Best Broadband Deals for the Holidays
Are you on the hunt for holiday gifts? CNET has the rundown on how to treat yourself to some significant savings on your home internet connection.
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It's the fa-la-la-la-la season for gift-giving. You're circling for the latest iPhone deals. You're digging deep to find the best new TV for your family room. Or perhaps you want to treat yourself to some booze. No judgment. Whatever you want, there's likely a sale out there for you.
But during this holiday season, don't miss out on a chance to score some excellent deals from internet service providers nationwide. Those ISPs likely won't be at the top of your wish list, but perhaps they should be. After all, how can you binge-watch days of holiday movies if your internet connection is spotty?
Do yourself and your household a favor and take a look at these ISP deals. You may be able to ditch a data cap or hop up to a faster download speed. Maybe you simply want to change providers after years of dissatisfaction with your current ISP. Whatever the case might be, it's worth investigating what else may be out there.
Here's our list of current holiday broadband deals.
Locating local internet providers
Best holiday broadband deals
Astound Broadband
Product details
Promotion date: Now through Tuesday, Dec. 17
Astound Broadband, a national cable internet provider, features a Cyber Season deal where new customers can receive a two-year price lock on their internet service.
Additionally, Astound offers a $100 gift card for speed tiers under 1 gig and a $300 gift card for speeds of 1 gig or higher. For new customers who order internet and mobile bundles, those amounts go up to $200 and $400.
For specifics on offers in your area, visit Astound's Cyber Season website.
AT&T Fiber
Product details
Promotion date: Now through Wednesday, Jan. 8
New AT&T Fiber customers can get up to 50% off a Meta Quest 3S VR Headset.
For additional information on AT&T offers, go to att.com/deals/holiday-gift-guide.
T-Mobile Home Internet
Product details
Promotion date: Limited-time offer, now through an unspecified date
T-Mobile's holiday promo features a free Amazon Fire TV 40-inch 2-Series when new customers sign up for T-Mobile Home Internet online. Customers must activate the account between Nov. 21 and Jan. 15 and keep the service for at least 60 days.
Additionally, new customers will also qualify for a $150 virtual prepaid Mastercard.
WOW
Product details
Promotion date: Limited-time offer, now through an unspecified date
Cable ISP WideOpenWest offers "surprise-free pricing" that features unlimited data and includes a Wi-Fi modem. New customers can also earn a Visa Rewards Card for up to $300.
To get specific details on deals offered in each market (across the six states WOW covers), visit wowway.com or contact WOW at 866-376-7003.
Holiday broadband deals FAQs
Is the holiday season really the best time to get broadband?
It could be. May to October -- moving season -- is typically the prime window to find great sales and incentives on internet service. However, due to increased competition, some providers are hopping on the holidays to lure in new customers.
What should I look for to find a good internet deal?
A good way to determine decent value is to look at the cost per megabit per second. For example, you might jump at a 100Mbps plan for $20 per month and skip a 500Mbps plan for $40. After all, you're playing $20 less monthly with the 100Mbps option.
However, the cost per Mbps is 20 cents for the 100 plan and just 8 cents for the 500 plan. If you have several users in your household and multiple smart devices throughout the home, you'll notice the performance difference in having the 500Mbps plan versus settling for the 100Mbps option.
Finally, don't forget the value of promotional perks. If a plan offers you free HBO Max, that's a savings of $15 a month or $180 a year if you already subscribe to the service. As more of us lean on streaming platforms for our entertainment, that's an excellent value.
Are there any deals or promotions I should avoid during the holidays?
Stay away from plans and services that require you to enter into a term agreement. When you do, it often means you will pay a stiff penalty if you decide to end service before the end of the contract. Thankfully, these long-term contracts are no longer the norm. But if a holiday deal requires signing a long-term agreement, ensure you've explored all available options before signing up.
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