Home internet guides
Plain-English guides to home internet: rural options, fiber vs cable vs 5G, fixed wireless, Starlink alternatives, low-income help and checking your address.
Start hereRural internet options: what actually works outside townEvery way to get home internet in a rural area — fiber co-ops, DSL, fixed wireless, 5G home internet and satellite — with the trade-offs that decide which one fits.- How to check which internet providers serve your addressA three-step way to find every internet provider at your exact address, using the free FCC map, provider checkers and broadband labels.
- Fiber vs cable vs 5G home internet: which should you pick?How fiber, cable, 5G home internet, DSL and satellite differ on upload speed, latency and reliability, and which to choose when you have more than one.
- Fixed wireless internet: how it works and who it suitsFixed wireless and 5G home internet explained: line of sight, speeds, data caps, and how to tell whether it beats satellite or DSL at your home.
- Starlink alternatives: what to try before (or instead of) a dishThe realistic alternatives to Starlink — fixed wireless, 5G home internet, DSL, HughesNet and Viasat — and how Starlink compares with HughesNet.
- Low-income internet: Lifeline and provider discount plansWhat help exists for home internet now that the Affordable Connectivity Program has ended: Lifeline, provider low-income plans, and how to qualify.
- Internet for seniors: plans, discounts and setting it upHow older adults can choose a home internet plan, which discounts apply, how much speed is really needed, and how to avoid common billing traps.