While most providers offer unlimited nationwide calls, there are a few differences in their internet plans and phone addons that might make your ears perk up. We took a look at the internet, Wi-Fi and phone bundles for more than 20 large internet providers. What we found was that Optimum and Windstream provide a few great value options, while Cox and Xfinity have phone service addons that shouldn’t be overlooked. Plus, CenturyLink still offers a price lock on its internet and phone bundles, which should make your wallet happy. So which internet and phone bundle is best for you? Let’s dig into the details and find out. We’ve been impressed by Optimum’s focus on smaller towns and communities, and its internet service performs well when compared to other cable internet providers. Here’s a quick look at how you can bundle your Optimum internet and phone services: And most of Optimum’s bundle prices are a good deal. Though we’ll point you away from its Internet 100 + Phone and 1 Gig Internet + Phone bundles. You can likely find a better price for those internet speeds if there are other providers in your area. If you do need to call family or friends in Mexico or another country, take a look at Optimum’s international rates before you dial. That way you’ll avoid a surprise whopper of a bill after you spend two hours chatting with your great aunt in Singapore. Optimum international rates to popular countries (direct dialed per minute)
Mexico: $0.02 Australia: $0.2 China: $0.51 India: $0.02 Brazil: $0.02 Italy: $0.02
But what we really like about Cox’s internet and phone bundles are the options it offers for how your contact info shows up (or doesn’t show up) in the phone book. More on that in just a bit, but first, here’s a quick look at Cox internet and phone bundles: There’s also an option to add an international calling plan for an extra $2.99 a month if you need to contact a relative in another country not on that list. Without the international calling plan, here’s a quick peek at minute-by-minute international rates: Cox Voice Preferred international rates to landlines
Australia: $0.23 with international plan / $3.40 without China: $0.07 / $6.49 India: $0.14 / $7.34
But by far our most favorite thing about Cox Voice Preferred are the extra little options. Here’s what you can choose from and how much it costs.
Publish your name, number, and address in the phone book: Free Publish your name and number only in the phone book: Free Info available only with 411 directory assistance: $0.30/mo. Unpublished directory listing: $2.55/mo. International calling plan: $2.99/mo. External 8-hour telephone battery: $29.99
You can also choose to keep your current phone number or swap to a new one at no cost. On the plus side, your price is locked in as long as you remain a good customer and pay your bills on time. And that applies no matter what internet speed you get. The Fiber Gigabit plan uses, you guessed it, a fiber-optic connection, which means it should have faster speeds and better reliability. CenturyLink makes it difficult to find international calling rates too. So if you’re main reason behind getting home phone service is to call a country outside the US, you should check for other options first. The CenturyLink Fiber Gigabit plan is available in only 19 cities throughout these states as well. So if you’re banking on getting that sweet fiber speed, check to see if your city is included in the list. Granted, you’ll still pay almost $90 a month for the luxury of streaking across the internet like a digital version of The Flash. But if you’re running a home business or freelancing as a creative professional, it’s worth it to get those speeds. Here’s a look at the other internet and phone bundles Windstream offers. So to make a call to Canada, Mexico, or anywhere else in the world, you’ll need to pay international rates. You do seem to get a discount on your international calling cost if you bundle your Windstream services. Here’s a glimpse of how that adds up: That said, if you can get an Xfinity internet and phone bundle in your area, it likely isn’t cheap—and it isn’t expensive either. Yup, Xfinity bundle prices are fairly middle-of-the-road. You can also add one of its international calling plans if you need to regularly call a country not on that list. Each plan gets you 300 minutes you can use to call landline phones (and mobile phones in certain countries) each month. Xfinity international calling plans
Carefree Minutes World Select 300: $9.95/mo. Carefree Minutes Latin America 300: $9.95/mo.
*For residential customers only. Additional taxes, fees, surcharges and restrictions apply. First month’s service, installation charge, activation fee (if required) and any past due balances with Optimum are due prior to installation. Internet includes monthly data plan. *For the first 12 months with a 2-year agreement. †Additional taxes, fees, and surcharges apply. Rate excludes CTL Fees not to exceed $3.00/mo/line. Offer currently not available in Arizona. ††For the first 12 months. ‡For the first 12 or 24 months. Some packages require a 1- or 2-year agreement. We also took into account other features that set a provider apart, like phone book publishing options from Cox and CenturyLink’s price lock guarantee. But if you just need one service, such as internet, it’s cheaper to not bundle. The Best Internet Providers How Much Internet Speed Do You Need?
