans you’ll find anywhere. Like other providers, you won’t have to worry about a credit check or deposit, but Xfinity also cuts out hidden fees. Xfinity is also the only prepaid provider that allows you to pay for less than a month.

What else to consider with Xfinity Prepaid Internet:

• Cheap equipment: Xfinity’s modem only costs $35 to purchase, compared to $199.99 with Verizon. This is a one-time purchase that you can’t avoid. Xfinity doesn’t allow you to use a modem you already have with its prepaid plans. 
• Decent speeds: Xfinity Prepaid Internet download speeds max out at 50 Mbps, which should be plenty for most households. That said, if you have more than a couple people using the internet in your house, or do a lot of gaming or remote working and learning, you may want to look for a faster plan elsewhere.  
• Weekly plan available: If you don’t want to pay for a full 30 days at a time, Xfinity is the only provider that offers one-week cycles. You’ll pay a little more for this flexibility — it costs $15 per week compared to $45 for a month — but it’s a nice option for anyone looking to try out Xfinity.

View more Xfinity internet plans

Allconnect Rating

3.04 / 5

Cox – Another cheap prepaid option

Why we recommend it: If Xfinity isn’t available in your area but you still want the cheapest plan, Cox prepaid internet is another solid option. Its StraightUp Internet plan costs $50/mo., but unlike the other providers we’ve listed, equipment, taxes and fees are included. That means you know exactly what you’ll be paying each month: a flat $50.

What else to consider with Cox StraightUp Internet:

• Price guarantee: As long as you pay your bill each month, Cox guarantees that it won’t raise your price for three full years. 
• Equipment is included: Cox’s Wi-Fi modem is yours to keep — even if you cancel your service after one month.
• Slower speeds: The speeds on the Cox prepaid internet plan are the bare minimum to meet the FCC’s definition of broadband: 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload. If you’re going to be doing a lot of streaming, gaming or working from home, this plan probably won’t cut it.

View more Cox internet plans

Allconnect Rating

3.10 / 5

AT&T – Best availability

Why we recommend it: AT&T’s prepaid internet option is a little different than the other providers on this list. Instead of a traditional home internet connection with a router and modem, AT&T’s prepaid plans utilize its 5G wireless network. You pay for different amounts of data each month, from 20GB to 100GB, and you’ll need to purchase a mobile hotspot from AT&T separately.

What else to consider with Xfinity internet:

• Wide availability: While you have to be in the service areas of broadband internet providers, AT&T Prepaid is available virtually anywhere.
• Save by paying for a year upfront: If you’re happy with your AT&T Prepaid service and want to save some money, you can save $10/mo. and get 5GB of extra data each month by paying for a full year in advance. 
• Expensive equipment: Hotspot devices from AT&T can cost as much as $180, although you may be able to find better deals by visiting an AT&T store in-person.

View more AT&T internet plans

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Written by:

Joe Supan

Senior Writer, Broadband Content

Joe oversees all things broadband for Allconnect. His work has been referenced by Yahoo!, Lifehacker and more. He has utilized thousands of data points to build a library of metrics to help users navigate these … Read more

Edited by:

Robin Layton

Editor, Broadband Content

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