Despite AOL’s exit, dial-up internet isn’t going away
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AOL may have discontinued its dial-up internet services, but at least three others still exist as alternatives — yes, even in 2025.
Three providers — Microsoft, Juno, and NetZero — say that they offer dial-up plans, with Juno continuing to offer free dial-up for 10 hours a month, though with a potential major catch.
Over the weekend, the internet discovered that AOL had quietly announced that it would discontinue its dial-up internet services at the end of September. The shutdown will also affect associated software including AOL Dialer and AOL Shield, the company said.
While AOL became synonymous with dial-up internet — and it’s “You’ve Got Mail” notification even became the inspiration for a feature film — customers moved on to DSL and then broadband connections to the open internet. Deploying broadband to rural locations requires investment, however, and the rollout was increasingly funded by governments, rather than private businesses. Wireless connections like T-Mobile’s 5G broadband services and StarLink‘s satellite connections helped make the older dial-up services increasingly obsolete.
But for now, there do still appear to be dial-up options available.
Among the most well-known is MSN Dial-Up Internet Access, which Microsoft sells for $21.95 per month or $179.95 per year. However, when I tried to access a list of nearby access numbers to check of service was available, a few numbers I tried — all in relatively populous areas — weren’t recognized.
That wasn’t the case for NetZero, which offers “high-speed accelerated dial-up” for $29.95 per month. I used my Bay Area phone number and was able to find several local access numbers. (Of course, the Bay Area is also a haven for broadband, too.)
Finally, Juno still advertises a free broadband service, though the Wikipedia page devoted to it notes that the company had planned in 2009 to use its software to harvest CPU cycles from its customers, a plan that may or may not have come to fruition. The page also notes issues with the company’s software and how it handled modern web formats.
Clearly, most American internet customers have moved on to broadband, whether fixed or wireless. But if you need dial-up, a few providers remain — for now.
Author: Mark Hachman, Senior Editor, PCWorld
Mark has written for PCWorld for the last decade, with 30 years of experience covering technology. He has authored over 3,500 articles for PCWorld alone, covering PC microprocessors, peripherals, and Microsoft Windows, among other topics. Mark has written for publications including PC Magazine, Byte, eWEEK, Popular Science and Electronic Buyers’ News, where he shared a Jesse H. Neal Award for breaking news. He recently handed over a collection of several dozen Thunderbolt docks and USB-C hubs because his office simply has no more room.
