AT&T vs. Astound: Which Internet Provider Is Best for You?
Take your pick from blazing-fast multi-gig plans or affordable budget plans
Sep 29, 2026 | Share 
Brand Guides, Provider Comparisons (Versus)
*Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. See AT&T disclaimers | See Astound disclaimers
Compare AT&T and Astound head to head
AT&T is one of the most widespread internet providers in the U.S. It offers many different connection types and has one of the largest fiber networks in the country. Astound offers both legacy coax and fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) connections. It also regularly offers promotional pricing, which makes it cheaper when you switch, but comes with price hikes down the road.
Services at a glance
| Provider | Services |
|---|---|
 | |
 |
* Astound Mobile uses T-Mobile’s 5G network when devices are not connected to Astound Internet.
Pros and cons: AT&T vs. Astound
Pros
No data caps
No contracts
Cons
No DSL for new customers
Price hikes after 12 mos.
Pros
Cheap promo prices
Optional home Wi-Fi
Cons
Limited fiber availability
Price hikes after 12 mos.
In this comparison:
Plans and pricing | Deals and promotions | Upfront costs | Recurring fees | Customer ratings | Final call | FAQ | Methodology
In this comparison:
Plans and pricing: AT&T vs. Astound
Both AT&T and Astound offer a wide range of plans, from very affordable options to blazing-fast 5 gig plans. When looking at high-end plans, AT&T gives you the same speed for a lower cost. On the budget side, Astound hits the lowest prices with its promotional pricing, but be aware that prices go up after 12 months.
AT&T plans and pricing
AT&T Internet Plans
| Plan | Price* | Download Speed | Connection Type |
|---|---|---|---|
AT&T Fiber Internet 300 | $35/mo. for 12 mos. | Up to 300Mbps | Fiber |
AT&T Fiber Internet 500 | $50/mo. for 12 mos. | Up to 500Mbps | Fiber |
AT&T Fiber Internet 1000 | $65/mo. for 12 mos. | Up to 1,000Mbps | Fiber |
AT&T Fiber Internet 5000 | $95/mo. for a limited time | Up to 5,000Mbps | Fiber |
AT&T Internet Air | $55/mo. plus taxes | Up to 300Mbps | 5G Home Internet |
* Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. See AT&T disclaimers.
Our favorite plan: Internet 300
Despite having some of the fastest plans around, the Internet 300 plan gives plenty of speed for the average household at a fraction of the cost. See our methodology for more information.
AT&T has some of the fastest fiber speeds of any nationwide provider. These multi-gigabit plans are also cheaper than the equivalent plans offered by Astound and are more widely available. Of course, if you pay for more bandwidth than your household could ever use, you’re not actually getting a better value, so make sure you’re comparing the plans that best fit your online habits.
Astound plans and pricing
Astound Internet Plans
| Plan | Price* | Download Speed | Connection Type |
|---|---|---|---|
$30/mo. for 12 mos. | Up to 300Mbps | Coax or fiber | |
$45/mo. for 12 mos. | Up to 600Mbps | Coax or fiber | |
$60/mo. for 12 mos. | Up to 1,000Mbps | Coax or fiber | |
$70/mo. for 12 mos. | Up to 1,500Mbps | Coax or fiber | |
$90/mo. for 12 mos. | Up to 2,000Mbps | Coax or fiber | |
$175/mo. for 12 mos. | Up to 5,000Mbps | Fiber |
* Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. See Astound disclaimers.
Our favorite plan: 1000 Mbps Internet
If you’re looking for gigabit internet, this Astound 1000 Mbps Internet is a pretty good deal. See our methodology for more information.
Astound narrowly edges out AT&T for the most affordable plan, giving you an incredibly low price for a decent amount of bandwidth. Just make sure that you know the standard monthly rate and budget for the price hike when the promotional period ends.
Deals and promotions: AT&T vs. Astound
- Pay just $40/mo. for a new AT&T Internet Air subscription in your first year of service
- Save up to $25 every month when you bundle unlimited wireless with home internet from AT&T
- Seniors: Bundle 2 mobile lines and AT&T Fiber for just $99 per month
- Get a Gig Wifi for $45 per month plus a $200 gift card when you sign up with Astound Broadband and use the code SUMMERWIFI at checkout
- Get a $100 service credit when you refer a friend to Astound Internet and earn up to $1,200 annually
- Get a lifetime price lock on Gig Wifi with Astound for just $5 extra each month
Upfront costs: AT&T vs. Astound
Both AT&T and Astound have fairly reasonable fees for installation and equipment, though these can increase your up-front costs, especially if you get professional installation. Astound also offers a number of optional add-ons for their customers.
Installation cost
| Installation fee | |
|---|---|
| | |
|
Both providers have fairly standard installation fees. Astound is a bit cheaper for professional installations, but you can set up AT&T for free if your home is already wired for it.
Want to know if AT&T or Astound is in your area?
Find out if AT&T and Astound are available where you live by entering your zip code below.
Recurring fees: AT&T vs. Astound
| Equipment fee | Other fees | |
|---|---|---|
| | ||
|
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Both providers add additional fees for equipment, which can make comparing pricing more complicated. Astound fees vary somewhat by region. Astound also offers a ton of optional add-ons to your service. These can be nice perks and upgrades, but make sure you account for them when budgeting because they can really add up.
Price hikes
Both providers have a 12-month promotional period, which makes it more affordable to switch, but comes with a price hike at the end of the year. Neither provider has long-term contracts, which means if you don’t like the price hike, you can always switch providers again.
Customer ratings: AT&T vs. Astound
| AT&T | Astound | |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall | 5.9/10 | 6.5/10 |
| Most reliable | 8.7/10 | 8.4/10 |
| Customer's choice | 7.2/10 | 7.2/10 |
| Fastest | 235.5Mbps (National average) | 221.2Mbps (National average) |
| Best value | 4.3/10 | 6.1/10 |
Data based on our Annual Internet Service Provider Review.
Both AT&T and Astound were highly rated in reliability and customer feedback in our 2026 Internet Service Provider Review. However, when it came to the best value for the monthly cost and overall customer satisfaction, Astound got higher marks from its customers than AT&T did.
Ready to switch to AT&T or Astound?
Enter your zip code below to see if these two providers are available to you.
Final call: AT&T vs. Astound
AT&T and Astound are neck-and-neck when it comes to speeds and pricing, which are probably the two biggest things most people look for. If you really want those multi-gig speeds, AT&T has lower prices and better fiber coverage, though Astound customers rate their provider slightly more highly. Both providers have price hikes and a lot of additional fees, so make sure you read the fine print when comparing plans.
More about AT&T and Astound
FAQ about AT&T vs. Astound
Can I install AT&T internet by myself?
What are the best routers for Astound internet?
Methodology
Our HighSpeedInternet.com editorial team bases our analyses on customer input from our Annual Internet Service Provider Review, results from our speed test tool, and proprietary internet provider data on speeds and pricing. To strengthen our research, we look closely at provider contracts to get hard-to-find information on price hikes, data caps, and extra fees, and we keep tabs on the latest news reports and online reviews. When applicable, we also rely on our personal experiences testing these services.
Our favorite plan
The average household needs internet speeds of at least 300Mbps but not more than a gig (1,000Mbps), so the best plan we recommend for each provider is always within that range. We also consider plan specifics, like added costs or included perks, and compare all the options from each provider to national averages. Finally, we account for tech type differences, since you might not need as much speed on a fiber plan as you would on a less-reliable fixed wireless or cable plan. Learn more about how much speed you need, and enter your zip code in our provider lookup tool to see what you can get in your neighborhood.
A note about pricing
The prices you see may not reflect the standard rates these providers could charge after an introductory period. You’ll see the standard rates on broadband nutrition labels displayed during checkout, along with equipment fees, installation fees, contract requirements, and data caps (if any). Always view this information before you sign up for internet service.
Plans disclaimers
AT&T plans
AT&T Internet Disclaimers
| Plan | Disclaimer |
|---|---|
AT&T Fiber Internet 300 | Price + taxes and fees for new customers in select markets after discounts w/elig Autopay & paperless bill. Discounts start w/in 3 bills. |
AT&T Fiber Internet 500 | Price + taxes and fees for new customers in select markets after discounts w/elig Autopay & paperless bill. Discounts start w/in 3 bills. |
AT&T Fiber Internet 1000 | Price + taxes and fees for new customers in select markets after discounts w/elig Autopay & paperless bill. Discounts start w/in 3 bills. |
AT&T Fiber Internet 5000 | Price + taxes and fees for new customers in select markets after discounts w/elig Autopay & paperless bill. Discounts start w/in 3 bills. Limited availability in select areas. Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds may vary. For 5 GIG, single device wired speed maximum 4.7Gbps. |
AT&T Internet Air | Includes $10 off with AutoPay and Paperless Bill |
Astound plans
Astound Internet Disclaimers
| Plan | Disclaimer |
|---|---|
Observed speeds may vary | One-time fees extra | Restrictions apply | Not available in all areas | New residential customers only | |
Observed speeds may vary | One-time fees extra | Restrictions apply | Not available in all areas | New residential customers only | |
Observed speeds may vary | One-time fees extra | Restrictions apply | Not available in all areas | New residential customers only | |
Observed speeds may vary | One-time fees extra | Restrictions apply | Not available in all areas | New residential customers only | |
Limited Availability | Observed speeds may vary | One-time fees extra | Restrictions apply | Not available in all areas | New residential customers only | |
Limited Availability | Observed speeds may vary | One-time fees extra | Restrictions apply | Not available in all areas | New residential customers only |
Author - Peter Christiansen
Peter Christiansen writes about telecom policy, communications infrastructure, satellite internet, and rural connectivity for HighSpeedInternet.com. Peter holds a PhD in communication from the University of Utah and has been working in tech for over 15 years as a computer programmer, game developer, filmmaker, and writer. His writing has been praised by outlets like Wired, Digital Humanities Now, and the New Statesman.
Editor - Jessica Brooksby
Jessica loves bringing her passion for the written word and her love of tech into one space at HighSpeedInternet.com. She works with the team’s writers to revise strong, user-focused content so every reader can find the tech that works for them. Jessica has a bachelor’s degree in English from Utah Valley University and seven years of creative and editorial experience. Outside of work, she spends her time gaming, reading, painting, and buying an excessive amount of Legend of Zelda merchandise.
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