The Hidden Costs of AT&T TV and Internet
By Rachel Oaks
Share | 0 | Nov 16, 2018
TV FAQs
It’s fun to watch Sherlock on TV, but you probably don’t want to be him just to figure out your AT&T U-verse 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 U-verse packages have some of the most affordable introductory prices on the market. That value increases when you take into account the included Total Home DVR that comes with most AT&T U-verse plans.
However, after your first year, the prices more or less double. But AT&T’s contracts last only one year, so you’re free to move on if the higher costs don’t suit you.
And there’s one last little detail: The prices listed below require you to be on AutoPay and paperless billing. Otherwise, your plan will be $5.00 more per month.
TV
Stand-Alone Pricing
AT&T U-Verse Plans Summary
| Package Name | Channel Count | 12-Month Introductory Price* | Ongoing Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| U-Basic | 15+ Channels | $19.00/mo. | $19.00/mo. |
| U-Family | 180+ Channels | $35.00/mo. | $81.00/mo. |
| Internet Essential 30 | 360+ Channels | $55.00/mo. | $102.00/mo. |
| Internet Preferred 100 | 470+ Channels | $60.00/mo. | $119.00/mo. |
| Internet Ultimate | 550+ Channels | $110.00/mo. | $147.00/mo. |
Data effective 10/2/18. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*For 12 months with a 1-yr agreement & Autopay
Even with only fifteen channels, U-Basic’s $19.00 per month price tag is very tempting. This is the part where we burst your bubble. After you tack on all the fees and surcharges to every plan, U-Basic is actually more expensive than U-Family. Sorry.
The U450 plan, on the other hand, looks super pricey. But if you love premium channels, you’ll be happy to hear that it includes favorites like HBO®, CINEMAX®, and SHOWTIME® at no extra cost.
Internet
AT&T Internet Plans Summary
| Package Name | Download Speeds Up To | 12-Month Introductory Price* | Ongoing Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Basic 5 | 5 Mbps | $40.00/mo. | $50.00/mo. |
| Internet 10, Internet 25, Internet 50, Internet 75, Internet 100 | 10 to 100 Mbps | $50.00/mo. | $60.00/mo. |
Data effective 10/2/18. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*For 12 months with a 1-yr agreement
Available speeds for AT&T Internet vary widely by area, but it prices every plan from 10 Mbps to 100 Mbps at a flat $50.00 per month. That certainly makes things less complicated, but if you can only get Internet 10 in your area, it’s kind of a bummer to think about someone in a neighborhood far, far away getting Internet 100 for the same price.
AT&T Fiber Plans Summary
| Package Name | Download Speeds Up To | 12-Month Introductory Price* | Ongoing Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet 100 | 100 Mbps | $50.00/mo. | $60.00/mo. |
| Internet 300 | 300 Mbps | $70.00/mo. | $80.00/mo. |
| Internet 1000 | 1,000 Mbps | $90.00/mo. | $100.00/mo. |
Data effective 10/2/18. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*For 12 months with a 1-yr agreement
AT&T Fiber picks up pricing where AT&T Internet leaves off, with 100 Mbps available at just $50.00 per month. That’s a steal! Internet 1000 is a bit pricier but still a fair deal for gig speeds.
TV + Internet
Bundling with AT&T
All of AT&T’s U-verse bundles have a base rate and then vary by U-verse introductory package price. After the first twelve months, the price increases by what the U-verse ongoing pricing is, but the internet price stays the same as long as you bundle. Check back on the AT&T U-verse Plans Summary to determine your total cost.
AT&T Double Play Bundles
AT&T U-verse and Internet Bundles Summary
| Package Name | Channel Count | Download Speed | 12-Month Introductory Price | Ongoing Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U-verse TV + Internet Basic 5 | Varies | 5 Mbps | U-verse package intro price + $30.00/mo. | U-verse package intro price + $30.00/mo. |
| U-verse TV + Internet 100 | Varies | 100 Mbps | U-verse package intro price + $40.00/mo. | U-verse package intro price + $40.00/mo. |
*For 12 months with a 1-yr agreement, paperless billing, and Autopay
These bundles with AT&T Internet come with $10.00 off your internet service per month.
AT&T U-verse and Fiber Internet Bundles Summary
| Package Name | Channel Count | Download Speed | 12-Month Introductory Price | Ongoing Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U-verse TV + Internet 100 | Varies | 100 Mbps | U-verse package intro price + $40.00/mo. | U-verse package intro price + $40.00/mo. |
| U-verse TV + Internet 300 | Varies | 300 Mbps | U-verse package intro price + $60.00/mo. | U-verse package intro price + $60.00/mo. |
| U-verse TV + Internet 1000 | Varies | 1,000 Mbps | U-verse package intro price + $80.00/mo. | U-verse package intro price + $80.00/mo. |
Data effective 10/2/18. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*For 12 months with a 1-yr agreement, paperless billing, and Autopay
The AT&T Fiber bundles also give you $10.00 off internet per month.
TV + Internet + Phone
AT&T Triple Play Bundles
Triple Play bundles come with TV, internet, and phone services. AT&T has three phone plans:
- Phone Unlimited: Unlimited calling in US, Canada, and US Territories
- Phone 200: 200 minutes per month to US, Puerto Rico, and US Virgin Islands
- Phone International Plus: Unlimited calling to US, Canada, Mexico, and US Territories.
Refer to AT&T U-verse Plans Summary for U-verse package pricing.
AT&T U-verse TV, Internet, and Phone Bundles Summary
| Package Name | Channel Count | Download Speed | 12-Month Introductory Price | Ongoing Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U-verse TV + Internet Basic 5 + Phone Unlimited | Varies | 5 Mbps | U-verse package intro price + $49.99/mo. | U-verse package intro price + $49.99/mo. |
| U-verse TV + Internet 100 + Phone Unlimited | Varies | 100 Mbps | U-verse package intro price + $59.99/mo. | U-verse package intro price + $59.99/mo. |
| U-verse TV + Internet Basic 5 + Phone 200 | Varies | 5 Mbps | U-verse package intro price + $50.00/mo. | U-verse package intro price + $50.00/mo. |
| U-verse TV + Internet 100 + Phone 200 | Varies | 100 Mbps | U-verse package intro price + $60.00/mo. | U-verse package intro price + $60.00/mo. |
| U-verse TV + Internet Basic 5 + Phone International | Varies | 5 Mbps | U-verse package intro price + $70.00/mo. | U-verse package intro price + $70.00/mo. |
| U-verse TV + Internet 100 + Phone International | Varies | 100 Mbps | U-verse package intro price + $80.00/mo. | U-verse package intro price + $80.00/mo. |
Data effective 10/2/18. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*For 12 months with a 1-yr agreement, paperless billing, and Autopay
Each phone plan increases the price from Double Play to Triple Play by different amounts:
- Phone Unlimited: $19.99/mo.
- Phone 200: $20.00/mo.
- Phone International: $40.00/mo.
To get Phone 200 or Phone International, you’ll have to pair phone service with both TV and internet. You can get Phone Unlimited with just TV or internet, but its price increases to $32.00 per month instead of $19.99 per month.
AT&T U-verse TV, Fiber, and Phone Bundles Summary
| Package Name | Channel Count | Download Speed | 12-Month Introductory Price | Ongoing Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U-verse TV + Internet 100 + Phone Unlimited | Varies | 100 Mbps | U-verse package intro price + $59.99/mo. | U-verse package intro price + $59.99/mo. |
| U-verse TV + Internet 300 + Phone Unlimited | Varies | 300 Mbps | U-verse package intro price + $79.00/mo. | U-verse package intro price + $79.00/mo. |
| U-verse TV + Internet 1000 + Phone Unlimited | Varies | 1,000 Mbps | U-verse package intro price + $99.00/mo. | U-verse package intro price + $99.00/mo. |
| U-verse TV + Internet 100 + Phone 200 | Varies | 100 Mbps | U-verse package intro price + $60.00/mo. | U-verse package intro price + $60.00/mo. |
| U-verse TV + Internet 300 + Phone 200 | Varies | 300 Mbps | U-verse package intro price + $80.00/mo. | U-verse package intro price + $80.00/mo. |
| U-verse TV + Internet 1000 + Phone 200 | Varies | 1,000 Mbps | U-verse package intro price + $100.00/mo. | U-verse package intro price + $100.00/mo. |
| U-verse TV + Internet 100 + Phone International | Varies | 100 Mbps | U-verse package intro price + $80.00/mo. | U-verse package intro price + $80.00/mo. |
| U-verse TV + Internet 300 + Phone International | Varies | 300 Mbps | U-verse package intro price + $100.00/mo. | U-verse package intro price + $100.00/mo. |
| U-verse TV + Internet 1000 + Phone International | Varies | 1,000 Mbps | U-verse package intro price + $120.00/mo. | U-verse package intro price + $120.00/mo. |
Data effective 10/2/18. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*For 12 months with a 1-yr agreement, paperless billing, and Autopay
Phew! You made it down here. We were really hoping we didn’t scare you away with all the plans and pricing tables. AT&T has a lot of options when it comes to packages, but that variety can lead to some slippery fees, so let’s check those out before you commit to anything major.
Taxes, Fees, and Surcharges
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 broadcast fee of up to $5.99 per month. This covers what your local stations charge AT&T to broadcast their channels.
There are also two optional charges to be aware of:
- First, if you get U-Basic and want to watch it in HD quality, that will cost an extra $10.00 per month. All other U-verse plans come with HD tech included.
- The second optional fee is an unlimited data allowance on internet. That’s $30.00 per month, and you really shouldn’t bother with it. AT&T has 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 Internet 1000 or bundling with TV, you’ll get unlimited data at no extra charge anyway.
| Type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Taxes | Varies by area |
| Broadcasting Fee | $5.99/mo. |
| U-Basic HD Tech Fee | $10.00/mo. |
| Unlimited Internet Data | $30.00/mo. |
Installation
Most U-verse packages come with free installation but require a one-time $35.00 activation fee.
And then there’s U-Basic.
U-Basic has a $199.99 installation fee in addition to the $35.00 activation fee. That makes one year of U-Basic more expensive than a year of U-Family. So, if you’re really looking for the best value, you’ll get way more (and pay less) if you upgrade to U-Family.
When it comes to internet, AT&T Internet packages come with a $99.99 installation fee. AT&T Fiber includes installation with purchase, but there’s another weird charge that you might find on your bill as well.
It’s a bizarre AT&T Fiber add-on that AT&T calls “home network installation.” Basically, the tech installing your internet will help you connect three additional devices to your Wi-Fi. Unless going without this assistance is entirely overwhelming for you (or you are very, very lazy), skip it. It’s not worth the $50.00 charge.
| Service Plan | One-Time Fees |
|---|---|
| U-Basic | $199.99 installation fee, $35.00 activation fee |
| Other U-Verse Plans | $35.00 activation fee |
| AT&T Internet Plans | $99.99 installation fee |
| AT&T Fiber Plans | Optional $50.00 home network installation fee |
Data effective 10/2/18.
AT&T Equipment Fees
On the whole, AT&T rocks equipment. U-verse’s Total Home DVR gets the job done with its six simultaneous recordings and 300 hours of HD storage, and it comes included in most U-verse packages—except for U-Basic.
With U-Basic, the DVR will run you $15.00 per month.
Let’s do some quick math: $15.00 for a DVR plus $19.00 for monthly services . . . you’re already at the $35.00 per month that the U-Family plan costs for the first year—and that’s not including all the other fees that come with U-Basic. If you’re looking for the best value, it’s worth stepping up from U-Basic into a higher-tier package.
If you’re connecting your whole house with U-verse, be aware that you’ll pay $10.00 per month for the wired receivers to hook up to each additional TV. If you want to skip the wires, you can upgrade to wireless on up to two receivers for a one-time fee of $49.00 per receiver.
Finally, AT&T’s internet equipment is also a big win. Your plan will come with an included Wi-Fi Gateway, which is a space-saving modem/router. Once you get it, that’s it! You won’t be slowly drained of funds like you will with other providers that charge around $10.00 per month to lease similar equipment.
AT&T Equipment Fees Summary
| Equipment | Cost |
|---|---|
| Total Home DVR | Included with most U-verse plans, $15.00/mo. with U-Basic |
| Additional Wired Receivers | $10.00/mo. per receiver |
| Wireless Receiver Upgrade | $49.00 one-time fee |
| Wi-Fi Gateway | Included with internet plans |
Data effective 10/2/18.
AT&T Premium Channels
U-Family, U200, and U300 all come with three free months of HBO® and Cinemax®. This 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 U450. You’ll get HBO, Cinemax, and The Movie Package included (a $46.00-per-month value), and one free month of EPIX.
AT&T Premium Channels Summary
| Channel Add-On Package | Sample Channels | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| HBO/Cinemax | HBO, Cinemax, 5StarMAX, HBO Comedy, HBO Family, HBO Latino, and ThrillerMAX | $26.00/mo. |
| HBO | HBO, HBO Comedy, HBO Family, HBO Latino, HBO Signature, and HBO Zone | $16.00/mo. |
| Cinemax | 5StarMAX, ActionMAX, Cinemax, MAX Latino, OuterMAX, and ThrillerMAX | $14.00/mo. |
| The Movie Package | FLIX, IndiePlex, SHOWTIME®, STARZ, STARZ ENCORE, and The Movie Channel (TMC) | $20.00/mo. |
| SHOWTIME UNLIMITED® | FLIX, SHOWTIME®, Showtime 2, Showtime Extreme, Showtime Next, and The Movie Channel (TMC) | $14.00/mo. |
| EPIX | EPIX, EPIX2, EPIX Drive-In, EPIX HITS, and EPIX West | $8.00/mo. |
| HD Premium Tier | NFL RedZone, MGM HD, Smithsonian Channel HD, and FUNimation HD | $7.00/mo. |
Data effective 10/2/18.
Note that The Movie Package includes SHOWTIME UNLIMITED®, or you can choose to get SHOWTIME UNLIMITED® by itself.
Add-On Channel Packs
In addition to premium channels, AT&T offers add-on packs that can beef up your channel selection. If you go for U450, The Sports Package comes included.
AT&T Add-On Channel Pack Summary
| Channel Add-On Package | What It Includes | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Disney Channel On Demand | On-demand Disney Channel and Playhouse Disney series and original movies | $7.00/mo. |
| Disney Family Movies | Ten Disney feature-length movies and two classic shorts, with two movies and both shorts changing every week | $4.99/mo. |
| Paquete Español | AZCorazon, Bandamax, Cinelatino, CNN en Español, FOX Deportes, UNIVERSO, and Univision Deportes | $15.00/mo. |
| Anime Network On Demand | Brand-new shows and old-school classics with dubbed and subtitled programming | $7.00/mo. |
| here! On Demand | On-demand LGBTQ+ programming | $7.00/mo. |
| Stingray Karaoke | Karaoke with favorite songs from all genres | $7.00/mo. |
| FITFUSION TV Featuring Jillian Michaels | 100+ fitness videos | $6.99/mo. |
| Too Much for TV On Demand | 40 uncensored series available on demand | $15.00/mo. |
| U-verse Games Channel | Play games like sudoku, jump peg, and hangman on TV | $5.00/mo. |
| NBA League Pass | Features all out-of-market and non-nationally televised National Basketball Association games | $66.65/mo. for 3 months or $199.95/season in one payment |
| The Sports Package | Eleven Sports Network, FOX Deportes, Pac-12 Network, Sportsman Channel, and TVG Network | $10.00/mo. |
| Fox Soccer Plus HD | Live, exclusive soccer matches | $15.00/mo. |
| Tumblebooks | An app featuring animated picture books with narrated voiceover | $5.00/mo. |
Data effective 10/2/18.
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 of 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 $20.00 for TV service and $15.00 for internet service for each month remaining on your agreement.
Another word of caution: be sure to return your equipment on time or else you’ll receive fines on that too.
For an affordable entertainment package, the AT&T Double Play with U-Family and Internet 100 is an excellent choice.
U-Family’s channel lineup includes popular channels like Disney Channel, HGTV, Nickelodeon, and Discovery Family. HD programming and the Total Home DVR come included.
Internet 100 has high speeds for streaming online videos and supporting smart home devices. Your Wi-Fi Gateway also comes included, which means more savings for you.
If you need a different channel lineup or more internet speed, AT&T has plenty of options, but U-Family + Internet 100 does a lot for such an affordable package.
Final Take: AT&T’s included perks make up for its hidden fees.
If you’re someone who just wants things for free without being bogged down with buckets of fees, AT&T is here for you. By including equipment and HD programming at no extra cost, AT&T gives its packages great value. Sure, things can get pricey if you choose to get a bunch of channel packs or cancel before your contract ends, but AT&T shoots pretty darn straight for the territory.
And trust us, it’s worth upgrading from the U-Basic package. You’ll get a way better value. And let’s be honest, you deserve it.
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.
Rachel has spent the past two years at CableTV.com writing articles that demystify hidden fees, DVRs, sound systems, and more. She makes door-to-door DISH and DIRECTV salespeople uncomfortable with her in-depth questions—but if that’s what it takes to get you the best TV experience, she’s happy to do it. In addition to writing for CableTV.com, Rachel’s work has been featured on Today.com, TechGuySmartBuy.com, HowtoWatch.com, and SatelliteInternet.com.
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