It costs a straight fee of $60 a month—including installation and equipment—and gives you average speeds of around 100 Mbps. You get unlimited data, and you can toggle back and forth between 4G and 5G connections, depending on where you are. All in all, it’s the most widely available, cost-effective, and practical wireless internet you can get right now.

If you’re looking for something you can use with a cell phone, go for T-Mobile’s Magenta MAX plan. Costing $85 a month for one line, it’s the only cell phone plan you can get that gives you unlimited data, with no throttled speeds after you hit a certain data threshold (as is familiar with most other unlimited cellular plans). And it comes with 40 GB of high-speed hotspot data, which is quite generous for the price.

What is unlimited wireless internet? And how does it work?

Wireless internet works by running over a cellular signal. It comes in various types that deliver different ranges of speeds and come with varying prices and amounts of data.

Unfortunately, you can’t always get unlimited data from a wireless internet plan. Cellular and wireless providers aren’t equipped to deliver internet at the same capacity as internet providers that operate over wired networks, like fiber and cable. However, you can still find some deals, and there are plenty of ways to make wireless internet work for you.

Below, we break down the different types of wireless internet and explain the strengths and weaknesses of each one.

5G home internet

5G home internet is a relatively new internet service, touted by Verizon and T-Mobile, and a couple of other smaller providers. It’s fast, delivering speeds of up to 1,000 Mbps. It comes at a price competitive with cable providers—you get unlimited data, and extras like installation and equipment are included as part of the monthly fee.

Availability is limited mainly to a handful of urban centers nationwide. But it will likely expand as 5G gains in broader use. So keep an eye out because this could be an excellent alternative to expensive cable and fiber plans.

4G LTE home internet

While 5G home internet gives you fast speeds in cities and urban areas, 4G LTE home internet is geared mainly toward rural customers. So long as you have good cell service in your area, you can get decent speeds (usually between 25–100 Mbps) and plenty of data for prices ranging from $40 to $100 per month. That means it’s a perfect alternative to satellite internet (another standard rural internet option), which tends to be slow but costs a lot more.

Hotspots and standalone data plans

Most cell phones come with hotspot functions to provide a Wi-Fi connection for computers, gaming consoles, and other networking devices. But you can also buy a separate hotspot to connect more devices, get faster speeds, and preserve your cell phone’s battery life. 5G hotspots also come with Wi-Fi 6 capability, making them great for big groups of users.

You’ll need a data plan to make your hotspot work, and cellular providers sometimes charge an arm and a leg for data. As far as we can tell, you can’t get an unlimited data option for a hotspot, so a hotspot is better for short-term or temporary use than it is for a permanent home-internet solution.

Still, you can find some generous data offerings from providers like T-Mobile and AT&T, which both have plans that give you 100 GB of data for $50–$55 per month.

Cell phone plans

Most cellular providers have upped their game regarding speed and data, offering unlimited data plans and faster connections over 4G LTE and 5G.

Fixed-wireless internet

Available primarily in rural areas and with limited internet service, fixed-wireless internet is the go-to alternative to a pricey satellite internet package. Depending on how strong the cell service is in your area (fixed-wireless connections run on cell signals), you can usually get good speeds at a fair price.

Not all fixed-wireless providers have unlimited data options, but many do. Spring for a complete data plan if you can because otherwise, you may end up with a relatively small data cap and expensive overage fees to go with it.

What to look for in an unlimited wireless internet plan

When you’re shopping around for a wireless internet plan, you want one that matches your needs and gives you adequate speeds and cellular coverage. And it’s nice if you can get unlimited data, although that may not always be possible.

There’s a few types of wireless internet out there, and the one you want depends on what you’ll use it for. Here’s a rough breakdown of their different specialties:

City dwellers: Go for a 5G home internet plan, getting fast speeds in densely populated areas.
Digital nomads: Use a cell phone or hotspot to get Wi-Fi wherever you go.
Rural residents: Pick 4G LTE home internet or a fixed-wireless plan to get faster speeds and more data at a lower price than satellite internet.

What kind of speeds will you get over wireless internet?

Wireless internet reaches speeds ranging anywhere from 1 Mbps to well past 1,000 Mbps.

A wireless connection uses 4G LTE and 5G radio waves. How fast your speeds will depend on the following:

Factors that impact wireless internet speed

How close you are to the nearest cell tower
What network provider you have
Whether you have priority data or not
Whether there are any obstructions from nearby trees or buildings

Once you have your wireless internet connection, you can take a speed test to see what kinds of speeds you’re getting throughout the day. That will help you figure out anything that impacts how fast your internet is going and whether you can address it.

As you shop around for wireless internet plans, it’s essential to know what kind of internet you can find in your area—be it wireless or broadband. That way, you can get a sense of different prices and speeds based on what’s available. Type in your zipcode below to get more information.

Compare Unlimited Internet Plans Without Data Caps

Having unlimited data means you can use the internet as much as you want without having to risk exceeding your data cap. And thankfully, some internet providers offer complete data with their plans, so you can stream, game, and attend Zoom meetings to your heart’s content without worrying about extra fees or slowed speeds.

We put together the guide to the best-unlimited internet plans you can get. All packages on this page vary in speed and price—but they all give you unlimited data. So let’s read on to find the best plan for you.

Which unlimited internet plan is best?

EarthLink has the best-unlimited internet plan with the 80 Mbps Internet package. It costs $69.95 per month and runs over a fiber connection, giving you consistent performance and excellent upload speeds. Customers in our recent satisfaction survey are delighted with its customer service, rates, and price, which doesn’t include any extra fees.

Not all of these providers are available everywhere—but you may be able to get them in your area. Run a search with our zip code tool below to find out.

A lot of providers can get you unlimited data as part of your package—but you’ll still need to get all the other details to find the right internet plan for you.

EarthLink’s 80 Mbps Internet plan has the best deal all-around because it gives you solid performance for a fair price.
Spectrum is best for availability since it can get cable internet service in places where you likely won’t find fiber.
Google Fiber has the best speeds—with gigabit upload speeds to ensure a perfect connection for hosting live streams, uploading content online, or attending Zoom meetings.
RCN has the lowest prices around and gives you breaks with regular promotions and discounts.
T-Mobile Home Internet is the best pick for rural customers. Operating over a 4G and 5G fixed-wireless connection, it’s faster and much cheaper than satellite internet.

Not all of the providers in the table above may be available in your area. But don’t fret—there are plenty of internet providers that offer unlimited data packages. We’ve got more details on complete data and where you can get it in our data-caps guide.

What should you look for in an unlimited internet plan?

You should look for an unlimited internet plan that gives you adequate speeds and comes at a fair price. If possible, it’s best to get a fiber or cable internet plan because they have the best rates and most reliable service. Also, make sure to look for discounts and promotions to bring your bill down or waive extra costs.

We go into more details in the perks and features section farther down on this page.

Best overall—EarthLink 1 Gig Internet

Unlimited data is just one of several perks that come with an EarthLink plan. The provider consistently performs well in our annual customer satisfaction survey because it has superb customer service and a range of plan options—including high-speed fiber and more affordable DSL packages.

EarthLink’s 1 Gig Internet plan is our top pick because it gives you proper gigabit speeds, making it great for working and studying from home. Gigabit download and upload speeds mean you can do everything from downloading humongous files to attending Zoom meetings with a smooth connection, even when you’re sharing the Wi-Fi with many other users.

Fiber internet isn’t widely available, so this fiber option might not be available in all of EarthLink’s service areas. But you can get unlimited data on all of EarthLink’s plans so that you won’t lose out.

Best for availability—Spectrum Internet Up to 200

Spectrum is a cable provider with a substantial nationwide footprint—you can get Spectrum plans in 43 states, serving nearly 40% of the US population. EarthLink has a much wider availability on the whole. Still, its fiber plans are likely more challenging to find than its much slower, more limited DSL plans, so if you want unlimited data, fast speeds, and easy availability.

We also like this plan because it comes at a reasonable price. Often programs at this price have much lower speeds, and in this case, you can do a ton with 200 Mbps—streaming, gaming, Zooming, and downloading large files will all come quickly, even when you’re sharing your unlimited Wi-Fi with several people. A modem and router are included as part of your bill to save on extra costs.