Internet speed: Up to 100–940 Mbps
Price: $35.00–$60.00/mo.
Data cap: 1,024 GB–unlimited
Fiber-optic plans are our hands-down picks with any internet provider, including AT&T—if you can get it. The majority of AT&T’s service still uses DSL (digital subscriber line) technology.
We recommend AT&T Fiber Internet 300 for most folks. It’s high speeds, inexpensive price, and unlimited data make it a great choice for streaming TV and working from home.
But if AT&T offers only DSL service in your area, you may want to consider your other options.
| Package |
| Best DSL plan AT&T Internet 100 |
| Best fiber plan AT&T Fiber Internet 1000 |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
AT&T’s best internet speeds vary by area. On its DSL network, AT&T offers speeds up to 100 Mbps (megabit per second), though some rural areas might find that number much, much lower.
On AT&T’s fiber internet network, you can get speeds up to 940 Mbps. AT&T’s Fiber Internet 1000 is one of the best-priced fiber plans on the market, so we definitely recommend it if you think you’ll use all that speed. Honestly, if you have people who love to stream TV, game online, or video chat at home, you’ll probably get a lot of use out of it.
DSL may be an old-school connection, but it can still handle most household internet needs. But, if DSL is your only option, know that the AT&T internet speed promise of “up to” 100 Mbps is like saying you could fit “up to” 100 marshmallows in your mouth. It might be possible, but it’s unlikely to happen. DSL internet typically tops out at 35 Mbps—maybe 50, if you’re lucky. So, if you place an online order and it says you qualify for only 25–50 Mbps where you live, you might experience even slower speeds.
Fiber-optic internet service, on the other hand, is delivered over microscopic glass strands as pulses of light, and it can hit download speeds up to 940 Mbps (or 1 Gbps—gigabit per second). The higher the Mbps number, the lower the likelihood you’ll run into video buffering or internet slowing when more than one device or person is online. Triple digits is the place to be.
AT&T’s DSL prices don’t offer as much in value as AT&T Fiber prices. Like we said earlier—AT&T DSL speeds can’t keep up with AT&T Fiber speeds. And in the end, AT&T DSL costs you a lot more for each Mbps.
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Want a little something-something to make your AT&T internet plan even sweeter? Check out all the classic AT&T internet perks and this month’s AT&T promotions.
AT&T Internet service includes an AT&T Wi-Fi Gateway modem/router, which can be set up for full smart home coverage. Some compatible smart home devices include the following:
Since so many simultaneously connected devices can eat a lot of internet bandwidth, we’d recommend only AT&T’s higher-speed fiber internet plan for running a smart home.
AT&T’s top competitors include Earthlink, Spectrum, and Xfinity.
Earthlink actually uses AT&T’s network to provide internet services, but charges extra for its hands-on customer service policies. While it’s not cheap, Earthlink is a good option if you don’t feel taken care of by AT&T’s customer service.
Spectrum’s cable internet is a stellar alternative to AT&T’s DSL internet. It can reach speeds up to 940 Mbps, and the entry level plans aren’t too much more expensive than what AT&T offers. However, AT&T Fiber has better upload speeds, and it’s cheaper than Spectrum, so stick with AT&T Fiber if you have the option.
Xfinity, like Spectrum, offers cable internet, which you should definitely consider over AT&T’s DSL connection. Xfinity’s prices are even better than Spectrum’s, but you’ll still get more bang for your buck with AT&T Fiber.
If you’re in an area that’s wired for AT&T’s fiber-optic internet service, we recommend it—really, we say sign up for any fiber-optic internet service you can get. Fiber equipment was made for the internet, and the service will become even faster as the tech develops.
DSL (and cable) internet services were built on old delivery systems, and they’ve essentially hit their peaks of speed and stability. That said, they still work, and AT&T’s DSL service is among the better internet hookups available—just keep an eye out for fiber arriving in the neighborhood.
CableTV.com spends hundreds of hours researching internet providers like AT&T. We compare plans, pricing, features, reliability, promotions, test the checkout process, and more, then offer our expert analysis to our readers to enhance and inform their buying experience. For more on our methodology, see our How We Rank page.
AT&T Fiber internet runs from $35 a month to $60 per month, depending on your plan. On AT&T’s DSL network, all internet speeds cost $45 per month.
AT&T’s DSL internet service comes with a monthly 1 TB (terabyte) data cap, which is a pretty high ceiling for the average user. To reach 1 TB in a month, you’d have to stream over 400 HD movies on Netflix, or the entirety of Friends six times on HBO Max. Challenge accepted.
AT&T’s Fiber internet service doesn’t have a data cap, so you can take your time at Central Perk.
Like all US fiber-optic internet providers, AT&T hasn’t yet built fiber infrastructure in every state—new tech rollouts take time. But AT&T Fiber is available in major cities in these states:
While AT&T’s 1,000 Mbps fiber internet download speed sounds tempting—way tempting—it could be more than your day-to-day activities actually require. Your mileage may vary, but these numbers are a decent indicator of the download speeds you’ll need for everyday activities:
