AT&T Fiber offers blazing fast speeds, excellent reliability, and strong customer support. It’s a significantly better option than T-Mobile 5G Home Internet.
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet vs. AT&T Fiber
Straightforward and affordable
Overall Quality ⁃ 3.8/5
3.5/5 - Speed and reliability
3.7/5 - Dollar value
4.2/5 - Customer experience
Blazing fast
Overall Quality ⁃ 3.9/5
4.0/5 - Speed and reliability
3.8/5 - Dollar value
4.0/5 - Customer experience 
8 min readThe choice between T-Mobile’s 5G Home Internet and AT&T Fiber is easy—you want to pick AT&T Fiber every time. The reason is fairly simple: AT&T Fiber offers symmetrical upload and download speeds that a wireless 5G internet provider like T-Mobile can’t match.
With AT&T Fiber, you generally get faster upload and download speeds (300–5,000Mbps), more reliable connectivity, and the ability to handle online gaming, HD streaming, and large downloads without a problem. The same isn’t true for T-Mobile 5G Home Internet, which tops out at 245Mbps download and 31Mbps upload, with many customers saying that it can’t handle online games or demanding streaming services.
That said, home internet providers like T-Mobile 5G Home Internet are great for people in rural areas and other areas that traditional ISPs don’t service. 5G internet service can be a great option to avoid dealing with cable providers or to have a backup option if your fiber suffers an outage.
“I like how fast and reliable it is,” says Lauren Hannula. “I’ve only had one outage in the 5+ years I’ve had AT&T, and it was resolved within a couple of hours.”
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Want to know if T-Mobile 5G Home Internet or AT&T Fiber are available where you live? Run a search with your zip code below to find out.
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet vs. AT&T Fiber: Plans, pricing, and speed
| Provider | | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per month | $50-$70 | $55-$245 |
| Download speeds | 72Mbps–245Mbps | 300-5000 Mbps |
| Upload speeds | 15Mbps–31Mbps | 300-5000 Mbps |
| Details | View Plans | View Plans |
Data as of 04/05/2023. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change.
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet offers two straightforward plans that range in price from $50–$70 a month with speeds that range from 72Mbps to 245Mbps. Neither of the plans have fees for installation or equipment, but the more expensive 5G Home Internet Plus comes with a mesh Wi-Fi system. Discounts are available to T-Mobile cellular subscribers, with a $10 monthly AutoPay discount and up to $20 a month off with flagship unlimited plans.
AT&T Fiber technically offers two kinds of services and comes with a variety of plan tiers. There's Fiber, which is the standard fiber-to-the-home access with symmetrical speeds, then there’s Air, a 5G wireless service very similar to T-Mobile Home Internet. AT&T Fiber can run you between $55 to $245 a month, with download speeds from 300Mbps-5,000Mbps. Fiber will come with equipment and installation fees, including a $10 monthly gateway rental cost.
Air has a flat $55/month price without installation or equipment fees, and no contracts or data limits, though your speeds are limited to 225Mbps. AT&T customers may be able to take advantage of discounts, getting $20 off Fiber and Air in certain zip codes, and new customers are also eligible.
“I have no complaints at all (so far) about AT&T’s internet service,” says Lauren Hannula. “I’ll remain loyal to AT&T internet as long as I’m able.”
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet vs. AT&T Fiber: Fees for modem and installation
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 T-Mobile 5G Home Internet and AT&T Fiber customers to get their first-hand 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.
The matchup: How we rate T-Mobile 5G Home Internet vs. AT&T Fiber
For all our internet reviews, we give a rating based on three main criteria—speed and reliability, dollar value, and customer experience—which we then average to make an overall score.
Here, we compare those ratings face to face. We then offer some analysis and context for important factors to keep in mind.
Want to know more? Read our full-length T-Mobile 5G Home Internet review and AT&T Fiber review.
Speed and reliability
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet: 3.5/5.0 | AT&T Fiber: 4.0/5.0
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet offers solid speed at a reasonable price, but it plays second fiddle to AT&T Fiber. You get 72Mbps to 245Mbps, which should be just fine for two to three users doing regular browsing, but larger households of four people or more may find it challenging to use for online gaming or 4K streaming. As with any wireless service, reliability can be a mixed bag, with customers reporting fluctuations in speeds over the course of the day. our mileage may vary in more rural areas where T-Mobile’s network is weaker.
AT&T Fiber is fast and reliable, offering blazing fast speeds that range from 300Mbps to as high as 5,000Mbps. There’s no data cap, and, while AT&T isn’t ranked among the top five fastest providers, it still delivers excellent speeds over the course of a thousand speed tests. Users report having no problem making video calls, uploading YouTube videos, and working with other media. AT&T Fiber also ranks very well for reliability in HighSpeedInternet.com’s 2023 customer satisfaction survey. Users report having the service for years without an outage.
The story is a little different with AT&T Air. It’s a 5G service like T-Mobile Home Internet, meaning reliability fluctuates depending on your usage during the day and your location. Speeds are slightly lower than T-Mobile’s on the top end at 225Mbps.
Dollar value
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet: 3.7/5.0 | AT&T Fiber: 3.8/5.0
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet offers good value and generally speaking, it’s cheaper than AT&T Fiber if you’re already a T-Mobile customer. With rates from $50 to $70, there are no additional fees for installation or equipment. T-Mobile customers can get discounts of $10 a month with AutoPay or up to $20 a month with flagship unlimited plans. There are also a large variety of perks with bundled streaming services, freebies, and a Price Lock guarantee.
AT&T Fiber is generally more expensive, and it runs costly relative to other fiber services too. That said, it may be worthwhile for power users who need large amounts of reliable, high-speed data. Prices range from $55 for 300Mbps on AT&T Fiber or AT&T Air to $245 for 5,000Mbps. There are no overage fees, cancellation fees, or automatic price hikes, but there are monthly rental fees for equipment and fees for activation and installation.
AT&T customers may be able to take advantage of $20 off AT&T Fiber or AT&T Air for existing and new customers, depending on zip code. Perks aren’t much to write home about, with add-ons that have additional monthly charges on your bill.
Customer experience
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet: 3.8/5.0 | AT&T Fiber: 4.0/5.0
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet customers are generally quite positive of the service, though it’s edged out by AT&T. T-Mobile’s customer accounts are strong, with the provider ranking at the top of a 2023 customer satisfaction survey. In fact, it has the highest customer experience rating among non-fiber providers. Users say they’ve never had problems getting in touch with customer service for support and wait times in getting connected were short when Reviews.org called in for support. The chat function is also useful.
AT&T stands apart for having significantly better customer service than its competitors, for both fiber and non-fiber providers. The American Consumer Satisfaction Survey rated it as the top fiber provider and second place as a non-fiber provider and HighSpeedInternet.com rated it as the second-best customer service. Customer testimonials are also positive, with service described as “fantastic!”
That said, some customers say that they had to spend a long time to get a human on the phone and it took Reviews.org nine minutes to connect with a representative. AT&T has also experienced multiple data breaches over the past few years and hasn’t always been forthcoming about them.
Overall quality: Which internet provider should you pick?
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet: 3.8/5.0 | AT&T FIber: 3.9/5.0
AT&T Fiber is the service you want if it’s available in your area. There’s no real competition in terms of speed and reliability between a fiber provider and a 5G provider. Plans can get costly, but power users will enjoy the connectivity. The story is slightly different with AT&T Air, which is similar to T-Mobile Home Internet in terms of reliability, but has slower top speeds. The choice in that case will come down to which is the better provider in your area and if you can take advantage of discounts.
T-Mobile Home Internet isn’t without its selling points though. The plans are simple and straightforward, but as with all 5G services, reliability can be a mixed bag and it doesn’t necessarily excel in large households or rural areas. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet will make the most sense for existing T-Mobile customers or people who can’t take advantage of AT&T Fiber.
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet vs. AT&T Fiber: What deals and promotions can you get?
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet will give you a $200 prepaid Mastercard if you have a plan that’s active for 10 weeks. You can also get a $10 monthly discount with AutoPay if you have a T-Mobile cellular plan or up to $20 if you have a flagship unlimited plan.
AT&T Fiber offers a decent bundle deal for new customers with $20 off any internet plan if you already have AT&T wireless cellular service. Other promotions may vary.
Get $200 for signing up
Get a $200 prepaid Mastercard with sign up after having an active plan for 10 weeks.
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet add-ons and perks
Try 5G Home Internet for 15 days and get your money refunded if you don’t sign up.
Get your last month of service free if you get a price hike on any bill.
Sign up for the free trial and get Vix Premium for 1 year, SiriusXM Streaming for 6 months, and Pandora Premium for 4 months.
Download and install the T-Mobile Tuesdays app to get weekly deals for food, entertainment, freebies, and more.
AT&T Fiber add-ons and perks
Download the AT&T Smart Home Manager app to manage access to your Wi-Fi equipment.
Add ActiveArmor to your monthly AT&T Fiber bill for $7.00/mo. To protect you against identity theft.
Sign up on the AT&T website and add DIRECTV to your monthly bill starting at $69.99/mo.
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet vs. AT&T Fiber: What do customers think?
Customers like T-Mobile’s performance and prices, but say speeds fluctuate
T-Mobile customers like that the 5G Home Internet service gives them a decent alternative to the large internet providers holding monopolies of certain areas. Steven Abbott, a T-Mobile customer in California, mentioned that the service was a big improvement over DSL, allowing him to stream two different shows in two different rooms in high definition.
However, reliability can be mixed and speeds fluctuate over the course of the day, with one customer—Las Vegas’ Jordan Rivera—saying he had to give up on online gaming since the service can’t keep up.
“Overall it’s pretty solid, especially if you don’t have other options,” says Jordan Rivera. “But online gaming is rough.”
Customers say AT&T delivers top service for a good price
AT&T Fiber customers love the service. Three out of four customers Reviews.org spoke with have nothing bad to say. Users say their service has been relatively trouble free, with reliable speed and stable pricing. Some customers rave about all aspects of the service—one even called the customer service “fantastic” and said they haven’t experienced any major outages or other problems.
However, some users are more lukewarm, with one saying that while they preferred it to their previous provider, Xfinity, they didn’t think it was that good a deal despite being a better alternative in his area.
“My advertised speeds are 300Mbps download and upload speed, but they’re very often faster than that,” Lauren Hannula says.
Want AT&T Fiber? Find it in your area
If you’re interested in AT&T Fiber for its strong speeds and reliable service, you’ll find it available in the West Coast, Midwest, and South. As of January 2024, AT&T Internet Air is available in 59 locations. If you enter your zip code below, the Reviews.org address checker will tell you what providers are available in your area.
Look for AT&T Fiber service in your neighborhood.
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