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It's a fact that you can save $20 a month using a free ISP, but you'll be making a remittance in another form.

Without your $20 a month, these services need other revenue sources. Most free ISPs turn to advertisers. Many will ask you for information about your buying lifestyle and buying habits so advertisers can target their messages to the right audience.

How does this affect your surfing experience? In most cases, you'll content with a mandatory banner bar. Close the bar and you'll lose your connection.

Annoying as these banner bars are, they're what keep these free services alive. At the time of the writing FreeInternet.com, Freewwweb.com and Worldspy have ceased operation or have been bought out by another provider.

What's more, you will be disconnected after a period of inactivity.

Still, there's annual savings of $240 or more - and that for most people is enough to outweigh the disadvantages. Last year, 2.5 million users took advantage of the free ISP offer, according to Jupiter Communications, and by 2003, that number is expected to exceed 10 million.

We've tried out four of the free ISPs to help you find one or two whose traits you can live with. The services vary in terms of the size of the banner bars.

Like their fee-based cousins, most free ISPs start you off at portals sites whose offerings typically include e-mail, voicemail, calendar, chat services and the traditional news services. Most also offer local numbers.

Free ISPs Do Have a Cost

If you're squeamish about privacy issues, then free Internet access may not be for you. But if you're game, take a free ISP out for a spin. Then, at the end of the year, treat yourself to something real nice, like a nice big 19" monitor that will make the banner bar look real small.

For more information or to register with a free ISP, click here!

James Martell is the Sr. Editor and Webmaster for Desktop-Publishers.com, a free stuff site featuring free ISPs, free voicemail and free long distance, click here!