How To Lower Your AT&T Internet Bill

The easiest way to lower your bill from AT&T is to bundle your internet service with an AT&T Wireless plan. When you combine AT&T Fiber or AT&T Internet Air with an AT&T cell phone plan, you get 20% off your bill each month. That’s quite handy.

But that’s not all you can do. You can also try other approaches, like signing up for AT&T’s affordable internet plan or setting up autopay. And if none of those work, switching to another internet provider is always a good backup plan.

Here’s my full list of seven handy tips to lower your monthly AT&T bill:

1. Subscribe to multiple AT&T services and save money with bundling.
2. Downgrade to a slower internet plan.
3. Remove unwanted add-ons from your bill.
4. Switch your payment arrangement to autopay.
5. Apply for assistance with the Access from AT&T plan.
6. Negotiate for a better deal from AT&T service representatives.
7. Switch to a cheaper internet provider in your area.

Most people need home internet and a cell phone plan, so why not get both from AT&T? Bundling your internet and cell phone through a single provider tends to be cheaper than getting them from separate companies, and AT&T offers a monthly discount for customers enrolled with both internet and AT&T Wireless.

“If you subscribe to one of their eligible unlimited wireless plans and pair it with AT&T Fiber Internet 300 or higher, you can save up to $300 a year,” Paul DeMott, an AT&T internet customer, tells Reviews.org in an interview. Saving $300 is no joke, and it adds up exponentially for multi-year AT&T customers.

Another customer who spoke with me—Dr. Ann Monis, CEO and co-founder of Medical Anti Aging—says she also saved money through bundling with AT&T. “If you already have AT&T for internet, wireless, and TV, don’t assume the system automatically gives you the best rate,” Dr. Monis warns. “You have to ask someone to manually review your whole account and apply any bundling offers that should be attached. I’ve had them find old promotions that had fallen off or ones that were never applied in the first place.”

While you're reading on for more ways to lower your AT&T internet bill, use eight more handy tips to lower your AT&T cell phone bill while you're at it.

It pains me to say this because I love AT&T (cheapest phone bill I’ve ever had!), but the company’s reps might have sold you way more internet speed than you need.

I shopped around at AT&T’s internet division, and the customer service rep suggested the 1 GIG plan. But typically, average households like mine require AT&T’s 300Mbps or 500Mbps plans, which are $15 to $25 less each month than the 1 GIG plan. So if you have a 1 GIG plan and you don’t need it, downgrading will save you money.

But how much speed do you actually need? You can calculate the ideal internet speed for your home by looking at the Reviews.org speed guide.

Another great way to save money is to review your last bill with a fine-toothed comb. You might discover optional add-ons inflate your monthly AT&T costs.

For instance, you could find that you're paying $7 a month for AT&T ActiveArmor to protect yourself from identity theft. And while ActiveArmor is a great product, you may need to strike it from your bill if you're strapped for cash.

These are other add-ons to look out for:

• DIRECTV plans
• AT&T All-Fi Pro
• AT&T Extended Wi-Fi Coverage Service

If you sign up for autopay and paperless billing, you save $10 a month on any AT&T Fiber plan—as long as you set up autopay with a debit card or checking account.

If you set up autopay with a credit card, you still get a monthly discount of $5. That’s half of what you save with an alternative payment method, but hey, it’s still a deal.

To sign up, you must log in to your AT&T account and toggle on autopay and paperless billing—then make sure you enter the correct payment details. You may also need to confirm your email address to complete your paperless billing enrollment.

AT&T has a low-cost internet plan called Access from AT&T. It costs $30 a month and gives you internet with speeds up to 100Mbps—not a bad deal. If you’re not sure whether you qualify, our AT&T low-income internet overview breaks down the requirements and how to apply.

You can enroll in Access from AT&T if you’re eligible for one of the following:

• Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance​
• CEP-eligible schools
• Early Headstart​
• Federal Pell Grant​
• Federal Public Housing Assistance​
• Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations​
• Headstart​
• LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program)​
• Medicaid​
• NSLP (National School Lunch Program)​
• School Breakfast Program​
• SNAP
• SSI (Supplemental Security Income)​
• TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)​
• Tribal Head Start​
• TTANF (Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)​
• Veterans and Survivors Pension benefit​
• WIC (Women, Infants, Children)​​

You can also look into the Lifeline program, a federal assistance initiative that helps Americans get affordable phone and internet service.

If none of these other tips work, you can always call AT&T customer service and ask for a discount. Here’s what I recommend.

First, call customer service. (Or, if AT&T is your phone provider, dial 611.) Choose the phone tree prompts that say you want to cancel. This should take you to the retention department.

Next, when you get on the line with the retention team, reiterate that you want to cancel. Try saying something like:

Mentioning cancellation is key. “The regular customer service team can’t do much. They’ll tell you the same thing you can read on the website,” Dr. Monis shares from her experience. “But once you mention canceling, you’ll get passed to someone on the loyalty team. These reps are trained to keep your business, and they have access to deeper discounts and better promotions that aren’t posted anywhere.”

Finally, when the rep suggests ways to cut your bill, don’t be afraid to play hardball. You don’t have to accept the first offer. In fact, Dr. Monis says that she never accepts the initial suggestion. Instead, she leans on the rep a little until she gets a deal she likes. “Sometimes it’s a small credit or one-time discount, but if you push a little more, they usually dig into their system and find something better.”

Chances are, you’ll walk away with some kind of bill reduction.

If you can’t get your AT&T internet bill reduced to your satisfaction, then it could be time to switch to a different internet package. While AT&T is one of the cheapest internet providers, it isn’t the only option for saving money.

These aren’t the only affordable options, either! You may also find other, local discount providers in your area.