How To Get Home Internet Without a Phone Line (2024)

Vault’s Viewpoint on Getting Home Internet Without a Phone Line

• Many internet service providers (ISPs) today offer cheap plans for internet service only, without having to activate a phone line.
• Types of home internet services include 5G, fiber, cable, satellite, fixed wireless and DSL internet, as well as mobile hotspots.
• You can get discounts from providers when you bundle internet and phone service, but you can also save money when you know how to get internet without a phone line.

How To Get Internet Service Without Paying for a Phone Line

More and more, subscribers are cutting the cord on phone lines, and internet service providers have taken note. Today, it is easy to purchase a home internet plan without home phone service. You just need to choose the right provider and plan for your area. Not all internet services are available everywhere, especially when it comes to rural and less-populated areas, so it is important to know where to look.

If you think you can benefit from home internet without a phone line, here is what you need to know about the types of services available so you can choose an option that makes sense for your needs.

5G Internet

5G internet uses a receiver to transmit an internet signal from 5G mobile networks. It provides wireless internet with some of the highest speeds available, exceeding 200 megabits per second (Mbps). This makes it appropriate for small businesses that deal with a lot of large files or for busy households that enjoy heavy streaming. However, it is a newer technology, so its coverage is still expanding throughout the country. Rural areas may not be able to benefit from 5G internet at this time.

Availability, speed and price ultimately depend on your location, but plans typically run between $50 and $70 per month.

The Best 5G Home Internet Service Providers

Fiber Internet

Fiber internet is another high-performing type of internet that does not need a phone line. It uses a fiber-optic network to offer very fast speeds and reliable performance that avoids lags and buffering, making it perfect for streaming and gaming. Like 5G, availability is still growing, so it is not available everywhere yet.

Fiber internet requires a wired connection, but plans are generally affordable.

The Best Fiber Home Internet Service Providers Without A Phone Line

Cable Internet

It may come as a surprise, but you can purchase cable internet without a cable TV subscription. It’s a good thing, too, because this is the most popular type of home internet that you can buy, with service covering over 90% of households. Cable internet works similarly to a cable TV, using either coaxial cables or fiber lines to provide an internet connection. However, be prepared, as this can make for a complicated setup.

Plans are generally affordable, with prices starting at $20 a month.

The Best Cable Internet Service Providers Without A Phone Line

Satellite Internet

Satellite internet has made a name for itself with its wide availability. With options such as Elon Musk’s Starlink, this type of internet caters to most of the country by using satellites in space to send an internet connection to your home or business. All you need is a direct line of sight to a satellite in the sky, and you’re ready to go. However, watch out for data limits on most satellite plans. Latency can also be very high, disrupting gaming and video chats, so check the specs for your plan to ensure it is powerful enough to accommodate all of the users in your home.

Satellite internet is not the cheapest internet service option, with starting prices ranging from $50 to $120 per month.

The Best Satellite Home Internet Providers Without A Phone Line

Fixed Wireless Internet

Fixed internet uses a receiver in your home to transmit a signal directly to a communication tower for fast internet that is more reliable than satellite internet. No phone or cable lines are required, so setup remains simple and quick. All you need is a mobile connection. Speeds still fall short of fiber internet, but service is available in many rural areas where other types of internet can be hard to find.

Some local internet providers may offer fixed wireless in your area, but we include national providers below. Plans start at $35/month, offering affordable fixed internet for home or business.

The Best Fixed Wireless Internet Service Providers Without A Phone Line

DSL Internet

DSL, or digital subscriber line, internet uses traditional copper phone lines to provide internet service, but don’t worry—you don’t need to have an active phone line to get internet. DSL offers some of the best cheap internet plans but not the fastest speeds. It is suitable for basic browsing and streaming, but it may not be complex enough to handle more demanding activities like gaming and video conferencing.

These plans used to be more popular before ISPs began replacing their DSL plans with fiber-optic internet options. However, you can still find DSL plans available with some providers.

The Best DSL Internet Service Providers Without A Phone Line

Mobile Hotspots

A mobile hotspot is a way to access the internet even when you are away from home. It uses cellular networks to connect your device to the internet, giving you have access to the web anywhere you have a cellular signal.

Mobile hotspots are generally offered with cell phone plans, but some providers offer dedicated hotspot plans that don’t require you to purchase a phone line. You can then connect different devices to your hotspot, including your smartphone, tablet and smart TV. Just keep an eye on your battery; mobile hotspots can drain your battery quickly.

The Best Mobile Hotspot Internet Service Providers Without A Phone Line

When Do I Need a Phone Line?

There are some circ*mstances where it might make more sense to pay for a phone line along with your home internet. And there are some circ*mstances where having internet without having a phone line is less than ideal. Here are some factors to consider:

• Affordability: Many providers offer a bundle discount when you purchase both phone and internet service, making it more affordable to access otherwise pricey internet service.
• Availability: Having a phone line in addition to your home internet makes the internet more available to you because you can accommodate more types of internet connection, thanks to mobile hotspots. This means that if one service is down or lagging, you have another means to access the internet.
• Low usage: If you do not use the internet for data-heavy activities like gaming and video calls, you could get by with a slower type of internet, such as mobile hotspot internet that comes with many phone plans. It is sufficient for light browsing and checking email, but these slower speeds may not support multiple devices and allow for streaming.

Consider how many users you have and what kind of activities you’ll be doing across your internet connection. That can help you determine whether it makes sense to get internet without a phone line and then select the best type of internet for your needs.