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Best internet and mobile deal
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What’s the best internet and mobile bundle?
The best internet and mobile bundle will deliver the internet speeds and mobile coverage you need for the lowest price and most favorable service terms. Options will vary depending on the available internet providers in your area, but some notable internet and mobile bundles include:
- Astound Internet plus Mobile: Best internet and mobile bundle deal overall. One line of mobile service is included for free for the first year.
- Spectrum Internet and two Unlimited lines: This is the best option for bundling internet with two lines, as the provider recently introduced a $20 discount and free Wi-Fi equipment.
- T-Mobile Home Internet and Essentials Saver: Best for internet in rural areas with expected speeds of 72 to 245 megabits per second.
- Verizon Fios 300 and Unlimited Welcome: Best savings for internet and mobile services discounts.
Other internet providers, including AT&T, Optimum and Xfinity, also offer internet and mobile bundles. Each provider offers a unique variety of possible internet and mobile plan combinations — far too many to list here.
The bundles listed below reflect the cheapest internet and mobile bundle each provider has to offer. Pricing will increase when opting for faster internet speeds or adding mobile lines. Keep in mind that specific plans and pricing can vary by location and are subject to change at any time.
Best internet and mobile bundles
Our take – Few, if any, internet providers can compete with Astound’s low introductory rates. Prices vary by location, but many customers can get download speeds up to 300Mbps — plus an unlimited mobile line, available at no extra cost for one year — starting at $20 per month. The deal is tempting, but Astound’s cheap rates don’t last forever and, once they expire, steep price increases may soon follow.
Our take – As a fiber internet and cellular service leader, it’s no surprise that AT&T stands out for its internet and mobile bundle options. The Fiber 300 plan is priced competitively at $55, but mobile bundle customers can get 20% off the monthly cost. The bundle discount applies to other AT&T Fiber plans and is also available with the provider’s new 5G home internet service, AT&T Internet Air.
Our take – If Mediacom stands out for anything, it’s the low introductory pricing. Download speeds up to 250Mbps are available starting at just $20 per month, while tacking on mobile service with unlimited data will add only $40 per line. Unfortunately, though mobile offers unlimited data, Mediacom’s cheapest internet plan has a 400GB monthly data cap.
Our take – Optimum’s Internet 300 and Mobile Unlimited plan is fairly standard. Internet speeds are decent for the price ($40) and mobile service comes with unlimited talk, text and data. However, the provider also throws in 5GB of hotspot data each month, which can come in handy if you need a reliable internet connection on the go.
Our take – Spectrum recently boosted its speeds and, despite the increase, didn’t raise its monthly rates. In fact, the provider introduced a new discount, $20 off your internet plan when bundled with two mobile lines (or TV service). If you need home internet and two or more mobile lines, Spectrum is a great source.
Our take – T-Mobile is among CNET’s picks for the best rural internet provider thanks to its broad, wireless home internet coverage capable of delivering download speeds of around 72 to 245MBps. While you’re shopping T-Mobile Home Internet, why not throw in mobile service and take advantage of its bundle discounts of $10 to $20 off each month?
Our take – Verizon Fios is already a great value, but it becomes an even greater deal when you bundle it with Verizon Mobile. The provider offers a monthly discount on both Fios internet ($15 or more off) and its mobile service ($10) when you bundle the two together. Signing up for service may come with other special perks too. Discounts and signup bonuses are also included when bundling Verizon 5G Home Internet with Verizon mobile.
Our take – For those who don’t need a lot of data, WOW’s Internet 300 and 1GB mobile data plan may be the way to go, starting at just $45 per month. Higher data plans, up to 20GB, are also available if you need more data. WOW offers a $10 monthly discount for each mobile line added.
Our take – Xfinity Internet 300 and Mobile Unlimited is a decent deal with speeds up to 300Mbps and unlimited talk, text and data with 30GB of priority data starting at $85 a month. The value gets better with each line you add as Xfinity only charges $20 per additional Mobile Unlimited line when you bundle.
Tips for choosing the best internet and mobile bundle
Shopping for home internet can be confusing, but I would argue mobile plans are even more so. Put the two together and it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the options. Here are a few helpful tips to consider when choosing an internet and mobile bundle.
Understand your needs before diving in. How much speed do you need, and how many mobile lines do you plan to add? Do you want a capped (and usually cheaper) mobile plan or one with unlimited data? Understanding your needs prior to shopping for an internet and mobile bundle can help you better sort through the options.
Find providers in your area. Not all internet providers offer mobile service, so you’ll want to start by narrowing down which ISPs available at your address do. Xfinity, AT&T, Spectrum and Verizon are top national providers that offer internet and mobile bundles, but you may be surprised to find a smaller, regional provider that offers mobile bundles as well.
Compare plans, starting with internet. Depending on the provider, you’re probably going to have more internet options than mobile. Select a plan or two that meets your needs, then compare available mobile plans. When shopping online, you may be able add your internet and mobile choices to the same cart. Be on the lookout for any discounts that may show up in your cart.
Decide to bring or buy a device. Most ISPs allow you to provide your own mobile device at no other cost than a cheap activation fee. Others, like AT&T or Verizon, may have enticing offers on new devices. Keep in mind that purchasing a new device can and probably will increase your bundle cost.
Read the fine print. The FCC’s broadband labels have helped clarify internet plans, but they can still be tricky. Once you add mobile, you’ll want to be aware of even more service terms and conditions. Data caps and overage fees (or throttled speeds) with either service are the biggest ones to watch for, but you’ll also want to consider contract requirements and future price increases, if any.
Remember, you don’t have to bundle. Getting internet and mobile service together may come with a discount and some added convenience, but it’s not for everyone. Prefer Verizon’s mobile network but cable internet from Xfinity? Go for it. In some cases, it may be cheaper and more practical to choose mobile from one provider and home internet from another.
How we evaluated the best internet and mobile ISPs
Hands-on testing is central to CNET’s reviews and recommendations of various products and services, but such a process is impractical, if not impossible, when it comes to home internet. Even if we could physically test each ISP, external and unavoidable factors such as the equipment (which will vary by provider and connection type), interference from nearby networks, the local infrastructure and even the time of day could affect the results.
So, instead of hands-on testing, we perform frequent, in-depth evaluations of national and regional ISPs and the bundles they offer. First, we explore a provider’s availability, technology and speed details using the most recent data from the Federal Communications Commission. Next, we look into all available internet and mobile plan options, including the number of plans to choose from, upload and download speeds, and promotional versus standard pricing.
Plans can vary by region, so we run multiple serviceability checks in various service areas to provide more informed speed and mobile service details. We also reach out to the providers directly to verify plan and pricing information.
Finally, we examine data caps, added fees, contracts, price increases and other considerations to be aware of before signing up for an internet and mobile service. When available, customer satisfaction reports like those from the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, not to mention a look at what real customers have to say on sites like Reddit and Downdetector.com, provide further insight into evaluating an ISP.
After reviewing the applicable providers in a given category (in this case, “best internet and mobile bundles”), we determine which providers and plans we feel should be considered among the “best.” If you’d like to learn more about how we evaluate internet providers, check out our breakdown of how we review ISPs.
Internet and mobile bundles recap
As more internet providers start adding mobile plans to their selection of services, you may be wondering if it’s worth it to bundle. It certainly can be, as AT&T, Verizon and others offer discounts for doing so. Astound has arguably the best internet and mobile bundle, offering a free mobile line for one year. T-Mobile’s internet and mobile bundle is ideal for rural areas, while those from AT&T and Optimum offer on-the-go connectivity with a monthly allowance of 5GB for mobile hotspot use.
Internet and mobile bundle FAQs
How can cable internet providers offer mobile service?
For the most part, cable internet providers, like Spectrum, Xfinity and Astound, are mobile virtual network operators. That is, they lease network space from other providers such as Verizon and T-Mobile and then sell internet and mobile bundles using that network access. Spectrum and Xfinity use Verizon’s mobile networks, while Astound and others piggyback off of T-Mobile.
What’s the cheapest internet and mobile bundle?
Astound’s Internet and Mobile bundle has the lowest introductory rate, $20 monthly, for broadband internet and an unlimited mobile plan. The low price stems from a current Astound offer which includes one line of mobile service free for one year. Adding more lines will raise the rate.
How do I switch internet and mobile providers?
I recommend starting by ensuring you are not under a contract with your current provider to avoid any early termination fees. Some providers, AT&T and Spectrum included, offer a contract buyout to compensate you for any such fees.
Search internet providers in your area, then compare plans and bundles to see if any providers have a better deal. If you choose a new provider, it may be best to call your current provider and inform them of your intent to cancel. Your current provider may offer you an even better deal. At the very least, they can guide you on how to return equipment, if necessary, and explain what to expect on your final bill.
If you’re still set on switching, go ahead and set up service with your new provider and get an install or service start date. Finally, contact your current provider and schedule your cancellation as close to the new install date as possible.
