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

AT&T Fiber internet offers extremely fast symmetrical speeds and amazing discounts. Hughesnet offers satellite internet nationwide with price locks, free installation, and unique perks.

Fast symmetrical speeds
AT&T Fiber
AT&T Fiber
4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3
$55.00–$245.00/mo
  • Icon Blank
    Up to 5,000Mbps
  • Icon Blank
    Fiber internet
  • pro
    Unlimited data
  • pro
    No contracts
Cheaper fiber promos
HughesNet
HughesNet Internet
3 out of 5 stars
3.0
$39.99–$94.99/mo
  • Icon Blank
    Up to 100Mbps
  • Icon Blank
    Satellite internet
  • pro
    100-200GB
  • pro
    Price Locks
Catherine McNally
Monica Yoshida
Jul 09, 2025
Icon Time To Read3 min read

AT&T offers 5G and fiber internet services across 26 states (with DSL set to shut down in 2029). As the largest fiber provider in the United States, AT&T gives internet customers fast speeds, predictable billing, and superior customer service ratings. Also, AT&T Fiber is known for its sweet discounts and lack of price hikes.

Here’s what you get with AT&T Fiber:

  • Unlimited data
  • No contracts
  • No equipment fees
  • 20% monthly internet and wireless bundle discount

Hughesnet is available virtually everywhere in the United States, so rural residents particularly benefit from staying connected with its satellite internet. While slower than average cable and wireless internet providers (and no comparison to fiber internet), Hughesnet still provides budget-friendly internet plans from 25Mbps to 100Mbps.

This is what you get with Hughesnet:

  • Price locks
  • Free professional installation
  • ACH discount
  • Extra perks like prepaid cash cards
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AT&T vs. Hughesnet: Plans, pricing, and deals

Deals
$100 Amazon Gift Card for internet customers

Order the AT&T 1 Gig, 2 Gig, or 5 Gig online and get an Amazon Gift Card.

Deals
$100 Prepaid Mastercard

Order Hughesnet internet and receive a prepaid card via rebate.
*Offer ends 08/06/25

AT&T plans and prices

Provider
Plan
Price
Download speed
Type
Details
AT&T Fiber Internet 300$55/mo.*Up to 300 MbpsFiber
AT&T Fiber Internet 500$65/mo.*Up to 500 MbpsFiber
AT&T Internet Fiber 1 GIG$80/mo.*Up to 1,000 MbpsFiber
AT&T Internet Fiber 2 GIG$145/mo.*Up to 2000 MbpsFiber
AT&T Internet Fiber 5 GIG$245/mo.*Up to 5000 MbpsFiber
* Above pricing is after $10/mo Autopay & Paperless bill discount with a debit card or bank account; if using a credit card, then price is $5/mo more.

Hughesnet plans and prices

Provider
Plan
Price
Download speed
Details
Lite$39.99/mo. for 12 mos.Up to 25 Mbps Mbps
Select$49.99/mo. for 24 mos.Up to 50 Mbps
Elite$64.99/mo. for 24 mos.Up to 100 Mbps
HughesNet
Fusion$94.99/mo. for 24 mos.Up to 100 Mbps
24-month commitment and early service termination fees apply.

AT&T vs. Hughesnet: Fees for modem and installation

AT&T internet’s five plans cost between $55 to $245 with speeds that go from 300Mbps to 5,000Mbps. Plans include free self-installation, a router, and no annual price hikes. With no data limits and no annual contracts, AT&T draws in its customers without locking them down—and it even pays your full cancellation cost from a different internet provider if you want to switch over. Use our handy guide to lower your AT&T internet bill as much as you can.

Hughesnet plans offer the lowest satellite prices, and it can serve even the most remote locations due to its nationwide availability. Its one-year and two-year contracts come with a Price Lock Guarantee so that the monthly bill remains the same for the duration of your contract. However, customers should expect price jumps by $10–$30 after this period. While Hughesnet does offer unlimited data, its speeds slow after 100–200GB. However, during the hours of 2am to 8am, users can take advantage of 50GB extra data every month. Use our best tricks to lower your Hughesnet internet bill.

Service
AT&T fee
Hughesnet fee
Modem/routerNo feeNo fee
Early contract terminationNo feeUp to $400
Self-installation kit and service activationNo feeNo fee
Professional installation$99No fee

AT&T Fiber add-ons and perks

Get your cancellation fee covered in full from your current internet provider when you switch to AT&T Fiber.

Get a monthly discount on your internet bill with an AT&T Fiber and wireless bundle.

Add ActiveArmor to your internet plan to protect yourself from identity theft.

Get a reward card ranging from $50 to $150 when you sign up for AT&T Fiber and eligible wireless.

Sign up for autopay and paperless billing to get this discount.

Hughesnet add-ons and perks

Sign up for Hughesnet internet and get a prepaid card (offer ends 08/06/25).

Customers get 50GB of additional data usage per month during non-peak hours (2am–8am)

You can buy extra data (2–50GB) if you exceed your data allowance (data tokens don’t expire).

Update your payment method to direct payment from your bank account to get monthly savings

What makes this review legit?

Our fact-based research process centers on interviews with internet customers across the country, helping us understand how internet services hold up against diverse needs and challenges.

To put together this review, we looked at results from our speed test, pulled data from customer satisfaction surveys, and pored over the fine print to compare prices and speeds between the two providers. To flesh out our analysis, we also interviewed AT&T and Hughesnet Internet customers to get their firsthand insights. We let their experiences guide our research and shape our conclusions. We also speak with ISP spokespeople and industry experts to get insights into connection types, speed capabilities, and other technical issues related to internet service.

how we review products and services
Hughesnet vs. AT&T Internet customer service ratings
Rating
HughesNet rating
AT&T Internet rating

HighSpeedInternet.com customer satisfaction score

2.8 out of 5

3.7 out of 5

AT&T earned high marks for speed and reliability, while Hughesnet customers are satisfied with delivering the speeds it promises.

AT&T was ranked the fourth-best among all ISPs in customer satisfaction scores in HighSpeedInternet.com’s latest ratings. Customers were more satisfied with AT&T Internet when it came to speed, reliability, and customer service.

In the ratings, Hughesnet was compared to Viasat, its only satellite internet competitor. Customers gave higher praise to Hughesnet for its straightforward pricing, more consistent speeds, and fewer outages.

If you do experience an outage or other issue with either ISP, keep in mind these tips for dealing with customer service. (Seriously, they’ve saved our butts a few times.)

Want AT&T or Hughesnet Internet? Find it in your area

Check if AT&T Fiber or Hughesnet is available in your area by typing your zip code in our handy availability search box. You can also compare available providers and see if there are better options and prices.

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Catherine McNally
Written by
Catherine has a degree in journalism and an MBA, and has spent the last 10+ years writing everything from Okinawa travel guides to stories on Medium. She’s been online since AOL CDs were a thing and is an unapologetic PC gamer. She believes the internet is a necessity, not a luxury, and writes reviews and guides to help everyone stay connected. You can also find her on Twitter: @CMReviewsIt.

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