Free Internet access providers

 Despite the flurry of stories in the media lately about the supposed decline of freebies and free services on the Web, we've found that Net users today in fact have a broader range of freebies to choose from than ever before. The one exception to this is the category of free Internet access providers.
 The number of free Web access providers has declined sharply in recent years, as the industry has seen a number of players consolidate or go out of business. However, there are still a number of free ISPs in the U.S. (although most providers no longer offer free, unlimited usage). And free Net access providers continue to thrive in other countries, particularly in Europe.
 We don't recommend any of these services for use as your primary Web connection, if you need solid, reliable service. Still, the free services reviewed below are handy for use as a backup service, if your primary provider experiences downtime. They also provide a convenient way for you to get online, if you're on the road.

• 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.

• MyFreeISP.co.uk 
  This service offers anonymous, speedy and reliable free dial-up Internet access for U.K. residents. It's suitable for people who surf the Web occasionally (or who travel frequently on business). You simply connect to the Internet from any U.K. landline via an 0845 number.(U.K. only).

• NetZero 
  NetZero offers you up to 10 hours per month of 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. Note: to sign up for service here, scroll down the page and look for the "Free Internet Access" link. U.S. only. (For Windows).

  • Our visitors report a number of problems these days with NetZero, including difficulties in connecting; frequent sudden disconnects; lots of E-mail advertisements; and annoying pop-up ads.

• 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.

  • We've had a few complaints from our visitors about Juno's difficult-to-close, obtrusive ad windows.
  • In recent months, it's become increasingly difficult to connect to Juno's free service during normal business hours. If you need a steady day-time Net connection, you'll have to look elsewhere for a free ISP.
    

• 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).