AARP Hearing Center
How to Choose the Best Internet Plan in Retirement
Follow these steps to find the right service for you, at the right price
Matt Chase
Key takeaways
- Many retirees retain the internet plan they had during their working years, potentially paying for features and connection speeds they no longer need.
- A bandwidth calculator can help you determine what internet service would meet your needs based on your devices, your home’s location and other factors.
- Keep an eye on your monthly bill. If your rate ticks up, contact the provider to see if they’ll honor your previous rate.
One way to unlock savings in retirement is to take a hard look at your monthly subscriptions. One, in particular, may have been on autopilot for years: your internet plan.
Many retirees keep the same internet plan they had during their working years, potentially paying for connection speeds or features they no longer need. Others go the opposite direction, cutting back too much and ending up with spotty service that can make video calls with grandkids, streaming TV shows or telehealth appointments frustrating.
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The goal is balance — reliable service at a price that fits your retirement lifestyle and budget.
Fortunately for consumers, there are more internet service providers today than ever. Bruce Leichtman, president of Leichtman Research Group Inc., which analyzes the broadband industry across the U.S., says the most common providers are:
- Traditional phone companies that offer high-speed internet plans via fiber-optic cable.
- Cable companies that bundle cable TV subscriptions with internet service.
- Cellphone companies that offer home internet services.
- Companies that offer fixed-wireless internet, a rapidly growing broadband service that isn’t as fast as wired cable or fiber but meets many households’ needs.
These steps can help you find the right internet plan for your retirement.
Identify your needs
Many internet service providers offer “good,” “better” and “best” tiers, with incrementally higher monthly rates. The “good” tier typically provides 100 megabits per second (Mbps) for downloads and 20 Mbps for uploads — the minimum speeds required to be considered “broadband,” according to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The “better” tier typically offers 300 to 500 Mbps for downloads and 50 to 100 Mbps for uploads, while the “best” tier typically offers 800 Mbps to 1 gigabit or more for downloads and equally fast upload speeds.
Some providers promote plans with even faster download speeds. Don’t be seduced by them — any download speed above 500 Mbps is “overkill,” says Eric Griffith, senior editor for features at tech site PCMag.
The basic 100/20 Mbps plan is perfectly adequate for many two-person households, Griffith says. “That’s going to be sufficient for, say, one person to be streaming Netflix while another person is surfing the internet on a browser,” he says, which could make the plan a good choice for empty nesters.
Consider starting out with the lowest tier. If it works well for you, you can stop there and rejoice over keeping your monthly bill as low as possible. If you find you need faster internet speeds — say, because the grandkids visit often and do lots of gaming and video streaming — you can upgrade to a higher tier, Griffith says.
Try an online calculator
About half of U.S. adults age 50 and older use at least one type of smart home technology, according to AARP's 2026 Tech Trends and Adults 50-Plus survey. Don’t overlook these devices when assessing your household’s internet needs, advises Christopher Ali, a professor of telecommunications at Penn State University and author of the forthcoming book Where the Wires End: Stories from the Digital Divide.
“They all take up a little bit of bandwidth, so you really need to think about how many connected devices you have in the home,” he says.
Bandwidth calculators on sites such as BroadbandNow, Calculator.net or EarthLink can help you determine what internet service tier would meet your needs based on your devices, typical internet usage, your home’s location and other factors.
Explore newer wireless offerings
Leichtman says there’s a reason 5G home internet services offered by cellular providers like T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T have grown from 1 percent market share at the start of 2022 to 13 percent at the start of 2026: They often offer significantly lower rates, with many plans costing around $50 a month, or as low as $35 a month when bundled with a mobile phone plan.
“Many people feel that it’s a ‘good enough’ service and it works for them,” Leichtman says. “Its speed is more limited [than fiber or cable], but that’s why you’re paying a lower price.”
Griffith says ease of setup also makes 5G home internet appealing to many consumers, as these services typically don’t require professional installation.
“You don’t have to have anybody run a line to your house or be on a pole or on a ladder or cutting and drilling holes into your home,” he says. You simply plug in an all-in-one gateway device that combines a 5G cellular modem and a Wi-Fi router, and you’re all set.
Consider satellite internet if you’re in a remote area
If your area has few internet providers, you may want to consider a satellite internet service like Starlink, Hughesnet or Viasat. These companies offer high-speed internet in rural and remote regions. Setup and service costs can vary depending on where you live.
Talk to friends and neighbors
Internet service options vary greatly across the country, so chat with people who live in your area and find out whether they’re satisfied with their provider. “You have to talk to neighbors who have the same options that you have,” Leichtman says.
If you feel comfortable, ask them how much their plan costs. That intel can be valuable when you negotiate with the provider.
Look into broadband assistance programs
During the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of American households qualified for the Affordable Connectivity Program, a federal broadband assistance subsidy that ended in 2024. “That says something about how expensive broadband is for many people,” Ali says.
Today, the FCC offers a different program, called Lifeline, that provides discounts of up to a $9.25 a month on broadband service for eligible households with lower incomes. Additional government subsidies may be available, depending on where you live.
“A lot of states and local governments have their own assistance programs that augment the $9.25 federal program,” Ali says. “Check with your state or county to see if you can get a little extra help.”
Stay alert for price creep
Keep an eye on your monthly internet bill. If your rate ticks up, contact the company to see if they’ll honor your previous rate. “I don’t think it ever hurts to call,” Griffith says.
One negotiating tactic: Threaten to switch providers. The customer service representative may offer you a lower rate to retain your business, Griffith says.
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