With leading providers like Spectrum and AT&T dominating the U.S. internet service market, choosing wisely for a reliable home internet experience is essential.
After in-depth research on both providers, Spectrum and AT&T have made it onto our best internet providers list for 2024, ensuring quality options for consumers.
Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of each provider’s strengths and weaknesses to help you find the right fit for your internet needs.
How Do Spectrum and AT&T Compare Head-to-Head?
Each provider has unique benefits and drawbacks regarding plan options, customer service, and internet speeds.
While AT&T often excels in speed and plan variety, Spectrum is known for more affordable pricing and wider coverage.
What Are the Plans and Pricing?
| Spectrum Plans | Price | Speed Range |
| Internet | $49.99/month | 10 – 300 Mbps |
| Internet Ultra | $69.99/month | 20 – 500 Mbps |
| Internet Gig | $79.99/month | 35 – 1000 Mbps |
| AT&T Plans | Price | Speed |
| Internet 25 | $55.00/month | 25 Mbps |
| Internet 50 | $55.00/month | 50 Mbps |
| Internet 100 | $55.00/month | 100 Mbps |
| Fiber 300Mbps | $55.00/month | 300 Mbps |
| Fiber 500Mbps | $65.00/month | 500 Mbps |
| Fiber 1Gig | $80.00/month | 1,000 Mbps |
| Fiber 2Gig | $125.00/month | 2,000 Mbps |
| Fiber 5Gig | $225.00/month | 5,000 Mbps |
| Fixed Wireless | $65.00/month | 10 Mbps |
Both providers offer bundle discounts when adding phone services, and AT&T’s plan availability and pricing may vary by region.
Which Connection Types Are Available?
- Spectrum: Primarily uses cable for internet connection but offers a hybrid of fiber and coaxial cables in some areas for faster speeds.
- AT&T: Offers fiber connections with symmetrical upload and download speeds, providing faster and more reliable service than cable in supported areas.
Where Are These Providers Available?
| Spectrum Availability | |||
| Alabama | Kentucky | North Carolina | South Carolina |
| Arizona | Louisiana | Ohio | Tennessee |
| California | Maine | Oregon | Texas |
| Colorado | Maryland | Pennsylvania | Vermont |
| Connecticut | Massachusetts | Michigan | Virginia |
| Florida | Minnesota | Mississippi | Washington |
| Georgia | Missouri | Montana | West Virginia |
| Hawaii | Nebraska | Nevada | Wisconsin |
| Idaho | New Hampshire | New Jersey | Wyoming |
| Illinois | New Mexico | New York |
| AT&T Availability | |||
| Alabama | Indiana | North Carolina | Texas |
| Arizona | Kansas | Ohio | Wisconsin |
| Arkansas | Kentucky | Oklahoma | |
| California | Louisiana | South Carolina | |
| Florida | Mississippi | Tennessee | |
| Georgia | Missouri | Nevada | |
| Illinois | New Mexico |
Spectrum covers 41 states, while AT&T is available in 22 states. Neither is available in Washington, D.C.
How Does Customer Support Compare?
Both providers offer customer support options, including 24/7 phone support, live chat (human-operated for Spectrum and bot-operated for AT&T), community forums, and online resources for troubleshooting and learning about services.
What Are the Customer Reviews?
Both Spectrum and AT&T hold an A- rating with the Better Business Bureau but are not accredited.
Reviews are mixed; AT&T often receives praise for its fast internet speeds but faces criticism for technician service and outages.
Spectrum is appreciated for reliable customer service but may have issues with connection stability.
Are There Contracts or Data Caps?
Neither Spectrum nor AT&T requires annual contracts, making it easy to switch providers if needed.
Most of their plans are free from data caps, but AT&T’s lower-speed options (Internet 25, 50, and 100) have a 1.5 TB data limit per month, with overage charges for exceeding it.
What Are the Installation and Equipment Fees?
Both providers offer self-installation and professional installation for a fee:
- Spectrum: $65.00 for professional installation.
- AT&T: $99.00 to $149.00, depending on the plan.
Activation fees may vary based on plan details. Neither provider charges equipment fees on newer plans, although some older AT&T plans may include a small monthly equipment fee.
What Are the Key Differences and Similarities?
| Key Differences | Key Similarities |
| AT&T’s fiber network provides higher speeds than Spectrum’s cable-based network. | Both have no annual contracts and data caps on most plans. |
| Spectrum has more excellent coverage (41 states) than AT&T (22 states). | Installation, activation fees and equipment offerings are similar. |
| AT&T has a more extensive variety of plans at different speeds. | Both offer discounts with bundled phone and TV services. |
| AT&T plans may offer a better cost-to-speed ratio. | Pricing is competitive, although AT&T may be slightly cheaper for similar speeds. |
Is AT&T the Better Choice?
For those with access to AT&T’s fiber network, its speeds are generally faster and more reliable than Spectrum’s.
With a wide range of plans and generally high customer satisfaction, AT&T is the preferred internet service provider.
FAQs
Is AT&T trying to acquire Spectrum?
There has been speculation that AT&T may attempt to buy Spectrum, but no official steps have been taken. Spectrum is currently owned by Charter Communications Inc.
Can you use both AT&T and Spectrum in the same home?
Yes, it’s possible to use AT&T for TV and Spectrum for the internet simultaneously.
Does Spectrum buy out AT&T contracts?
Spectrum offers up to $500 to buy out contracts with other providers if needed, though AT&T’s lack of required contracts makes this option less relevant.
