13 Tried and True Ways to Get Free Internet Access at Home in 2022
These days, having internet access in your home is just as important as having electricity and water. The Internet has become a vital part of our lives, and not having it can be a genuine inconvenience.
Many people rely on the internet for work, school, and keeping in touch with loved ones. Not having internet access can make it challenging to stay connected and can be a real problem today.
Perhaps, due to the massive impact of the Internet, the costs have increased. Nowadays, virtually everyone can benefit from free internet access at home, especially in today’s economy.
But wait! Is it even possible to get free internet at home? Yes, there are ways to access the internet for free at home, just be careful, some might not be safe.
Here are 13 guaranteed ways to get free internet at home without the risk of online security:
- NetZero
- Instabridge
- Freedom Pop
- Synergy no-cost Internet
- Enroll in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)
- Request Emergency Broadband Benefit
- Check with your service providers for Free Internet
- Use your Phone as a Hotspot for Free Internet
- Ask a Neighbor for Free Internet
- Ask about Free internet programs for senior citizens
- Apply for Free Internet for college students
- K–12 students qualify for Free Internet
- Find Free Wi-Fi hotspots
Let me explain a little further about each of these opportunities to see which is the right fit for you.
1. NetZero
NetZero gives 10 hours of free internet access monthly. Though this is relatively low, it can be complemented by a premium internet service at a reduced cost.
NetZero is one of the pioneer internet service providing companies; founded in 1998 and still using dial-up connections to serve users.
If you have been using the Internet around the late 1990s and early 2000s, you would easily understand that dial-up connections are slow and frustrating.
However, the story has changed a bit. To encourage users to seek their services, NetZero offers 10 hours of Free internet access every monthly
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2. InstaBridge for Free Internet
InstaBridge is a mobile app used to find the closest Wi-Fi near you. So, it means you can always find Wi-Fi anywhere automatically and then connect with it.
Before getting concerned about the legitimacy of Instabridge, let us point out that Instabridge identifies free wifi and discloses the password if need be.
It’s not as if they have to decrypt private wifi to disclose their users.
The company’s initial goal was to make it easy for people to share their Wi-Fi with family and friends. So, if you live in a place where free Wi-Fi is secure enough for users, install Instabridge to connect your device automatically.
3. Freedom Pop for Free Internet
Freedom Pop is a wireless internet service provider in Los Angeles, California, with a unique proposition ensuring everyone has access to the Internet anytime.
The company’s internet service uses VOIP cellular, where your mobile phone receives signals from network towers close to them that are owned by more prominent companies.
This means that Freedom Pop just created a much easier way to link to terminals of top network providers for free.
Apart from that, Freedom Pop also allows you to make calls and send messages for free using the same VOIP cellular service.
Do they even make any profit at all?
With their free offers and programs, it would be difficult to say this company makes a profit.
So here is the truth. To take advantage of Freedom Pop’s deals you would need to purchase a mobile phone from Freedom Pop, sent via mail. From there, you install their Messaging app, which will be used for their service.
If you don’t plan on purchasing a new smartphone, you can buy their SIM cards for your phone. You get 200MB monthly on their SIM Cards, which you can use to access the Internet.
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4. Synergy no-cost Internet
Synergy offers one of the cheapest internet services in the US, both for rural and urban communities. These activities run through over 20 states. So the downside here is that there is limited access to their services.
As a bonus, they offer free Internet, which is not what many ISPs would do. They also give free data for surfing, downloading, etc.
To register for their no-cost internet access, you should go to their website and sign up for their free service.
5. Enroll in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)
Do you even know you can get free internet access from the government? ACP is one of the most innovative ways to get free internet access, but it is being overlooked because of the requirements.
Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a government program where qualified households are paid $30 a month to foot internet bills. In certain parts of the US, you can get up to $75 per month for free internet access.
In addition, some of these internet service providers would still offer some savings on the Internet for anyone that qualifies for ACP.
To enroll and qualify for ACP, you need to have someone that meets all these criteria:
- Qualifies for the lifeline program
- Qualifies for National School School Breakfast Program (SBP) or Lunch Program (NSLP)
- Received a Pell Grant the current academic year
- Qualifies for Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP).
The program is mainly created for the non-privileged, you must meet some or all of the above mentioned requirements.
A good thing to take note of is that even if you have more than one person qualified in your household, only one ACP subsidy will be granted per home monthly.
6. Request Emergency Broadband Benefit
In an emergency situation you can contact your internet service provider to request emergency broadband benefits.
The emergency broadband benefit would allow you to be able to use internet service at no cost easily.
However, it depends on your provider, not all providers that give emergency broadband benefits require you to provide a tangible reason for using this.
7. Check with your service providers for Free Internet.
Whether you are using a private internet service provider or a public service provider, you can qualify for their free internet offers.
Service providers do allow free internet access once in a while. However, usually, these offers are directed to long-term users.
Even if these internet offers are extended to regular users, they would be limited.
You can check out the terms and conditions of your internet service providers from their website.
Here are a few ISPs that offer free internet access:
- Speedtests.net
- Juno
- All Free ISP
- Safelink Wireless Lifeline
- Free wifi Hotspot etc.
8. Use your Phone as a Hotspot
You can use your phone as a mobile router, where you will be able to connect to free internet service providers around you.
If at all, your hotspot can connect with free secured wifi around, you can also connect directly from there.
9. Ask a Neighbor for Free Internet
If you have a good relationship with your neighbor, a good idea might be to ask for help to hop online until you get back on your feet. A neighbor is a great way to get internet access for free.
If they agree, you can make an exchange to offer them something that is useful or helpful as a way of gratitude for their help like cooking, running errands, taking care of their kids whenever they are not at home, etc.
As long as you have a good relationship with your neighbor then why not find out if they can help.
10. Ask about Free internet programs for senior citizens.
Free internet access is not only available for students. There are free internet programs out there for senior citizens.
According to an article by CNET, there are many internet services that are free or with reduced prices on mobile phones and services for senior citizens.
Don’t forget that the government provides free internet service grants for senior citizens once in a while.
11. Free internet programs for college students
College students are always privileged by a lot of free grants and benefits. One of which is free internet.
Though most colleges have free Wi-Fi, which you can use to connect to the internet, applying for the free internet program for college students can help too.
12. K–12 students qualify for Free Internet
Like the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and College students’ free internet access, there is also a program for K-12 students.
Though it might not be as elaborated as ACP, K-12 students are now eligible for monthly discounts on broadband internet service.
Eligible families of K-12 students can apply for the discount via the online form, mail, or a participating internet service provider.
13. Check for free Wi-Fi hotspots
There are many free Wi-Fi hotspots around, perhaps with a little time you might be able to find these hidden treasures. Moreover, if you have a coffee shop, restaurant, hotel, or any other public gatherings around, then at least one should have public Wi-Fi.
Since you don’t want to keep your device hotspot on at all times, you can download the Instabridge app to help find free Wi-Fi around you.
Conclusion
There are many ways to get free internet access, without any problems. And remember, you shouldn’t pay for something you can get for free.
If you are planning to use public Wi-Fi, make sure you are not using it to open your personal and discrete information, such as your Bank account, on your device to prevent malicious users from using them unauthorized.
After reading this article you should be equipped with enough ideas to find a way to get internet access for free. Let’s see how many ways we can improve our finances by making a few changes.