Video files can be quite large. Cord cutters that rely on streaming can be hindered with unreasonable monthly data-caps. While I’ve covered ISPs that offer affordable home internet, I wanted to provide a list of ISPs that don’t force monthly data caps on their customers.
ISPs with No Monthly Data Limit
Verizon FiOS – Not only do I have a Verizon Internet plan, but they now offer up to a gigabit for under $70 with no monthly data limit. Check out this special offer page for details. They offer service in areas of New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Washington D.C.
Optimum – Offers no data caps to residents of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and a few in Pennsylvania. can subscribe to Cablevision’s Optimum Online Internet service, or call them at 1-877-638-4504. Not only can you get Speeds up to 100 Mbps for less than $40, but also the service is solid.
Google Fiber – Offers gigabit service in a number of areas in the country. You can check out their service offerings here.
Other ISPs offering internet access with no monthly data caps are Charter, Frontier, Windstream, FairPoint, and Cincinnati Bell.
Streaming and ISP Data Limits
Data limits matter for cord cutters. Netflix states:
“Watching TV shows or movies on Netflix uses about 1 GB of data per hour for each stream of standard definition video, and up to 3 GB per hour for each stream of HD video. “
So if you have 250 Gb monthly data cap from your ISP, then you can only stream about 250 hours of movies and TV in standard definition a month. If you watch 4 hours of TV a day that amounts to 120 Gb in a month. That only uses half of your monthly allotment.
As long as you aren’t gaming or downloading large files when you aren’t streaming movies and TV you should be fine. However, that all changes if you turn the quality up to HD.
At the rate HD video streams, you can only watch 2.75 hours a night before you use up your data allotment for the month. Furthermore, that doesn’t include any other internet usage.
It’s always best to find an ISP with no data cap if possible. Otherwise, you are going to have to keep an eye on what you stream every month.
To double check to see if you are cap free, check this resource of ISPs with Data Caps.
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