Are You Paying Too Much for Internet? 5 Ways to Save

Internet is a necessity to the modern household and the modern business, but are you paying too much for your service? ISPs find plenty of ways to convince you that you need X package or X features in your service, but often times, they’re only looking to upsell in order to maximize profitability.

What kinds of features do you really need from your service package? How much is too much when it comes to internet service? Here, we’ll look at five ways you can save money on your monthly internet service bill, whether you’re a brand new startup business or a household looking to trim down expenses.

1. Call and Negotiate

The first method you can use to get a better internet price is calling your provider to negotiate a better rate. This might include some time spent on hold, being transferred between departments, and being presented with dozens of new package options, but if you can manage to lower your rates, it’s well worth the effort.

Not all ISPs are so willing to work with their customers, but some will. It never hurts to call and check! If they tell you it’s impossible to lower your current rates, try asking about other service options. There’s a possibility they’ll want to lower your rates in order to keep you as a customer.

You can also use your phone as a hotspot internet connection if you’re not interested in traditional internet services. In fact, choosing an unlimited data plan and using a cellphone as a hotspot connection is a popular option for millions of Americans who don’t want the hassle of cable or the unreliability of satellite internet.

2. Trim The Fat

There’s a chance you’re only paying too much for service because it includes “extras” that you might not even be using. For instance, if your ISP sold you on a phone and internet bundle, but you almost never use the phone, you’re probably paying too much for your service. Or, you could be renting a modem or even paying for installation.

Companies like Spectrum, for the most part, allow you to install the equipment yourself, provided there’s a functioning cable line in your home. However, if you choose satellite internet, you’ll probably have to pay for a technician to come out and hook up your new service.

Contact your ISP and ask them to explain the details of your service. Are you bundling things you don’t use? Are your speeds higher than you need? Do you need less bandwidth? These are all things you could potentially trim off of your bill to save you money. Don’t be afraid to ask about the details of your service!

If you want to switch ISPs, you can use an internet advisor service to get the best rates for your area, so you don’t have to spend hours on your search engine scrolling through pages of advertisements. This can potentially save you a lot of time and money!

3. Bundle If You Need To

Sometimes, instead of trimming down on services, you need to bundle them to get the best deal. If you want TV, internet, and home phone service, there’s no doubt that a bundle will save you money in the long run as opposed to buying each service separately.

That being, be wary of service contracts or obligations. Sometimes, a bundle will include a two-year contract that you can’t get out of unless you pay an enormous termination fee (much like a cell phone service contract). If this is something you want to avoid, check with your provider’s terms of service before choosing a bundle.

4. Cut Back On Your Speeds

We all want the fastest internet we can get our hands on, but this want begets an interesting question: do we actually need such high speeds? If you’re constantly streaming, downloading, or gaming, high-speed internet just makes sense. You wouldn’t want your stream to be constantly buffering or your games to lag. But if you’re just using your internet for basic purposes, high speeds aren’t exactly a necessity, and can become a costly extra.

Do you really need that 400MB/s download speed that you’re paying $100/month for, or could you be just fine with half of that speed? A third of it? Basic internet functions don’t require such high speeds, and you can still stream high-quality video content at 100MB/s download speed.

5. Look Into Competitor Pricing

If there’s simply nothing your current provider can do to lower your rates, it might be a good time to look into competitor pricing. Have you considered any alternatives to your current service? Satellite instead of cable? Cable instead of satellite? Perhaps a hotspot from a company like Verizon or T-Mobile? There are many options available, so don’t make the mistake of thinking you’re stuck with your current provider.

Even if you’re already in a contract, some companies will actually buy it out in order to make you their customer! Something to consider if you’re thinking about switching providers but don’t know where to start.

Conclusion

While internet might be a necessity in today’s world, it doesn’t have to be a huge expense. There are several ways to lower the cost of your internet while still getting what you need from it. Be sure you know how fast you need your internet to be, what type of connection you want, and what your budget is. Always pay attention to terms of service and make sure you’re bundling if you want more than one service.

What are you looking for?