Cheapest internet in Hawaii
Internet in Hawaii costs about the same as on the mainland at the low end: both main providers start at $30 a month. The differences are what you get for it, what you pay for equipment, and what happens after the first year.
If Hawaiian Telcom fiber reaches you, Fioptics 100 at $30/mo is the cheapest good connection, and Fioptics 600 at $40 is the best value. Spectrum matches $30 for 100 Mbps cable and includes a free modem. If your household qualifies for assistance, Hawaiian Telcom's Internet Kokua gives you Fioptics 100 for $12.95/mo.
Cheapest plans in Hawaii, by price
Hawaiian Telcom vs. Spectrum at $30
The two $30 plans look the same on paper but aren't. Fioptics 100 is fiber, so it uploads as fast as it downloads, which matters for video calls and backups. Spectrum Advantage is cable at 100 Mbps down with much slower uploads. Spectrum's price includes a free modem; Hawaiian Telcom's 100, 600 and 1 Gig offers say equipment isn't included, so you'll need your own router or to pay for theirs. If you rent Spectrum's Advanced WiFi router on Advantage or Premier, add $10/mo.
For heavier use, Fioptics 600 at $40 is the standout: six times the speed of the $30 plans for $10 more, with symmetrical uploads. Spectrum Premier at $40 gets you 500 Mbps down on cable. Compare them side by side in Spectrum vs. Hawaiian Telcom.
What it costs after year one
Every $30 and $40 price in Hawaii is a first-year promotion. Hawaiian Telcom's 100 and 600 Mbps prices last 12 months; its 1 Gig and 3 Gig prices last 24. Spectrum's standard rates apply after year one. Neither publishes the regular price next to the offer, so ask before you order and set a reminder for month 11. Our price-lock comparison covers how much the bigger providers typically rise.
Hawaiian Telcom's "month free" offers are a bill credit: if you downgrade or cancel within 12 months, you're charged back the credit.
Low-income discounts
- Internet Kokua (Hawaiian Telcom): fiber-served homes get Fioptics 100 for $12.95/mo; copper-served homes get High-Speed Internet Basic (up to 7 Mbps) for $9.95/mo. Both include the gateway fee. A one-time $34.99 activation fee and taxes are extra. You apply by mail with proof of eligibility.
- Lifeline: a federal and state discount that can also be applied to Hawaiian Telcom internet in eligible areas. Apply through the federal Lifeline site.
- Spectrum: ask about Spectrum Internet Assist, its low-income plan.
More programs are in help paying for internet.
5G home internet and other options
T-Mobile 5G Home and Verizon 5G Home both drop to $35/mo if you already have their phone plans, which can undercut the wired providers after year one. T-Mobile's cheapest plan is capped at 354 Mbps and adds a $35 connection charge at sale. Verizon 5G Home reaches far less of Hawaii than T-Mobile, so check your address. If neither wired provider nor 5G reaches you, Starlink works across the islands.
Prepaid Home MINTernet runs on T-Mobile's network and works out to roughly $40–45/mo, but you pay for months up front. See the cheapest internet without a contract.
How to pay less
- Enroll in eBill: Hawaiian Telcom's advertised prices assume it.
- Bring your own router if the plan doesn't include one, instead of renting. See stop renting your modem.
- Pick the speed you need. 100 Mbps is plenty for one or two people; most families do well on 300–600 Mbps. Our speed calculator sizes it for you.
- Check whether you qualify for Internet Kokua or Lifeline before you order a full-price plan.
- Call before the promo ends and ask for the current new-customer price.
Questions
What is the cheapest internet in Hawaii?
For most homes, Hawaiian Telcom Fioptics 100 or Spectrum Internet Advantage, both $30/mo for the first year. Fioptics 100 is fiber with matching upload speed; Spectrum Advantage is 100 Mbps cable. Low-income households can get Fioptics 100 for $12.95/mo through Hawaiian Telcom's Internet Kokua program.
Is Hawaiian Telcom cheaper than Spectrum?
At the entry level they're the same price, $30/mo for a year. Hawaiian Telcom's Fioptics 600 ($40) is fiber with symmetrical speeds, and its 1 Gig plan holds $50/mo for two years where Spectrum's prices last one year. Spectrum includes a free modem; Hawaiian Telcom's 100, 600 and 1 Gig offers don't include equipment.
What is Internet Kokua?
Hawaiian Telcom's discount program for qualifying low-income Hawaii residents. Fiber-served homes can get Fioptics 100 for $12.95/mo and copper-served homes High-Speed Internet Basic (up to 7 Mbps) for $9.95/mo, both including the Wireless Gateway fee. A $34.99 activation fee and taxes are extra.
How much does internet cost after the first year in Hawaii?
Both main providers' advertised prices are promotions. Hawaiian Telcom's 100 and 600 Mbps prices last one year and the 1 Gig and 3 Gig prices two years; Spectrum's standard rates apply after year one. Ask each provider for the regular price before you order.
Is there cheap internet in Hawaii without a contract?
Yes. Neither Hawaiian Telcom's Fioptics nor Spectrum requires an annual contract, and T-Mobile and Verizon 5G Home are month to month. Hawaiian Telcom charges back any months-free credit if you cancel or downgrade within 12 months.
Related guides
- Hawaiian Telcom Plans and Bundles, hawaiiantel.com/offers/plans-and-pricing, checked Oct 9, 2026
- Hawaiian Telcom discounted services (Internet Kokua, Lifeline), hawaiiantel.com, checked Oct 9, 2026
- Spectrum new-customer internet pricing, checked Oct 2026
- T-Mobile and Verizon 5G Home plan pages; see our reviews
Prices and offers change often; confirm at your address before you order. How we research
See all providers by city in internet providers in Hawaii.