Did you sign up for an unlimited internet plan, hoping you'll never have to worry about data limits anymore? Well, in many cases, these unlimited plans come with restrictions behind fair use policies. That can make things difficult, especially if you're in a household with heavy internet use.
Internet service providers set data caps to keep networks running smoothly. In truth, these data caps often generate additional revenue by penalizing customers for using the very services the faster speeds were meant to encourage. A recent CNET survey underscores this frustration. Nearly two-thirds (63%) of US adults reported paying as much as $195 more for internet service in 2024, yet more than half still experienced unreliable connectivity. We even came across a recent post on Reddit where users expressed a wish to see more ISP competition in their areas to avoid plans that impose these kinds of limits.
Here, we'll help you navigate misleading data promises and avoid surprise fees to find truly unlimited internet options.
Locating local internet providers
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Hard data caps vs. soft data caps
Not all data caps are created equally. Some internet service providers enforce hard caps that cut off your internet access or charge extra once a predetermined data threshold is exceeded. Other internet service providers use soft caps, which don't deliver immediate fees but throttle your speeds, often dramatically, once you've crossed the data limit.
Locating local internet providers
We spoke with Luke Kehoe, an industry analyst at Ookla, who confirmed, "Many plans have 'fair use' thresholds that trigger throttling or deprioritization rather than overage fees, which can still materially impact real-world performance at busy times." (Disclaimer: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
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