An internet data cap is a set threshold of the amount of data you can use in one month on your internet service provider’s (ISP's) plan. If you exceed the threshold, your ISP will sometimes begin charging you overage fees. In other cases, they may just throttle, or slow down, your internet speeds.

Internet providers around the nation have data allowances that can limit your ability to browse, stream, and more. Let’s find out which ISPs have data caps, how much overages could cost you, how much data your household actually needs, and what are the best VPNs to combat throttling if you've hit your cap.

Which providers have internet data caps?

If you’re unsure if your internet provider has a data cap, it’s a good idea to find out. Your internet needs could vary from month to month, and knowing how a data overage could affect you is beneficial.

Check out these nationwide ISPs who have data caps.

ISPs with data caps

Which types of internet usually have data caps?

There are many different types of internet providers that have data caps for their customers. Many of those ISPs also offer unlimited data plans to help you avoid any unwanted fees. Of all the different types of internet, satellite internet providers tend to have the smallest data caps.

The repercussions of these data caps also vary based on the provider. For instance, some providers charge customers a fee to add additional data, whereas others may throttle or slow down your internet speeds once you’ve hit a specific data limit.

Which providers have unlimited data?

If you’re worried about hitting a data limit every month, you may want to find an ISP that has an unlimited data plan. Here are a few providers with unlimited data offerings.

ISPs with unlimited data

How to get unlimited data

If you need more data than is included in your ISP’s data plan, contact your provider to see if you can upgrade to an unlimited plan. You could also switch to a different provider with an unlimited plan if one is available in your area.

What’s the AT&T internet data cap?

AT&T’s data caps are based on the type of internet plan you have. Here is a breakdown of the internet plans and how much data is allocated each month.

• DSL: 150 GB per month
• Fixed wireless internet: 350 GB per month
• 100 Mbps or faster: Unlimited data

If you have AT&T high-speed internet, you can also upgrade to unlimited data if your current plan doesn’t include it. The cost of an unlimited upgrade is $30 per month.

What’s the Comcast Xfinity internet data cap?

Xfinity’s internet service comes with a 1.2 TB-data cap. Once you’ve exceeded the 1.2 TB of data, Xfinity charges $10 per 50 GB, not to exceed $100 a month. For first-time offenders, Xfinity won’t charge you for additional data.

If you’ll consistently need more data, such as for online gaming and downloading files, Xfinity offers an unlimited data add-on. Depending on your current Xfinity internet plan, an unlimited data cap could cost you $30 or you’d need to purchase the XFi Complete package for $25 per month.

What’s the Cox internet data cap?

If you’re a Cox internet user, your plan comes with 1.25 TB of data per month. Cox also offers you the option to upgrade by adding an additional 500 GB or unlimited data. The cost of the 500 GB of additional data may vary based on your location. The unlimited data upgrade will cost you $30 per month.

If you do go over your monthly limit, Cox automatically adds additional data for you at the rate of 50 GB for $10. These data overage charges shouldn’t exceed $100.

What’s the Spectrum internet data cap?

Spectrum doesn’t have data caps for its internet customers. Spectrum offers a variety of plans with speeds up to 1,000 Mbps (1 Gbps), but none of the plans have a data cap.

What’s the Starlink internet data cap?

Starlink doesn’t have data caps or limits for its customers. However, the company may throttle internet speeds as necessary.

Starlink costs $110 per month for residential service, and you’ll need to pay a $599 equipment fee to get the satellite dish and other equipment.

What’s the T-Mobile Home Internet data cap?

Good news! T-Mobile’s 5G Home Internet service does not have a data cap. The internet service is $50 with autopay enabled.

T-Mobile offers only one plan and all customers have unlimited data with the fastest speeds available.

What’s the WOW! Internet data cap?

WOW! offers a variety of internet plans that all have varying levels of usable data. Certain cities may also see different data caps. Right now, WOW!’s data caps look like this:

• Internet 50: 1,024 GB
• Internet 100: 1,536 GB
• Internet 200: 1,536 GB
• Internet 300: 1,536 GB
• Internet 500: 2,560 GB
• Internet 600: 2,560 GB
• Internet 1,000: 3,072 GB

WOW! also offers an unlimited data plan option if you subscribe to its Internet 1,000 plan. The unlimited data add-on costs an additional $30 per month.

How to find out what your data cap is

If your internet plan includes a data cap, your ISP should have a way for you to check your overall data usage. Many ISPs also have notifications in place to alert you when you may be reaching your data limit.

To find out if you have a data cap and how much data you’ve used this month, you can head to your ISP’s website or app and sign in to your account. Look for a dashboard or tracker for your data usage to see how much you’ve used that month.

What happens if you go over your data limit?

In most cases, if you go over your data limit, your ISP will charge you a fee to add additional data to your plan. This fee ranges depending on your provider, but many internet providers charge about $10 for an additional 50 GB of data.

Other ISPs will throttle or slow down your speed once you’ve reached a data cap. This can hinder your ability to stream video, jump on Zoom calls, and more. 

One method to mitigate throttling would be to use a virtual private network (VPN). A VPN encrypts your internet traffic, which would hide it from your ISP. Some VPNs you can use to help combat throttling include:

• NordVPN: Nord is a top VPN for protecting your privacy. It uses military-grade encryption, passed our DNS and WebRTC leak tests, and it offers specialty servers (like double VPN and obfuscated servers) to keep your browsing anonymous. 

  Get NordVPN | Read Our NordVPN Review

• ExpressVPN: ExpressVPN is a premium VPN that provides fast and secure performance. Its proprietary Lightway protocol is notable for providing quick and secure connections.

  Get ExpressVPN | Read Our ExpressVPN Review

• Private Internet Access: PIA is one of the cheapest full-service VPNs, but that doesn't mean it skimps on security. It comes with two types of kill switches, split tunneling, and it allows you to connect unlimited devices for maximum privacy.

  Get Private Internet Access | Read Our Private Internet Access Review

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On NordVPN's website

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NordVPN

• High-quality VPN offering safety and speed
• Loads of servers for multiple connection options
• Works with popular streaming services, including Netflix
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How much data do you need?

The amount of data you need is dependent on many factors. If you’re a family of five, with both parents working from home and kids constantly streaming TV shows and gaming, you likely need more data than someone who lives alone and commutes to an office five days a week.

According to a Broadband Insights Report by OpenVault, the average data usage of a North American household was more than 512 GB per month. Based on this, an internet plan with at least 600 GB of data should suffice for most American families. If you know your household uses more data than an average household, you should find a plan with more data.

How to avoid using too much data

If you’re concerned about using too much data at home, there are steps you can take to help minimize data usage.

• Download music instead of streaming it
• Turn off Wi-Fi and use cellular data if needed
• Turn off streaming services when not actively using them
• Use lower-quality video for YouTube, Netflix, and other streaming services
• Check which devices are connected to your internet and make sure all are necessary

How much data do you need for…

Internet data cap FAQs

Bottom line

Understanding your internet plan and any fees associated with your data usage is important. As more and more devices are connected to the internet, the average household data usage continues to increase. If you have a data cap in place, you could reach that threshold faster with new online devices.

To manage your data plan, first, understand if your current plan with your ISP has a data cap. If so, head to your ISP’s app or website and find out how to check your current data usage. This is helpful in case you’re worried about going over your limit.

If you’re concerned about your data usage and you don’t have an unlimited plan, you can minimize your data usage by making sure that you are only using the internet for needed activities.

You could also invest in one of the best VPNs to keep your browsing anonymous from your ISP.

4.9

Limited-time offer: 69% off + 3 extra months

Learn More

On NordVPN's website

---

NordVPN

• High-quality VPN offering safety and speed
• Loads of servers for multiple connection options
• Works with popular streaming services, including Netflix
• Too many confusing plans

Author Details

Andrew Adams

About the Author

Andrew Strom Adams is a freelance writer focused on online privacy and digital security. He writes on various topics to help individuals protect themselves on the internet. Andrew has worked in legal marketing, technology, and startups. He has more than 12 years of experience in marketing and communications. He holds an M.B.A. from Westminster College and a B.A. in journalism from Oklahoma Baptist University. When he’s not writing, he’s playing with his two kids or watching reality TV.