Spectrum vs. AT&T Internet Review 2020

If you’re tired of slow internet speeds, then both Spectrum and AT&T can relieve your burden. But that’s where the similarities between these two internet service providers (ISPs) end.

We dug into the prices, speed, data, and performance of these two providers to find out which one is tops for speed and price. Check it out.

Spectrum vs. AT&T: Prices

AT&T’s price is spot on, but Spectrum’s plans may be more available than AT&T Fiber.

Both Spectrum and AT&T offer plans with speeds that should work for all but the biggest speed demons just fine. Both ISPs’ basic 100 Mbps plan (“up to” 100 Mbps in AT&T’s case) will do you just fine whether you’re a big gamer or love to stream HD videos.

But if you’ve got a big family all streaming and gaming under one roof, Spectrum quickly jumps ahead with its options for up to 400 Mbps and 940 Mbps.*

Yes, we know AT&T Fiber also offers a 1,000 Mbps plan—but you’ll need to live in the fiber internet coverage area to get it. Oh, and only AT&T’s 1,000 Mbps plan comes with an unlimited data cap, while Spectrum’s got that unlimited data you’ve been dreaming of. (Not to mention no contracts.)

Now, we will point out that if you can get AT&T Fiber, its prices put Spectrum’s prices for similar speeds to shame. (*rings bell*)

P.S. Narrowing down the download speed you need is a great way to save money. And hey, we’ve got a guide to help you figure out the right download speed for your family.

Spectrum’s up to 100 Mbps plan* is right on par with the price of AT&T’s Up to 100 Mbps plan. (More on that “up to” phrase in just a second.)

And because the Spectrum Internet® plan is cable, you’re more likely to get speeds up to 100 Mbps and nothing less (performance and connection issues aside). So, that’s the plan we recommend. It’s enough speed for gamers, streamers, and your average family with a house full of connected devices.

But Spectrum’s prices quickly start to put a strain on your wallet compared to AT&T’s when you look at the up to 400 Mbps and 940 Mbps plans.* In fact, Spectrum’s Gig plan is one of the more expensive ones we’ve seen. For contrast, an Xfinity gigabit plan costs $70 a month and a Verizon Fios gigabit plan costs $79.99 a month.

Of course, Spectrum’s high price comes with no contract, while Verizon Fios and Xfinity plans come with strings attached.

Okay, we promised to explain this whole “up to” 100 Mbps deal AT&T has going on. So you see, AT&T’s solo DSL plan promises up to 100 Mbps download speeds—or at least the fastest download speeds it can connect to in your area.

But whether you get the full 100 Mbps or land somewhere around 50 Mbps, you’ll pay the same price.

AT&T Fiber, on the other hand, has no such caveats. If you pay for 300 Mbps, you’ll likely get it. Same with its 1,000 Mbps plan.

How do we know? Well, the good ol’ Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a report in 2018 that showed AT&T often delivers faster download speeds than what you pay for.¹

Also, fiber internet is known for reliably delivering the download and upload speeds you pay for. That’s why we recommend you grab it if it’s in your area and at an affordable price.

Of the two AT&T Fiber plans, we think Internet 300 is more than enough for anyone who loves lining up a shot in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare or streaming reruns of ER on Hulu.

Spectrum vs. AT&T: Internet speed

Both AT&T and Spectrum over deliver on speed so you’ll likely get more than you paid for.

While not everyone under AT&T’s coverage can access fiber speeds, we like that some lucky people (mostly on the East Coast and West Coast) can get up to 940 Mbps download speeds.

But Spectrum doesn’t slouch on its delivery either. If you’re lucky enough to live in a Spectrum coverage area, it also offers download speeds up to 940 Mbps.*

But does AT&T or Spectrum actually send you racing across the internet at such ludicrous speeds? You bet they do.

Spectrum ranked third out of all ISPs surveyed by the FCC in 2018, and AT&T scored sixth.¹ And hey, while AT&T earned a spot in our list of the fastest ISPs, Spectrum is nothing to scoff at.

When the FCC did some math and divided the actual download speed by the download speed that was advertised, they got a number higher than 100%. That means most users probably saw download speeds faster than what they paid for. Hey, we’re not complaining.

Wanna dig into the details on the pros and cons of internet service with each provider? Check out our AT&T Internet review and our Spectrum internet review.

Spectrum vs. AT&T: Internet and TV bundles

Both AT&T and Spectrum save you cash on bundles, but AT&T saves you more.

Both Spectrum and AT&T save you some moolah if you bundle your internet service with TV. Spectrum’s savings hover around $15 a month, while AT&T’s hits the big $20 a month for its DIRECTV bundles.

Neither one offers much choice when it comes to your internet speed if you bundle, though. Spectrum is probably the most rigid. Trying to get anything but up to 200 Mbps* is like trying to arm wrestle John Brzenk, the Ultimate Armwrestling League’s right-handed champion.

One other small complaint we have about Spectrum’s bundles is the modest channel count. You’ll get more channels for your money with an AT&T DIRECTV or U-verse bundle, for sure.

Remember we mentioned Spectrum’s single download speed choice of 200 Mbps with its bundles? You’ll notice AT&T also offers one speed and one speed only with its DIRECTV packages. But just like Spectrum’s up to 200 Mbps,* the 100 Mbps you get from AT&T ain’t half bad.

Spectrum vs. AT&T: Customer service

AT&T’s customer service is pretty average, but Spectrum’s needs help, stat.

In internet land, customer service is never seen as amazing. Most of these issues arise from lack of billing clarity, so make sure you know what you’re buying.

AT&T’s customer service ranked above the industry average of 62 out of 100, according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI).² That’s not half bad, at least if you’re comparing it to other internet providers.

But Spectrum, oh my. It scored a whopping 59 out of 100, which is below industry average. Join us when we cringe and say, “Yikes.”

We’ve read a few reports of Spectrum’s internet service speed not living up to its name, especially in metropolitan areas. Recently, New York City tried to give Spectrum the boot for not meeting demand. And the latest? US Representative Anthony Brindisi introduced a bill that says Spectrum should be scrutinized for its rising costs.³

We won’t ignore the fact that calling your ISP’s billing or customer service hotline can be a real pain in the you-know-what too. If you do have to call, here’s our advice: test your internet speeds using a speed test. If you’re not getting the speeds you pay for, see if it’s an ongoing equipment or technical issue. If not, see about getting discounted service.

Recap: Spectrum vs. AT&T

AT&T takes the cake for better prices, bundles, and customer service. But don’t disregard Spectrum as its bundles still save you money and it’s more widely available than AT&T Fiber.

• Pricing: AT&T is cheaper than Spectrum—but only if you’re in an AT&T Fiber coverage area. If not, look to Spectrum for reasonable prices on fast speeds.
• Speed: Both AT&T and Spectrum offer speeds up to 940 Mbps.* And both have been known to over-deliver on those speeds.
• TV + internet bundles: AT&T lets you bundle with DIRECTV, which can save you about $20 a month. Spectrum’s bundles save you about $15 a month.
• Customer service: AT&T ranks better, but internet customer service is never beautiful.

Dig in a little more with our Spectrum internet review and AT&T review.

^{* Wireless speeds may vary.}

Sources

1. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), “2018 Measuring Broadband Across America: Fixed Broadband Report”
2. American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), “ACSI Telecommunications Report 2018–2019”
3. Syracuse Post-Standard, “Rep. Anthony Brindisi: Feds Should Examine Spectrum Cable’s Rising Rates”