Cheapest internet in Boston
Which plan is cheapest depends on what reaches your building and how long the price lasts.
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If Astound reaches you, its 150 Mbps plan at $19.95/mo is the cheapest regular plan in Boston, for 12 months. For a price that holds longer, Verizon Fios 300 is $30/mo with Auto Pay, locked for 3 years. In an apartment building Starry serves, Starry 200 is also $30 for 3 years. If your household qualifies for assistance, Astound Internet First starts at $9.95/mo.
Cheapest plans in Boston, by price
Astound, Fios or Starry at the low end
Astound's $19.95 plan is the cheapest, but it lasts 12 months and needs AutoPay and e-bill paid from a bank account. Its uploads are much slower than fiber, and its 300 and 600 Mbps tiers have data caps. Astound also charges a one-time $14.99 activation fee.
Fios 300 at $30 costs $10 more than Astound but is fiber, so uploads match downloads, and the price is locked for 3 years. Starry 200 at $30 is locked for 3 years too, includes the router and has no data cap, but you need to live in a building Starry has wired, and you pay $5 more by credit card. NOW Internet at $30 includes taxes, fees and the gateway and needs no credit check, at 100 Mbps.
For 1 Gig, Astound at $40 (or $45 with Price for Life) and Starry Gigabit at $45 undercut Xfinity's $70. See Astound vs. Xfinity in Boston for the full comparison.
Our price-lock comparison covers how much the big providers rise when a promo ends.
Low-income discounts
- Astound Internet First: from $9.95/mo for 50 Mbps (150 Mbps where offered), with a standard modem, WiFi and installation included. Apply at internetfirst.com.
- Xfinity Internet Essentials: $14.95/mo for up to 75 Mbps, or $29.95 for 100 Mbps with Essentials Plus. Equipment included, no contract. You can't have had Xfinity internet in the last 90 days.
- Verizon Forward: a monthly discount on Fios and 5G Home for eligible households. Check the current amount on verizon.com.
Households usually qualify through SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, housing assistance or the school lunch program. More programs are in help paying for internet.
5G home internet
T-Mobile 5G Home and Verizon 5G Home are $50/mo, or $35 if you already have their phone plans, with the equipment included and long price guarantees. They're worth comparing if you're already a customer, or if your building has no Fios, Astound or Starry. Speeds depend on the signal at your window. See the cheapest 5G home internet.
How to pay less
- Pick the speed you need. 150–300 Mbps covers most one- and two-person homes; our speed guide sizes it for you.
- Use your own router where the plan charges for one. See stop renting your modem.
- Set a reminder a month before a 12-month promo ends and ask for the current new-customer price.
Astound (the former RCN) has some of the cheapest gig plans in Boston, Cambridge and Somerville.
Questions
Is Verizon Fios cheap in Boston?
Fios 300 is $30/mo with Auto Pay, locked for 3 years, which makes it the cheapest fiber in the city and one of the longest price locks. Without Auto Pay it is $40. The catch is availability: fiber reaches about 70% of Boston homes, and many older apartment buildings aren't wired for Fios.
Is Starry cheaper than Xfinity?
Yes, where Starry serves your building. Starry 200 is $30/mo and Starry Gigabit $45/mo, each locked for 3 years if you pay by debit card, with the router included and no data cap. Xfinity starts at $45/mo for 300 Mbps. Starry is only sold in apartment and condo buildings it has wired up.
Is Starry available in my building?
Only if Starry has wired it. Starry serves apartment and condo buildings in Boston, not single-family homes, and you can check your address on starry.com. If it's not available, Fios or Astound are the next cheapest options.
Do I need a bank account for Astound's $19.95 price?
Yes. The $19.95 price for 150 Mbps requires AutoPay and e-bill paid from a bank account. It lasts 12 months, and there is a one-time $14.99 activation fee.
Sources (5)
- Astound Boston special offers and disclaimers, astound.com/boston/special-offers, checked Oct 9, 2026
- Starry Internet plans, starry.com/internet, checked Oct 9, 2026
- Verizon Fios and Xfinity plan pages; see our reviews, checked Oct 8, 2026
- Xfinity Internet Essentials pricing as published by Comcast and reported by comparison sites, Oct 2026
- FCC Broadband Data Collection, Dec 31, 2025, for Boston coverage
Prices and offers change often; confirm at your address before you order. How we research