AT&T vs. Hughesnet: Which Internet Provider Is Best for You?
Wired connections always beat satellite if you can get them
Nov 2, 2026 | Share 
Brand Guides, Provider Comparisons (Versus)
* See AT&T disclaimers | See Hughesnet disclaimers
Compare AT&T and Hughesnet head-to-head
AT&T is one of the most well-known and widely available internet providers in the U.S. It offers many different connection types, including one of the largest fiber networks in the country. Hughesnet is known for its affordable satellite connections.
Services at a glance
| Provider | Services |
|---|---|
 | |
 |
Pros and cons: AT&T vs. Hughesnet
Pros
Fast fiber connections
Alternative 5G home internet
Cons
May require AT&T’s gateway
Price hikes after 12 mos.
Pros
Wide availability
Low-priced satellite plans
Cons
Lower speeds
Price hikes after 12 mos.
In this comparison:
Plans and pricing | Deals and promotions | Up-front costs | Recurring fees | Final call | Methodology
In this comparison:
Plans and pricing: AT&T vs. Hughesnet
AT&T offers a wide range of plans, from affordable options to blazing-fast five gig plans. Hughesnet is available in remote areas where satellite is the only option, and it has low prices compared with other satellite providers. Be aware that for both providers, 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 residential fiber speeds available. They’re a great value if you’re looking for the most speed for your dollar; however, if you pay for more bandwidth than your household could ever use, you’re not actually getting a better value. Make sure you’re comparing the plans that best fit your online habits.
Hughesnet plans and pricing
| Plan | Price* | Speed | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lite | $39.99/mo. for first 12 mos. | Up to 25Mbps | Cable or fiber |
| Select | $49.99/mo. for first 12 mos. | Up to 50Mbps | Cable or fiber |
| Elite | $64.99/mo. for first 12 mos. | Up to 100Mbps | Cable or fiber |
| Fusion | $94.99/mo. for first 12 mos. | Up to 100Mbps | Cable or fiber |
* Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. See Hughesnet disclaimers.
Our favorite plan: Hughesnet Elite
This plan gives enough speed to get by, while also not breaking the bank. See our methodology for more information.
All Hughesnet plans have unlimited data, so your main consideration is download speed. 100Mbps might not sound like a lot of speed, but it can work for smaller households with simple internet needs.
Deals and promotions: AT&T vs. Hughesnet
Up-front costs: AT&T vs. Hughesnet
AT&T has fairly reasonable fees for installation and equipment. Hughesnet’s up-front costs are also fairly reasonable when compared to other satellite providers.
Installation cost
| Installation fee | |
|---|---|
AT&T | |
Hughesnet |
AT&T offers free self-installation and a pretty standard professional installation fee. Hughesnet technically offers free professional installation, which is good for a satellite provider, but you must pay other up-front costs, so it ends up being about the same.
Want to know if AT&T or Hughesnet is in your area?
Find out if AT&T and Hughesnet are available where you live by entering your zip code below.
Recurring fees: AT&T vs. Hughesnet
| Equipment fee | Other fees | |
|---|---|---|
AT&T | ||
Hughesnet |
AT&T has fairly standard equipment fees. Hughesnet’s fees aren’t abnormally high for a satellite provider, but they add up. Since Hughesnet is often considered the more economical alternative to Viasat and Starlink, this can be a significant issue and shouldn’t be overlooked when budgeting your monthly bills.
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.
Ready to switch to AT&T or Hughesnet?
Enter your zip code below to see if these two providers are available to you.
Final call: AT&T vs. Hughesnet
We do not currently recommend Hughesnet for residential internet, so if you have a choice between Hughesnet and AT&T in your area, we suggest going with AT&T.
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 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 | 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 |
Hughesnet plans
All plans — Minimum term required and early service termination fees apply. Monthly Fee reflects the applied $5 savings for ACH enrollment. Offer may vary by geographic area.
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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