If you’re looking for wireless Internet on the go, don’t let price be a barrier. There are tons of affordable options out there. You can scour the Internet and just pick the carrier with the lowest price, but for the best bang for your buck, make sure to consider the three things below. The difference between $19.95 and $24.95 service could be a lot more than five bucks!

What Do You Plan To Do?
If you just want Internet access to do some light web browsing and emailing, you can go with the lowest level package of any carrier—you’ll likely never have an issue with the data or speed caps some carriers have. If you want to do some heavy media streaming and some online gaming, you might need to pay more for faster speed and a bigger data allowance.

Where Will You Use It?
If you want true on-the-go mobile Internet, you’ll need to check the coverage map of the carriers in your area. You might find cheap service, but if the coverage in your area is terrible, then it’s a waste of money. Research the carriers that offer service in your area and find their coverage maps, most of them are readily available on the carrier’s websites. If you plan on traveling and using mobile Internet across cities and states, this research is extra important. Make sure you’re covered all the places that you might need access.

Contract or No Contract?
It might seem like you would pay more with a contract, but that’s not always the case. Depending on your speed and coverage needs, it might be cheaper in the long run to go with a two year contract—some carriers offer discounts on services to those that are under contract. Then again, if you’re not certain that you’ll need the mobile Internet access for two years, then a month-to-month plan might be more attractive. Pay for it only when you need it.