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Internet Data Caps compared

What Internet Providers have bandwidth data caps, and how they compare
2021-01-02 (updated: 2021-03-02) by

Data caps are limits on how much information can be transferred/received per month, imposed by your Internet provider. Many Internet Service Providers (ISPs) implement some type of data cap to control costs and manage usage. Going over that data cap can cost you, depending on the provider you have. Streaming high-definition content, video conferencing for work and school, it can all add up. Below is a list of ISPs, along with their corresponding data caps, and additional costs of bandwidth once you go over those caps. Some providers may give users a grace period before charging for additional data. Also, some have temporarily suspended data caps during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic.


ProviderConnection TypeData CapOverage Cost per month
AT&TDSL, Fiber1 TB Fiber
150 GB DSL, 250 GB fixed-wireless
$10 per additional 50 GB
(only charged the third time you breach the cap)
Buckeye BroadbandCable400 GB, varies$15 per additional 50 GB
CenturyLinkDSL, Fiber1 TBnone
CoxCable1 TB to unlimited$10 per additional 50 GB
FrontierDSL, FiberUnlimitednone
Hughes NetSatellite10 to 50 TBnone
MCTVCableUnlimitednone
MediacomCable, Fiber150 GB to 6 TB$10 per additional 50 GB
OptimumCableUnlimitednone
ShentelCable200 GB to 1 TB$10 per additional 50 GB
SpectrumCableUnlimitednone
SuddenlinkCable, Fiber250 GB to Unlimited$15 per additional 50 GB
Verizon FIOSFiberUnlimitednone
WindstreamDSL, FiberUnlimitednone
Xfinity (Comcast)Cable1.2 TB$10 per additional 50 GB


Notes:
Browsing web pages and sending/receiving emails uses very little data. The largest data usage by far is caused by HD/UHD video streaming, followed by P2P transfers and video-conferencing.

If you see errors in the list, or would like to add another national ISP here, please feel free to leave a comment below.

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