AT&T vs. Spectrum: Compare internet plans, prices, and more
See which provider better fits your needs.
Two of the biggest names in home internet service are AT&T and Spectrum. AT&T has a long and storied history as a telecommunications provider, beginning as a telegraph company in 1878, moving on throughout the twentieth century to offer telephone and television services, and continuing into the twenty-first century providing high-speed internet, wireless, and home phone services. Spectrum, a brand name used by Charter Communications, has offered cable TV since 1993, expanding into high-speed internet service soon after.
Offering a wide array of services, AT&T and Spectrum are among the biggest residential internet providers. When comparing AT&T Internet vs. Spectrum Internet to decide which is right for your home, consider the following factors:
- Available speeds
- Range of prices
- Type of internet service
- Equipment
- Availability in your area
- Additional/hidden fees
View the chart below for a quick breakdown of available prices, speeds, and internet service types, then read on to learn more about the AT&T vs. Spectrum comparison throughout this helpful resource article.
AT&T vs. Spectrum: The basics
| AT&T Internet | Spectrum Internet | |
| Available prices | $55/month – $245/month* | $49.99/mo – $89.99/mo |
| Available speeds | AT&T Fiber speeds 300 Mbps – 5,000 Mbps✝︎ | Up to 300 Mbps – Up to 1000 Mbps |
| Internet service types | DSL, fiber, fixed wireless | Cable/fiber hybrid |
*plus taxes. Eligible Autopay & Paperless Bill req’d. *Price after $10/mo discount with eligible Autopay & Paperless bill (w/in 2 bills). Monthly State Cost Recovery Charge in TX, OH, NV applies. One time install chrg may apply. Limited availability in select areas.
✝︎Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds may vary. For 5GIG, single device wire speed maximum 4.7Gbps. For more info, go to www.att.com/speed101.
AT&T Internet vs. Spectrum Internet in detail
AT&T delivers high-speed internet to homes in three different ways.
- DSL (Digital Subscriber Line). Like dial-up internet, DSL is a fixed connection that delivers internet through copper phone lines. Among the slowest internet options available, it may be the only choice in areas without cable, fiber, or fixed wireless internet options.
- Fiber. Fiber-optic internet sends data over long thin strands of glass or plastic. Because data can travel over these fiber-optic cables near the speed of light, this is the fastest available internet service on the market. Its only drawback is availability—since it is a relatively new technology, the infrastructure is not built in many locations to support fiber internet.
- Fixed Wireless. With Fixed Wireless Internet, providers send internet signals over the air to a mounted receiver with a direct line of sight to the nearest tower. Fixed Wireless is often the best option in rural areas without cable or fiber infrastructure. In many Fixed Wireless locations, the only other option is satellite internet.
Spectrum, on the other hand, delivers internet to all customers over a hybrid fiber-coaxial cable network, offering a more stable connection than a typical cable network. The hybrid network still cannot match the speeds of a 100% fiber network such as the one AT&T has in some areas.
When it comes to speed and price, AT&T has a wider range of both, with prices as low as $55/month and as high as $180/month* and speeds as low as 25 Mbps (with fixed wireless service) and as high as 5 Gbps (or 5,000 Mbps) with its fiber offerings. Neither Spectrum’s prices (as low as $49.99/month or as high as $89.99/month) nor speeds (ranging from up to 300 Mbps to up to 1 Gig) range as widely.
AT&T vs. Spectrum Internet speeds and prices
| AT&T Internet | Spectrum Internet | |
| 768Kbps – 75 Mbps | $60/mo* | N/A |
| Up to 100 Mbps | $60/mo* | N/A |
| AT&T Fiber Up to 300 Mbps | $55/mo** | $49.99/mo for the first 12 months |
| AT&T Fiber Up to 500 Mbps | $65/mo** | $69.99/mo for the first 12 months |
| AT&T Fiber Up to 1000 Mbps | $80/mo** | $89.99/mo for the first 12 months |
| AT&T Fiber Up to 2000 Mbps | $145/mo** | N/A |
| AT&T Fiber Up to 5000 Mbps | $245/mo** | N/A |
*plus taxes. Eligible Autopay & Paperless Bill req’d. *Incl 1.5TB data/mo., overage charges apply.
**plus taxes. Eligible Autopay & Paperless Bill req’d. *Price after $10/mo discount with eligible Autopay & Paperless bill (w/in 2 bills). Monthly State Cost Recovery Charge in TX, OH, NV applies. One time install chrg may apply. Limited availability in select areas.
AT&T Internet vs Spectrum Internet equipment
When comparing AT&T and Spectrum Internet, there is little difference in equipment. Both use modems to connect to the internet and Wide Area Network (WAN) routers for wireless connections in the home. Two major differences stick out—with AT&T there are no equipment fees, while Spectrum fees start at $7/month for WiFi equipment. We say “start at” because the other difference with Spectrum is that you can add on WiFi Pods to extend your connection throughout the home—the fee for these is $3/month each.
AT&T vs. Spectrum Internet equipment comparison
| AT&T Internet | Spectrum Internet | |
| Wide Area Network (WAN) router | ✔ | ✔ |
| Modem | ✔ | ✔ |
| WiFi pods | ✖ | ✔ |
| No equipment fees | ✔ | ✖ |
AT&T Internet vs. Spectrum Internet availability
The biggest difference when comparing AT&T Internet vs. Spectrum is availability. While AT&T internet is widely available across the U.S., its 21 states pale compared to Spectrum’s 42. Because AT&T’s service offerings vary by location, the available speeds are not consistent. For example, in rural locations fixed wireless or DSL may be the only options, with much lower speeds than the fiber networks available in centralized urban locations. Because Spectrum only offers one type of service, its offerings are more consistent across the board.
AT&T Internet vs. Spectrum Internet availability by state
AT&T vs. Spectrum: Additional costs and fees
You can’t always let the sticker price fool you when signing up for internet service. The per-month price listed on websites and print ads often comes with a lot of fine print telling you this price is only good for six and two-thirds months when you sign a lifetime contract with your firstborn child as collateral, or there are hidden fees for everything from installation to service calls to using the internet during the daylight instead of at 3 a.m.
Well, maybe it’s not quite that ridiculous, but you should be aware of the hidden costs of internet service. AT&T has no equipment fees unless you are on a DSL plan, while Spectrum charges for the use of its WiFi equipment each month. AT&T charges installation fees only for its DSL service (meaning free installation for fiber or fixed wireless), while Spectrum charges installation fees for both professional and self-install.
In addition, both companies charge late payment fees.
AT&T vs. Spectrum: Additional fees
| AT&T Internet | Spectrum Internet | |
| Equipment fees | N/A | $7/mo for WiFi $3/mo per Spectrum WiFi Pod |
| Installation fees | $99 (DSL only) | $59.99 Pro Install $24.99 Self-Install/Service Activation $49.99 WiFi Pod Install |
| Additional fees | Up to $9 late payment | $9.99 service activation $8.95 late payment $25 insufficient funds $5 phone payment processing $9.99 reconnection fee |
AT&T vs. Spectrum frequently asked questions
Read on for answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the differences between Spectrum and AT&T.
Does AT&T own Spectrum?
Short answer, no—AT&T and Spectrum (Charter Communications) are different companies offering similar services in many of the same locations, but they are not related companies. Spectrum includes networks and territory once owned by Time Warner (acquired in 2016) and Bright House Networks, acquired around the same time in a separate deal.
However, AT&T does own 95% of the WCS (Wireless Communications Service) spectrum (lowercase “s”) for mobile voice and data usage. That could be where some confusion comes when investigating if AT&T and Spectrum (capital “S”) are related companies.
Do AT&T and Spectrum use the same lines?
No. AT&T and Spectrum use separate coverage networks to deliver internet service. In many locations, AT&T uses its own fiber-optic networks to deliver high-speed internet, while Spectrum uses a hybrid cable/fiber network to deliver its own service.