What Do You Actually Pay for Astound Internet?

Astound now offers prices for life on gig-speed internet, and it’s the real deal! If you sign up before the offer changes, you can get 1Gbps internet for $45 per month for as long as you keep your plan at your current address.

You can pay $5 less per month in your first year, if you prefer, but expect a price hike of $20 per month in year two. Either way, Astound adds an infrastructure fee, plus taxes and fees on top of its advertised prices every month.

Even with the added fees, Astound is still a good deal. Unless you know you’ll be moving within a year, I highly recommend signing up for the price-for-life deal. Locking it in now could protect your budget if prices increase after the planned merger with GFiber.

Whatever you decide, this article will help you understand what to expect from Astound, from your first bill to coupon codes, promotions, and equipment fees.

What to expect as an Astound customer

Astound offers two kinds of internet plans: Some have lifetime price locks, while others cost $5 less per month during the first year but then jump up by $20 per month in the second year and beyond. Either way, you’ll see taxes and fees added to your monthly price, and you may be charged for account setup and installation when you order.

Astound redeems itself by including basic networking equipment in the plan price. It also no longer charges for data overages, requires contracts, or assesses early termination fees.

You can further blunt the pain by watching for coupon codes during checkout. Often, the right code lets you waive the installation fee and qualifies you for a prepaid gift card worth up to $300.

Your first Astound bill

Astound’s quoted prices build in a $10 discount for using autopay and paperless billing, so you’ll need to register for an Astound account to see an itemized list of charges.

Your first Astound bill will be bigger than every bill after it because it will include a prorated charge for any portion of your first month, plus the full charge for the next month. Regular taxes and fees get added for both periods, too, so the total can be a lot higher than you expect.

Most customers can waive installation fees if they order online and use a coupon code, but it’s harder to get out of the $14.99 Account Setup Fee. That fee will show up on your first bill.

Bottom line: Don’t panic if your first bill runs higher than the price you were quoted. Check the due date in the upper right corner of your statement, and expect things to settle into your regular monthly rate starting with bill number two.

Your monthly Astound bill

Astound adds quite a few taxes and fees on top of advertised prices, but I give it props for transparency. Here’s an example of an Astound Bill Statement.

Fees to expect in each Astound region

No matter which of the following states you’re in, your Astound bill breaks down into the same handful of buckets. If you’re signing up for internet only, your bill in most states comes down to just sales tax and Astound’s Network Access and Maintenance Fee (called an Internet Infrastructure Fee in some states). Astound is up front that this isn’t a government tax—it’s a line item the company chooses to assess.

That said, where you live still moves the needle a little. Here’s what stands out state by state:

• Astound customers in California will see state and local sales tax and an Internet Infrastructure Fee added to their internet bill every month.
• Astound customers in the DC Metro area will see a state sales tax and a Network Access and Maintenance Fee added to their internet bill every month.
• Astound customers in Illinois will see state and local sales tax and a Network Access and Maintenance Fee added to their internet bill every month, plus a City Rental Tax if they lease a modem from Astound and a Municipal Construction Surcharge in some municipalities.
• Astound customers in Indiana will see a state sales tax and a Network Access and Maintenance Fee added to their internet bill every month, plus a Municipal Construction Surcharge in some municipalities.
• Astound customers in Maryland will see state and county sales tax and a Network Access and Maintenance Fee added to their internet bill every month.
• Astound customers in Massachusetts will see a state sales tax and a Network Access and Maintenance Fee added to their internet bill every month, plus a Use Fee if they’re served through Wakefield’s municipal utility.
• Astound customers in New York will see state and local sales tax and a Network Access and Maintenance Fee added to their internet bill every month, plus a Municipal Construction Surcharge in some municipalities.
• Astound customers in Oregon will see an Internet Infrastructure Fee added to their internet bill every month, plus a City/County Utility User Tax in some cities — Oregon has no state sales tax.
• Astound customers in Pennsylvania will see state and city sales tax and a Network Access and Maintenance Fee added to their internet bill every month.
• Astound customers in Texas will see state, county, and city sales tax and a Network Access and Maintenance Fee added to their internet bill every month.
• Astound customers in Virginia will see state sales tax, a Communications Service Sales Tax, and a Network Access and Maintenance Fee added to their internet bill every month.
• Astound customers in Washington will see state and local sales tax, an Internet Infrastructure Fee, and a Regulatory Administration Fee added to their internet bill every month.

Billing for Astound Mobile and TV services

Astound offers mobile phone service, home phone service, and TV packages in addition to home internet plans. Beyond the service plan prices, bundle subscribers see more taxes and fees than internet-only customers. These vary regionally, but here’s what to look for:

Home phone customers will see a Regulatory Administration fee set by Astound itself and a 911 charge that funds emergency call routing.

TV customers can expect a franchise fee, various pass-through fees from local municipalities, and surcharges that cover local broadcast and sports programming.

These added fees are no fun, but Astound isn’t alone in adding taxes to its advertised prices. See how it compares to other home internet providers in this internet price hike overview.

Astound Internet plans and prices

Astound offers 1Gbps and 1.5Gbps plans in all its service areas, but its faster plans aren’t available everywhere. Visit Astound and enter your address for a complete list of plan options, but here’s a peek at what you might see:

How to save money on Astound Internet

The best way to save money with Astound is picking the right plan. Most households come out ahead with the lifetime price lock, even at $5 more per month in year one. It beats the $20 monthly increase you would otherwise eat in year two. Most families also do fine on the 1,000Mbps plan with the included modem and router.

If you need more speed, Astound offers plans faster than 1Gbps. You can also add Enhanced Whole Home Wi-Fi, a mesh system, for $10 more per month. I wouldn’t bother with either unless you know you need it.

Finally, watch for perks and coupon codes at checkout. These change monthly and vary by region, but you can often score free installation and a gift card worth a few hundred dollars. The catch? You need 120 days as a customer in good standing, then watch for an email from Astound with redemption instructions.

Here’s a look at the latest national deals from Astound:

Learn more about Astound Internet

If you’re deciding between Astound Internet and another local internet provider, you need to know what you’re getting into. The following articles can help.

• Best Value Internet Provider of 2025: Astound
• Verizon vs. Astound
• Is Bundling Astound Internet and Mobile Worth It?
• How To Get Low-Income Internet Through Astound
• Best Ways To Contact Astound

FAQ about Astound billing

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