AT&T Internet: 5 Things To Know Before You Sign Up

If you have access to AT&T Internet in your area, you may be thinking about making the switch.

In this article, I’ll take a close look at each of the home internet plans AT&T offers including AT&T Internet Air (Fixed Wireless Internet) and AT&T Fiber. I’ve checked out each plan to see how much they cost, where they’re likely available, what they include, what kind of contracts and fees to expect and how AT&T’s plans compare to similar home internet plans.

This article was updated in December 2023 and I review it every year. Detailed notes on all updates can be found here.

AT&T Internet: Plans, Pricing and How It Compares

AT&T offers three types of home internet: AT&T Internet plans, plans powered by Fiber and AT&T Air (Fixed Wireless Internet). Plans powered by Fiber offer the fastest download speeds and most reliable connection.

AT&T’s other home internet plans are powered by both fiber optic and copper (DSL) connections. Of course, the DSL connection makes speeds significantly slower. 

Finally, AT&T’s Internet Air is a fixed wireless internet service. Fixed Wireless Internet provides access to traditional Wi-Fi through nearby cellular signal. If you don’t have access to AT&T Fiber or other standard internet options, fixed wireless service may still be available in your area. 

In the table below, you’ll see each of AT&T’s three types of home internet plans and starting prices per month with autopay and a paperless billing discount. The download speeds below are based on information from AT&T’s website.

Type of Internet	Starting Monthly Price	Download Speeds	Data Cap	Contract	Additional Fees	Availability
Standard Internet	$55	25-100 Mbps	1.5TB	None	Taxes not included. Free self-install, or professional installation fee of up to $99.	Check availability
Fiber	$55-$250	300 Mbps - 5 Gbps	None	None	Taxes not included. Free self-install, or professional installation fee of up to $99.	Check availability
Fixed Wireless Internet	$55	40-140 Mbps	None	None	Taxes not included. Free self-install, or professional installation fee of up to $99.	Check availability

Below, you’ll find more information on AT&T’s internet plans including what you can expect for the cost, how to check availability in your area, and how it compares to similar plans from other wireless service providers.

Table of Contents:

• Plans and Pricing
• Download Speeds
• Availability
• Contracts and Additional Fees
• How It Compares

Plans and Pricing

While AT&T offers three different kinds of home internet (standard, Fiber and fixed wireless), there are more than just three plans available. 

Still, don’t expect much flexibility when it comes to choosing an AT&T internet plan. If you enter your address on the company’s website, you can see which plans are available at your address. By default, you’ll be shown the best available plans based on download speeds and reliability. 

It’s important to know the difference between AT&T’s different types of internet plans so that you’ll know if any of the available plans are going to meet in your needs. In this section, I’ll take a closer look at each type of home internet service AT&T offers.

AT&T Internet Plans

Formerly U-verse Internet, AT&T Internet is the company’s standard home internet plan. If you don’t have strong enough AT&T service in your area for Fiber, you may see an offer for one of these internet plans: 

Plan	Price per Month	Download Speeds
Internet 100	$55	100 Mbps
Internet 50	$55	50 Mbps
Internet 25	$55	25 Mbps

Each of the prices listed above includes a discount for autopay and paperless billing. And it’s worth noting that this is the promotional pricing that AT&T currently lists on its website, which is guaranteed for the first 12 months. After 12 months, the promotional discount will expire, and you’ll begin seeing the full price for your internet plan. 

AT&T isn’t terribly transparent about how much of a discount this 12-month promotion includes (i.e. how much your total monthly price will increase after 12 months) until you’re ready to purchase your plan. However, AT&T customers seem to agree that it’s around $20 per month (or 30%).

As you can see, these plans all cost the same despite offering significantly different download speeds. If you have access to AT&T Internet at your home, you won’t be able to choose between these plans but instead, you’ll see the highest speed available for your location. 

According to AT&T’s website, if only one plan is shown for your address, it’s the best available internet offer based on your location. 

These plans offer slower download speeds than AT&T Fiber because they run on a fiber optic/copper hybrid network. Copper is the same connection that dial-up/DSL internet connections rely on, which is what causes the slower speeds. 

You can learn more about AT&T Internet and check availability in your area online.

AT&T Internet Plans Powered by Fiber

AT&T Fiber includes AT&T’s top-tier internet plans. The service runs on a fiber-optic network that allows users to experience download speeds up to 5 Gbps. Below, you can see each of the three AT&T Fiber internet plans available now: 

Plan	Price per Month Without Wireless	Price per Month With Wireless	Download Speeds
Fiber: 5 GIG	$250	$230	5 Gbps (5,000 Mbps)
Fiber: 2 GIG	$150	$130	2 Gbps (2,000 Mbps)
Fiber: 1 GIG	$80	$60	1 Gbps (1,000 Mbps)
Fiber: Internet 500	$65	$45	500 Mbps
Fiber: Internet 300	$55	$35	300 Mbps

The prices in the table above do not include monthly taxes and fees. However, there are no equipment fees with any AT&T internet plan. Plus, according to AT&T’s website, there’s no price increase at 12 months like there is with standard internet plans.

Additionally, since AT&T Fiber delivers internet directly to you using a 100% fiber network, you’ll notice significantly higher speeds compared to the broadband service. The cheapest Fiber plan (Internet 300) is available for the same cost as Internet 100 with three times the download speeds. 

Because of the difference in download speeds and connection reliability, I would highly recommend opting for AT&T Fiber over AT&T’s standard internet plans if it’s available in your area. If it isn’t, it’s worth considering other service providers.

You can learn more about AT&T Fiber and check availability in your area online. 

Fixed Wireless Service (AT&T Internet Air)

In addition to broadband and fiber optic internet plans, AT&T also offers a fixed wireless service (AT&T Internet Air) for $55 per month plus taxes. 

Previously, AT&T’s fixed wireless home internet provided traditional internet service to rural areas through a mounted outdoor wireless antenna. However, the new AT&T Internet Air works similarly to Verizon and T-Mobile. Internet Air provides access to AT&T’s LTE and 5G networks through an All-Fi Hub that’s included in the price of the plan. 

According to AT&T, if you live in a rural area, Fixed Wireless Internet may be your best option if other internet services are unavailable.

If you have an unlimited AT&T Wireless plan (including Unlimited Starter, Unlimited Extra or Unlimited Premium), you can get AT&T Internet Air for $35 monthly (autopay and paperless billing required). Without an unlimited wireless plan, you can still get AT&T Internet Air for $55 monthly with autopay and paperless billing. Plus, you won’t have to worry about any promotional prices ending after a year: $55 is Internet Air’s regular rate.

You can expect typical download speeds of 40-140 Mbps, but speeds will vary depending on where you live. Like Verizon and T-Mobile, AT&T Internet Air does not have a monthly data limit. However, AT&T may temporarily slow data speeds if the network is busy.

You can learn more about AT&T Internet Air and check availability in your area online.

How To Save on AT&T Internet

If you’re thinking about getting AT&T internet, you may be wondering if there’s any way you can reduce the bill. 

AT&T’s Fiber Internet and Internet Air services come with a $20 monthly discount if you have a qualifying postpaid wireless plan with AT&T Plus, autopay and paperless billing will get you the best rates. If you’re looking at a standard AT&T Internet plan, you may also be able to save by bundling your services. 

According to AT&T’s website, “AT&T offers multiple bundle deals on various TV, wireless and internet services. Some bundle deals come with a discount on your bill and others will provide unlimited data on your home internet connection.”

The promotional deals may vary based on location and they’re subject to change at any time. For this reason, it’s hard to determine how much you’ll save by bundling your internet with your phone or TV services or if you can save more by mixing and matching various service providers. 

You can check out current bundles and promotions for AT&T Internet in your area by visiting the website.

Download Speeds

Each of AT&T’s home internet plans works completely differently, which is why they vary so greatly in download speeds. 

In the table below, you’ll see each of AT&T’s home internet plans along with their download speeds and price per month. Note that the prices do not include taxes, but they do reflect an autopay and paperless billing discount.

Plan	Download Speeds	Price per Month
Fiber: 5 GIG	5 Gbps (5,000 Mbps)	$250
Fiber: 2 GIG	2 Gbps (2,000 Mbps)	$150
Fiber: 1 GIG	1 Gbps (1,000 Mbps)	$80
Fiber: Internet 500	500 Mbps	$65
Fiber: Internet 300	300 Mbps	$55
Internet 100	100 Mbps	$55
Internet 50	50 Mbps	$55
Internet 25	25 Mbps	$55
Fixed Wireless Internet	40-140 Mbps	$55

AT&T Fiber delivers Wi-Fi through a 100% fiber-optic network. This allows you to experience the fastest possible download speeds (up to 940 Mbps) and a very secure connection. 

AT&T Internet Basic-100 delivers Wi-Fi through a fiber optic/copper hybrid network. Copper is the same type of connection used by dial-up/DSL connections, so it makes sense that you’ll notice slower download speeds. 

AT&T Internet Air provides access to AT&T’s LTE and 5G networks through an All-Fi Hub that’s included in the price of the plan. Because this type of internet relies on nearby cellular towers, it’s clear why you can expect slower with fixed wireless internet. However, if you have no other options in your area, it’s certainly better than nothing. 

According to AT&T’s Website, “Your location will determine the type of internet service available to you. You can qualify for the fastest internet speed available in your area. If you live in a rural area, Fixed Wireless Internet may be your best option if other internet services are unavailable.”

You can learn more about AT&T’s internet speeds on the company’s website.

Availability

AT&T has been expanding Fiber coverage, and it’s now available in 21 states across the country.

According to the company website, AT&T internet services and plans are available in the following states: 

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• Arizona
• California
• Florida
• Georgia
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Michigan
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Nevada
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Wisconsin

The best way to determine whether or not AT&T offers internet service in your area is by entering your address on AT&T’s website. Click “Check availability” to see which plans are available to you.

Contracts and Additional Fees

AT&T doesn’t require annual contracts with any of its home internet plans. You can cancel any home internet plan at any time without having to worry about early termination fees.

Unfortunately, all of AT&T’s internet plans are subject to a professional installation fee of up to $99. However, free self-installation may be an option depending on the plan you purchase and where you live.

Despite the startup cost, there aren’t many monthly fees added to your bill afterward. But taxes aren’t included in the plan price, so you can expect to see them show up on your bill. Of course, the amount varies by area. 

There is no equipment rental fee for AT&T internet, but if you need a Wi-Fi extender, AT&T will charge you $10 monthly to rent one. Otherwise, any necessary equipment is included for customers. However, if you don’t return the equipment after you’ve ended your service, you could face a non-return fee of $150 or more.

You can see a complete breakdown of all potential fees and charges from AT&T internet on the website here.

How AT&T Internet Compares

To see how AT&T’s home internet plans compared to similar offers available from phone companies, I compared a few of the most popular options. 

In the table below, you’ll see fiber-optic networks including AT&T Fiber and Verizon Fios as well as fixed wireless internet plans including AT&T Internet Air, Verizon LTE Home, Verizon 5G Home, T-Mobile 5G Home and UScellular. 

Plan	Starting Price	Download Speed	Data Limit	Equipment Rental Fees	Availability
Verizon Fios	$25	300Mbps	None	None	Check Availability
AT&T Fiber	$35	300Mbps	None	$10 per month (Wi-Fi extender)	Check availability
Verizon LTE Home	$35	25-50Mbps	None	None, but an installation fee of up to $99 may apply	Check availability
Verizon 5G Home	$35	85-300Mbps	None	None, but an installation fee of up to $99 may apply	Check availability
T-Mobile 5G Home	$40-$60	72-245Mbps	None	None	Check availability
AT&T Internet Air	$35	40-140Mbps	None	None, but an installation fee of up to $99 may apply	Check availability
UScellular	$50	Speeds vary by location	300GB-1.5TB	$3, $6.66 or $24.02 per month with a 36-month rental contract depending on location	Check availability
Straight Talk Wireless	$45	20-50 Mbps (4G/LTE) 20-100 Mbps (5G)	None	$99.99 one-time cost for the router	Check availability

Each of the prices in the table above reflects autopay discounts and discounts for already having a cell phone plan with the company if available.

As you can see, Verizon’s fiber-optic internet offers the same download speeds for a cheaper monthly price. Of course, both of these prices assume you already have a wireless plan with the provider, which makes AT&T a better deal if you already have an AT&T phone plan.

When compared to fixed wireless service, AT&T becomes more competitive against T-Mobile and Verizon’s home internet plans. If you don’t have a phone plan with any major service provider, UScellular and Straight Talk Wireless’ prices may be slightly cheaper. However, with a $20 discount for wireless service, AT&T’s Internet Air is a great choice for rural areas.

AT&T Fixed Wireless Internet offers the slowest starting average download speeds aside from Straight Talk Wireless, but actual speeds from any provider will vary based on your location. Additionally, AT&T is the only company that charges installation fees (up to $99) but you may be able to avoid the charge with free self-installation.

Based on this comparison, AT&T Fiber isn’t a bad option if it’s available in your area, especially if you already have an AT&T phone plan. However, if you’re looking for fixed wireless internet, I recommend checking out other options before AT&T. 

I didn’t compare AT&T’s broadband internet plans because of the wide selection of local internet providers throughout the nation. However, I recommend comparing all home internet options available to you before choosing AT&T Internet. Be sure that you’re getting the best overall monthly price with fast enough data speeds to meet your family’s needs.

Final Thoughts: Should You Get AT&T Internet?

Whether you’re considering AT&T’s broadband internet service, a plan powered by Fiber or fixed wireless internet, it’s important to see what’s available at your address and start your comparison there.

If you’re thinking about switching to AT&T from another internet service provider, ask yourself the following questions: 

• Are any AT&T plans available in your area that meet your needs? Specifically, is AT&T Fiber available in your area? If AT&T’s broadband internet is all that’s available, will it meet your needs?
• Have you compared plan prices available in your area? Also be sure to compare download speeds, monthly data caps, equipment rental fees and promotional pricing.
• Do you already pay for an AT&T service? If your cell phone service or TV service is powered by AT&T, you may be able to bundle your internet service and save more.

If you can answer “yes” to each of these questions, an internet plan from AT&T may be worth considering so long as it’s the best deal in your area. Keep in mind that you’ll need to consider how much internet you use and what you use it for. 

A fiber optic internet plan such as AT&T Fiber will provide more reliable data at consistently higher speeds, which may make it the best option for gamers, streamers and/or supporting a household full of devices.

None of AT&T’s plans require contracts or monthly equipment rental payments. However, you can expect an installation charge of up to $99 if you need professional installation. Compared to the competition, AT&T honestly doesn’t offer the best internet plans or prices. However, if it’s all that’s available in your area, it could be the perfect plan for you.

Have you used AT&T Internet, or are you thinking about switching? Tell us about your experience in our Clark.com Community!