Cheap, Fast, or Working: Shopping Internet Service for Seniors

<p>The Old Mac Gang looks at what it actually costs to get online and how to stop paying gigabit prices for email.</p><p><br></p><p>SECTION 1 — How Much Do You Need, and What Are You Paying?</p><p><br></p><p>Save Money on Internet (Senior Planet from AARP)</p><p>https://seniorplanet.org/save-money-on-internet</p><p>Free Zoom classes, 400+ in-person partner sites, and a handout on reading a pricing sheet. The best &quot;where do I send my mother&quot; answer on the list.</p><p><br></p><p>Internet for Seniors: Best Plans and Discounts (HighSpeedInternet.com)</p><p>https://www.highspeedinternet.com/resources/internet-for-seniors</p><p>AARP does not sell internet, and most providers have no senior discount. Call instead of ordering online — agents can apply breaks the website never shows.</p><p><br></p><p>Best Internet Service for Seniors in 2026 (SeniorLiving.org)</p><p>https://www.seniorliving.org/internet/best/</p><p>Ranked on price, service, and reliability instead of top-end speed. Ask the neighbors — coverage is block by block.</p><p><br></p><p>If You&#39;re Paying for Fast Wi-Fi, Make Sure You&#39;re Getting It (AARP)</p><p>https://www.aarp.org/personal-technology/internet-speed-test/</p><p>Run a speed test against the bill. Most &quot;slow internet&quot; is a tired router, not the plan. One or two people on email and streaming are fine at 50-100 Mbps.</p><p><br></p><p>SECTION 2 — Help With the Bill After the ACP Went Away</p><p><br></p><p>Lifeline Support for Affordable Communications</p><p>https://www.lifelinesupport.org/</p><p>$9.25 a month off phone or internet, up to $34.25 on Tribal lands. Qualify by income or Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, housing, or Veterans Pension. Renew yearly or lose it.</p><p><br></p><p>Find Low-Cost Internet Offers in Your Area (EveryoneOn)</p><p>https://www.everyoneon.org/find-offers</p><p>Enter a ZIP, check the boxes, get the real plans at that address — plus discounted refurbished computers and free basics training.</p><p><br></p><p>Best Internet Providers for Seniors (BroadbandNow)</p><p>https://broadbandnow.com/guides/seniors</p><p>Xfinity Internet Essentials, Spectrum Internet Assist, Cox ConnectAssist, AT&amp;T Access. Watch the new-customer-only trap for long-time subscribers.</p><p><br></p><p>A Guide to Free Internet for Seniors (TheSeniorList)</p><p>https://www.theseniorlist.com/internet/free/</p><p>The blunt version: there is no free internet for seniors, and the $30 ACP credit ended June 1, 2024. What&#39;s left is a pa