Slow internet was just fine when all we did was check our emails and occasionally print out directions for a road trip. We also hadn't experienced anything other than slow internet.

Now, we know what speedy internet can feel like, and how important it is when playing a video game, downloading a huge file, or sharing bandwidth with other people in the home.

But what if you had the choice between slow internet that was completely free and fast internet that you had to pay for? Which do you think you'd choose?

Free, Unlimited Internet Sounds Like a Deal

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On paper, free internet sounds fantastic because it's one less bill to pay every month. I love it when I can get free Wi-Fi at a hotel, restaurant, or grocery store because I don't have to worry about going over my mobile data limit. I imagine that free, unlimited internet at home could be just as exciting—but maybe just in theory.

In this hypothetical situation of free, unlimited internet, there would be no throttling when you reach a certain usage. You could also try out ways to improve your Wi-Fi router speed to boost your connection as much as possible. However, it would probably still be pretty slow all the time.

Imagine all those times that you've been frustrated with accessing a website that won't load or with a file downloading too slowly. Would it be easier to put up with these frustrations if you knew you weren't paying for your internet?

Speedy Internet Is Worth the Price

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If you rely on your internet connection to work, complete school assignments, or relax at the end of the day with video games or a TV show, speed is likely important to you. Many of us don't choose the basic internet plan from our local internet service provider (ISP) because of how much we value a speedy connection.

However, when the cost of your internet plan continues to go up every year or two, you might find yourself wondering, "Is what I'm paying worth it?" If there was a hypothetical internet plan in the world that was free, but slow, would you try it out in exchange for saving some money every month?

How Important Is Internet Speed to You?

The choice between slow, free internet and fast, paid internet is a tough one, especially because the words "slow" and "fast" are a bit ambiguous. In my mind, I'm picturing "slow" as what my internet is like when it refuses to load in a reasonable amount of time, and "fast" as a flawless internet connection that seems to know what I want before I do.

With these two definitions in mind, I think I'd try out a slow, free internet plan instead of paying for a speedier plan. Slow internet today would be considered fast 20 years ago, so I'd hope that slow plans would continue to get faster as technology improved.

But what about you? Is the cost of a speedy internet connection worth it to you, or not?