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Promotional pricing on internet service is designed to look like a great deal. It often isn't. Customers who choose a low introductory rate routinely pay more per month on average overall than customers who chose straightforward pricing from day one.
How promotional pricing works
Many major internet providers advertise a rate that applies only to new customers for some limited amount of time, typically 12 to 24 months. The promotional rate often appears in ads, mailers, and search results, and may not include taxes and fees. But, even if it’s a great price for that short period, the standard rate activates automatically when the promotional period ends. And, according to HighSpeedInternet.com, these standard rates can be up to more than $70 higher per month, and usually both the amount and the timing is tucked away in the fine print.
These rates can come with other requirements as well. Some providers bundle the promotional rate with a TV or phone package. The bundle lowers the apparent monthly cost, but the discount is temporary, and customers often continue paying for service they don't use long after the promotional period ends. Or they can represent guaranteed pricing like a multi-year price lock. Advertising like "your price won't change for 5 years" sounds reassuring. But these promotions frequently exclude equipment rental fees and broadcast TV surcharges. And of course, when the lock expires, standard rates apply.
Three promotions to watch out for
There are three common advertising approaches that some internet providers use to attract new customers, but it pays to read the fine print.
Introductory rates. Advertisements often promise fast internet starting at a low monthly rate, but the asterisk usually leads to a "for 12 months" disclaimer. After that, the price jumps to the standard rate. When you add a monthly equipment rental fee and a one-time installation or activation charge, your average monthly cost climbs significantly.
Bundles. Bundle promotions reduce the individual price of each service only while the bundle remains active. When the promo ends, each component usually reverts to its standard rate. Customers who decide to drop TV from the bundle often discover that the internet-only rate is higher than what they were paying for the entire bundle before.
Price locks. A limited-time price lock can look competitive, but it’s important to read the fine print. Price locks typically exclude other essential fees like equipment and may only apply to select speeds. When the lock ends, the standard rate kicks in, often requiring customers to call customer service to negotiate a new discount.
Once the promotional period ends, the standard rate kicks in automatically, and customers pay a significantly higher price per month than what they signed up for.
But GFiber’s transparent pricing policy is designed so you always know exactly what you're going to pay. Our products are priced at a flat rate every month with no hidden fees. There are no expiring introductory rates to worry about, confusing bundles to manage, or price locks to negotiate. What you see when you sign up is what you can expect.
The GFiber difference: transparent, all-inclusive pricing
GFiber uses an all-inclusive pricing structure designed to remove any pricing uncertainty for our internet products. For example, the GFiber Core 1 Gig plan is $70 per month.[1] This straightforward rate includes professional installation and your Wi-Fi hardware (including router and up to extenders as needed[2]), with no promotional expiration dates, no data caps, and no unexpected rate hikes down the road. And that price hasn’t changed since we launched it in KC in 2012.
This commitment to a truly great customer experience is a primary reason why GFiber has been awarded #1 in Customer Satisfaction for Residential Wired Internet Service in the South Region by J.D. Power for three consecutive years.[4] Customers know exactly what they will pay every single month and never have to spend their valuable time negotiating with customer service over an unexpected increase on their bill.
The real cost of chasing a deal
The lowest advertised rate is rarely the lowest long-term cost. Introductory pricing, bundle discounts, and multi-year locks all share a compelling number up front and an inevitably higher number down the road. Coupled with the frustration of not realizing your bill went up, having to call to request the original price you signed up for, seeing new customers get a better deal than you, these lower priced deals are seldom worth it in the long run.
The internet is an essential monthly expense. That’s why our suite of lifestyle internet products is built around how you use the internet, like GFiber’s Core 1 Gig for $70. Every month. No negotiating required. Because with GFiber, the price you see when you sign up is exactly what you can expect month after month, year after year.
Footnotes and Disclaimers
[1] Pricing & Service: Upload/download speed and device streaming claims are based on maximum wired speeds. Actual internet speeds, Wi-Fi speeds, and Wi-Fi coverage are not guaranteed and can vary based on factors such as home or business size and layout, construction materials, hardware and software limitations, latency, packet loss, etc. Advertised prices do not include local access fees, which go back into your community, or taxes, both of which may be subject to increase.
[2] Customers canceling service will have to pay a replacement fee (including any applicable taxes) if they fail to return equipment within 60 days after cancellation.
[3] J.D. Power Award: GFiber received the highest score in the South region of the J.D. Power 2023-2025 U.S. Residential Internet Service Provider Satisfaction Studies, which measures customers’ satisfaction of service with their current internet. Visit jdpower.com/awards for more details.
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