All
Free ISP
In the aftermath of the Dot Com crash, most national free Internet access
providers went bust. However, there are still many free local ISPs around in
the U.S. and Canada. This site offers a searchable database of free ISPs,
complete with reviews and ratings. Besides free services, the site also takes
a look at discount ISPs.
NetZero
NetZero offers you free Net access in exchange for displaying ad space in your
browser. They support 56K FLEX and V90 modem standards. They provide
local access numbers to
most major and many medium-sized cities in the U.S. U.S.
only. (For Windows). A Mac version is promised eventually.
NetValve
Sign up here for one hour of prepaid free Internet access from NetValve, a Net
service provider that offers access in over 7,000 U.S. cities. This offer is
valid for first-time NetValve users who live in the 48 contiguous United
States.
Juno
One of the two major players still offering free Net access in the U.S. (along
with NetZero), Juno offers service at
connection speeds up to 56K. The service is advertisement-supported.
Free
AOL access offer
America Online is offering 45 free days of Internet access with its new AOL
version 9.0 software. No credit card is required for this offer. Note: you
must be 18 or older to request this offer. (U.S. only).
Aardvaak
free Net access
Here's a free ISP for our British visitors. Aardvaak offers speedy 0845 (local
rate) dial-up Internet access, with free POP3 E-mail and 25 megs of Web space.
The service supports 56K and 64/128K ISDN. What's more, Aardvaak doesn't
pester you with banners or popup ads. (U.K. only). Works
with both Windows and Macs.
Address.com
This free service forgoes the usual desktop ad bars that you see with most
free Net access providers in favor of occasional commercial breaks, which last
around seven seconds. The ads appear as either full screen messages or as
pop-up windows. Address.com is available in the continental U.S. only. (For
Windows). Note: we've had a number of complaints from
our visitors about connection problems with Address.com.
Marketscore
Internet Accelerator
Looking for a faster Net connection? This unique service promises to speed up
your dial-up connection speed by up to 100 percent. To get the speedier
connection, you must download a small instruction set to identify your machine
and give your browser a Net address through which to route its traffic. Note:
when you sign up, you can take a shot at winning a Mercedes SLK230 roadster
convertible or cash prizes in Marketscore's sweepstakes.
Contest deadline is Oct. 31, 2003.
BlueLight.com
(Note: In July, 2001, BlueLight.com announced that it
will no longer provide free Net access). This major ad-supported free
Net access provider, offered by retail giant Kmart, is in a state of
transition (in December 2000, the company that powered BlueLight.com ceased
operations). (For Windows; a previously-offered Mac
version is no longer supported).
Freecall
(Note: this service is no longer available). An
ad-supported service, Freecall offers free Net access (via an 0800 number) to
individuals and businesses in Britain. Freecall supports V90, K56Flex and ISDN
standards. (U.K. only).
Net4Nowt.com
This directory offers a good roundup of free "0845" (local call rate) Net
access providers in Britain, including reviews and a comparison table.
(U.K. only).
FreeAccess
(Netherlands only). This one's for
our Dutch visitors. This service offers Dutch users free Net access, with
speedy 56K and ISDN connections. You only need to pay for the cost of the
phone call (and local call rate access is available in almost half of the
Netherlands).
dotNow
(Note: this service is no longer available).
dotNow offers Net dial-up access to customers in hundreds of U.S. cities.
Currently, they have over 2,400 points of presence (POPs) in all 50 states.
The service is banner ad-supported and the company's dotNow bar displays ads
while you're online. (Available for Windows only).
Sputnik
(Note: this service is no longer available).
Looking for free high-speed wireless access? This is available for a "limited
time" in an ever-expanding area in the U.S. via Sputnik, makers of free
software that turns PCs into Wi-Fi "hotspots." To participate, your PC must
meet Sputnik's
requirements. If you'd like to participate in helping Sputnik grow its
network, you can set yourself up as a "Sputnik Affiliate" by setting up a
Sputnik Gateway. Be sure to read Sputnik's
terms of use.