AT&T vs. Spectrum Internet: Which One Is Worth Your Money?

AT&T primarily offers fiber internet across 21 states, and also operates a 5G-based service called Internet Air. AT&T sells five fiber plans, ranging from $55 a month for 300Mbps to $245 for 5,000Mbps (as long as you enroll in autopay and wireless billing).

All fiber plans come with free equipment, free self-installation, and an opportunity to have AT&T cover any and all cancellation fees (literally the full amount) from your current provider.

AT&T also offers a 5G fixed wireless internet plan, called Internet Air, which costs a flat $60 per month for 225Mbps download speed. There are no installation or equipment fees required. You install the equipment yourself and don’t even pay to activate it. Like with AT&T Fiber, there are no contracts or data limits, and it often offers new customer deals.

Spectrum offers four cable internet packages, with plans starting at $30 to $70 per month and providing download speeds of 100 to 1,000Mbps. For qualifying low-income households, a smaller number of customers could pay $30 a month for download speeds of 100Mbps. See if you qualify in this Spectrum assistance internet plan guide.

Equipment is included when you sign up for Spectrum Internet, but there are a few more fees to consider including an activation fee, a $10 monthly Wi-Fi fee, and either a $30 self-installation kit or a $65 professional installation fee. Check out a full list of Spectrum's hidden costs.

Both AT&T and Spectrum offer extra incentives to snag you as a new internet customer. Add as little as a wireless plan or as much as a TV entertainment package for extremely affordable prices.

Some appealing AT&T deals include:

• $20/mo. off any internet plan if you already have an AT&T mobile service
• Add AT&T Wireless to your AT&T Fiber plan and get the first six months of AT&T Fiber free
• AT&T covers your full cancellation fee when you switch from a different provider

Alternatively, consider these stand-out deals when you pay for a Spectrum internet plan:

• A free mobile line for an entire 12 months when you purchase a Spectrum qualifying internet plan
• Add a TV entertainment package for under $100 that includes streaming apps like Disney+, Paramount+, Max, Peacock, AMC+, as well as over 150 channels
• Discounted internet as low as $30 per month for eligible low-income households and seniors over the age of 65

Customers generally find Spectrum to be reliable with few connectivity issues. While cable isn't our preferred internet type, Spectrum is a much steadier option than a DSL or satellite internet setup—and even some other cable providers.

The service also has a wide coverage area, making it easy for potential customers to sign up. Its extensive coverage means Spectrum is the only ISP option in some places, leading customer Sean Huntley in Glendale, California, to joke that "Spectrum is competent—and compulsory."

Spectrum’s biggest issue is unpredictable customer service. Many customers are disgruntled with how Spectrum handles outages and other snafus.

A Spectrum service agent once bombarded Sakia Anwar with upsell attempts while she was trying to get her internet service back up for a work call. “I told him three or four times, ‘No, I am not interested,’ and he just would not stop,” Anwar says of the customer service agent she spoke with.

Another Spectrum customer, Robyn Straw of St. Cloud, Minnesota, experienced frequent outages while trying to work in the summer of 2023. She experienced multiple hours of downtime each time before her Spectrum service got back online.

Customers are overall positive about AT&T internet service.

“I like how fast and reliable it is. I’ve only had one outage in the 5-plus years I’ve had AT&T, and it was resolved within a couple of hours,” Lauren Hannula says.

“I like that I haven’t had any major outages so far,” says Mike Hayden of Oak Park, Illinois. “It was really easy to set up without needing a tech to come out, and the security app is pretty good.”

AT&T customers mostly have good things to say about the customer service department—in large part because their service has been so good that they rarely even have to contact customer service. Even Hayden, who was more critical of the service quality than other customers we spoke with, says that AT&T service reps "do seem to fix things quickly."

AT&T's biggest red flag is its lack of robust response to data breaches. The ISP has had multiple data breaches in recent years, with the last occurring as recently as March 2024.

If one of these services interests you, the next step is to find out if it's available in your area. Enter your zip code in the box below to find out!