Best Internet and Home Phone Combos for Different Lifestyles

Bundling home Internet and home phone can make a lot of sense for households that want both. While many people have opted to no longer use a home phone given the good coverage of most mobile plans, there are still plenty of reasons to have a “landline.” Whether you live in a multi-generational family, are a professional who needs to take client calls at home, or you’re in an area with poor cell reception, we’ve got you covered.

The thing is, home phone service isn’t a totally outdated idea. For many types of households and people, a home phone still offers practical and reliable benefits, and if your household also needs Internet service? Well, you just might be able to get both at a cheaper price than you’re currently paying.

Why Combine Internet and Home Phone Service?

It’s hard to overstate the benefits of bundling services if you use the Internet and either a mobile phone and/or a home phone. From cost savings and the added convenience of having just one bill and company to manage to the potential for feature-rich plans that make communication and connectivity easy and fast, there’s a lot to gain. Here’s a closer look at some of the benefits of bundling.

Bundles Offer Cost Savings and Convenience

Bundle discounts are real, and if you already have a home phone and Internet service but aren’t receiving a discount by combining both, chances are good that you’re overpaying.

Many home Internet plans get cheaper if you combine a home phone plan, but you usually need to do a little research to find the best promotional offers. It’s possible the Internet company you already use could provide bundled cost savings, but a lot of times these types of packages are for new customers, so if you’re moving or willing to change Internet service providers, you can probably find a home phone and Internet package that reduces the cost of each service.

If you do find a good home Internet and phone bundle, be on the lookout for price increases after the promo period ends. Reading the fine print is a must.

Added Reliability in Emergencies

If you’re looking to get a true landline (as opposed to VOIP), one benefit is that landlines often remain operational during power outages or periods of poor or no cellular coverage (for example, solar flares that lead to grid failures). A landline, then, is a useful backup even for houses with unlimited mobile phone plans that want to ensure everyone can still stay connected during emergencies and times of reduced cell phone service.

Some Providers Offer Premium Features

Another benefit of bundling is that some providers offer really nice extras. In addition to included voicemail, you might also get features like:

• Three-way calling
• Call forwarding
• International packages
• Number porting
• Caller ID

Who Benefits Most From an Internet + Home Phone Bundle?

While not all Internet customers will benefit from a home phone plus Internet package, some will. Whether for safety, convenience, or communication preferences, here are some of the household and lifestyle types that could likely benefit from bundling their home Internet and home phone service.

Multi-Generational Households

While it’s common for older adults to prefer or rely on traditional phones, tweens and teens are another group within multi-generational households that can benefit from landline service. There is a lot of social pressure to give children and adolescents smartphones, but many families are opting out given the research about the harm they can cause to mental health. Having a phone option for these younger household members that doesn’t include social media and 24/7 access to group chats can be safer while still keeping them connected to their peers.

Remote Workers and Home-Based Professionals

For remote workers and other home-based professionals, a separate, reliable phone line might also come in handy. Whether it’s for purposes of clarity, privacy, or professionalism, the option of a phone beyond a mobile line can pay off.

Households in Rural or Low-Reception Areas

Having unlimited talk and text on a wireless plan sounds great until you find yourself living or working in a rural area with low to no reception. Landlines offer dependable communication in these situations. So if you live in (or are moving to) a place where mobile service is spotty, a home phone and Internet package is a good idea.

Comparing Plan Options Based on Lifestyle

Not every household that needs a bundled high-speed Internet plus home phone plan needs the same kind of bundle. Bundles work best when they’re tailored to how people actually use the Internet and communicate with others. It’s important to assess your needs before committing to a package. Here are some recommendations for how to think that through.

Phone Features to Consider

Home phone services can come with a wide variety of features. Do you need unlimited domestic calls? International calling options? Voicemail? Caller ID? What about number porting? Think through what you will need and make sure any package you consider offers those features.

Matching Internet Speed to Household Use

It’s best to match your Internet speed to your actual household usage. For example, some professionals may want higher upload speeds and unlimited data for video conferencing, while others might not need that fast of upload speeds.

Large families may need extra bandwidth to support simultaneous streaming, gaming, and smart devices. If you have an online gamer in the house, you’ll want Internet speeds of at least 300 Mbps to avoid any latency or buffering — especially with other users online at the same time.

Not sure what you need? Take the SmartMove Speed Quiz to find out your household’s Internet speed needs.

Additional resources:

• How Much Internet Speed Do I Need?
• 10 Ways to Increase Your Home Internet Speed
• Internet Speed Tests: What Your Results Really Mean

Contract and Billing Flexibility

When it comes to finding the right bundle for your household, it’s also important to consider contract terms and billing flexibility. For example, you might find the same type of bundle available at multiple providers, but if one of them bumps the monthly subscription price up $20 a month after three months and the other doesn’t, that’s definitely a factor to consider.

If you’re not sure you’ll stay where you are long term, you may also want to consider a no-contract option. Many providers offer month-to-month bundles or options without long-term commitments, so take these “features” into consideration as well. What’s important is to make sure you thoroughly explore any current promos and are aware of hidden fees for lease or rental of any phone and/or Internet equipment (modems and routers, etc.).

Smart Tips for Choosing the Best Combination

Here are some smart tips to make sure you get the services and features you need in your home phone and home Internet bundle without overpaying.

Don’t Overpay for Features You Won’t Use

Need WiFi but not necessarily fast download speeds? Not as concerned about speed but want to avoid dealing with data caps? Need to be able to make unlimited domestic calls but can’t imagine needing to make an international one? When you’re looking for the right bundle, make sure you’re getting the features and services your household needs without overpaying for what you don’t.

Look for Limited-Time Savings

Home Internet and phone bundles often come with limited-time perks, such as free installation, free equipment, or lower introductory rates with a two-year price guarantee so long as you also sign up for paperless billing and autopay. Locking those deals in when they’re available can mean saving hundreds of dollars across a year. If you’re moving or in the middle of a contract renewal, be sure to sign up early for the best deals.

Compare by Address, Not Just by Brand

Service availability, pricing, and bundle structure can vary widely depending on where you live, even for the same provider. So just because one provider is offering a great deal on cable Internet plus free home phone activation in your city doesn’t mean it’s available in your specific neighborhood. No matter how big a company or service is advertised, there are always service and territory limitations.

Use SmartMove’s tools to check availability at the location you're actually at before you commit to anything. We know where all the Internet service provider (ISP) bundles are down to the exact address, whether it’s Spectrum Internet, Xfinity Internet, Optimum Internet, or a small, regional broadband provider.

Use SmartMove to Find the Right Home Phone + Internet Plan

Whether you’re looking for a straightforward home Internet option with home phone, or you’d also like to bundle TV services or a cell phone plan, SmartMove can help.

We make it easy to compare home phone and Internet bundles from trusted providers, based on real-time availability and your household’s specific priorities. SmartMove gives users access to updated plans from both national and regional providers, helping them compare plan features, pricing, Internet speed, monthly discounts, and more.

Don’t get fooled by the ads in your area. SmartMove lets you search for deals and all-in bundles based on your exact location, so you can quickly identify which providers have real service options where you live.