AT&T vs. Spectrum

Compare AT&T and Spectrum internet, TV and bundle services.

Is AT&T or Charter Spectrum better for you?

AT&T and Spectrum offer comparable internet, TV and home phone services and plans in areas where both services are available. If your address is serviceable for AT&T and Spectrum, take a look at what each has to offer to determine which is the better provider for your home.

Spectrum internet is available in more states (46 to AT&T’s 21), but AT&T internet is available to more households (40% U.S. coverage to Spectrum’s 33%)
Both providers offer gigabit internet with speeds up to 940 Mbps or higher, but AT&T’s gigabit service is available in more cities than Spectrum.
Spectrum offers greater discounts for bundling.
AT&T ranks higher in TV and internet than Spectrum in customer satisfaction, according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index

We’ve done the research on AT&T and Spectrum for you, so you can easily compare and choose the better internet, TV and home phone provider for your home.

AT&T vs. Spectrum quick comparison

Available in 21 states for internet
Internet and TV bundles starting at $75/mo.*
Standalone internet starting at $40/mo.*
Internet download speeds range 5 to 940 Mbps
TV channels range 190 to 565+
One-year contract required

Available in 46 states
Internet and TV bundles starting at $89.98/mo.*
Standalone internet starting at $44.99/mo.*
Internet download speeds range 60 to 940 Mbps
TV channels range 125 to 200+
No contract required

*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. As of 07/03/19.

Click the category below to learn more about what sets these two providers apart.

AT&T vs. Spectrum availability

Much of AT&T’s internet coverage spans 21 states, with service primarily in the southern states, areas of the Midwest, and select areas of California and Nevada. Spectrum’s availability includes select areas of 46 states, making it the second-largest cable internet provider in the U.S. Top service areas for each provider include:

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AT&T vs. Spectrum bundles

AT&T and Spectrum offer bundle packages with varying combinations of internet, TV and home phone services. Here are the lowest-priced bundles from each provider:

U-verse TV U-family + AT&T Internet 100
- Starting at $75/mo.*
- Speeds up to 100 Mbps
- No monthly data cap with select bundles
- Unlimited nationwide calling
- One-year contract required
Bundled savings: $20/mo.*
Spectrum Triple Play Select
- Starting at $89.98/mo.*
- Speeds up to 200 Mbps
- No monthly data cap
- 125+ TV channels
- No contract required
Bundled savings: $0/mo.*

Spectrum bundles feature varying internet speeds where available, but some locations currently have only one internet speed option, typically either 60, 100 or 200 Mbps. Additionally, only three Spectrum TV package options are available to choose from.

In short, AT&T gives you more bundle options, but comes with a one-year contract. Spectrum gives you less options to choose from, but you may be eligible for faster internet speeds than you’d get with AT&T DSL service, plus you get freedom of no contract.

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AT&T vs. Spectrum internet

AT&T offers DSL and fiber-optic internet in select areas. Spectrum delivers internet over a cable network. The difference in internet type results in a few key differences, including availability, pricing and speeds.

AT&T vs. Spectrum internet costs

AT&T offers cheaper internet plans than Spectrum, but AT&T may require you to bundle to get their lowest pricing. Spectrum’s lowest-priced internet plan is the same price regardless of whether you choose to bundle.

For internet-only service, Spectrum may be the better deal if you’re looking for cheap internet with decent speeds. If you want faster internet, however, AT&T is likely to give you a better deal as their 1,000 Mbps plan is cheaper than Spectrum’s 940 Mbps plan.

As for equipment costs, AT&T internet includes a wireless gateway router with all internet plans. Spectrum includes a modem at no extra cost, but may charge an additional fee for router and Wi-Fi service.

AT&T vs. Spectrum internet speeds

Spectrum’s lowest speed, up to 60 Mbps, is faster than AT&T’s lowest speed, up to 5 Mbps. However, AT&T offers slightly faster speeds than Spectrum (up to 1,000 Mbps compared to Spectrum’s 940 Mbps). Additionally, AT&T’s fastest speeds are available in many more locations than Spectrum’s fastest speeds.

AT&T vs. Spectrum data caps

AT&T applies a monthly data cap of 1 TB on most internet plans. You may be eligible for unlimited data with select plans, like the AT&T Fiber 1000, or when you bundle internet and TV.

Spectrum includes unlimited data on all of their internet plans.

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AT&T vs. Spectrum cheapest internet plans

If you’re looking for cheap internet plans in your area, AT&T and Spectrum both have plans starting at less than $50 per month. Here’s a look at the cheapest AT&T DSL and fiber plans compared to Spectrum’s cheapest internet plan.

AT&T Internet (DSL)

Starting price: $30/mo.*
Download speed: up to 5 Mbps
Data cap: 1 TB/mo.
Equipment included: AT&T Gateway Router
Contract: 12 mos.
Professional installation: $99 (not required)

AT&T Fiber

Starting price: $40/mo.*
Download speed: up to 100 Mbps
Data cap: 1 TB/mo.
Equipment included: AT&T Gateway Router
Contract: 12 mos.
Professional installation: $0 (required)

Spectrum Internet

Starting price: $44.99/mo.*
Download speed: up to 200 Mbps
Data cap: none
Equipment included: WiFi router
Contract: none
Professional installation: $49.99 (not required)

Considering the starting price for standalone and bundled internet services, both providers offer comparable pricing. Among the lowest-priced plans, Spectrum offers faster internet speeds in most areas.

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AT&T vs. Spectrum fastest internet plans

Both AT&T and Spectrum offer gigabit internet, with download speeds up to 940 Mbps, but AT&T currently offers it in more areas.

Mobile, AL
Little Rock, AR
Los Angeles, CA
Oakland, CA
Sacramento, CA
San Francisco, CA
Jacksonville, FL
Miami, FL
Orlando, FL
Atlanta, GA
Chicago, IL
Indianapolis, IN
New Orleans, LA
Detroit, MI

Jackson, MS
Kansas City, MO
St. Louis, MO
Charlotte, NC
Raleigh, NC
Cleveland, OH
Columbus, OH
Oklahoma City, OK
Nashville, TN
Austin, TX
Dallas, TX
Houston, TX
San Antonio, TX
Milwaukee, WI

Oahu, HI
Kansas City, MO
New York, NY
Charlotte, NC
Raleigh, NC
Cincinnati, OH
Austin, TX
San Antonio, TX

Available internet speeds from AT&T, Spectrum and other internet providers will vary by location. Use Allconnect to see which internet speeds are available at your address.

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AT&T vs. Spectrum TV service

While AT&T and Spectrum offer comparable internet services, TV service is one category where AT&T has the clear advantage. AT&T offers U-verse TV in select areas, but offers it’s primary TV service, DIRECTV, across all 50 states. Here’s how AT&T U-verse compares to Spectrum TV service:

Main TV package options: six
Channel range: 190 to 565+
Starting price range: $35 to $110/mo.*
DVR service: Included
DVR recordings: Up to 5 shows at once
DVR equipment cost: One device free, then starting at $7/mo. each*
Contract: One year

Main TV package options: three
Channel range: 125 to 200+
Starting price range: $64.99 to $104.99/mo.*
DVR service: Starting at $12.99/mo.*
DVR recordings: Up to 2 shows at once
DVR equipment cost: Starting at $6.99/mo. each*
Contract: None

Use our AT&T U-verse TV channel guide, as well as our all-inclusive Spectrum channel guide, to find the channel and plan you need.

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AT&T vs. Spectrum customer satisfaction

Customer satisfaction is another category where AT&T consistently outshines Spectrum. Here are their most recent American Customer Satisfaction Index scores based on a scale from 1-100, for both internet and TV services.

Service	2019 score	2018 score	2017 score	Avg. past three years
AT&T internet	69/100	68	69	68.7
Spectrum internet	59/100	60	65	61.3
AT&T U-verse TV	69/100	70	70	69.7
Spectrum TV	59/100	58	63	60

Source: ACSI

AT&T Internet vs Spectrum Recap

Spectrum is a nice balance of price and speed, but doesn’t have as many options as AT&T. If you want to bundle DIRECTV, or If your family is big into streaming or gaming and require faster speeds, AT&T is the only way to go.

Pricing: Plan-for-plan, Spectrum is cheaper than AT&T.
TV + internet bundles: DIRECTV is a phenomenal service, but you’ll save more money by bundling with Spectrum than AT&T.
Speed: Spectrum maxes out at 100 Mbps, but AT&T reaches up to 1 Gig (1,000 Mbps) speeds.
Customer service: AT&T ranks better, but internet customer service is never pretty.

AT&T vs. Spectrum FAQ

Get answers to common questions about AT&T and Spectrum services. Call for more information.

Is AT&T cable?

AT&T delivers internet either over phone lines (DSL) or fiber-optic cables. No traditional copper cables are used, unlike with Spectrum internet, which uses copper cables to deliver service.

Is AT&T or Spectrum internet faster?

In areas where Spectrum internet and AT&T’s DSL internet are available, Spectrum internet is typically faster. However, AT&T Fiber, where available, has faster internet than Spectrum in most areas.

Can I get NFL SUNDAY TICKET with Spectrum?

No, NFL SUNDAY TICKET is only available with DIRECTV. You can get the next season of NFL SUNDAY TICKET included with your order when ordering the CHOICE package or above.

Is Spectrum or AT&T available at my address?

Spectrum is available in 45 states, AT&T internet in 21, and DIRECTV in 50. Availability within each state varies. Use Allconnect to check availability at your address.

Last updated 07/03/19.

Call to order AT&T or Spectrum

Whether you want AT&T or Spectrum, you can confidently place your order with our internet and TV experts. We’ll connect you to top deals in your area from each provider and schedule your installation in a matter of minutes. Call now to get started.

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AT&T vs. Spectrum

Is AT&T or Charter Spectrum better for you?

AT&T vs. Spectrum quick comparison

AT&T vs. Spectrum availability

AT&T vs. Spectrum bundles

U-verse TV U-family + AT&T Internet 100

Spectrum Triple Play Select