How to Get Free Internet?

Who doesn't like free things? And who doesn't LOVE the Internet?

We love both, so it's only logical that we often try ways to get free internet. And as it turns out, there are some legitimate ways for you to get free internet service anywhere.

Below, we're sharing with you our favorite ways to surf for free - because we're nice that way.

How to Get Free Internet

Disclaimer: some of these methods cost you a tiny bit of money. 

But it's money that you already spend anyway, so I guess they count as free. 

1. Your Provider's Hotspots

Mainstream ISPs often have hotspots spread across the country where they operate. 

City centers and train stations are some of the common places to find an ISP hotspot. To get the ID and password, you may want to contact your ISP.

Or, check your monthly bill/any letter or email they've sent you. You may already have them without ever knowing it.

Also, your phone provider may have hotspots too! This means that your chance to find a hotspot provided by internet providers just doubles up!

2. Your Phone Mobile Data

Technically, it's not free since you pay for your mobile data.

But it's the money you would have spent anyway, so it doesn't make a difference. Right? Right.

Turning your phone into a WiFi router is as easy as one two three (as simple as do re mi). Do make sure, however, that you don't exceed the bandwidth you're paying for, or else you can get a surprising overcharge at the end of the month.

You can also get your phone's internet-connected to your laptop easily.

One of the advantages of sharing your mobile data with other devices is that it's faster than free WiFi you can get from businesses.

3. Businesses that Offer Free WiFi

Malls, cafés, hotels... More often than not, especially those that operate in a big city offer free WiFi.

Most of the time, you'll need to spend a bit of money to be able to get the WiFi code - especially in the case of restaurants and cafés. But WiFi in malls and hotel lobbies are usually free of charge.

One of the most significant downsides of this free internet is the speed. You shouldn't have your expectations up and don't wish to binge-watch Netflix with this kind of WiFi. Scrolling through Instagram might be okay, though.

Another thing with this method is the security issue. Check out our recommendation at the end of this article concerning this problem.

4. From a Town

Especially when traveling and being lost without access to Google Maps, free WiFi provided by the city is very much welcome. 

Many big and touristy towns offer free internet service. You may have to give your email address to be able to access it, but in our experience, they're not spammy.

The downsides are the speed and patchy signals. This means that sometimes you'll be able to get it, but some other times you're left high and dry.

But you know what? A travel router can remedy these two issues. It requires a small investment ($30-ish), but you can use it for all your travels anywhere in the world. Check out our selection of the best travel routers of 2018 to help you decide.

5. The Library

Is there any library nearby?

Chances are they have free internet! You may need to have a membership for the free WiFi, but many libraries offer this for free. Signing up is easy, and usually, the access is given right away.

You don't want to sign up? Many libraries have free-to-use computers at your disposition. Sure, this means that you may not have the data you want to use on that computer, but this is an easy problem to fix (cloud sharing, USB key, sending through email...).

The library's internet is usually quite fast (yay!). The most sophisticated libraries in the world may even outdo your speed at home/work.

6. Airports and Airplanes

Before you roll out your eyes when hearing the word "Airport WiFi," hear us out.

Yes, some airport WiFis suck, but some are not. If you happen to be at one of those airports that offer free and FAST internet, rejoice; because your next airport may be disappointing. 

There's a secret option, though. Find an expensive-looking private lounge. Most airlines have one.

Once you find one, sit nearby and try to get their WiFi signal. Some lounges have password-protected WiFi, but many do NOT. All you need to give in exchange is an email address (again, in my personal experience, they're not spammy).

How about airplanes?

More and more airlines give free WiFi on their flights. Don't expect high speed, though. Paid options are usually faster, so make your pros and cons list to decide.

7. All Free ISP

All Free ISP is a tool of which function is to help you find a free internet service nearby, wherever you are. Here's how it works:

• Open their website and enter your ZIP code.
• They'll give you a list of results of providers offering free internet.

Although we like the service from All Free ISP, there's one fault in the logic, though:

You need an internet connection first to open the website. Ha!

So, what we recommend is mixing this method with any other way mentioned above, for example with the town WiFi. As we've said earlier, free internet from a town is often patchy. So use All Free ISP when your signal is good to find a free provider with a more stable connection.

Or, just enter the ZIP code of the place you're going to beforehand when you're still at home/work.

8. Free Dial-up Internet Providers

Our younger readers may not know what dial-up internet is, but that's okay. 

What's important is this:

The dial-up internet providers still function, and they offer free internet. Can I get a YASS, here?

Here are the providers we recommend for you to try: NetZero and Juno. They're both quite similar:

• They offer 10 hours of free internet per month.
• The connection is at about the same speed. And it's NOT for playing Fortnite.

You can already see that it's a very limited service. But it's perfect for people who only need up to10 hours of internet for basic use.

To use their service, you have to install their software on your computer. It's a pretty straightforward process. 

Free Internet and Security

Getting free internet for free is fun and all, but what about your security?

Free WiFi is notorious for its unsafety. And if you think about all the log-in credentials you put in when using free WiFi, you can get chills on the back.

We believe in "security first," and that's why we recommend you get VPN installed all across your devices, especially the ones you use to surf on the free internet regularly.

Some people worry about the cost, but nowadays VPNs are not expensive. This is especially true if you think about the pro and cons balance.

To make choosing simpler for you, we have prepared a list of the best VPNs to try in 2018. We also include "value for money" as one of the categories, so you can be sure you'll get your money's worth.

Conclusion

We dream of the day where the Internet is free and accessible to everyone.

But we live in reality, where it's still a very lucrative business for some ISP companies. That's why we share with your this list of ways to get free internet.

Also, the prices of internet service get lower and lower every day, and there are more free WiFi spots anywhere now than ever.

So, probably we're on our way to get there? 

Serina Rajagukguk

Serina is a writer whose passion includes learning all about new technology and trying to explain it in a layman term. 

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