Low-Income Internet: Every Program That Still Exists
Lifeline plus provider programs from $9.95/mo — who qualifies and how to apply
With the ACP gone, a lot of households assume cheap internet ended with it. It did not: the federal Lifeline discount is still active, and every major provider runs its own low-income plan — most between $9.95 and $30 per month.
This page lists every program that still works, what qualifies you, and the application route that avoids the runaround.
Top options in Texas right now
Live data — FCC coverage, M-Lab speed tests, current published prices
The programs, ranked by value
Qualification is almost always through benefits participation: SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, public housing assistance, or income below a threshold. If your household receives any federal assistance, you very likely qualify for at least one of these:
Up to 100 Mbps for $9.95/mo — the cheapest reliable plan of any major provider. For households with a K-12 student on a qualifying assistance program. Free modem, no contract, no data cap. Available in Cox service areas.
Up to 75 Mbps for $14.95/mo, or 100 Mbps for $29.95 (Essentials Plus). Qualify via SNAP, Medicaid, public housing, the National School Lunch Program, or income. Equipment and unlimited data included; no credit check. The benchmark low-income plan where Xfinity operates.
50 Mbps for $15/mo (or add $5 for 100 Mbps) with free modem, no contract, no data cap. Qualify via the National School Lunch Program or SSI (65+). Broadest footprint of the cable programs.
Up to 50 Mbps with free modem and no contract. Open to SSI recipients 65+, National School Lunch households, and veterans. Available in Optimum service areas.
Up to 100 Mbps depending on address. Qualify via SNAP, SSI, or household income under 200% of federal poverty guidelines. Works on both fiber and DSL AT&T lines.
Not a plan — a discount that stacks on top of a provider plan. Apply once at lifelinesupport.org, then use it with any participating provider. One discount per household.
See which of these programs are available at your address
How to apply without getting bounced
Apply for Lifeline first at lifelinesupport.org (the National Verifier) — approval there unlocks the discount at any participating provider. For provider programs, apply on the provider's website, not by phone: the online forms are wired directly to the eligibility systems, while phone agents are often untrained on these programs and give wrong answers.
Have ready: a photo of your benefits award letter (SNAP/SSI/Medicaid) or proof of income. Approval typically takes 2–5 business days.
If you do not qualify for anything
The fallback is the cheapest standard plan that actually performs at your address. Entry cable tiers start around $10–30/mo, and 5G home internet runs $35–50 with no fees on top. Since price is only good if the speed is real, check the measured performance for your ZIP code before choosing.
Compare the cheapest plans with real measured speeds in your area
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest internet for low-income households?
Xfinity Internet Essentials at $9.95/mo where Xfinity operates, Optimum Advantage at $14.99 in Optimum areas. Stack the Lifeline discount ($9.25/mo) on top and the effective cost approaches zero.
Did low-income internet programs end with the ACP?
No. The ACP ended in 2024, but it was separate from Lifeline (still active) and from provider programs like Internet Essentials and Optimum Advantage, which all continue.
Can I get low-income internet with bad credit or no credit check?
Most low-income programs skip credit checks entirely. Prepaid internet options also avoid credit checks — see our prepaid internet guide.
How do I prove I qualify?
A photo of your benefits award letter (SNAP, SSI, Medicaid) or income documentation. Lifeline verification happens once through the National Verifier at lifelinesupport.org; provider programs verify through their own online forms.
See every provider at your address
Real speeds, real prices — free comparison by ZIP code
Coverage: FCC BDC · Speeds: M-Lab NDT (24-month median) · Pricing: provider websites · Updated 2026-07-12