It’s fun to watch Sherlock on TV, but you probably don’t want to be him just to figure out your AT&T TV and internet bill. No worries—we’ve pulled out our magnifying glass, sorted through the fine print, and figured it all out for you.
AT&T plans and promotional prices
AT&T TV’s prices are comparable to cable TV and satellite TV services. However, AT&T TV uses streaming TV technology, and compared to top streaming services Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV, the streaming service comes with a restrictive contract and a hefty price bump in the second year.
Still, during your first year of bundling AT&T TV and AT&T Internet, you’ll save about $20 per month. That’s not too shabby.
But if AT&T’s initial prices don’t sound as tempting after that first-year price hike, just enter your zip code below, and you’ll be able to check out the TV and internet service options available in your area:
AT&T TV plans summary
| Package name |
| ENTERTAINMENT |
| CHOICE™ |
| XTRA |
| ULTIMATE |
| PREMIER |
| OPTIMO MAS |
| Channel count | 12-month introductory price* | Ongoing price |
| 65+ channels | $59.99/mo. | $93.00/mo. |
| 90+ channels | $64.99/mo. | $110.00/mo. |
| 120+ channels | $74.99/mo. | $124.00/mo. |
| 130+ channels | $79.99/mo. | $135.00/mo. |
| 140+ channels | $129.99/mo. | $183.00/mo. |
| 90+ channels | $64.99/mo. | $86.00/mo. |
Data effective 3/3/21. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*w/24-mo. agmt. Prices higher in 2nd year.
AT&T no longer offers cable TV—AT&T TV is a live-TV streaming service.
Fortunately, you can still get your favorite channels—ESPN, HGTV, and Disney Channel are all available on the basic ENTERTAINMENT package. But AT&T TV has fewer filler channels than most cable TV packages (bye bye, Stingray music channels; we won’t miss you).
However, your TV experience will be dictated by your internet connection. Streaming TV can clog up your bandwidth, and if your internet is acting up, you’ll have problems watching TV too. We think that’s the pits.
Pro tip: When you bundle TV with internet, you can get a great deal. AT&T offers two internet services—a broadband product called AT&T Internet and a fiber-based option called AT&T Fiber. If it’s available in your area, we recommend you bundle AT&T TV with AT&T Fiber because of its high speeds and fair pricing.
AT&T internet plans summary
| Package name |
| AT&T Internet 100 |
| AT&T Internet 300 |
| AT&T Fiber |
| Download speeds up to | 12-month introductory price* | Ongoing price |
| 100 Mbps | $35/mo. | $55/mo. |
| 300 Mbps | $45/mo. | $65/mo. |
| 1,000 Mbps | $60/mo. | $80/mo. |
Data effective 3/3/21. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*For 12 months with a 1-yr agreement plus taxes and equipment fee
After the first year with AT&T internet, your price will increase. Currently, AT&T Internet plans outside of the promotional period are $55 per month, and their much faster cousins—AT&T Fiber plans—raise to $80 per month.
Bundling with AT&T: AT&T TV and internet bundles summary
| Channel count | Download speed | 12-month introductory price | Ongoing price |
| 65+ | Up to 100 Mbps | $94.99/mo. | $148.00/mo. |
| 90+ | Up to 100 Mbps | $99.99/mo. | $165.00/mo. |
| 120+ | Up to 100 Mbps | $109.99/mo. | $179.99/mo. |
| 130+ | Up to 100 Mbps | $114.99/mo. | $190.00/mo. |
| 140+ | Up to 100 Mbps | $164.99/mo. | $238.00/mo. |
| 100+ | Up to 100 Mbps | $99.99/mo. | $141.00/mo. |
Data effective 3/3/21. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*For 12 months with a 1-yr agreement, paperless billing, and Autopay
All of AT&T’s TV and internet bundles will save you $30 per month in the first year. After the promotional period, the AT&T TV and AT&T internet plans jump to the higher ongoing rate.
Taxes, fees, and surcharges on AT&T plans
You know what they say about death and taxes. Your AT&T plan will come with tax surcharges on services and equipment based on the requirements of where you live. You may also need to pay a regional sports fee of up to $8.49 per month. This covers what your local stations charge AT&T to broadcast their channels.
There’s also an optional fee you should be aware of—unlimited data allowance on internet. That’s $30.00 per month, and you really shouldn’t bother with it. AT&T has monthly 1 TB data caps on most stand-alone packs, which is industry standard and more than most people will use. And if you’re getting at least AT&T Internet 100 or bundling with TV, you’ll get unlimited data at no extra charge anyway.
| Type |
| Taxes |
| Regional sports fee |
| Unlimited internet data |
| Cost |
| Varies by area |
| Up to $8.49/mo. |
| $30.00/mo. |
AT&T installation
Most AT&T TV packages come with free installation but require a one-time $19.95 activation fee. When it comes to internet service, AT&T charges a $99.99 installation fee.
AT&T installation fees summary
| Service plan |
| AT&T TV |
| AT&T Internet plans |
| One-time fees |
| $19.95 activation fee |
| $99.99 installation fee |
Data effective 3/3/21.
AT&T equipment fees
On an AT&T TV two-year contract, you’ll get one free AT&T TV set-top box and unlimited cloud DVR storage to save TV shows. Additional receivers will cost $10 per month on a 12-month payment plan.
But if you don’t have an annual contract, you’ll have to buy your first AT&T TV streaming device at $120 upfront or $5 per month for 24 months. You’ll also get only 20 hours of cloud DVR storage, and it’ll cost $10 per month to upgrade to unlimited storage. Additional receivers cost $5 per month on a 24-month payment plan, although you’ll still be paying the same total cost as AT&T TV contract customers.
You’re not required to get an AT&T TV streaming device, since you can still download the AT&T TV app on platforms like Roku and Google Chromecast. But the device also comes with AT&T TV’s voice remote, which has Google Assistant to help you control your TV and other smart devices.
AT&T requires you to pay a $10-per-month equipment fee for its combo Wi-Fi router/internet modem, and the mandatory fee isn’t a great deal for subscribers. Unlike most competing internet providers, you won’t be able to skip the rental fees and save money by bringing your own modem or buying one from AT&T.
AT&T equipment fees summary
| Equipment |
| AT&T TV set-top box |
| Additional AT&T TV devices |
| Unlimited cloud DVR |
| Internet equipment fee |
| Cost |
| Included with contract, optional $120 without contract |
| $10/mo. per receiver for 12 months with contract, $5/mo. per receiver for 24 months without contract |
| Included with contract, $10/mo. without contract |
| $10/mo. |
Data effective 3/3/21.
AT&T premium channels
Every AT&T TV package comes with three free months of SHOWTIME®, STARZ, and EPIX. Starting with the CHOICE package, you’ll also get three free months of Cinemax® and a free year of HBO Max.
These free channels can be very good or very bad. It all depends on how invested you are in premium channels and how good you are at remembering to cancel the subscription before the fourth month, which is when you’ll start getting charged for them.
If you’re all about premium channels, consider going for the PREMIER package. You’ll get NBA League Pass Premium for the 2020–2021 NBA season, along with every HBO, Cinemax, STARZ, and SHOWTIME channel.
AT&T premium channels summary
| Channel add-on package |
| HBO Max |
| NBA League Pass Premium |
| Cinemax |
| SHOWTIME |
| STARZ |
| EPIX |
| Movies Extra Pack |
| Sample channels | Monthly cost |
| HBO, HBO East, HBO Family, HBO Latino | $14.99/mo. |
| Features all out-of-market and non-nationally televised NBA games | $40.00/mo., free with CHOICE package or above |
| Cinemax East | $11.00/mo. |
| SHOWTIME East, SHOWTIME Anytime | $11.00/mo. |
| STARZ East, STARZ Kids & Family, STARZ ENCORE East, STARZ On Demand | $11.00/mo. |
| EPIX, EPIX2, EPIX HITS, EPIX App | $6.00/mo. |
| Hallmark Drama HD, MGM HD, MTV Live HD | $5.00/mo. |
Data effective 3/3/21.
AT&T late fees
Out of all AT&T’s hidden fees, this one is the most straightforward. Miss a payment and you’ll be charged a late fee. The exact amount varies by state, but it’s generally up to $10.00 per bill.
AT&T cancellation costs
AT&T’s contracts last one year. If you need to bow out before then, AT&T will slap you with some hefty early termination fees. You’ll have to pay $15.00 for each month remaining on your TV or internet agreement.
Another word of caution: be sure to return your equipment on time or else you’ll receive a $150 fine on that too.
Our recommended AT&T package: AT&T TV CHOICE + AT&T Internet 100
On the AT&T TV side, the CHOICE bundle gets you popular channels like ESPN and Nick Jr., along with premium offerings like NBA League Pass and a free year of HBO Max. With AT&T Internet 100, you’ll have enough download performance to handle regular web browsing and streaming for a small to mid-sized household.
Final take
If you’re someone who just wants the best TV options, AT&T is here for you. By including equipment and premium cable options like HBO Max at no extra cost if you pay for a two-year agreement, AT&T gives its packages great value.
Sure, things can get pricey if you choose to get a bunch of channel packs, pick a lower-tier internet package, or cancel before your contract ends. But overall, AT&T shoots pretty darn straight for the territory.
If you’re not sure AT&T offers service in your area or want to compare it to other providers, we can help with that. Enter your zip code below to get all your TV and internet options.
