Some internet service providers (ISPs) can try to make pricing appear more attractive by headlining prices that are only good when you buy their other services too. While providers may advertise what looks like a low entry price, the fine print often includes conditions like paperless billing, limited-time "new customer only" discounts, restrictive change policies and TV, phone, or wireless bundle requirements. Each of these represents a separate condition you must maintain to keep that “great rate” even for just a limited time. 

GFiber provides a transparent alternative with pricing that is flat and predictable and no  add-ons, removing the follow up price increases often associated with internet “deals.”

Tactics that increase monthly internet costs

Understanding how promotional pricing works is essential for determining the true cost of an internet service. It’s not uncommon for providers to rely on discounts that expire, charge additional fees on top of the rate that you might not expect (like an extra fee for equipment you need or Wi-Fi!), or require additional service commitments.

Conditional bundle discounts and linked bills 

Bundle deals often require subscribing to a secondary service, such as a TV, landline, or cellular plan, to receive a discount on internet service. These two commitments become financially entangled; if you cancel the phone plan or switch, your internet rate increases, and vice versa. This may be of interest to some households, but it limits the flexibility to switch providers for individual services and get what you want or need without incurring a price hike.

At GFiber, we focus on doing one thing really well—providing fast, reliable internet—so you can feel free to choose the rest of your tech without being penalized. You should stay because you love our service, not because you’re locked into a bundle you don’t want or services you don't need.

Too-good-to-be-true promotional pricing with expiration dates 

Some internet providers offer limited-time “new customer” promotions that make their service appear affordable at first. But when the promotional period ends, those discounts typically disappear automatically, and your bill jumps to a "standard"—and sometimes eye-popping—monthly rate. Months at that higher rate eat away at any savings you may have had, plus create a time pressure for you to go find a new deal. And, as an existing customer with that provider, you’ll no longer be able to get any “new customer promotions” that come along – how’s that for gratitude for your business?! We think having to monitor your provider’s ads, endlessly call in to haggle, or disconnect and re-connect under a different account name just to keep a fair price is a hassle you shouldn't have to deal with.

In contrast, GFiber doesn’t use introductory promotions or subject you to incessant rate hikes; the price you sign up for is the price you pay. In fact, our 1 Gig product pricing hasn’t changed since we launched in 2012. We provide simple, honest rates that stay the same, giving you one less thing to worry about.

Hidden installation, equipment, and cancellation fees 

It’s not uncommon for ISPs to charge for additional items that are not reflected in the advertised monthly price of service. Installation fees (even for self-installation!), Wi-Fi fees, equipment rental charges, data charges, repair service fees, and early termination fees (ETFs) are frequently relegated to the fine print or understood only after you get that first bill. Those lurking fees can really add up. Required equipment rentals can cost up to $20 per month at major providers, and one-time installation fees often range up to $100. And it can be even worse if you decide for some reason you don’t want that service after all. Early termination fees can reach up to $300 if a contract is canceled before the term ends.

With GFiber, installation, Wi-Fi, unlimited data, in-home visits, customer service, and the equipment you need is included in your monthly price. And there’s no fee for cancelling if you want to try something else. (Of course, full disclosure, if you cancel altogether, you do have to send our equipment back to us or there is an unreturned equipment fee.) Whether you choose professional installation or a convenient self-install kit, we’ll get you set up with the best routers and the extender(s) you need for whole home Wi-Fi as needed at no extra cost. Our 1 Gig service comes with Wi-Fi 6E and Home and Edge come with Wi-Fi 7 as standard, no upcharge, and depending on your service and home’s unique needs, up to 2 extenders, GFiber’s signature performance verification, and on-going monitoring in the GFiber App. All included at no extra charge.

Pricing dependent on on AutoPay, billing and account conditions 

Some providers require specific on-going conditions to unlock and maintain the advertised price, including so-called Price Locks and Price for Life offers. For example, a provider may advertise a price that is only available if the customer enrolls in both AutoPay and paperless billing. Sounds easy enough but if an AutoPay cycle is missed due to a credit card expiring or a payment method is changed, the monthly discount may be reduced or removed entirely. Or if you pause your internet for vacation or make any change to your internet – or if the provider at their discretion discontinues the plan you are on – poof, that discount is made void.

With GFiber, we want you to love your internet service. That’s why we offer simple, no shenanigan pricing, and any Autopay or billing preferences can easily be updated at any time in your account settings with no change to your bill. We don’t penalize for using a credit versus a debit card, and we also have gracious terms for the occasional late payment –  because we know sometimes life happens. 

The role of the FCC Broadband Label

So if there are so many potential catches to the prices advertised by other providers, how can you be a smart shopper? The official FCC Broadband Label is a reliable reference for comparing ISP pricing. To understand what your bill will look like after a promotion expires, check the "Monthly Price" section of the FCC label, which reflects the standard non-promotional rate.

GFiber customers don’t have to guess or worry about surprises on their bill. We were excited when the FCC required all providers to publish these labels. We believe we were the first to do so – because our pricing has always been simple and straightforward. We take pride in the fact that we’ve helped push the industry to become more transparent since the very beginning.

The GFiber all-in pricing structure

With GFiber, the rate you sign up for is the rate you pay. This structure includes installation, Wi-Fi equipment, and unlimited data without annual contracts or hidden fees. Pricing is transparent, flat, and predictable, removing the long-term uncertainty that often comes with internet service.

• Core 1 Gig: $70/mo (same price since launching in 2012)

• Home 3 Gig: $100/mo (same price since this service launched)

• Edge 8 Gig: $150/mo (same price since this service launched)

All our products follow a consistent structure. There are no hoops to jump through to get the advertised price, no landline, cell phone or TV bundling required, no expiring discounts, no nonsense fees, and no annual rate increases.

Learn more about what makes GFiber pricing different. 

How to compare internet products effectively

When evaluating an internet product, consider if the service offers straightforward pricing, the best hardware and install included, and no annual contracts or bundling dependencies. If not, it will require you to worry about surprises down the road. 

Remember that the advertised "starting at" price of an internet offer is often less informative than the FCC Broadband Label price and the specific conditions attached to discounts. A rate that requires a combination of AutoPay, a new customer promotion, and a phone or TV bundle is a conditional pricing system and whether it works in your favor depends on how long you stay, which other services you keep, and how closely you watch your bill.

We think that's more work than you should have to do for internet. GFiber was made by people who wanted better internet than we had, so we built a whole new internet from the ground up. The internet we all wanted—and we believe the internet is better when it's simple, works reliably, and costs what the provider says it will cost.

Check if GFiber is available in your area. 

Disclaimers

Depending on your municipality, GFiber’s price may be plus a small local access fee, 100% of which go back to your municipality.