AT&T
AT&T also has a few different plans to choose from to suit your budget and needs. With AT&T Unlimited, you can get up to five lines of mobile service. With the premium plan, which is $85/mo. for one line, you get unlimited data that never slows down. You can then add your internet service to this, which varies in price. AT&T is usually running a promo for starting service, like right now, which includes a 25% discount to open a mobile account if you’re already an internet subscriber. AT&T offers fiber internet starting at $55/mo. though it isn’t available everywhere in the country.
Pros
Above average customer satisfaction
AT&T’s score on the American Customer Satisfaction Index is 75/100, which places it above several of its competitors in this space and above the industry average of 75 in 2023.
AT&T offers fiber internet
Fiber internet is often faster and more reliable than cable internet. While AT&T doesn’t yet offer it everywhere in the country, it is available in many places.
Cons
Can get pricey
While AT&T does offer a discount for bundling, not all of its services are available everywhere, so in some states, it can get pricey to have cable internet from another provider and AT&T’s mobile service.
Slow speeds
If AT&T’s fiber internet is available in your area, this won’t be an issue, but if it’s not, AT&T’s DSL internet tops out around 100 Mbps, which is enough for a small household that doesn’t access the internet for work, gaming or school.
AT&T internet plans, pricing, and speeds
AT&T is one of the largest internet service providers in the country with both fiber, 5G and DSL internet available. If AT&T Fiber or 5G Air Internet is available where you live, we recommend those over AT&T’s DSL service.
†Internet speed claims represent maximum network service capability speeds & based on wired connection to gateway. 1GIG speeds require the latest router & recommended setup. Actual customer speeds may vary and are not guaranteed.
†Internet speed claims represent maximum network service capability speeds & based on wired connection to gateway. 1GIG speeds require the latest router & recommended setup. Actual customer speeds may vary and are not guaranteed. For 5 Gig, single device wired speed maximum 4.7 Gbps. For more info go to www.att.com/speed101.Last updated 10/30/23
There are currently 10 AT&T internet plans to choose from, but what speeds you’re actually eligible for depends on your location.
AT&T Internet (DSL) plans and speed vary, but they’re all $55.00/mo. Speeds range from 10 – 100 Mbps download and 1 – 20 Mbps upload speed.
AT&T introduces 5G Home Internet plan
In select cities, AT&T has introduced a fixed wireless home internet plan to compete with T-Mobile’s and Verizon’s home internet plans. AT&T Internet Air will cost users $55/mo., plus taxes. If you add an eligible AT&T wireless (mobile) plan within the first 30 days, you can get the new plan for $35/mo.
AT&T Internet plans increase in price after 12 months
If you only have access to AT&T’s DSL plans, your bill will go up by $10/mo. in the second year. AT&T Fiber plans don’t have any price increases. This is about average for internet plans. Some Xfinity plans increase by $50/mo. in the second year, but Verizon Fios doesn’t have any rate increases at all.
Low-income internet assistance
AT&T participates in the federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which allows qualified households to lower their internet or wireless costs by $30/mo., or by $75/mo. if they live on Tribal lands. AT&T then offers a 100 Mbps plan for $30/mo., making your internet service free.
AT&T also has its own plan for low-income households called Access from AT&T. You can apply for ACP and then you are eligible for Access, which provides Access from AT&T provides free installation and in-home Wi-Fi®, no annual contract, no deposit and internet service for $30/mo. or less based on the maximum speed available at your address up to 100 Mbps.
You can also apply for Access as a standalone program, without going through ACP.
What we like
No equipment fees
You won’t have to worry about extra monthly equipment fees with AT&T.
No contracts
AT&T has no contracts, so you won’t be hit with early termination fees if you decide to cancel your service.
Unlimited data
AT&T lets you use as much data as you want, so there are no overage charges.
Things to consider
DSL plans have rate hikes
If you’re a DSL customer, your monthly internet price will go up in year two.
Prices
AT&T has expensive starting prices compared to other providers.
If you can get it, we scored AT&T Fiber as one of the best internet options in the country. It received the highest score for performance and value of any internet provider, with download speeds ranging from 300 to 4,700 Mbps. AT&T Fiber also got our highest score for value, which measures the price per Mbps on every plan.
Even though the connection uses the same network until the last mile, AT&T’s DSL plans have almost the opposite scores: they were our lowest-rated plans of any cable company for both performance and value. It is more affordable than AT&T Fiber, but you’ll get a lot slower speeds for that cheaper price.
How we scored internet providers
We evaluate broadband providers in four categories: affordability, performance, value and customer satisfaction. Each category contains multiple sub-factors, all of which are weighted differently to impact the provider’s overall score.
For each sub-factor, we score all providers on a continuous scale of 1 to 5, relative to the industry as a whole. Because the average download speed in America is currently 180 Mbps, for example, we assigned all plans with download speeds between 100 and 299 Mbps a score between 3 and 4. Xfinity’s 200 Mbps plan received a 3.50 score for download speed, while Spectrum’s 400 Mbps plan got a 4.16.
We only considered standardized data points in our scoring system. More abstract data like consistency of service and brand reputation is still part of our analysis, but we opted to let our writers address them in the context of each review.
AT&T internet deals
AT&T often has deals on its internet service that change throughout the year. Right now, AT&T will cover your cancellation fee in full if you switch to AT&T Fiber. You can also get up to a $150 reward card if you order AT&T Fiber online.
AT&T also offers an All In One Fiber+Wireless bundle. You can get AT&T Fiber for $35/mo. when you add an eligible AT&T Unlimited plan.
What’s the final price for AT&T internet?
AT&T Fiber’s pricing is refreshingly straightforward. There are no equipment fees or price increases, so you can expect to pay about $5/mo. more than what’s advertised as AT&T’s internet prices — essentially just the taxes you’ll have to pay that with any internet plan. This means if you have AT&T’s Fiber Internet 300 plan, you can expect to pay around $70/mo.
Shop AT&T internet plans
AT&T provides fast and reliable internet, a variety of discounted TV bundles and home phone with unlimited nationwide calling.
AT&T Wi-Fi equipment and fees
Along with speed and price, equipment fees, data allowances and contracts are major considerations when choosing an internet service. With low equipment fees, unlimited data on most plans and no contracts, we find AT&T to be one of the more customer-friendly internet providers.
No equipment fees
AT&T Fiber includes the cost of equipment in the monthly price. If you get a DSL plan, the cost for your equipment from AT&T is $10/mo. This fee is a few bucks lower per month than other major internet providers like Verizon and Xfinity.
Free professional installation
AT&T is currently waiving its $99 professional installation fee. Self-installation is available in some areas, but most customers will have to schedule an appointment with an AT&T technician.
No contract required for internet
AT&T internet plans do not require a contract. However, a term agreement may be required in some instances in order to qualify for select promotional offers.
Unlimited data with AT&T Fiber, select bundles
There are no data caps on any of the AT&T Fiber plans, and AT&T Internet customers who bundle with a qualifying TV service can also take advantage of unlimited data.
AT&T’s 10-100 Mbps plans come with a monthly data allowance of 1TB/mo. Going over that limit could add a fee up to $50 to your bill, but the good news is the average household typically doesn’t come close to using that much data. If you have multiple people in your house binge-watching shows in HD and 4K all month long, however, you may want to keep an eye on your usage. You can also add unlimited data to these plans for an extra $30/mo.
AT&T home internet vs. top competitors
In most areas serviceable for AT&T internet, a cable provider may also be available. You may also have access to competing DSL or fiber optic internet providers.
Bundle TV with AT&T internet
There are a few ways to bundle AT&T internet with TV. You can add DIRECTV STREAM to any AT&T internet plan, but the company doesn’t offer much incentive to do so. The price isn’t discounted from what you’d pay if you bought the services separately, whether you go with an AT&T Fiber or Internet plan.
You can also bundle AT&T Internet with DIRECTV satellite service, but again, the price is exactly the same as it would be if you subscribed to each service separately.
If you want to add TV to the mix when you sign up for AT&T Internet, we recommend comparing DIRECTV STREAM with other live TV streaming services like Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV. These services are available everywhere in the country, so you’ll have plenty of options no matter where you live.
AT&T customer satisfaction
Ranked above most internet providers – ACSI 2023
The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) gives the largest internet providers annual customer satisfaction scores based on customer feedback. In 2023, AT&T received an 80/100 — leading all fiber internet providers. It also came in second behind T-Mobile with a score of 73 for its non-fiber services.
Best overall satisfaction – J.D. Power
J.D. Power also performs annual customer satisfaction for the largest internet providers. In 2020, J.D. Power rated AT&T number one in overall satisfaction in every region it had service. Contributing to AT&T’s high satisfaction score were high marks for Performance and Reliability, Cost of Service and Customer Service.
Middle of the pack – Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports members were the one group who weren’t as positive about their experiences with AT&T internet. In a survey of 23,668 internet subscribers, AT&T received an overall score of 58/100. That might sound like a failing grade, but it’s more a reflection on the industry as a whole — TDS led the pack with a 64/100.
That said, if you’re concerned you’ll need regular technical support, it’s worth taking into account. AT&T got Consumer Reports’ lowest possible score for customer service.
AT&T, for example, does not require a contract for internet service, but if you bundle with AT&T TV or DIRECTV, you’ll have a two-year term agreement for the TV service.
AT&T – Best availability
Why we recommend it: AT&T’s prepaid internet option is a little different than the other providers on this list. Instead of a traditional home internet connection with a router and modem, AT&T’s prepaid plans utilize its 5G wireless network. You pay for different amounts of data each month, from 15GB to 100GB, and you’ll need to purchase a mobile hotspot from AT&T separately.
Featured AT&T Prepaid plans
AT&T has three prepaid internet plans, but the speed is the same on all of them. Instead, you pay for how much data you need.
What else to consider with AT&T internet:
- Wide availability: While you have to be in the service areas of broadband internet providers, AT&T Prepaid is available virtually anywhere.
- Save by paying for a year upfront: If you’re happy with your AT&T Prepaid service and want to save some money, you can save $10/mo. and get 5GB of extra data each month by paying for a full year in advance.
- Expensive equipment: Hotspot devices from AT&T can cost as much as $180, although you may be able to find better deals by visiting an AT&T store in-person.
AT&T: Fiber 2000 and Fiber 5000
AT&T offers two multi-gig internet options, Fiber 2000 and Fiber 5000, which have great value for their speeds. At $110/mo., Fiber 2000 offers speeds up to 2,000 Mbps. AT&T’s Fiber 5000 is a 5 GB internet plan for $250/mo.*†
AT&T Fiber: Fastest speeds
If you can get AT&T Fiber in your area, it offers the best high-speed internet plans of any nationwide provider. Plans start at just $55/mo. for 300 Mbps of upload and download speeds — plenty for all but the most connected households. And if you need more bandwidth, AT&T Fiber has speeds all the way up to 5 Gig. AT&T received our highest score for performance and value of any internet provider, with download speeds ranging from 300 to 4,700 Mbps. AT&T Fiber also got our highest score for value, which measures the price per Mbps on every plan.