In today's world, having internet connectivity is vital to communications. From children and grandchildren who prefer to chat over Facetime or Facebook Messenger to businesses promoting their latest app or website specials, having a quality internet service provider, or ISP, is vital to keeping up with the latest and greatest in life. But how do you get a great deal on your internet service, and how do you negotiate with these companies to ensure you're not paying more than you need to? In this article, we'll go over some great tips and tricks to get the most out of your internet service budget.

Technology & Gadgets: Internet Service Provider Negotiation Tips

An ISP is, in its most basic form, very similar to a utility or telecommunications company. Like the cable company, you pay them every month, and they provide you with a service - in this case, internet access. Though it's possible to use data from your smartphone to connect to the internet, that connection is often somewhat limited and unreliable based on how many other people are connecting to the same tower at the same time.

By comparison, an ISP provides a dedicated connection at a specific speed, often referred to as bandwidth. Different types of connections will cost different amounts while providing different levels of bandwidth, with DSL being faster than satellite but slower than fiber optic connectivity. It's important to think about your needs and lifestyle when you're deciding what service to go with.

Do you do a lot of video chatting with family and friends? Are your evenings spent watching the latest Netflix shows or other streaming service? Do you work from home and need to be able to reliably participate in online meetings? Do you enjoy games that require a fast, reliable internet connection? All of these factors can impact the type of service that you need to get great results from your internet service. Though you can often find a range of services available through a simple internet search, there are several approaches that are fairly easy to get a great deal:

Comparing Rates

One of the first steps that you can take is comparing basic rates between providers for the level of service that you need. In this case, you're looking at non-discounted rates to determine which company has lower overall rates. You'll also want to make sure that you're comparing similar packages, such as 300 Mbps, 1 Gig, or 2 Gig. This refers to the amount of data being transferred per second. If one company has significantly better rates for a comparable speed, it's a fair comparison, though you'll also want to look at reviews to see if they have issues with customer service, billing, or outages.

Bundling

Another option to consider is bundling. This process involves having multiple services from a single provider, who then gives you a discount on your packages of services. If you have a cell phone provider, for example, and they also offer internet service, you may be able to save a particular amount every month by having both services through that provider. This has become more common with large carriers such as T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, and US Cellular, all of which offer home internet options with their cell phone services.

Switching Providers

If you've noticed the many great offers for lower ISP rates for new customers, you're not alone. Switching providers can often get you a deep discount - for a period of time. Unfortunately, these services often increase in price rapidly once the initial low-rate period has passed, and you may find yourself paying more than you would with your existing provider. One approach to consider is going to your existing provider and asking for a new-customer discount or for the company to match a competitor's rates. However, if they don't deliver, you may need to look at switching to a different ISP.

Checking for Discounts

There are a number of discount programs available through different providers, which may be related to existing or former careers, being a veteran, being a first responder, being a member of another organization such as AARP or AAA, being a student, and similar programs. Take the time to ask about discount programs to find out which ones you may be eligible for, and find out how high the discount will be so that you can compare rates between different companies.

Go with Data

One other option to consider, especially if you're a light internet user, is to get a good data plan for your smartphone and run your connected devices off of a hot spot signal on your phone. However, this is an option that many people can't make work due to the amount of bandwidth they use for streaming video, chatting with friends, ordering things online, and otherwise participating in everyday digital life.

As you can see, there are a wide range of ways that you can save money on your monthly internet bill, but which option is best for your needs will depend on exactly what you need to do with it. Take time to record your daily internet activities, check with your cell carrier to see how much data you go through every month on average, compare plans that will work well for your situation, and then select the best option from the ISPs available in your area.