Dial-Up Internet

Dial-up internet service providers

Camryn Smith

Edited By

Hannah Whatley

Last updated: June 30, 2025

Dial-up internet is still available in some rural areas, but it doesn’t support streaming or other high-speed internet activities. Our broadband experts break down the best options for you.

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Key takeaways

Dial-up internet service via a phone line is available in mostly rural areas
Dial-up speeds top out at less than 1 Mbps
Dial-up internet is outdated and can’t handle most modern technology

Top dial-up internet providers

There are still a few companies that provide dial-up internet, but the speeds will be very low in comparison to more modern connections.

The dial-up services listed below are likely to offer up to 56 Kbps. Some of these internet service providers, such as NetZero and Juno, offer accelerated dial-up speeds up to five times faster than basic dial-up internet, but for a higher price. If you’re looking for other cheap internet options, click “View internet plans” below to see what’s available in your area.

Provider	Starting price*
NetZero	Free (up to 10 hours/mo.) or $11.95/mo.
AOL	$9.99/mo. (with AOL Advantage)
Earthlink	$9.95/mo. ($24.95 after first three months)
Juno	Free (up to 10 hours/mo.) or $29.95/mo. for accelerated
DSL Extreme	$9.95/mo.

*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. Speeds may vary. Updated as of 06/30/25.

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How does dial-up internet work?

Dial-up internet is an outdated and slow type of connection that uses a phone line.

Dial-up internet works by taking over the signal of an existing phone line and changing it from communicating voice to communicating data. The amount of data that dial-up internet can transfer via the phone line is very limited.

According to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau data, an estimated 163,400 people are still using dial-up internet. Check out our guide to low-cost internet options, or click the button below to shop available providers in your area.

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Does dial-up internet service still exist?

Yes, and with a phone line and the right equipment, you can likely get dial-up internet in your area. Though most people wonder when dial-up internet was phased out, it’s still a great option for those living in rural areas without access to cable or fiber internet and do not want satellite internet.

Pros and cons of dial-up internet

Dial-up internet is cheap and readily available, but is it any good? Here are the advantages and disadvantages of choosing this connection type.

What we like

Availability – Since most homes have access to phone lines, dial-up is widely available
Price – Monthly costs for dial-up are generally cheaper than broadband service
Security – Dial-up service uses different IP addresses each time you log on, which is an extra layer of protection against hackers

Things to consider

Speed – Dial-up speeds top out at less than 1 Mbps, and broadband internet is at least 100 Mbps
Setup – Although dial-up uses phone lines, you will also need a specialized dial-up modem and other equipment, which could be hard to find
Load timeouts – Dial-up speed can’t keep up with today’s internet technology
Phone line use – Dial-up ties up your phone line, preventing you from sending or receiving calls when you’re online

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Dial up service vs. other internet types

Fiber, cable, satellite, 5G and DSL are the other available internet technology options, with cable and fiber being the fastest.

Apart from satellite internet, cable, fiber, 5G and DSL aren’t available everywhere. Cable is the most widely available behind satellite, but fiber still has limited availability. 5G is a solid choice if you live near cell towers, but DSL delivers the slowest speeds besides dial-up.

Connection type	Download speed range	Upload speed range	Starting price	Availability
Dial-up	Up to 56 Kbps	8 Kbps	$9.95/mo.	4%
5G	20 – 1,000 Mbps	10 – 50 Mbps	$30.00/mo.	Varies
Fiber	30 – 8,000 Mbps	30 – 8,000 Mbps	$29.99/mo.	46%
Cable	25 – 3,000 Mbps	10 – 50 Mbps	$19.99/mo.	82%
Satellite	15 – 350 Mbps	At least 3 Mbps	$49.99/mo.	100%
DSL	Up to 100 Mbps	5 – 35 Mbps	$39.99/mo.	80%

Who is dial-up internet best for?

Dial-up internet is best as a last resort for rural residents or someone who doesn’t access the internet beyond occasionally checking email.

With a range of 40 to 50 Kbps, you will not be able to stream shows or play games with a dial-up connection, especially with streaming services recommending a minimum of 3 Mbps for standard definition (SD) and 5 Mbps for high definition (HD).

Check out other cheap internet providers and compare the most affordable options.

The future of dial-up

Dial-up services will not expand in the future, but it most likely won’t disappear anytime soon. The rural and unserviced areas that need broadband do rely on it.

Dial-up internet is often used by some business or personal customers as an internet backup in case of a cable, satellite or fiber outage.

DSL is the next level of internet connection above dial-up, but it is also being phased out by ISPs, replaced by cable, fiber and 5G.

Dial-up internet FAQs

Can I send or receive phone calls with dial-up internet?

Not when you’re logged in. Dial-up internet uses the phone line while you’re online, preventing you from sending or receiving phone calls. You can, however, use your phone when not using your internet service.

How fast is dial-up internet?

Dial-up internet can offer speeds up to around 56 kilobits per second (Kbps). Most internet service providers measure speed by megabits per second (Mbps). 1 Mbps is equivalent to to 1,000 Kbps. 56 Kbps equals 0.056 Mbps, which is many times slower than speeds you’ll get with other types of internet.

Can I stream TV or music with dial-up internet?

Not likely. The speeds you get with dial-up internet aren’t fast enough for an enjoyable experience. A dial-up connection can, however, give you enough speed to download music as long as you download songs one at a time.

Why does dial-up internet make that noise?

That’s the sound of your dial-up modem connecting with the network. The first few sounds you hear are the dial tone and dialing. Once your modem makes a connection, the remaining sounds you hear are your modem communicating with the network to determine connection quality and speeds.

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Written by

Camryn Smith

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